2012 Defensive Line Discussion

[Merih]

It would make a lot of sense to shift to an NFL/hybrid 5-2-4 formation with Williams and Simon at LB -- with C.Grant, Whiting and S.Klein as backups. The current LBs could move to Athletic DE's. Shazier, Sabino, S.Miller, Pittman, Washington, and Perry could pressure passers, seal the edges, and take TEs & Backs in pass coverage. Strategy may depend on Williams recovery.

With the proven field speed of Shazier ; and the (high school) speed of (and sizes of ) Spence and Perry -- they could play Safety, LB or DL -- but it will be fun watching how it plays out.

Not sure if you're serious?

 

[Taosman]

We're dangerously thin at LBer. Don't think any are moving.
In fact we may see some safeties and DEs move to LBer.

 

[Buckrock]

We're dangerously thin at LBer. Don't think any are moving.
In fact we may see some safeties and DEs move to LBer.

Klein, Sabino, Shazier, Roberts, Whiting, Perry, Crowell, Grant. We will be fine. We will add at least one and maybe 2.

 

[TooTall]

Klein, Sabino, Shazier, Roberts, Whiting, Perry, Crowell, Grant. We will be fine. We will add at least one and maybe 2.

Agreed. I think we're fine. I also think one of the two we land in this class will see immediate playing time, IMO.

 

[79Redmen]

Best 22

Watched the Baltimore Ravens running out of a 5/2 Defense yesterday. With the wealth of DE's and DT's on the team, and (imo) Williams and Simon being the most valuable - with Hankins and Shazier having to be on the field -- the scheming should be interesting.

The reports are that Spence runs a 4.5 forty; Perry being a state ranked high hurdler must run a 4.5-4.7 -- that is Safety speed, whether they are 210 or 250 lbs.

 

[wadc45]

I never said that would be the EXACT order they would be on the field. Just threw names in under a certain position. JT Moore was a very solid contributer this past season and I would not be surprised to see him as the starter at LEO if Nate is not fully healthy at the beginning of the year.

My bad...I read it like a depth chart.

 

[k2onprimetime]

Williams needs to go to LB. We should put Steve Miller, Noah Spence, or Adolphus at LEO. We gotta get the best 11 out there and we need depth at LB. Williams at MIKE, and Shazier at WILL.

 

[pnuts34]

Why is there such a worry for the LB position? If/when we get several more commits for the 2012 class we will be fine. Williams shoudl stay at the position he's been since he's got to school. Why would u move someone in their senior year anyway, especially after they came off a year in which they were injured? We just need to develop the talent we have Andrew bringing in. No one should be moved, IMO, unless they're moving laterally along the slime. And no 5-2 schemes, we barely did well in our defensive scheme this past year. Lets enjoy our 2012 dline haul, they will develop into stellar college players right now they're all.pretty much still projects.

 

[Taosman]

Williams needs to go to LB. We should put Steve Miller, Noah Spence, or Adolphus at LEO. We gotta get the best 11 out there and we need depth at LB. Williams at MIKE, and Shazier at WILL.

Exactly! And some guys will be leaving for lack of playing time or opportunity.

 

[Taosman]

And how many of those freshman LBers will be a Ryan Shazier?
What we got is Shazier,Sabino, Klein and a bunch of guys who haven't played much if at all. That's far from ideal. We're hoping Grant steps up.
And we need Sabino to play way better.

 

[Bill Lucas]

MSU had 40

To be fair, 39 of those were against us.

 

[Bill Lucas]

Watched the Baltimore Ravens running out of a 5/2 Defense yesterday. With the wealth of DE's and DT's on the team, and (imo) Williams and Simon being the most valuable - with Hankins and Shazier having to be on the field -- the scheming should be interesting.

The reports are that Spence runs a 4.5 forty; Perry being a state ranked high hurdler must run a 4.5-4.7 -- that is Safety speed, whether they are 210 or 250 lbs.

Dude, stop. :)

 

[79Redmen]

Dude, stop. :)

I like the topic, I don't want to stop....I ain't hurtin no-one.... My point is the coaches may need to be creative to put the best players on the field.

OSU has grabbed two great DL classes. Each DL scholarship given 2011 and 2012 were good decisions. But, next year there will be 16 or 17 talented players fighting for playing time in 4 positions.(not counting Fellows or Perry). The coaches are going to have some difficult decisions to distribute playing time, and determining red-shirts.

There has also been some exaggerations about how beneficial it is to have a deep, deep bench. Starters are starters for a reason, and usually only 6 DL's will be needed per game. Even in blow-out games, it is difficult to get more than 9 different players on the field. If I were Michael Bennett, I would probably ask to change to Guard to be able to play every down.

If I were Williams or Simon, I would want some LB practice time. If the defense is schemed correctly, they could be monsters. And, their NFL careers might depend on some LB development.

 

[Bestbuck36]

The best defensive line I can remember off the top of my head is the one Florida State ran out there in the mid-90's. The reason they were awesome, aside from them being damn good at every position, is the fact that they were 8 or 9 deep and stayed fresh all game long. I hope these freshmen can make the two deep next year and provide that type of coverage for our Bucks. That instantly makes the job our D-backs have to do that much easier. The linebackers have to follow Shazier's lead and just get after it, no time to think. Starts and ends with the Dline. We were good there this year, but if we get to outstanding the defense will emerge as one of the tops in the nation again, where they belong.

 

[k2onprimetime]

I like the topic, I don't want to stop....I ain't hurtin no-one.... My point is the coaches may need to be creative to put the best players on the field.

OSU has grabbed two great DL classes. Each DL scholarship given 2011 and 2012 were good decisions. But, next year there will be 16 or 17 talented players fighting for playing time in 4 positions.(not counting Fellows or Perry). The coaches are going to have some difficult decisions to distribute playing time, and determining red-shirts.

There has also been some exaggerations about how beneficial it is to have a deep, deep bench. Starters are starters for a reason, and usually only 6 DL's will be needed per game. Even in blow-out games, it is difficult to get more than 9 different players on the field. If I were Michael Bennett, I would probably ask to change to Guard to be able to play every down.

If I were Williams or Simon, I would want some LB practice time. If the defense is schemed correctly, they could be monsters. And, their NFL careers might depend on some LB development.

Simon to LB? No. Williams to LB? Yes.

Nate has already played a hybrid DE/LB and will definitely be a LB in the pros. I want Johnny at SSDE.