2018 tOSU Defense Discussion

[ScriptOhio]

URBAN MEYER'S CONFIDENCE GIVING OHIO STATE LINEBACKERS ADDED MOTIVATION DURING SPRING PRACTICE

Ohio State has a legacy or producing some of the best linebackers in college football history. The 2017 season, however, was a down year for the Buckeyes' second level on defense.

The Buckeyes struggled throughout the 2017 season, as a number of teams had success manipulating Ohio State's linebackers in the play action pass game. The Scarlet and Gray suffered through injuries and inconsistent play despite the veteran presence of Chris Worley and Jerome Baker.

Entering the spring of 2018, Tuf Borland was the lone returning starter in the linebacker unit, as the Illinois native started nine games as a redshirt freshman with Worley missing time due to a leg injury. Borland, however, suffered an Achilles injury in spring ball and likely won't return until at least September, leaving all three linebacker positions up for grabs.

Despite all of that, Urban Meyer said he has confidence in Billy Davis' unit as Ohio State begins to wind down spring ball.

"You've got some good bodies. We're not ready to say who is going to be in what position. It's our job to get the best three of them out there," Meyer said March 26. "That position, once again, they're not perfect, but they don't have to be, and they're trying. I kind of like that position right now."

The optimism from Meyer shouldn't come as much of a surprise considering the way Ohio State has recruited at that position in recent years. Players like Baron Browning, Keandre Jones and Pete Werner were five- or four-star recruits coming out of high school, and after waiting their turns for a year or two, are now competing for playing time.

Jones, who enters his third year on campus at Ohio State, said Meyer's confidence in the linebacker unit just gives the Buckeyes added motivation to perform well in the spring and to live up to Meyer's expectations.

"He is confident in our abilities and that just encourages us to keep pushing and making it known that the linebacker room is here to stay," Jones said. "We are here to step up and lead that defense to victory."

Jones and Malik Harrison have been working at the SAM and WILL linebacker spots while Browning and Justin Hilliard have been earning the primary first-team reps at MIKE. Between the three, Harrison has the most experience, collecting 36 tackles last season as a sophomore and said Wednesday that he is excited to take on more of a leadership role in 2018.

"I have been growing to be a leader now that Tuf is out right now," Harrison said. "Just learning to be a leader, be more vocal. The other players and coaches are seeing me grow as a leader. I am getting more comfortable with everything and my teammates are lifting me up."

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...ckers-added-motivation-during-spring-practice

 

[ScriptOhio]

TAVER JOHNSON WANTS OHIO STATE TO ROTATE THREE OR MORE CORNERBACKS, BUT THE ROTATION REMAINS TO BE DETERMINED

In each of Kerry Coombs’ final two seasons as Ohio State’s cornerbacks coach, the Buckeyes had three cornerbacks who they considered to be starters, with all three seeing regular playing time in the base defense.

New cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson would like to continue with a rotation of three cornerbacks or more this season, but he says that ultimately depends on whether the Buckeyes have that many cornerbacks who are ready to play.

"If we have three guys that can do that, yes, you would like to for sure," Johnson said while meeting with the media Wednesday. "And I think we do. I know that’s definitely helped us and benefitted us, and that’s something especially at that position, which is big, because all of the running and things that go into playing that spot. And the nickel comes out of the cornerback room as well. So to answer your question, yes I do. When? I’m not sure. We just have to make sure we get to that."

The Buckeyes have actually been rotating four cornerbacks with their first-team defense this spring, Johnson said, because of the pace with which they practice. While Kendall Sheffield and Damon Arnette have run primarily with the first-team defense, while Shaun Wade and Marcus Williamson have run primarily with the second-team defense, those cornerbacks have ended up mixing and matching – and as a result, Johnson hasn’t set a rotation at his position yet.

“When we go base at the corner spot, what’s happened because we go so fast, we actually started rotating four and five guys,” Johnson said. “Sometimes our ones and twos become ones and twos on the run, because we’re going so fast in the tempo. So there’s no set three rotation now, if that’s the question. We’re not set in stone with that yet.”

The cornerbacks who are expected to ultimately lead the rotation are Sheffield and Arnette, both fourth-year juniors, given that they were both in the three-man rotation last year (with Denzel Ward, who is now on his way to the NFL) and are the most veteran cornerbacks on the team.

Johnson likes what he has seen this spring in the development of Sheffield, who brings elite speed to the field – having moonlighted in track this winter – and is going into his second year at Ohio State after stops at Alabama and Blinn College.

"He’s done a really nice job really concentrating on playing his position," Johnson said of Sheffield. "He’s gotten settled in, he understands the expectations and that’s everything, for sure."

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...cks-but-the-rotation-remains-to-be-determined

 

[ScriptOhio]

VIDEOS: HEAR FROM OHIO STATE'S BILL DAVIS, TAVER JOHNSON, JUSTIN HILLIARD, JEFFREY OKUDAH AND MORE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY'S PRACTICE







All the videos: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...-jeffrey-okudah-and-more-following-wednesdays

 

[ScriptOhio]

Ohio State Spring Football Insider — April 4

Members of the Ohio State football team met with reporters on Wednesday. Cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson and a pair of corners were on hand, as were linebackers coach Bill Davis and a handful of linebackers. They each provided updates on how spring ball is going and how their respective position groups are looking. Here are some of the highlights.

