Secondary at its best when it gets physical
Friday, December 10, 2010
By Ken Gordon
The Columbus Dispatch
HIT MAN: Ohio State safety Jermale Hines, colliding with Iowa's Marvin McNutt that resulted in a pass interference penalty, isn't shy when it comes to making a tackle. (Neal C. Lauron | Dispatch)
One week after his hard hits caused some controversy at Iowa, Ohio State safety Jermale Hines proved he had learned a lesson:
Keep hitting.
Just six minutes into the Michigan game Nov.27, on the Wolverines' first possession, the visitors faced a fourth-and-8 on OSU's 28-yard line.
Quarterback Denard Robinson lofted a pass toward tight end Kevin Koger. Linebacker Brian Rolle had coverage underneath, and both leaped for the ball, which bounced off Koger's hands and floated in the air, possibly still catchable.
Any chance of that, though, was erased when Hines came up and leveled Koger.
It was a statement of sorts for Hines, who was penalized for a personal foul for a hit on an intended receiver at Iowa, and later pasted Hawkeyes running back Adam Robinson on an attempted screen pass, causing a concussion with a blow that could have been flagged, as well.
"I mentioned to him, 'You know, you might get fined for that next year (in the NFL),'" cornerback Chimdi Chekwa said. "But Jermale always wants to attack. He had opportunities (to hit) and he took his opportunities. That's Jermale Hines, and he does what he always does."
But the aggressiveness was not limited to Hines. In the season's stretch run, the entire Ohio State secondary proved that when challenged, it would respond with physical play.
Cont...