It hasn’t been the most glorious of seasons for Ohio State’s defensive line. The Buckeyes’ front four has struggled throughout the fall to bring any consistent pressure and also was suffering a dropoff in terms of slowing down running plays.

Entering yesterday’s Big Ten clash with Purdue, OSU had managed to compile just nine sacks, tied for worst in the league. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes were fourth in the league in rushing defense (109.2 yards per game) after leading the nation in that category a year ago and were fifth in the conference in yards per carry allowed (3.8).

On top of all that, national pundits were beginning to point the finger at OSU’s shortcomings in the defensive front as the main reason why the Buckeyes are not a real national championship contender this season. Plus, publications and websites such as Bucknuts.com spent time during the week doling out midseason grades that were less than flattering for the group.

“We just kept hearing it, kept hearing, kept hearing it, and Coach (Jim Heacock, OSU’s defensive coordinator and line coach) was on us saying, `Guys, it’s time to step up,’ ” defensive tackle Todd Denlinger said.

“We’re still a young group. It’s hard to see that because a lot of guys played last year. But Nader (Abdallah) and Curtis Terry are really our only seniors out there. We still have some youth. It’s a long learning process and there’s a lot of technique that we have to do.

“Up front we’ve got to keep getting after them. You knew they were going to confident coming in because I’m sure they’ve watched film of the past saying, `This defensive line doesn’t get pressure. They don’t do this and that.’ So we kind of took it as a personal goal of ours to get after him.”

Added defensive end Thaddeus Gibson, “We’ve been taking a lot of criticism. We just wanted to go out there and play as hard as we could, just try to put an end to all the talk.”

They certainly diffused the negativity, at least for the time being, after Ohio State (5-1, 3-0 in the Big Ten) disrupted Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter all afternoon, slowed down explosive running back Kory Sheets and posted a near-shutout in a 16-3 victory.

Purdue managed 298 yards but on 77 plays, an average of only 3.9 per snap. Painter threw for 228 yards but it took him 51 attempts and he completed only 23. He had a key fumble and an interception and never even got the Boilermakers (2-4, 0-2) into the red zone.

It all started with a concerted effort up front. The Buckeyes logged a pair of sacks, a bevy of pressures and tipped or knocked down eight passes.

“The biggest thing we needed and the best thing we can take out of this game is how hard our D-line played,” cornerback Malcolm Jenkins said. “I think they stepped it up. They had been playing pretty average but this is a great game for them. It helped us on the back end to make some plays. It’s pretty easy to cover when the quarterback has to throw it in under three seconds.”

End Lawrence Wilson recorded a fumble recovery in the first quarter, the first of his career. The fumble was caused by Thaddeus Gibson, his second in as many games and the third of his career. Gibson also had a career-high with six tackles, two of them for losses.

Abdallah had a tackle for an 11-yard loss and three stops as did fellow interior starter Doug Worthington. Denlinger, who is beginning to shake off the effects of a creaky ankle, contributed a ½ TFL and a consistent push inside. Also getting into the act was reserve end Robert Rose, who should an appreciable amount of hustle.

“You could see the talent in those guys was actually being displayed, and that’s exciting to see,” said middle linebacker and leading tackler James Laurinaitis. “It’s good to see Todd getting back and Thaddeus letting loose and guys like Robert coming in and contributing. We’re mixing a lot of guys in there and we have a lot of talent.”

“I think our D-line did a great job today,” Jenkins repeated. “They got in (Painter’s) face and forced him to throw the ball quick and we kind of knew what we wanted to do as far as throw the ball quick and we did a good job of jumping some balls.”

Normally a defensive back has little idea of what is going on up front but cornerback Chimdi Chekwa said he knew the Buckeyes were doing well in the trenches because the receivers weren’t able to get into any long routes.

“I could feel it,” Chekwa said. “The ball had to come off quick. The defensive line got after it. We challenged them this week and they came through. We just had the mind-set to dominate, and I think that’s what they did up front.”

