2012 Defensive Line Discussion

[ShowMeBuck]

Can't believe this thread isn't filled with more comments like "very pleased with how Schutt, Washington, and Spence have played. Just wait until Williams and Bennett are back healthy and Vrabel, Fick, Withers, and Meyer have had a little more time together because we will be lethal.". The fact that quotes like that are not more common is proof how spoiled/unrealistic we all are. Give the staff a while to gel for crying out loud. They have had just 2 games together and we are working in lots of freshman. Personally I love the spot we are in at week 2 and can't wait to see how much better we WILL be.

 

[SEREbuckeye]

Can't believe this thread isn't filled with more comments like "very pleased with how Schutt, Washington, and Spence have played. Just wait until Williams and Bennett are back healthy and Vrabel, Fick, Withers, and Meyer have had a little more time together because we will be lethal.". The fact that quotes like that are not more common is proof how spoiled/unrealistic we all are. Give the staff a while to gel for crying out loud. They have had just 2 games together and we are working in lots of freshman. Personally I love the spot we are in at week 2 and can't wait to see how much better we WILL be.

THANK YOU. (greenies)

Thats what Ive been trying to point out to the fans I come in contact that have been dogging the front line. Its year one of a new coaching staff to be a family. Also its year one for the players to adjust to a new coaching staff and its play style.

We all also know when you hype the hell out of a player(s) and they don't play lights out immediately they fall short of expectations. Case in point, the front line. No doubt they are giving it their all and Im sure so are the coaches. Its just gonna take some time before going from a very good front to a great front. Maybe we as fans were looking for something to be a saving grace with not going to a bowl this year and we latched onto the defensive front and Johnny Simon's biceps.

They will come together in the next few games. They are bend-not-break but eventually will be lights out with time.

 

[BuckTwenty]

That's all well and good, but the fact of the matter is that this line has members that are pretty damn good... including a second-captain DE that is related to The Hulk and a future 1st round "lottery" pick at DT, without mentioning what Spence and company could develop into someday. If Purdue can find a way for its single superstar D-Lineman to get consistent pressure on the QB every year, how come this line with MULTIPLE stars can't get pressure on mid-major QB's, let alone a Big Ten QB? It's a valid question and one that needs no excuses (injuries, young/still learning, dog ate my homework)... just better play. Urban will find answers to his questions this week.

 

[SEREbuckeye]

That's all well and good, but the fact of the matter is that this line has members that are pretty damn good... including a second-captain DE that is related to The Hulk and a future 1st round "lottery" pick at DT, without mentioning what Spence and company could develop into someday. If Purdue can find a way for its single superstar D-Lineman to get consistent pressure on the QB every year, how come this line with MULTIPLE stars can't get pressure on mid-major QB's, let alone a Big Ten QB? It's a valid question and one that needs no excuses (injuries, young/still learning, dog ate my homework)... just better play. Urban will find answers to his questions this week.

The only thing outside of being a young coaching staff as well as early in the year is that its just player performance.

Take away the rankings, the size of the school, the names and colors on the jersey and you line up and go at it. Some of these smaller schools just have some good linemen that may have been getting the best of our guys. I know that its hard to believe we could field a team that is beatable but at the end of the day man, its just man vs man in the trenches (sometimes man & man vs man, lol).

 

[Buckeye86]

I think it's also scheme. From what I can tell the linemen are almost exclusively focused on maintaining their gap assignments in run defense which severely limits their ability to get to the quarterback. That, however, does not excuse rushing 3 in third and long situations. It is hard getting to the QB when everyone is facing a double team and the play calls clearly need to be more aggressive in those situations.

One final note about the LEO dropping into coverage; I believe the coaches have mentioned that Nathan Williams is by far the best coverage LEO on the team and Miller and Spence still need a lot of work in that area. With Williams out of the game, why the coaches would continue putting those guys in a situation of weakness rather than letting them get after the quarterback is beyond me.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

Last year tOSU was 72nd in sacks. This year, they're 78th so far.

Will they improve? Almost certainly.

The real question is: What were we expecting and on what basis?

 

[Taosman]

Simon is seeing too many blockers. Maybe it's as easy as moving him around more? And yes, getting 2 starters back in Williams and Bennett will help a lot. The UCF QB was a young guy and should not have had as much time as he had to scan the field. But this is still a very young team and there is a learning process with new coaches and freshman D lineman going on.
Still, the BIG is so bad this year that we could win a lot of games.

 

[Buckskin86]

'No excuse' for Buckeyes defensive line
By Andrew Holleran
[email protected]
Published: Sunday, September 9, 2012

The Ohio State defensive line boasts a preseason All-American, a projected first-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft and multiple players that were five-star prospects coming out of high school. The unit many claim to be one of the best in the country at its craft hasn?t lived up to expectations thus far this season, though.

