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2008 tOSU Defense discussion (official thread)

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ESPN: Ranking the Big Ten defensive ends

Ranking the Big Ten defensive ends

July 28, 2008 11:41 AM
Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
[...]

1. Maurice Evans, Jr., Penn State -- Middleton had more sacks last season, but Evans proved to be a greater backfield menace. He ranked sixth nationally with 21.5 tackles for loss and ranked second in the Big Ten with five forced fumbles to go along with 12.5 sacks. Penn State boasts the Big Ten's best line, which makes it harder for opponents to double-team Evans.

[...]

6. Tim Jamison, Sr., Michigan -- Jamison is always around the ball and should flourish under new defensive coordinator Scott Shafer. One of many Wolverines players to benefit from the new strength program, Jamison had 10 tackles for loss last season to go along with two forced fumbles and an interception.

7. Brandon Graham, Jr., Michigan -- Graham recorded only 25 tackles last season, but he made them count. The sophomore led Michigan in sacks (8.5) and ranked second in forced fumbles (3). He also recovered two fumbles. Graham's summer weight-room progress is well documented, and he could shoot up this list by the end of the season.

[...]

9. Lawrence Wilson, Jr., Ohio State -- Many tabbed Wilson for a breakout season in 2007, but a broken leg in the opener sidelined the promising pass rusher. He's back to full strength and appears to be the ideal replacement for Gholston. If Wilson builds off his momentum as a freshman, when he collected three sacks and five tackles for loss, he'll soar up the list.

10. Cameron Heyward, So., Ohio State -- Heyward should be primed for a strong season after filling in well for Wilson as a freshman. He finished second on the team in tackles for loss (10) and added three pass breakups and a fumble recovery. The athletic Heyward provides versatility at end and should complement Wilson, who's more of a pure pass rusher.

cont'd...
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10. Cameron Heyward, So., Ohio State -- Heyward should be primed for a strong season after filling in well for Wilson as a freshman. He finished second on the team in tackles for loss (10) and added three pass breakups and a fumble recovery. The athletic Heyward provides versatility at end and should complement Wilson, who's more of a pure pass rusher.
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That's a joke. Heyward is going to have a monstrous season, he will be much higher than 10 at the seasons end.
 
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Ohio State football: Heacock defends his defensive tackles
Posted by Doug Lesmerises
August 12, 2008

Jim Heacock wants more from his defensive tackles, but he doesn't like to hear that from anyone else. That's what coaches should do, support their guys. But he still really does need more from them.Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Heacock has come full circle, from asking more of his defensive tackles in the spring to now defending them from anyone who believes the Buckeyes need more from their defensive tackles.

Here's Heacock in the spring when I asked him about the pressure his defensive tackles put on quarterbacks last year.

"I wasn't happy at all with the inside pressure," Heacock said.

Today, I asked Heacock about measuring defensive end Vernon Gholston's contribution to the pass rush last year (I was thinking about 75 percent), and he took it as an opportunity to defend his defensive tackles.


The four-man rotation will be the same as last year --- Todd Denlinger, Dexter Larimore, Nader Abdallah and Doug Worthington --- with the possibility of defensive ends Cameron Heyward and/or Robert Rose playing inside on passing downs to allow Thaddeus Gibson to enter as a pass rusher at defensive end.

The main four are older and wiser. Larimore, especially, is bigger and stronger. Heacock said Abdallah is a much better player. There's no reason to expect they won't be better. But there is also no guarantee that they'll take the huge strides to be game-changers.
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Lawrence Wilson and Heyward also provide that at defensive end. But are we sure the talent is at quite that level at defensive tackle? They'll have to show it this year.

But defensive tackle is the position that I've harped on the most this off-season, and I've seen similar sentiments other places. As we prepare for Heacock's take, let us remember that we're not really talking about sacks here.

We're talking about collapsing the pocket, making the quarterback uncomfortable, making him move his feet, disrupting plays, creating awkward throws and creating turnovers. And everyone knows Ohio State wants and needs to create more turnovers. So the sack total --- and the four defensive linemen accounted for five of Ohio State's 43 sacks last year --- isn't what I'm thinking about. The issue is pressure.

Obviously, opinions on that issue have reached Heacock and his players. Here is Heacock's say:

"I read and hear a lot about our inside guys and not getting many (sacks), but if you look over the years, inside guys aren't going to get as many as outside guys. That's a fact. Whether we want to believe it or not, that's the truth.

"For these guys, because they heard so much negative about their sack production, you can look back over the years and look back at the Ryan Picketts of the world, how many sacks did he have when he played? [He had eight in 37 career games, three in his final year.] And he was a first-round draft choice. And you go on and on.

