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2018 tOSU Defense Discussion

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This DL has the potential to be one of the best starting 4 we've had under UFM and possibly beyond that as well IMO. This group will be a nightmare when it comes to penetration and TFL's/Sacks for the opposition. The quickness of Landers/Jones at DT and the outright talent Bosa/Young (who I both think will be top 5 picks when they come out) will really shine. There's no reason to not increase our sack numbers and to take over games like we did against PED and USC more frequently. You're also looking at fairly good depth too with Cornell, Cooper, Jackson and Garrett.

The only issue is depth at DE for me but I think with Jones coming back I think you'll see him rep out there too.

This defense has the potential to be better then this past season's and considering that was a top 10 unit that's impressive.

DL at worse IMO will be about the same, LB's IMO will improve, and the secondary should be better.
 
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D Line room gonna be buzzing. So many names wanting to make their mark. If iron sharpens iron then I hope LJsr brings full welders protection gear because sparks will be flying.

I can't imagine how much fun that must be for him to look across that meeting room with so much talent evenly dispersed among various classes.
 
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Great news that Jones is back. Bosa and Jones will be veterans with a ton of PT experience. Chase Young is going to be an absolute nightmare chasing down QB's. Need someone to step up at DT and some young guys to step up to fill in for depth but I feel really good about the D line. I imagine Borland may be starting MLB with Browning 2nd string, solid 1st and 2nd. OLB probably project Jones and Booker or Harrison? Hoping the LB unit can improve from this past season. DB's in the same boat, started out rough but got better as the season went on. Guessing we see Arnette, Fuller, Pryor, Okudah with Sheffield getting a good amount of PT as well. I think this defense can be a top 5-10 run defense, and if they can start the year ahead on pass defense than where they were last year in the first few weeks then we're looking at one of the best defense's under UFM but again those are just predictions. Really looking forward to Yound/Bosa on the ends.
 
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Does anyone share the concern that Jackson hits a bit of an early wall similar to Sheffield? I recognize its different positions and circumstances, but just thinking off sentiment alone.

Moreover, is Pryor more of a FS or SS? Just wondering who Webb's most likely replacement is -- probably going to have a better idea come spring ball though.

I think Okudah is primed for big things irrespective of where he plays. He's an immense talent from a technical and physical sense IMO. Wade's going to be knocking on the door too should Arnette and Sheffield's development stagnate. I think we will be okay in the back 7.
 
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scarletngray said:
Early toughts:
Bosa/Cooper Young/Jones
Jones/Cornell Landers/Hamilton
Harrison/Werner Borland/ Browning Jones/Hillard
Arnette/Okudah Sheffield/Wade
Fuller/Wint Pryor/White
Click to expand...
A starting front four of Bosa, Young, Jones, and Landers is going to be just as good by the end of the season as this season's line was.
 
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How Will Ohio State Football Replace… Tracy Sprinkle

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Tracy Sprinkle started 12 of Ohio State’s 14 games at nose tackle this past season, and it would have been 14 of 14 games had the Buckeyes not started all four Rushmen against Indiana and Oklahoma to open the season.

As a nose tackle, Sprinkle wasn’t going to be called upon to make a bunch of plays. He finished the season with 16 tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss. He did do his job when it came to occupying blockers, however, helping lead an OSU rush defense that allowed just 2.94 yards per carry, which was the fourth-lowest mark in college football.

Sprinkle was also a very vocal team leader among a defensive line full of leaders. Replacing his production isn’t a matter of equaling his 16 tackles, it’s a matter of keeping the defensive front as consistent against the run as it was this past season. Fortunately for the Buckeyes, there are a number of options to turn to.

The Candidates

Being an Ohio State defensive lineman, Tracy Sprinkle shared reps with Robert Landers, and it would not be a surprise at all for Landers to be starting here in 2018. Landers is undersized, which he uses to his advantage in gaining penetration. There will be questions about whether or not he can hold up over the course of a season, but since everybody is sharing, he should be fine. The interesting part about Landers is that he has played on the nose for two seasons now and has 12.5 tackles for loss. Those are numbers comparable to past nose tackles Michael Bennett and Adolphus Washington.