Through two games against Miami (Ohio) and Central Florida, the stat line for the Buckeyes? front four reads: three sacks and five tackles for loss.

In other words, not the production first-year coach Urban Meyer expected out of his pass rushers.

Not even close, really, Meyer said.

?The negative I see right now is I don?t see the quarterback getting hit. And that?s something that has to be addressed,? Meyer said after Saturday?s 31-16 win against UCF.

The talent on the defensive line is evident in practice, but those skills have not been translating into performance on gameday.

?I feel like when we get to the game, we forget about all our moves and everything. I don?t know, we?re just not living up to our potential,? said freshman defensive end Noah Spence, a top-10 player from the 2012 recruiting class.


cont...

http://www.thelantern.com/sports/no-excuse-for-buckeyes-defensive-line-1.2895836#.UE3VzZaaKSo

 

[Bill Lucas]

The sack numbers so far don't really concern me. It's the lack of hurries and knockdowns. They're nonexistent so far.

The 48 yard run was a 6 yard run but #2 took such a horrific angle on the play that it became a 48 yard run. I had a perfect view of the angle he took at the ball carrier and he angled at where the runner was instead of where he was going to be.

I think the DL is stout against the run. Linebackers just need to use their speed and run inside out against the sweeps consistently. As coach Meyer stated, when the DL gets pressure on the quarterback a lot of the other issues will disappear.

 

[Coqui]

Personally, I don't care about the sacks, what I care about is making it so the QB can never attempt a 40+ yard pass. There should not be enough time for a QB to set and his WRs to go out far enough that he can lob it that far.

That being said, we saw that kind of game in the 3rd quarter. I don't know if it's them feeling out the offense in the first 2 quarters or what, but I wish we had that aggressiveness earlier so we won't risk falling behind against a great offense.

 

[OH10]

I think a big part of the problem is that we're relying a lot on freshmen. They may be five-star freshmen, but they're still just seeing their first action on a college football field. Without Williams and Bennett and the departure of Bellamy, we aren't nearly as deep as we thought we'd be. I think we all believed we had a great D-Line and that the freshmen were a luxury. But right now the freshmen are a necessity and that's going to take some time to work itself out.

 

[HorseshoeFetish]

I think a big part of the problem is that we're relying a lot on freshmen. They may be five-star freshmen, but they're still just seeing their first action on a college football field. Without Williams and Bennett and the departure of Bellamy, we aren't nearly as deep as we thought we'd be. I think we all believed we had a great D-Line and that the freshmen were a luxury. But right now the freshmen are a necessity and that's going to take some time to work itself out.

IMO our freshman have nothing to do with the perceived lack of production on the d-line, in fact I'd say they've been pretty damn productive, they do have all of the sacks..and a few hurries IIRC. 102 yds rushing in 2 games ain't too shabby either if you ask me. Granted Miami wasn't a ground attack team, but I'd dare say UCF is a lot better than Wisconsin based on what I've seen.

Also, I'm actually beginning to wonder if this is a secondary issue more than a d-line one. I haven't really had a chance to watch the UCF game for a second and third time...yet, but going back to the Miami game our d-line seemed to be running free at the QB a lot. My concern would be better given to multiple receivers being open on three step drops at this point than how much pressure our line is or isn't getting.

Maybe it's just me, but I've yet to see anyone on the opposing teams offense that's flat out faster than a couple guys in our secondary. I say bump em at the line and make it harder to get open, the d-line will get there if given that extra step or two.

 

[OregonBuckeye]

You take away the 1 big play(typically don't agree with doing this)which was caused by 2 DBs making poor plays and UCF had 55 yards on 22 attempts. This is after -1 yards vs Miami OH.

Not sure how that is getting "ran over".

I didn't see our DL stonewalling their OL like an Ohio State DL should against a CUSA team. Maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Very underwhelming game by the DL. They got ran over and no pressure.

The rush defense is #8 in the country at 51 YPG and is giving up less than 2.4 YPC. Take away Storm Johnson's 48-yard gain around the corner which should've been stopped near the LOS, and the rush defense is #1 at 27 YPG (and YPC is a paltry 1.3).

 

[Onebuckfan]

I agree players need to make plays..but the coaches need to put them in the best situation for them to make plays. Short passing can only be stopped by Inside pressure where I think we have been less than outstanding. I remember one Sabino Blitz against Miami and Spence got the sack. Double teams on Hankins and Simon will disappear with more blitzing but I trust the coaches. I would guess with a few of the communication problems the coaches are being a little conservative before adding more assignments.