2014 tOSU Defense Discussion

[jlb1705]

That was the most balanced attack we have faced. Cook passed for 300 yards, but he had a QB rating of 68, and was only 25 of 45

That brings up another good point. With the sophistication of contemporary offenses and the number of plays that get run, teams are going to pile up counting stats on offense almost regardless of how well they are playing or how well an opposing defense is playing. 300 yards doesn't look good at first glance, but 300 yards passing is not the same thing it was in the Silver Bullets era and Cook was made to be terribly inefficient getting there.

 

[matcar]

That brings up another good point. With the sophistication of contemporary offenses and the number of plays that get run, teams are going to pile up counting stats on offense almost regardless of how well they are playing or how well an opposing defense is playing. 300 yards doesn't look good at first glance, but 300 yards passing is not the same thing it was in the Silver Bullets era and Cook was made to be terribly inefficient getting there.

Did we change scheme in the 4th quarter? Seemed like we weren't quite playing the same. Not trying to take anything away from MSU, but I almost thought we were playing clock management on defense at times.

 

[Steve19]

I thought these youngsters took it to another level. Very proud of that effort against a top offense. Bloody well done!

 

[buckeyeintn]

I thought these youngsters took it to another level. Very proud of that effort against a top offense. Bloody well done!

Did Kalis transfer to Sparty and I missed him?

 

[Jagdaddy]

Did we change scheme in the 4th quarter? Seemed like we weren't quite playing the same. Not trying to take anything away from MSU, but I almost thought we were playing clock management on defense at times.

Straight four-man rush with no odd-man fronts or significant pre-snap movement and little, if any, blitzing from what I could tell, excluding the TD pass play. Frustrated the hell out of me, but it least they're not using the three-man rush.

 

[Bestbuck36]

Straight four-man rush with no odd-man fronts or significant pre-snap movement and little, if any, blitzing from what I could tell, excluding the TD pass play. Frustrated the hell out of me, but it least they're not using the three-man rush.

A lot of delayed blitzing that I noticed. Problem was we didnt get there and it left us vulnerable.

 

[RB07OSU]

Did Kalis transfer to Sparty and I missed him?

Could very well be, he is tough to spot on the field while on his knees.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Did we change scheme in the 4th quarter? Seemed like we weren't quite playing the same. Not trying to take anything away from MSU, but I almost thought we were playing clock management on defense at times.

Once we went up 42-24, we backed off on defense to prevent the big strike...we let them score, essentially, as long as they took time to score.

 

[grnvllbuck]

I hate to be negative (but it's because I care!)...is anyone else concerned about the tackling? Fundamentally, it seems "off" from what it was a few years back. I see a lot of arm tackling, and everyone is tackling high...which does not bode well for smaller CBs trying to tackle bigger RBs and receivers. Anyone else noticing this?? Do they stress basic fundamental tackling in the Spring and earlier in the season and focus on other things later in the season? Urban said there are things we definitely need to work on...hopefully tackling fundamentals is one of them.

 

[HorseshoeFetish]

I hate to be negative (but it's because I care!)...is anyone else concerned about the tackling? Fundamentally, it seems "off" from what it was a few years back. I see a lot of arm tackling, and everyone is tackling high...which does not bode well for smaller CBs trying to tackle bigger RBs and receivers. Anyone else noticing this?? Do they stress basic fundamental tackling in the Spring and earlier in the season and focus on other things later in the season? Urban said there are things we definitely need to work on...hopefully tackling fundamentals is one of them.

Maybe if they don't tackle well this week I will be. I don't think the YAC against this team has been near what it has been in recent years.

 

[Coqui]

I hate to be negative (but it's because I care!)...is anyone else concerned about the tackling? Fundamentally, it seems "off" from what it was a few years back. I see a lot of arm tackling, and everyone is tackling high...which does not bode well for smaller CBs trying to tackle bigger RBs and receivers. Anyone else noticing this?? Do they stress basic fundamental tackling in the Spring and earlier in the season and focus on other things later in the season? Urban said there are things we definitely need to work on...hopefully tackling fundamentals is one of them.

As it stands, the MSU game was an anomaly. OSU apparently leads the country in lowest YAC.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

I hate to be negative (but it's because I care!)...is anyone else concerned about the tackling? Fundamentally, it seems "off" from what it was a few years back. I see a lot of arm tackling, and everyone is tackling high...which does not bode well for smaller CBs trying to tackle bigger RBs and receivers. Anyone else noticing this?? Do they stress basic fundamental tackling in the Spring and earlier in the season and focus on other things later in the season? Urban said there are things we definitely need to work on...hopefully tackling fundamentals is one of them.

I'll have to rewatch the game and pay more attention to the tackling, but the only blatant missed tackle I recall was Conley's missed tackle around the 8-yard-line on MSU's first drive which allowed the WR (Mumphrey?) to score.

 

[Taosman]

I hate to be negative (but it's because I care!)...is anyone else concerned about the tackling? Fundamentally, it seems "off" from what it was a few years back. I see a lot of arm tackling, and everyone is tackling high...which does not bode well for smaller CBs trying to tackle bigger RBs and receivers. Anyone else noticing this?? Do they stress basic fundamental tackling in the Spring and earlier in the season and focus on other things later in the season? Urban said there are things we definitely need to work on...hopefully tackling fundamentals is one of them.

We gotta give credit to how good the Spartans are. We got their best shot and they are an impressive, physical bunch. That is still a damn good team!

 

[bukIpower]

I didn't think it was as much missing tackles (yes there was some) as it was just great oline play on their part and us not dedicating more than 7 to stop the run. Multiple times we penetrated (yes, that's what she said) the LOS only to run past the play because the pulling guard would trap our guy.

I also though our outside leverage was very poor up front. I felt our ends were aligned too much inside and were easily hemmed in opening off tackle. Also we rarely brought the safeties down for support for fear of Lippett getting behind us.

Overall it wasn't bad but again we didn't finish the game out. We have a tendency to dominate for 3 quarters then let up and i would like to see us put together a complete game. Bottom line i want to see our defensive line take over this weekend but to be honest at least to me i don't think they've played there best at all yet. I'm worried we are too light up front to be a dominant run defense because against MSU and Navy i saw a team sort of getting pushed around a little too much.

I hope this time with not having to worry about the deep ball that we can put 8-9 down low and really attack the middle as well as the edges. Stop their run game and its OVER if we don't it'll be a good game. I have a sense they will go around that 170-200 mark because i don't think it's our style to cheat that heavily against a run dominant team. I think at first we will try to play them straight up and IMO they will have some early success.

 

[GeorgiaBuck2]

Remember how bad tackling was the first couple years of the Meyer era? The improvement in tackling is night and day. The work that Ash and the defensive coaches have done this year is remarkable considering how bad this team was at fundamental tackling. I don't think there is any need for concern at this point.