Another player who has received snaps here and there in 2016 and 2017 is Davon Hamilton. Hamilton is entering his fourth year at Ohio State, like Landers, and will now have an opportunity to be a much larger part of the defensive line rotation. He has certainly had his moments, but most of his production has come in blowouts. That should change in 2018. At 6-foot-4 and 297 pounds, Hamilton is certainly bigger than the 6-foot-1 and 283 Landers is listed at. He is an active defender who has looked very good in spring camps. He’ll need to translate that to the games from this point on, however.

With so many defensive tackles primed to play the three technique spot, you have to wonder if maybe one of them will slide over to nose. Perhaps a Malik Barrow or Haskell Garrett could get a look. Jerron Cage redshirted as a true freshman in 2017, so he will finally be allowed to play a bit in 2018. Spring camp will be big for him because Ohio State will be adding three more defensive tackles to the mix thanks to their 2018 recruiting class. Of those three, Tommy Togiaiand Antwuan Jackson will be taking part in spring football. Taron Vincent will arrive in the summer, and he will bring the expectations of being the nation’s No. 1 defensive tackle recruit. Vincent and Togiai may not be nose tackles, however. There is still a lot of sifting to do here.

At 6-foot-2 and 305 pounds, Antwuan Jackson should be involved here. He was a junior college All-American last season, and is expected to play in 2018.

Entire article: https://theozone.net/2018/01/will-ohio-state-football-replace-tracy-sprinkle/
 
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How Will Ohio State Football Replace… Jerome Baker

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For the second year in a row, the Buckeyes are going to be replacing their leading tackler. Following the 2016 season, they had to replace middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan, and now following the 2017 season, they will have to replace outside linebacker Jerome Baker.

Baker finished with 72 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two fumble recovers, and one forced fumble this past season. Baker, along with the rest of the Ohio State linebackers, had a slow start to 2017. Eventually, things got righted fairly well, and Baker responded with 16 tackles against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game.

The player who replaces Baker will need to be athletic and have the ability to both cover receivers in the slot and fill the holes against the run. He will need to be a playmaker and cannot be treated like a yo-yo by the opposing quarterback. There may be some growing pains here, but there are plenty of suitable options for a replacement.

The Candidates

There could be the better part of 10 names worth mentioning here, but for brevity’s sake, we’ll cut that number down to the most-likely candidates — of which there are still plenty. Perhaps the most intriguing possibility is rising sophomore Baron Browning. Browning spent his true freshman season at middle linebacker, but was put there knowing that once he learned that spot, the other two linebacker positions would be easier to pick up. Browning certainly has the athleticism to replace Baker.

Baker’s backup this season was Keandre Jones, who will be a true junior in 2018. He has played sparingly on defense his first two seasons, but he is essentially a taller version (6-2 225) of Baker. Jones might get the first crack at Baker’s Will spot, but he is going to have to hold off a host of contenders.

Another player who has patiently waited his turn is Justin Hilliard, who will be a redshirt junior in 2018. Hilliard has battled injuries early in his career and was the No. 3 guy on the Will depth chart last season. He could also be a candidate in the middle.

While his first four seasons have not gone as expected at Ohio State, Dante Booker is also a name to watch here. He played Will linebacker his first three years at OSU, but spent last season at Sam. Injuries have held him back, and perhaps allowed others to pass him by.

Other possibilities would be rising sophomore Pete Werner, who spent last season at Sam. He is a rangy athlete with a magnetism for the football. Tuf Borland may be a possibility if there is better option in the middle, but that would surprise me. Malik Harrison could be a candidate, but he is currently the guy to beat at Sam. Then you also have rising sophomore Brendon White, who has been a linebacker, a receiver, and a safety already at OSU. He is currently listed as a safety, though.

Entire artile: https://theozone.net/2018/01/ohio-state-football-replace-jerome-baker/
 
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MililaniBuckeye said:
A starting front four of Bosa, Young, Jones, and Landers is going to be just as good by the end of the season as this season's line was.
Click to expand...
The starting IMO will be better but we just need to provide some depth at DE somehow. DT I'm not particularly worried though...