Purdue is known for having a finesse offense. The Boilers’ offensive lineman are trim compared to most, wear small pads and try to use their feet and leverage to keep defenders away. The Buckeyes countered with an overpowering approach, one that seemed to fuel their much-needed confidence.

“I don’t think that they have that physical of a line, so we just tried to get speed off the ball and use our hands the best we can,” Gibson said. “We wanted to bull rush them more than just pass rush, get our hands on them and make a quick move. Coach (Heacock) told us before the game, `If you can’t get a good pass rush on them, just exhaust them by using your hands and trying quick moves.”

Star Power

While the line did the dirty work, the defense’s top-billing performers – co-captains Jenkins and Laurinaitis – were able to put together personal highlight reels.

Jenkins logged one of the best games of his career by picking off a pass for the second time in as many weeks and also logging four solo tackles, one pass breakup and a blocked punt that directly led to OSU’s only touchdown, a 20-yard return by freshman linebacker Etienne Sabino.

The punt block was the first of Jenkins’ brilliant career and first by a Buckeye since A.J. Hawk rejected a kick against Northwestern three seasons ago.

“It really had nothing to do with me being amped up,” Jenkins said. “My teammates put me in a great position. I got an interception because the guy was stumbling out of the backfield and they got pressure on him. The punt block, the coaches called that and we practiced it all week, and it worked. I was just reaping everybody else’s labors.”

Laurinatis, of course, was not surprised that his classmate and close friend played like an All-American.

“Malcolm is a guy who’s very instinctive and he’s very competitive,” he said. “He wants to be great and he wants everybody around him to be great. When teams try to challenge him, he loves that. He doesn’t shy away from it, and you saw today when people try to throw balls on him he might get beat once but he’s going to come back and win every time. We saw that today, his passion to play football and his passion for Ohio State, and that’s why he’s the best cornerback in the country.”

Laurinaitis was pretty impressive in his own right. He led the defense with 10 tackles, giving him 13 career games with 10 or more tackles and 44 in his last three games.

Laurinaitis led OSU in tackles two years ago with 115 en route to winning the Bronko Nagurski Award. Last season, he had a team-best 121 stops and won the Butkus Award and claimed defensive player of the year honors in the Big Ten.

With those two on top of their game behind a stingy front, the Buckeyes were almost impenetrable.

“I felt we played good team defense,” OSU head coach Jim Tressel said. “But obviously our leaders, Malcolm and James, when they’re playing well it really helps.”

Putting It All Together

With a tough closing stretch upcoming including key games against Michigan State, Penn State and Michigan, the members of the OSU defense wanted to leave no doubt against Purdue.

“As a defense we felt like we were in control,” Chekwa said. “I can’t speak for the offense but as a defense I can tell you we were pissed off to give them three points. We felt like we would dominate.”

The lone score was a 53-yard field goal by freshman Carson Wiggs, the longest three-pointer in Purdue history.

The Buckeyes were none too happy to be part of a record play.

“We’re perfectionists, the coaches and the players, so it’s unfortunate,” Laurinaitis said. “They had a few big-play runs, too. But for our team to go out and grind it out like this, I’ll take that any day.”

Not only was Painter largely ineffective, Sheets, who entered play with 498 rushing yards in five games, was held to 67 yards in 20 carries. Take away a 20-yard run where he popped free on a surprised OSU defense and he had 47 yards on 19 carries.

Still, Purdue finished with just 2.7 yards per carry and couldn’t find ways to loosen things up for a frustrated Painter.

“Our defense didn’t panic at all and I think we felt like we were in control the whole time,” Laurinaitis said. “And when you get turnovers and takeaways, that’s always encouraging.”

Worthington also was enthused.

“We gave up three points, which is tremendous against an offense like that,” he said. “So I feel that we did a real good job.”