"In our defensive scheme, we really try to control the line of scrimmage and let our linebackers run. We ask our defensive line to do a good job of keeping people off the linebackers and let them run, and that's what we've been good at. Sometimes that doesn't equate to great pass rush. I think they're going to be better there ... I know they're going to be better there this year."
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Ohio State football: Heacock defends his defensive tackles - Cleveland Sports News – The Latest Breaking News, Game Recaps and Scores from The Plain Dealer
 
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I'm not so concerned with the lack of pressure on the QB's. Yes, we need to get a rush and as the author said, create more plays. However, I just want to see Lil Animal, Freeman, and Homan free to make tackles. Last year we took a pounding on the ground inside against a good interior OL (Penn St. was all over Lil Animal, LSU opened big holes for Hester, Juice ran it up the got non stop on us, etc.). Just plug the gaps in the run game, make an occasional sack, and get the QB uncomfortable...that's all I ask. I've been worried about our DT's since the '06 recruiting season, and freaked out in '07. Hopefully our guys step up. However, I really like the idea of Rose and/or Heyward sliding down on passing downs, with Thad on the edge/
 
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Heacock talks about defending the spread, who'll play in the nickel, and the camp buzz about Thad Gibson.

Youtube from the Ozone:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVOXX_hwN-8]YouTube - Jim Heacock talks with reporters after practice[/ame]
 
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CFN Unit rankings.

cfn

1. USC
2. tOSU
9. TSUN
15. Wiscy
24. Illinois
27. Florida
31. Penn St.
35. Mich. St.
36. Iowa
1. USC
When linebackers Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing decided to forego the NFL Draft for one more year, it ensured that the Trojans would have one of the nastiest back sevens in the country. Not only are the two seniors All-America-caliber, but the secondary is sensational. Safeties Kevin Ellison and Taylor Mays are among six players with starting experience. Even without current pros Sedrick Ellis and Lawrence Jackson, the defensive line will be just fine. On the outside, speedy Everson Griffen is good enough to make folks forget about Jackson. On the inside, senior Fili Moala is about to shed his anonymity while making a strong push for All-American honors and a spot in the first round of next year?s NFL Draft.

2. Ohio State
Sackmaster Vernon Gholston and productive all-around LB Larry Grant are gone. That's about the only negative on what was the nation's best total and scoring defense. The stunning decisions by LB James Laurinaitis and CB Malcolm Jenkins to return for their senior seasons, when they would've been first round draft picks this year, makes the already good-looking defense something special. All four starters return to the secondary that helped lead the way for the nation's best pass defense. Laurinaitis and running-mate Marcus Freeman will make up for the potential issue at the third linebacking spot, while Lawrence Wilson, Cameron Heyward, and Thaddeus Gibson are great-looking ends who should be camped out in opposing backfield. The key will be the tackles. Mediocre last season, at least by Buckeye standards, Todd Denlinger, Doug Worthington, Dexter Larimore and Nader Abdallah are expected to be far better.

Cont'd ...
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Question for DC Heacock

Will Ohio State stay in the same set all year long yet again?
Will there be any change of schemes ever?

2 years ago the newspapers read "But these Buckeyes looked completely flummoxed by Florida's frenetic offense at the outset. Trying to match up with the Gators' shifting formations, they often jumped around at the line and still were out of position."

It was the Buckeyes DEFENSE that had the Miami's OFFENSE 'flummoxed' in the first National Championship the Bucks played this decade. Ever since then Ohio State has had great and tremendous athletes but utilize a defensive strategy on par with Junior High Schools making it easy for good opponants to improvise and take advantage of.

Against Youngstown State, I might be wrong, but it looked like the same set defense the entire game. Granted, athletic prowess held the mighty Penguins to negative yards rushing. Ohio State plays USC in 13 days. Ohio State obviously has the athletes to hold USC to no points I believe.

It's going to be hard enough to score on USC but if Ohio States defense doesn't mix it up, the Buckeyes are going to get beat and that would yet again impair alot of Buckeye fan's happiness.
 
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Kennesaw71;1244940; said:
Against Youngstown State, I might be wrong, but it looked like the same set defense the entire game. Granted, athletic prowess held the mighty Penguins to negative yards rushing. Ohio State plays USC in 13 days.
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Why would they show anything if the base vanilla defense is pitching a shutout? Why provide fresh film to an opponent?

Kennesaw71;1244940; said:
Ohio State obviously has the athletes to hold USC to no points I believe. .
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Do you understand how difficult it is to pitch a shutout in D-1 football?
 
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