To me it seemed like we figured something out the last few games of the year with our DL as we were all over QB's the last few games. I think that will be much of the same from the beginning this next season.
 
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How Will Ohio State Football Replace… Tyquan Lewis

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Tyquan Lewis has been a constant for the Ohio State defense over the previous three seasons. He was named the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year following the 2016 season despite splitting reps in OSU’s defensive end rotation. He led the Buckeyes in sacks in 2015 and 2016, and finished second with 7.0 this past season and third in tackles for loss with 9.5.

For his career, he finished with 23.5 sacks, which puts him fifth all-time in Ohio State football history. His 36.5 career tackles for loss puts him 15th all-time at OSU, just one behind All-Pro defensive lineman Cameron Heyward.

Tyquan Lewis was productive throughout his career, but he did it with discipline. He wasn’t a freelancer and he never complained about having to share reps. He was the consummate teammate and a coach’s dream. He led the Ohio State defense from the front line and he is going to be missed for a variety of reasons. It will take more than one player to replace him, but few teams have the starting base that the Buckeyes do.

The Candidates

It feels silly to even type the following words, but the Buckeyes will replace a three-year starter and all-time great with the guy he split reps with — a First-Team All-American. Nick Bosa is arguably the best defensive end in college football, so the Buckeyes have that going for them, which is nice. Bosa is a complete defender and a nightmare both against the pass and the run. He needs to improve his discipline, but even when he freelances, good things happen. Bosa also knows that he needs to step up as a leader, and he is already doing that during winter workouts.

The idea of the Rushmen was to provide four pass rushers on passing downs, and so Tyquan Lewis’ departure will need to be filled on passing downs as well. Much of that replacement will be done by defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones. With Jones on the field, there will only be a need for three defensive ends, which is what the Buckeyes are currently working with until fall camp brings in some freshmen. Jones’ presence will also continue during the season and even though he won’t be replacing Lewis in that package, he is replacing the need for a fourth defensive end. And he will certainly be picking up some of that leadership slack.

Entire article: https://theozone.net/2018/01/will-ohio-state-football-replace-tyquan-lewis/
 
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FILM STUDY: WHAT TO EXPECT FROM ALEX GRINCH'S BUCKEYE DEFENSE IN 2018

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For Alex Grinch, it's all about effort.



As the Grove City native settles into his new role with the Ohio State defense, many have wondered what this means for a unit that has finished in the top ten in total defense after each of the past three seasons. Though the former Washington State defensive coordinator's exact responsibilities have yet to be announced, many expect existing play-caller Greg Schiano to move on to a role in the NFL next season, allowing Grinch to fill the top job on Urban Meyer's defensive staff.

Though the 37-year old has only been a coordinator for three seasons prior to his return to Columbus, Grinch is a three-time Broyles Award nominee for good reason. Before he joined Mike Leach's staff in Pullman, the Cougars featured one of the worst defenses in the nation and won only three games in 2014 despite featuring a high-flying offense that threw for over 5,700 passing yards.

But in that short time, Grinch engineered a remarkable turnaround for a unit that is still often overlooked next to Leach's Air Raid offense. Despite a pair of ugly losses to rival Washington in the Apple Cup and Michigan State in the Holiday Bowl to end the 2017 season, the turnaround for the Cougar defense over the previous three years was complete as for the first time in his career as a head coach, Leach's defense finished in the top 20 nationally.
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That late movement can throw off blocking schemes meant for one alignment by shifting to another with no time to adjust. As seen below, the Arizona State offensive line thinks they'll be blocking a four-man Over front as the quarterback executes a simple zone-read. But what they get from Grinch and the Cougars is a five-man surface that's overloaded to the play-side, filling each gap and leaving the MIKE linebacker free to make an easy tackle.



This late stemming action creates all kinds of issues for offensive linemen leading to false starts...

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...and even fumbled snaps as the center panics at the sight of late movement.

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continued

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...ect-from-alex-grinchs-buckeye-defense-in-2018
 
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