02-08 OLB Comparison

[ShakerBuck]

Both OLB positions grouped together

'02 Cie Grant (Hawk) and Robert Reynolds (Carpernter)

vs

'08 Marcus Freeman (Terry) and Ross Homan (Moeller/Rolle?)

[if back-ups are unlikely please update]

 

[akronbuck]

2008 with depth

 

[msj2487]

Had to go with '02. Without Cie Grant we possibly don't win the championship. While Reynolds was never really a standout, Hawk definitely stepped up big time as a freshman in '02. Carpenter had some nice clean up duties and role play as well in '02.

I love Freeman and Homan, but Homan still has yet to really stand out on the field right now due to injuries and what not, and most of the backups have yet to really show much outside of Rolle who looks like a missle on the field.

So potential aside, I'm on the '02 side.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

Here's a case where '08 has an opportunity to out-achieve '02 IMHO.

But at the risk of beating a hole in this drum: until they've had a chance to do so, I won't rank them one way or the other.

 

[Dryden]

I'll go with 08 on talent, solely due to Freeman, who's only fault has been having the misfortune of sharing the field with Laurinaitis, and partly due to the special teams play of Rolle, who would be starting at LB already just about anywhere else in the country.

I'll take 02 if its a singing competition though. When is Cie Grant going to ink a record deal?

 

[gracelhink]

I'll go with '08 as well, simply because the DL in '02 functioned so effectively as spaceeaters, engaged blockers, and dominated gaps/holes, it freed up the LB's to excel at pursuing and tackling.
While '08 DL has the potential and will improve, if we put the '08 LB's behind that '02 line we would have not 1 but 3 Butkus nominees.

 

[Yertle]

Tough one. I'd put Freeman and Grant as too close to call. I have trouble pulling for Reynolds mainly due to his antics at Camp Randall in 03... but trying to put emotions aside, I think Homan and Reynolds is also a close one. Terry is better IMO than a freshman Hawk or Carpenter. I know that might not be a popular thing to say, but I've always loved Terry, and his experience has to count for something. Also, Rolle is a wrecking ball. Maybe I'm being a homer for the present, I don't know...

 

[Sportsbuck28]

I can't decide. Toss up for me.

 

[generaladm]

If Larry Grant were playing this year, I'd give it to 08. Since Freeman is the only one in the 08 group that is a proven commodity, I can't be certain. I would say that Freeman has a slight edge over Cie, based on his size/power. Cie was great in coverage, if not for him, KWII would have had an even better Fiesta performance, but Freeman may be his equal. Reynolds was a very solid stay at home SAM. I think that whomever plays at SAM will be a bit better than RR, but that's all speculation at this point. I think by the end of the season, this LB corp could be one of our best all time. The amazing thing is that OSU's string of top level LB talent should extend thru the next 4-5 years. Wow.

 

[Muck]

Toss Up