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2012 Defense Discussion

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Buckeye86;2221423; said:
The more I think about it the more I think the problems revolve around the linebackers. Meyer hinted at that a little bit when he said it is difficult to man up on the edge because that means a LB has to man up on someone in the middle as well. That seems like the obvious reason we're not getting rid of those infuriating 10 yard cushions. Get rid of those cushions and it exposes the LBs more.

Sabino is okay. Shazier is inconsistent. Klein is too slow and Grant can't get on the field (probably mental although he looks a step slow as well when he does get on the field).

Conner Crowell was set back an entire season by injury.

And a bunch of freshmen.

Dorian Bell should be a senior leader of the group this year. He's not on the team.

Jordan Whiting would be an upperclassman. He's not on the team.

Jonathan Newsome would be an upperclassman. He's not on the team.

Chad Hagan is not on the team.

Scott McVey is not on the team.

Jamel Turner is not on the team.

Ejuan Price is not on the team.

Yeah, linebackers.

I hope that Fickell gets a little bit more of a cushion than he normally would based on that ridiculous amount of attrition alone.

I also hope to see drastic improvement sooner rather than later from the group (this Saturday would be ideal), but Fickell was dealt a bad hand and the group needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.

I believe we can nab a good one to close the 2013 class (Mitchell, McMillan or Johnson) and then go hard after the Big 3 in 2014. We need an influx of talent at LB in the worst way.
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You nailed it brother. With the LB problems you lay out, coaching staffs still trying to gel and mediocre safeties you have problems. What you have is the defense at tOSU in 2012.
 
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Some stats for comparioson:

First four opponents' total offense rankings:
Miami (105th, 320.75 ypg)
UCF (77th, 389.67 ypg)
Cal (61st, 411.00 ypg)
UAB (82nd, 376.33 ypg)

Total offense gained against tOSU:
Miami: 312 yards
UCF: 352 yards
Cal: 512 yards
UAB: 403 yards

Adjust ranking of first four opponents, removing tOSU yardage:
Miami (105th, 323.67 ypg)
UCF (62nd, 408.50 ypg)
Cal (82nd, 377.33 ypg)
UAB (91st, 363.00 ypg)

So, we held Miami to about nine yards less than they averaged against their other opponents, and UCF about 38 yards less. We gave up 101 yards more to Cal than they averaged against their other three opponents, and 50 more yards to UAB.

Taking out tOSU stats, Miami would remain unchanged in total offense rankings and UCF would move up 15 spots. However, Cal would drop 21 spots in total offense and UAB would fall nine spots.
 
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Cal was down to USC by only 7 in the fourth quarter until SC broke it open.
Cal is no gimme! Cal could go to a Bowl but it's early.
UCF is a solid, physical team who will probably contend for their conference crown and go Bowling.
UAB has some talent but is just not a decent team.
Miami has Dysert and that WR. They will move the ball on everybody but are one dimensional and a mediocre MAC team.
I see UCF and Cal as decent teams. Both very physical teams.
If we get healthy we will get a better gauge of where we're at.
Maybe this weekend?
 
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Taosman;2221709; said:
LBing? We need an infusion of top talent. We can't miss on Mitchell.
Click to expand...

Mitchell would be nice but I personally have big expectations for Jamal Marcus/Perkins once they get the system down. Both guys can fly and HIT just like Mitchell can.

Not to mention all the help on the way in 2014. LB's and Safties are the remaining pieces to the puzzle for this defense.

The DL has been addressed 10 fold. I believe the Secondary has been addressed in 2013's class as well. Just have to hope the 2012 LB recruits work out or the recruiting of LB's becomes that much more important.
 
Upvote 0
Taosman;2221709; said:
LBing? We need an infusion of top talent. We can't miss on Mitchell.
Click to expand...

Mitchell would be nice but I personally have big expectations for Jamal Marcus/Perkins once they get the system down. Both guys can fly and HIT just like Mitchell can.

Not to mention all the help on the way in 2014. LB's and Safties are the remaining pieces to the puzzle for this defense.

The DL has been addressed 10 fold. I believe the Secondary has been addressed in 2013's class as well. Just have to hope the 2012 LB recruits work out or the recruiting of LB's becomes that much more important.

OL, Saftey, and LB are the remaining holes that are in the process of being addressed.
 