Taver Johnson
Kendall Sheffield is focusing on eye discipline right now and it is really paying off in his play. As a player, Sheffield is showing a comfort level that gives a coach confidence.

The freshmen have been working hard since day one. They are willing learners and take instruction wherever it comes from.

Due to the talent of the defensive coaches, Johnson said he feels like a freshman. It’s unbelievable to be able to work with coaches like Greg Schiano, Larry Johnson, Alex Grinch, and Bill Davis. All of them have been coordinators, and it shows. He said he’s taking notes every day like he’s in class again.

There isn’t a rotation set in stone, but Sheffield and Damon Arnette have experience that can’t be replaced. He believes right now he has three cornerbacks who can rotate. They have been rotating all of the cornerbacks pretty evenly because they want to get as many reps as posssible. Plus, you’re not going to wait for corners to run back to the line of scrimmage after covering a pass 50 yards downfield. You just bring the next guy in.

Bill Davis
Like Urban Meyer, Davis expects Tuf Borland back sooner than normal.

There is a six or seven-man competition going on at the three linebacker spots right now.

Keandre Jones and Pete Werner are working at the Will. Justin Hilliard is with the ones at Mike, and he is rotating with Baron Browning. Malik Harrison is at the Sam and is backed up by freshman Dallas Gant. The outside linebackers are interchangeable and they are all learning the proper reads for each spot.

Justin Hilliard is all the way back and looks good. He has a good understanding of the position.

Davis has no worries about losing Tuf Borland this spring. Players are stepping up and grinding.

Malik Harrison
Everyone knows this is a wide-open competition and nobody is having fits about whether they think the job should be theirs or not. They are all working together to get better. They drive each other and encourage each other.

Tuf Borland is still around. He is still in meetings and he’s in a golf cart on the practice field helping Justin Hilliard and Baron Browning.

Harrison sees leadership developing every day at linebacker.

Keandre Jones
It has been easy to balance both the Will and the Sam. They are interchangeable, but the Sam has more coverage responsibilities because it’s on the wide side of the field.

Jones has improved in his confidence, which has allowed him to be more aggressive. The game has “most definitely” slowed down for him.

Hearing how confident Urban Meyer is in the linebackers gives the entire room encouragement that what they are doing is working.

Pete Werner
Playing special teams last year has helped Werner transition to the linebacker competition.

Werner began the spring as a Sam, but has now moved to Will. He is still working to be as confident at Will as he had become at Sam. He has only played the two outside spots this spring.

He spends a lot of time off the field just working on his assignments. The linebackers get together as a group and watch film and they’ll have a coach sit down with them as well. If you don’t watch extra film, you fall behind.

Entire article: https://theozone.net/2018/04/ohio-state-football-april-4/

 

[ScriptOhio]

Kerry Coombs is gone, but Ohio State cornerback rotation ‘part of the culture’

It’s hard to beat his record of churning out NFL talent, but Kerry Coombs’ defining legacy at Ohio State might be his implementation of a cornerback rotation in 2016.

Coombs left Ohio State this offseason to become the Tennessee Titans cornerbacks coach, but it appears that the Buckeyes will try to continue the rotation if new position coach Taver Johnson feels comfortable with the talent he’s inherited.

That shouldn’t be a problem given that Ohio State brings back Damon Arnette, Kendall Sheffield and Jeffrey Okudah. Additionally, Shaun Wade is healthy after missing his first season with a lingering abdominal injury. Of those four players, three were rated as 5-star recruits in high school.

“If we have three guys that can [rotate], yes, you would like to for sure,” Johnson said Wednesday. “And I think we do. I know that’s definitely helped us and benefited us, and that’s something, especially at that position, which is big, because all of the running and things that go into playing that spot.

“And the nickel comes out of the cornerback room as well. So to answer your question, yes I do. When? I’m not sure. We just have to make sure we get to that.”

Coombs began that strategy in 2016 when, despite losing Eli Apple to the NFL draft, the Buckeyes found a way to rotate three players at the cornerback spot. Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley got the first series in most games but played an equal number of reps with Denzel Ward. That meant when Lattimore or Conley left the field Ohio State was pulling a future first-round pick off the field. Of course, the player who filled in is widely projected to be a top-10 pick in the 2108 NFL Draft.

Last year Ward, Arnette and Sheffield comprised a three-man rotation for the Buckeyes. With Ward off to the NFL, there are plenty of options to pair with Arnette and Sheffield, the two most likely players to get the first series of each game.

Okudah came on strong at the end of 2017, winning praise from teammates and coaches for his play in bowl practices. After he recovers from shoulder surgery he should be fully healthy for the first time in a couple of years.

