2014 tOSU Defense Discussion

[Taosman]

Not sure "excited" is the word I'd use to describe what I'm feeling in regards to our run D facing Melvin Gordon in the B1G title game

"Excited" like holding a stick of dynamite that's lit.

 

[bukIpower]

I was about to say you don't lose Borland and become better on defense but I'm looking at their performances for the year and my god. 3 weeks from even potentially happening and I'm already at a "oh I'm not so sure bout this" stage... I look at this and I see a team built to give us trouble with this years addition. Physical offensive line, the total package as a RB, good TE's, and a great defense.

Back to our defense though. We will talk all week about needing to stop the run and how elite defenses don't allow the run then Indiana will come to town and will put up 200 yards rushing (although they will lose big). I'm tired of hearing about the lack of depth up front and how this is not what elite defenses do... JUST DO IT already. If we need depth then play people and if we can't stop the run commit more people to stop it. What I see from this defense so far this year is we are not doing a good job taking away what people do best and when teams are one dimensional we still have trouble taking it away. Navy? No. Cincinnati? No. Penn State? Kinda, but really were on the ropes at the end. Michigan State? No. Minnesota? No.

I love what we did with Lippett against MSU with putting our best on him and eliminating him, but I'd like to see the same approach done with our run defense. I'd like to see a defensive front of Washington, Schutt, Bennett, and Bosa to get some more size out there with two 280+ ends to help seal things. Hopefully we can figure out a way to shore things up because like I said if we play Wisconsin straight up (7 in the box) we are not big or experienced enough to stop them that way.

 

[GeorgiaBuck2]

Did you see what we did to Michigan St? I'm not too concerned about going against their D.

 

[jwinslow]

I compiled this for a conversation on scout and figured I'd post it here as well:

Short version:

They have not recruited enough DTs, especially nose tackles (rarest position for talent).

At DE, they were unlucky with attrition, losing Spence, Marcus, Pittman, Slade and Thompson for this season.

At DT they were playing with fire with such low numbers and it came back to bite them.


Long version:

Here's how the depth chart would look without attrition - which obviously is foolishness given the steady flow of attrition (injuries, behavior, position switches, losing position battles, not panning out, etc).

DE Bosa | Miller, Pittman, Lewis, Moore, Sprinkle, Baldwin

DT Bennett | Schutt, Hill, Price

DT Washington | Hale, Munger, Carter, Farris, Thompson

DE Spence | Marcus, Frazier, Holmes, Slade

Here's the real world depth chart:

DE Bosa | Lewis, Holmes ... Sprinkle

DT Bennett | Schutt, Hill ...

DT Washington | Munger, Carter ...

DE Miller | Frazier

Moved to O: Baldwin, Price, Farris, Hale

Attrition: Pittman, Spence, Marcus

Injured: Thompson, Slade, Moore

And a look back at recruiting classes:

DT Hankins - stud, would have graduated last year if he had not left last year
DE Moore - moved to TE and finished his career on a medical waiver
DE Baldwin - moved to OL and is thriving

DT Bennett - stud, high draft pick. Anchor of defense (even if his style of play can compound the interior D issues)
DT Farris - moved to OL to shore up depth. The rotation would look different with him here, imo.
DT Hale - solid depth guy moved to OL to shore up depth.
DE Miller - good role player that has raised his game in Spence's absence. Overvalued in HS but a quality signee.

DE Marcus - washed out off the field. Would be a quality depth guy as a pass rusher. Big loss.
DE Spence - washed out off the field. Will he return?
DE Pittman - washed out off the field.
DT Washington - pretty good player. He has his weaknesses but he has been a good pickup.
DT Schutt - battled injuries and has been a consistent depth guy, though he hasn't quite broken through.

DE Bosa - monster.
DE Lewis - depth guy, plays regularly.
DE Sprinkle - benchwarmer thus far.
DT Munger - seeing reps as a backup but has not put it together yet.
DT Hill - has not put it together. Has mostly been a contributor when the game is a blowout.
DT Price - moved to OL where he is thriving.

DE Holmes - seeing time in small spurts, mostly on passing downs. High ceiling but is still learning the position.
DE Slade - injured most or all of the season.
DL Thompson - injured most or all of the season.

I think there's a decent argument to be made that Bollman is partially to blame. If their OL recruiting was not so lousy, perhaps one of the four DL could have stayed on defense, with 3 of them projecting inside. It would not fix the problem but the depth would look a lot different.

 

[bukIpower]

At this point why not move Hale back to defense for the stretch because the interior is going to need all the help they can get in the Big Championship game. He's not playing anyways so why not get some use out of him? After all he was the starter last year at DT?

 

[Michael Bluth]

In lately do you mean the last 2 games? Minny had god awful conditions and turnovers put their offense in easy positions to score, and they had a terrible QB. MSU is a run based team with an above average QB, I kind of figured both teams would be able to run some on us. Idk if IU and scUM can replicate that kind of running success.

Yes, the past two games. Minny being able to run on us was a bit concerning, considering it's the only thing they can do. MSU is a very balanced offense and tough to stop completely. Wisconsin is Minnesota x 4. I'm worried they'll be able to play keepaway, and leave Barrett and co. on the sidelines. We need to just load the box entirely.

