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2008 Buckeye Football Season

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3-4 defense would work, theoretically. We are already a zone blitz team (It's only natural, as it was developed by a Buckeye), and we have an abundance of linebackers. It was basically the spread defense. However, there is a small problem...

The most important position in a 3-4 defense is the NT spot. Let us look at the measurables of NT's in the NFL:

San Diego, Jamal Williams, 6'3", 348 lbs.
Cleveland, Ethan Kelley, 6'2", 338 lbs.
Pittsburgh, Casey Hampton, 6'1", 325 lbs.
New York Jets, Dewayne Robertson, 6'1", 317 lbs.
New England Patriots, Vince Wilfork, 6'2", 325 lbs.
Dallas Cowboys, Jeremiah Ratliff, 6'4", 298 lbs.

Being a Steeler fan, I can say that although the linebackers get most of the credit, Casey Hampton is the most important player on that defense.

Let us look at the measurables of the Ohio State DT's on depth chart, and incoming freshman:

Denlinger, 6'3", 286 lbs.
Larimore, 6'3", 304 lbs.
Abdallah, 6'5", 297 lbs.
Rowell, 6'4", 325 lbs.
Goebel, 6'5", 265 lbs.

Of all of those players, Rowell is the only currently at 3-4 DT weight. Larimore is the second closest, followed by Abdallah and Denlinger. Goebel would play DE in the 3-4.

I'm sure you can see the problem. But, that is not the only issue. There is the issue of learning the scheme.

The main pass rushing in a 3-4 defense comes from the LB spot. The main pass rushing on this Ohio State squad, in recent history, has come from the DE spot. I mean, it's not like our linebackers can't blitz (Hawk against Brady comes to mind), but that hasn't been their specialty in recent history.

I can see a 3-4 defense coming later on in Tressel's career. We certainly have the linebackers for it, and our recent d-line recruits are of solid size for the d-line positions (Rowell at DT, Goebel at DE, etc.). But, not this year.
 
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I find it interesting that this thread about the '08 season and the thread about the record-setting '09 draft have both come around to focus on the DTs as I type this.

As CausticMick just posted in the other thread, don't be surprised if some quality time in the weight room turns one or more of our DTs into real assets. They may not become the monsters we'd need at NG in a 3-4, but it is a very real possibility that they could turn into the kind of run-pluggers that would make next year's D a true "all-timer".
 
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daveeb;1066038; said:
3-4 defense would work, theoretically. We are already a zone blitz team (It's only natural, as it was developed by a Buckeye), and we have an abundance of linebackers. It was basically the spread defense. However, there is a small problem...

The most important position in a 3-4 defense is the NT spot. Let us look at the measurables of NT's in the NFL:

San Diego, Jamal Williams, 6'3", 348 lbs.
Cleveland, Ethan Kelley, 6'2", 338 lbs.
Pittsburgh, Casey Hampton, 6'1", 325 lbs.
New York Jets, Dewayne Robertson, 6'1", 317 lbs.
New England Patriots, Vince Wilfork, 6'2", 325 lbs.
Dallas Cowboys, Jeremiah Ratliff, 6'4", 298 lbs.

Being a Steeler fan, I can say that although the linebackers get most of the credit, Casey Hampton is the most important player on that defense.

Let us look at the measurables of the Ohio State DT's on depth chart, and incoming freshman:

Denlinger, 6'3", 286 lbs.
Larimore, 6'3", 304 lbs.
Abdallah, 6'5", 297 lbs.
Rowell, 6'4", 325 lbs.
Goebel, 6'5", 265 lbs.

Of all of those players, Rowell is the only currently at 3-4 DT weight. Larimore is the second closest, followed by Abdallah and Denlinger. Goebel would play DE in the 3-4.

I'm sure you can see the problem. But, that is not the only issue. There is the issue of learning the scheme.

The main pass rushing in a 3-4 defense comes from the LB spot. The main pass rushing on this Ohio State squad, in recent history, has come from the DE spot. I mean, it's not like our linebackers can't blitz (Hawk against Brady comes to mind), but that hasn't been their specialty in recent history.

I can see a 3-4 defense coming later on in Tressel's career. We certainly have the linebackers for it, and our recent d-line recruits are of solid size for the d-line positions (Rowell at DT, Goebel at DE, etc.). But, not this year.
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Nice breakdown. Greenies.

I think the strength of the 3-4 would be our LB's and DE's. Gibson would be a monster at the college level coming off the edge from a 2 point stance. Freeman would also adjust well and has the ability to play the edge. I think Homan and Laurinitis are both smart enough, big enough, and physical enough to play the inside.

Our biggest strength in a 3-4 would be our DE's. Not many schools can boast about the isze of their DE's like OSU can.

I stated this before, but Heyward and Rose are prototypical DE's in a 3-4 system. Doug Worthington, a tweener in our current system, would also find a better home in a 3-4 system. Lawrence Wilson becomes a tweener in a 3-4, but I think he'd play well as a DE.

The obvious weakness of a 3-4 would be DT. If you can add 15 lb's on Denlinger, bulk up Larimore, and let Shaq provide some depth, we'd be in pretty good shape, IMO.

The only reason I'd consider going to a 3-4 is to get the best players on the field. In my eyes, we have better athletes/players at LB than the 4 on the DL. Obviously Denlinger, Larimore, and Nader will continue to improve and could become a strength.....but the weakness on our team this year was the DT position

Just 2 other points:

1. With guys like Willie Mobley, Garret Goebel, and Shaq Rowell coming in, we have players coming in that would fit a 3-4 well.