Upvote 0
Buckeye86;2221423; said:
The more I think about it the more I think the problems revolve around the linebackers. Meyer hinted at that a little bit when he said it is difficult to man up on the edge because that means a LB has to man up on someone in the middle as well. That seems like the obvious reason we're not getting rid of those infuriating 10 yard cushions. Get rid of those cushions and it exposes the LBs more.

Sabino is okay. Shazier is inconsistent. Klein is too slow and Grant can't get on the field (probably mental although he looks a step slow as well when he does get on the field).

Conner Crowell was set back an entire season by injury.

And a bunch of freshmen.

Dorian Bell should be a senior leader of the group this year. He's not on the team.

Jordan Whiting would be an upperclassman. He's not on the team.

Jonathan Newsome would be an upperclassman. He's not on the team.

Chad Hagan is not on the team.

Scott McVey is not on the team.

Jamel Turner is not on the team.

Ejuan Price is not on the team.

Yeah, linebackers.

I hope that Fickell gets a little bit more of a cushion than he normally would based on that ridiculous amount of attrition alone.

I also hope to see drastic improvement sooner rather than later from the group (this Saturday would be ideal), but Fickell was dealt a bad hand and the group needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.

I believe we can nab a good one to close the 2013 class (Mitchell, McMillan or Johnson) and then go hard after the Big 3 in 2014. We need an influx of talent at LB in the worst way.
Click to expand...

All completely true.

My concern is though, why is the scheme so skewed to compensate (presumably) for this even against lesser opponents. While I agree with your analysis here generally, I have trouble with the idea that these guys are so inadequate as to be overmatched by almost all of our opponents so far. The lack of aggression/fear of getting beat is troubling, and I'm not sure if Fickell or someone else is to "blame" for that.
 
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My biggest concern other than guys do not break down to make the tackle or wrap up is that this defense does not get enough hats to the football. Our pursuit and hustle to the ball just is not there right now. People need to be hustling to the ball and gang tackling especially with how awful the individual, open field tackles have been.
 
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AKAK;2221892; said:
All completely true.

My concern is though, why is the scheme so skewed to compensate (presumably) for this even against lesser opponents. While I agree with your analysis here generally, I have trouble with the idea that these guys are so inadequate as to be overmatched by almost all of our opponents so far. The lack of aggression/fear of getting beat is troubling, and I'm not sure if Fickell or someone else is to "blame" for that.
Click to expand...

This! I can buy that our talent is down relative to some really outstanding previous Buckeye players. But not to the point that UAB, UCF, or Miami(Oh) present overwhelming mismatches against our defense.
 
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bukIpower;2221759; said:
Mitchell would be nice but I personally have big expectations for Jamal Marcus/Perkins once they get the system down. Both guys can fly and HIT just like Mitchell can.

Not to mention all the help on the way in 2014. LB's and Safties are the remaining pieces to the puzzle for this defense.

The DL has been addressed 10 fold. I believe the Secondary has been addressed in 2013's class as well. Just have to hope the 2012 LB recruits work out or the recruiting of LB's becomes that much more important.

OL, Saftey, and LB are the remaining holes that are in the process of being addressed.
Click to expand...

It's hard to choose which area (LB, Safety, OL) seems more key. Perkins and Marcus looked to be big gets with a lot of upside, but LB seems so thin right now that it appears that Mitchell is almost key to help out on special teams as well as providing some dpeth (although that depth would probably be only used in blowout situations, depending on how good the kid is).

Hopefully one of Marcus or Perkins (or Perry) will be there to help out Shazier and Grant next year. I think Shazier will continue to grow like Braxton and Smith are growing. He's already going to put up 130 or more tackles this year, it's just about how consistent he can become and if he can learn to wrap up. He can be a major leader of the defense over the rest of the year and next.
 
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This week should tell the tale of where the problem lies. I dont see MSU making us play nickel all that much so we should have all 3 linebacker spots on the field most of the game. Grant will have to have an impact and the safeties cannot miss tackles in the open field. Roby and Howard are better players than the WR's on MSU. The Dline has to be the Dline we think they should be and the LBers have to read and react very quickly. Make them throw consistently on us and don't allow Bell to get YAC. The offense will have to play mistake free football and just go be Buckeyes!
 
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If our offense can be the quick strike, attack team that urban and the other coaches are looking for, that will be our defense's lives exponentially easier. As it will force msu to attack as well, with an offense more designed to play keep away and ball control. If we get up by 2 scores on msu, then that takes them out of their comfort zone because they Can't just give the ball to bell, they need to keep up and that'll play into our defenses hands because I don't think their qb and wrs can match our dbs.
 
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