Last line of defense
Notes and quotes from a Tuesday evening of interviews with defensive backs and their coaches, as well as a "bonus" tidbit from an offensive lineman:
--- While it's true that four of OSU's five "starters" return (counting nickel back Jermale Hines), there's no doubt that the team is inexperienced at cornerback. It's also clear that the Buckeyes enjoyed a rare luxury last year, when it had three legitimate cover corners in Chimdi Chekwa, Malcolm Jenkins and Donald Washington (Jenkins and Washington are gone).
I found it interesting to hear CBs coach Taver Johnson on that subject. First, he said he's never coached a team that had three cover corners able to play at once, which gives you some perspective on its rarity (this is Johnson's 16th season in the business).
He also noted how the complexion of the defense might change without those proven cover guys. Might it make OSU more hesitant to blitz and leave DBs exposed?
"I think if we can get back to that (having three cover corners), I think you'll see a defense that will stay aggressive," he said. "But I'll tell you what -- having the front that we have right now, and even with some of our young linebackers, we have some guys up front that can get it done. So you can do some things to hide some corners when you have a front like that that can get after people."
Still, at this point, OSU has gone from showcasing its corners to possibly "hiding" them.
-- Also from Taver Johnson, an interesting insight into what happens when you blitz. By nature, a blitz is a risk, it leaves a hole somewhere in your scheme.
He was asked how good Jermale Hines was in coverage. Here was his response:
"He's pretty good," Johnson said. "He's obviously a better blitzer than he is a cover guy. So there will some things where he won't be as effective.
"And sometimes, he gets caught out there (in single coverage), and you?ve got to go with it. Sometimes, he's lined up on that slot and we're bringing pressure from that other side. So we tell our guys, `When you're blitzing, you better get home. . . .because somebody is hung out to dry a little bit."
That was an issue for OSU at times early last year. When they blitzed, they weren't getting to the QBs in time, and the back end was exposed a bit.
--- Safety Kurt Coleman was asked what he wanted to improve upon this season. He had a breakout year in 2008 as a junior, making four interceptions.
"I've got to keep making more plays," he said. "I kind of pay attention to the top guys in the nation -- (Tennessee safety) Eric Berry had eight INTs, so that?s kind of one of my goals. I have to try and do better at that."
Then, realizing he was sounding a bit too "me" oriented for his liking, he added,:
"But I really feel like as this team gets better and we do well, my stats will come. So I'm not really worried about how I do -- just more of what the team is doing."
There's nothing wrong or selfish about a guy looking at another top player and using that as motivation to improve. I found nothing wrong with what Coleman said -- I just find it humorous that he's been so drilled on the "team first" thing that he hurried to make it sound more palatable to the coaching staff.
But yes, it is exciting to hear our '08 secondary class is doing well, especially with my hometown boy Domicone representin'. Come to think of it, half of our DB roster is Dayton area: Barnett and Coleman (Northmont), Evege (Wayne), Amos (Middletown), and Domicone (Beavercreek).