 

[OSUK]

First an order of business: someone said earlier that Minny was more balanced than Navy - and they are, however we are picking the prettiest of two ugly girls. Minnesota had one game where they were 1/6 for 13 yards passing.

I actually thought the defense played well overall. It was tough conditions, and Minnesota is a decent team. They can and will run the ball, although they were gashing Ohio State at times.

The biggest problem was the 3 quick changes. A win for the defense on a quick change depends on where the ball is turned over. If it's on your own 40 back to the opponent's goal line, a win is forcing a punt. If it's from your 30 on in, a win is forcing a FG attempt or a punt.


Barrett threw a pick that was returned to around the OSU 40. Minny TD.

Marshall fumbled into the endzone resulting in a touchback. 80 yard Minny TD drive.

Marshall muffs a punt in the Minny redzone. Minny TD.


That's 0/3, and that's not good. Would be interested in hearing ideas on why they struggled in the quick change situation Saturday.

 

[Jagdaddy]

I compiled this for a conversation on scout and figured I'd post it here as well:

Short version:

They have not recruited enough DTs, especially nose tackles (rarest position for talent).

At DE, they were unlucky with attrition, losing Spence, Marcus, Pittman, Slade and Thompson for this season.

At DT they were playing with fire with such low numbers and it came back to bite them.


Long version:

Here's how the depth chart would look without attrition - which obviously is foolishness given the steady flow of attrition (injuries, behavior, position switches, losing position battles, not panning out, etc).

Here's the real world depth chart:

And a look back at recruiting classes:



I think there's a decent argument to be made that Bollman is partially to blame. If their OL recruiting was not so lousy, perhaps one of the four DL could have stayed on defense, with 3 of them projecting inside. It would not fix the problem but the depth would look a lot different.

I'd like to see them get Chris Carter and the beard of fury some meaningful time vs. IU and, if warranted UM. He's the kind of space eater that should (emphasis on "should and yeah, "trust the coaches") be able to really clog interior lanes and let the back 7 run to the ball.

 

[maximumblitz]

Yeah, bring back Hale to keep folks from getting worn down. Good idea.

 

[RB07OSU]

At this point why not move Hale back to defense for the stretch because the interior is going to need all the help they can get in the Big Championship game. He's not playing anyways so why not get some use out of him? After all he was the starter last year at DT?

I honestly questioned the move to start the year to some extent, but especially now. Price has earned and owned that spot, with Farris improving vastly to provide depth there along with Underwood. We need him to spell our DTs some. Schutt is our primary rotational guy and does a good job against the run but is not consistent (UFM said he was disappointed in him so far in the presser today). The others have been disappointing to not see contribute in meaningful minutes...particularly Hill and Carter (hence UFM shaking his head in disgust when asked about the backups). Carter just has not developed at all and Hill is well past that injury and has a world of talent. Munger I think will be fine but it's going to be a bit for him to shake off the rust.

At DE, I think it is just really tough to ever take Bosa off the field for more than a play or two...he is the best player on the entire team. Then Frazier/Miller provide a different skillset than most of the team. What I want to see there is a pure pass rusher like Lewis in on obvious passing downs...shocks me with his great spring that he has not really played much, he looked like the Marcus equivalent. Even Holmes looked ready to contribute there and is surprisingly strong against the run. But I think they have got around that somewhat by having Miller or Frazier hold up the edge and send Lee in...but they need to get more consistent pressure with the front 4 from guys not named Bosa or Bennett.

As for giving up points after TO's, that has happened two weeks in a row and I think the lack of rotation is partially to blame...the guys are gassed from just shutting down the opposing offense and then they immediately have to go back in, often in our own territory. The one where they let Minnesota go 80 yards was inexcusable but the others were not surprising. But a great defense steps up and has their offense's back when it matters.

 

[Coqui]

If we end up playing Wiscy it will become a shoot-out. A lot of scoring on both sides. That makes for good TV but indigestion for fans. I'll take a diverse offense over one dimensional every time. I'm hoping the Wiscy staff has another brain cramp and stops running every down.........

The difference is, OSU has proved they can stop rushing teams occasionally, as well as OSU has the speed to catch up to Gordon should he break past the line.

What has Wisconsin done to prove they can stop OSU's offense this season?

 

[Taosman]

Wiscy caught a break with an injured Abdullah. Nebraska had not much to offer with him gimpy. is always tougher at home.
Indy will be a home game for us! That should help some.

 

[sparcboxbuck]

Move Bosa to OLB, the Chief on the other side and Grant in the middle. Give up some speed on the outside at the first level, but let that speed come to the ball with very bad intentions.

Cray cray I know, but it would be an interesting experiment against IU and with fairly low cost.

 

[Michael Bluth]

Any chance we see other safeties get some playing time the next couple weeks?

 

[Onebuckfan]

Against Indiana I'd love to see the 46 defense with Carter over the nose and Bennet and Washington covering the Guards...Bosa on the strong side..with Lee and Perry on the weak side and McMillan in the middle with Worley playing the Doug Plank position. I know it won't happen but I believe tOSU has the players for this..High risk high reward Defense.