The Buckeyes had reason to enter the game with some assuredness after nearly shutting out Purdue in West Lafayette last season. Painter saved the goose egg with a 1-yard TD toss with 10 seconds to go in a 23-7 loss.

So what is the key to grinding Purdue to a near halt?

“I just think it’s affecting the quarterback,” Jenkins said. “Vern (Gholston) last year had a great game against them as far as getting pressure. You make them throw the ball quick. It’s tough for offenses to be patient enough to nickel and dime you down the field when you give them a 4-yard pass here, 3 yards there. Plus, I thought we did a good job of stopping the run.

“We made them really one-dimensional and they couldn’t really go downfield. All they had was to nickel and dime us and when you do that it’s not only hard on the offensive coordinator but the players themselves to be patient.”

When the Buckeyes took away Painter’s ability to look downfield they were able to jump in front of receivers and get their hands on passes. Chekwa, for example, nearly hauled in an interception that he practically could have walked into the end zone.

“We knew that he liked to throw a lot of quick game and figured every once in a while we’re going to take the chance to try to jump some of these routes,” Chekwa said. “That’s what we did.”

The result was maybe the best group effort of the season.

“We got a lot of guys making plays from all throughout the D-line, from the secondary,” Jenkins said. “Chimdi’s really come in and done well. Donald (Washington) has come in and he’s doing a great job. The linebackers are great. Whenever you have guys at every position making plays and holding up their own you’re going to have a successful defense.”

Now the challenge is to keep getting better.

“I think we have so much more we can improve on,” Abdallah said. “Today, even though guys were making plays, I think they can make so many more plays. We have guys that can do it. This was a big step for us, but we have to keep making steps if we want to be Big Ten champions.”

Added Gibson, “I think the defense played well. The thing about it is we can play better. That’s the scary part about it.”

Defensive Notes

* The Buckeye defense has held its opponents scoreless in 15 of 28 quarters this season. Purdue’s field goal came in the third period, giving the D a 3-for-4 showing in posting shutout quarters.

This time the stinginess was made-to-order as the OSU offense was not able to produce a touchdown.

“For us to be successful period we have to stop people from scoring, especially when your offense is struggling a little bit,” Jenkins said. “We got enough points on the board. To us, if the offense can get three field goals, we should win the game. That’s how we came in the game and that’s how it turned out to be.”

* Jenkins was asked during postgame interviews if Sabino managed to thank him for blocking the punt that paved the way for the most memorable play of his young career.

“Not yet,” Jenkins said. “He scored the touchdown, so he gets the glory this time.”

Sabino was monitored closely after crossing the north goal line.

“We were saying after the game that Sabino always said what he would do if he scored a touchdown,” Gibson said. “He didn’t do it, but it was still good.”

When asked if Sabino would have drawn an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty if he had gone through with the celebration he had in mind, Gibson said, “I believe so.”

* Outside linebacker Ross Homan played less than usual because of Purdue’s spread alignment but he still managed to produce some crunching hits.

Homan entered the game with 10 tackles in each of the other two Big Ten contests.

“I’ve been telling him this is going to be his linebacking corps some day that he’s going to have to carry, and he definitely looks like a promising star,” Laurinaitis said.

* Kicker Aaron Pettrey nailed a 49-yard FG in the second quarter. He is now 2 of 2 on the season after drilling a 54-yarder in the season opener.

Normal placekicker Ryan Pretorius made two field goals but missed a 38-yarder. He is now 13 of 17 on the season.

* Chekwa found out about Michigan’s 13-10 home loss to Toledo when a reporter told him.

“I didn’t even know they lost to Toledo,” he said. “Was that up on the scoreboard? I don’t know what to say about that.”

When asked if the score was embarrassing to the conference, Chekwa added, “We don’t play for the whole Big Ten. We play for Ohio State. I hope Michigan comes up and gets better because when we play them I want them to be their best.”