2008 tOSU Defense discussion (official thread)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

Improved pass rush aids OSU's defense



By SAM BLACKBURN ? Staff Writer ? September 28, 2008

COLUMBUS - Unbeaten Minnesota entered Ohio Stadium Saturday ranked fourth nationally and leading the Big Ten in turnover differential.
By the time it left, a hard-charging Ohio State defense turned the tables.
Fueled by an improved pass rush, which was aided by some juggling on the defensive line, the Buckeyes allowed just 268 yards and forced three turnovers that resulted in 17 points in a 34-21 win over the Golden Gophers in the Big Ten opener. They entered averaging 36.7 points and 404 yards per game.
Some new faces made significant contributions.
Redshirt sophomore Thaddeus Gibson had four tackles and managed steady pressure off the edge against Gophers' quarterback Adam Weber in his second start at defensive end.

Continued...........

 

[GrizzlyBuck]

I loved the aggressiveness of the unit yesterday. The front four played with intensity all game long and they played fresh as the D-line rotation gave them all time to rest. If they can continue to get some pressure on the QB and the D-backs can continue to catch the errant passes, this D could turn out to be a darn fine one, and one not a lot of teams would want to face by the end of the season.

 

[Brandon]

The key to any defense is the defensive line. You could have the worst secondary in the league, but if your defensive line pressures the quarterback, your bad secondary can suddenly turn into a good one.

I cant wait until next season when Melvin Fellows gets some reps, that kids gonna be a monster.

 

[Taosman]

Improvement all the way around. Good to see them going forward. Next week will be against a different style offense so we will see a different defensive set, possibly with more run guys in the starting group. I'm not impressed with the Wiscy QB. And their All American tightend is dinged. That was their big passing threat. It will be a war for 4 quarters.

 

[Buck Kid 66]

I cant wait until next season when Melvin Fellows gets some reps, that kids gonna be a monster.

Don't be shock if he gets redshirted. He will need to put on some weight and we should have good depth their next year.

 

[Holy Buckeye!]

Williams is looking like a Player!!!

 

[WaitingforKickoff]

I think Melvin Fellows is exactly the kinda guy that we need at DT. Big and strong dude who have the quickness to disrupt things and is very good in pursuit. Bellamy is another kid who really impresses me, although his excellent use of hands and leverage may make him an even better OL. The future looks bright.

 

[Buck Kid 66]

t

hink Melvin Fellows is exactly the kinda guy that we need at DT.

Do you mean Defensive end. He is know DT.

 

[OregonBuckeye]

Rewatched the Minny game. It is absolutely painful watching our D sometimes. We are just incapable of stuffing the read option up the middle. That play is a guaranteed 5-9 yard gain. Illinois and PSU must be licking their chops. Bring back the Dantonio-style D and keep recruiting the hell out of DL prospects. I don't want to see safeties 15+ yards off the line of scrimmage all the time and no more recruiting classes of just 2 or 3 DL(especially if they're projects).

 

[Buckeyecty4]

We will have serious issues against the PSU run game.. they gashed us up the middle last yr, until they fell behind and had to throw. They may have the best Oline in CFB this year. It's gonna be a task to hold them down.

But as you said, not sure there is much we can do about it. We need to recruit, recruit, recruit that Dline, in particular the interior guys. Would help if our MLB would get himself up near the line and help out:(

 

[Onebuckfan]

I think the DT's could use a litttle help. I think using line stunts once in a while would help keep the OL on their heels. Another tactic tOSU could use on running downs ..is something the BEARS do often ..Lovie wants his tacles to penetrate and to help confuse the guards and center ..he has Urlacher and Briggs press the inside gaps sometimes blitzing one two or neither..even when they are dropping in to a soft zone.. I would love to see JL and MF do the same especially with Homan looking more comfortable out there against the run..make the OL think or hesitate and it might give our DT"S an advantage ..if our DT's have a little success I think they would have some confidence and just build on it...

 

[MSURacerDT55]

I Bellamy is another kid who really impresses me, although his excellent use of hands and leverage may make him an even better OL. The future looks bright.

With all due respect, that is what makes a great defensive tackle. The combination of great hands, leverage, and pair that with get off and a motor, that is what we lack in our current D-Tackles. They don't crowd the ball, they don't get off of the ball at the snap, and they are horrible with their hands. All they seem to do is bull rush everytime. You have to use your hands to seperate yourself from the lineman and become a player. Just my opinion

 

[dnewmire]

God do I agree

Rewatched the Minny game. It is absolutely painful watching our D sometimes. We are just incapable of stuffing the read option up the middle. That play is a guaranteed 5-9 yard gain. Illinois and PSU must be licking their chops. Bring back the Dantonio-style D and keep recruiting the hell out of DL prospects. I don't want to see safeties 15+ yards off the line of scrimmage all the time and no more recruiting classes of just 2 or 3 DL(especially if they're projects).

I dont understand this defense, some series is shuts down the offense completely and others it give ups stupid plays and allows the other team to gain momentum and drive down the field. I saw some dropped passes on Wisc side of the ball that would have been a 1st down and new life for their drive. I just dont understand how they owned the line of scrimmage in the 1st quarter then got pushed all over the place the 2nd and 3rd? Very frustng cuz this defense was suppose to be tops in the nation and it has holes big holes. We;ve had trouble with the spread offense but do so well against ol school offensive teams like Wisc who run the ball well and dont spread it out. But They just ran the ball down the defenses throat. Its hard to play conservative tressel ball when u cannot completely depend on your defense and special teams to win. Sorry my rant :( Hope we play better against Purdue and PSU these are some tough games here that determine our BCS picture

Dan

 

[calibuck]

Don't forget that the other team recruits O-linemen who can hold off the D-linemen......and it appears that the 0-linemen are getting better at holding off of our D-linemen. I see great effort on every play, but not the results. If our D guys can get handled one-on-one by their O guys, then the extra lineman can shoot the gap and tie up our LBs. At the SC game, it seemed to me like JL and MF were making stops 5 yards deep, instead of in the gaps, where they should have been waiting. It also looked like Thaddeus was getting 'nudged' away from the QB by the tackle, and that he was too light to work through it....Dunno, but maybe it was the quality of the tackle, but Gibson was certainly making an effort.

Anyone out there got an opinion about 'light' DL's, versus 'space-eater' types? It seems like the SEC DTs can fight through (maybe they don't call holding as much in the B10?) and make plays. Our guys are certainly big enough, and strong enough, and face it, they wouldn't play unless their 'motors' were constantly engaged. Maybe it's just a 'good combination' type of thing. Someone closer to the program than I am needs to help explain why our D-ends are now playing DT and our DTs are sitting on the pine. Thanks in advance,


:gobucks3::gobucks4:

 

[cincibuck]

What I believe and what the tools on TV are saying seem to be one in the same: we ain't getting much of a push out of our front four. As a result, IMO, Freeman and Laurenitus haved looked pretty average this year because they're not getting clean shots at anybody because the other guys blockers are getting to them before the runner gets there.

We (the TV folks and me) may be dead wrong, but that's how I see it at this point in time.