2. I can't think of any college teams that run a 3-4 and it could be a schematic advantage. It'd be nice to field a defense with as many athletes as OSU has, with a system that is difficult to prepare for.
 
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A notable college team that uses the 3-4 system is Virginia. Chris Long's sack total (I believe 13+) was even more impressive in the 3-4 system, since he plays DE.

In the regular season (Only stats available), Virginia gave up 18.8 points per game (14th NCAA). Their 323.4 yards per game allowed total ranked 18th in the NCAA.

Here are some stats from when their defense faced quality opponents:
vs. Texas Tech, 445 yards, 31 points, 17 points in final 3.5 minutes. I blame this more on some sort of coaching breakdown. That is an extremely rare occurrence.
vs. Virginia Tech, 430 total yards, 33 points.
 
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I hate to be a ditto type guy but I agree that the interior D-line spots/spot is going to be soooooo important to our success next year. The guys played their hearts out this year, but against Illinois and LSU they were an obvious weakness. We could not get the Illini off the field in the 4th quarter and LSU had too much success running it up the middle on 1st down. Experience and another off season in the S&C program will hopefully turn this group into an asset instead of a liability, added depth from the incoming group may help as well.
 
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I'm not real sure what to think about changing the defensive front from 4-3 to 3-4 (mainly because of the NT position) I could see a change being made going into the season and then switching back and forth when they get to conference play and use a combination of both.

That being said, this defense is gonna be something special and a wrinkle like changing fronts may be just what it needs to get over the hump against more athletic/physical teams like they would see vs SEC teams in bowl games.

who knows!? It's gonna be fun to watch em :biggrin:
 
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Probably already mentioned somewhere but since its all finalized now.

2008 B10 opponents underclassmen that have declared:

Wisconsin- CB Jack Ikegwounu
Illinois- RB Rashard Mendenhall
MSU- WR Devin Thomas
scUM- WR's Manningham and Arrington
PSU- DB Justin King

King is no big deal but the rest of them I'm happy to see go. Ikegwounu was by far the best CB we faced last year, thats a blow to Bucky who also just lost their DC to Northwestern.
 
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CPD

Ohio State's veteran offense could have a fresh look in 2008

by Doug Lesmerises Wednesday January 16, 2008, 8:04 AM


small_medium_terrellepryor2.jpg
File photoTerrelle Pryor, the consensus top QB prospect coming out of high school this year, has been a major target of Ohio State's recruiting efforts.

Columbus- What will Ohio State's offense look like in 2008? How about the 2007 version plus Terrelle Pryor?
"I'm not questioning coaches, but if a coach doesn't build his offense around Terrelle Pryor," said Pryor's high school quarterbacks coach, Roy Hall, "he's crazy. Whoever gets Terrelle Pryor, it's like hitting the lottery."
The Buckeyes are losing just two starters, right tackle Kirk Barton and fullback Dionte Johnson, from the 41st-ranked offense in the country, which averaged just over 31 points per game. So the biggest change won't be by subtraction, but by the potential division of the quarterback duties.
Whether it's Pryor, the nation's top quarterback recruit who is three weeks from most likely choosing either Ohio State or Michigan on National Signing Day, or No. 2 quarterback Antonio Henton, the Buckeyes should be prepared to implement a second quarterback into their 2008 offense.

Continued.....
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ToledoBlade

Buckeyes maintain status quo
All but Gholston decide to remain

By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER


COLUMBUS - Ohio State fans can finally exhale. They held their breath while a half dozen star players considered leaving the program early for the NFL, and unlike the previous years, this time most of them opted to wear the scarlet and gray for one more season.

Taking inventory as yesterday's deadline to declare for the NFL draft passed, the Buckeyes have lost one player - junior defensive end Vernon Gholson - via an early exit.

Seniors Kirk Barton, Dionte Johnson and Larry Grant were using their final season of eligibility in 2007, so the net result is Ohio State will have 18 of its 22 starters back, plus its kicker and punter. If you include the backups, the glut of talent gets deeper, with 39 of the 44 players from the two-deep chart returning.

"There's a lot of talent in this junior class," Ohio State running back Maurice Wells said recently as the Buckeyes prepared to meet LSU in the national title game. "And if we get 'em all back - if we get most of 'em back - there's no reason to think we can't win another Big Ten championship, and then be right back here again next year, playing for it all."

Continued....
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CPD

OHIO STATE FOOTBALL
Ohio State Buckeyes football team will make room for freshmen to play


Monday, January 28, 2008Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus- Ohio State doesn't have many holes on its football roster, but there are always opportunities. Though 39 of 44 players from the two-deep roster will return in 2008, at least some members of Ohio State's highly touted 2008 recruiting class, which becomes official on National Signing Day on Feb. 6, will play right away.
Last season, nine of Ohio State's 15 freshmen saw some action, the first time in coach Jim Tressel's tenure that at least half the freshman class didn't redshirt. As LSU showed by playing five tailbacks and six receivers this year, there's always room for talent.
Though the Buckeyes may hold some of them back, the recruits were excited when five of six OSU juniors that pondered jumping to the NFL stayed to lay the foundation for another national championship run.


Cont...
 
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"That says something about the school, for a guy like James Laurinaitis to turn down $15 million to stay another year. It's another recruiting tool. And I'm not going to play a big part in it, but we're going to get that national championship next year. We're going to win it, hands down, end of story."
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Man I dunno if I would've said THAT if I was an incoming freshman. That puts un-needed pressure on the kids who are actually starting to perform.
 
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