Entire article: https://www.landof10.com/ohio-state...amon-arnette-kendall-sheffield-jeffrey-okudah

 

[MGMT]

It’s just me but:

I think Arnette isn’t close to being considered above-average starter; I recognize some of the elite talent that this program has produced underwent struggles early also. However, I think Okudah and Wade are guys that can easily end up passing him (provided both recover and produce) as I feel the talent gap is actually significant. Perhaps it’s an unpopular opinion and maybe an irrational one but that’s just me.

 

[jwinslow]

It’s just me but:

I think Arnette isn’t close to being considered above-average starter; I recognize some of the elite talent that this program has produced underwent struggles early also. However, I think Okudah and Wade are guys that can easily end up passing him (provided both recover and produce) as I feel the talent gap is actually significant. Perhaps it’s an unpopular opinion and maybe an irrational one but that’s just me.

I think it's important to recognize how absurdly far above average the average starter has been under Urban Meyer. It's been scrumptulescent.

If Okudah and Sheffield take another step (and Kendall certainly did as the season progressed), Arnette will be a suitable third corner.

 

[MGMT]

I think it's important to recognize how absurdly far above average the average starter has been under Urban Meyer. It's been scrumptulescent.

If Okudah and Sheffield take another step (and Kendall certainly did as the season progressed), Arnette will be a suitable third corner.

No doubt program standards are something to consider. I’m just of the belief that Wade will be able to supplant Arnette also and at some point (sooner rather than later) it’ll be obvious that Sheff, Wade and Okudah are all markedly more talented and better players.

I could easily just be wrong as fuck. But Wade and Okudah are some of the biggest talents we’ve brought in — let alone in the same class. It’s not going to be easy for him to hold them off; but if he does, I guess it speaks volumes of his progress.

 

[jwinslow]

No doubt program standards are something to consider. I’m just of the belief that Wade will be able to supplant Arnette also and at some point (sooner rather than later) it’ll be obvious that Sheff, Wade and Okudah are all markedly more talented and better players.

I could easily just be wrong as fuck. But Wade and Okudah are some of the biggest talents we’ve brought in — let alone in the same class. It’s not going to be easy for him to hold them off; but if he does, I guess it speaks volumes of his progress.

If Wade gets healthy and shines
AND
If Pryor is not ready (I think he will be, at least by mid-season)

The Fox Arnette to safety drumbeats would get pretty loud. He hits like a safety, has very nice coverage skills (for a safety) and has the experience to make the switch. He's not Malik Hooker (which is a demographic of one in OSU history) but I'd put him firmly in the Damon Webb territory as an athlete. It's a big switch and who knows how well he would handle that position, but that would be an intriguing option if Isaiah is still a year away.

I can't wait until 2019 when Okudah, Wade, Arnette are all veterans with Pryor, Proctor, Tyreke pushing for time (assuming Fuller bolts). Lots of good chatter on Sevyn Banks so far as well.

 

[ScriptOhio]

OHIO STATE STILL EXPECTING TUF BORLAND, DANTE BOOKER TO CONTRIBUTE AT LINEBACKER THIS SEASON DESPITE INJURIES

None of the linebackers currently participating in spring practice at Ohio State have ever started more than one game for the Buckeyes.

Ohio State still has two linebackers on its roster, though, who started multiple games last season.

Tuf Borland started nine games for Ohio State last season at middle linebacker, while Dante Booker started six games for the Buckeyes last season at strongside linebacker. Borland, however, suffered an Achilles injury in practice last month, while Booker is coming off of a pair of shoulder surgeries. Those injuries have not only sidelined Borland and Booker for the spring, but also left their availability for the fall in question.

Ohio State linebackers coach Bill Davis expressed optimism on Wednesday, however, that both Borland and Booker will return to the field and make contributions to the Buckeyes defense this season.

Davis said he expects Booker to be back on the field in late summer, which would give him at least a little bit of time to get back in the mix at linebacker before the season begins in September.

Borland’s recovery timetable is more up in the air, as an Achilles injury often requires a full year of surgery. Ohio State has not specified whether Borland actually tore his Achilles, however, and Davis – echoing Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer – said he expects Borland to make a faster-than-normal recovery because of how hard he will work in rehab.

"Knowing Tuf Borland, he’ll be back sooner than most people would be back," Davis said Wednesday. "We really are ahead of the game with Tuf and how he heals, and he’s healed everything faster than most, so hopefully we’ll have him."

Had Borland not suffered what Davis described as a "really unfortunate injury," he was set to retain his job as the Buckeyes’ starting middle linebacker this season. While all three starting linebacker spots on Ohio State’s defense are currently open for competition – with Justin Hilliard and Baron Browning competing at middle linebacker – Davis said Wednesday that he fully expected Borland to be the starter in the middle before his injury.

"Tuf runs the show," Davis said. "Everyone in there looks at Tuf, and they know Tuf knows and Tuf gets it set and Tuf does his job every down. And he earned that last year. And that’s where Tuf left as, the starter."

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...te-at-linebacker-this-season-despite-injuries

 

[ScriptOhio]

BILL DAVIS EXPECTS STRONGSIDE, WEAKSIDE LINEBACKERS TO BE INTERCHANGEABLE IN OHIO STATE'S DEFENSE

Malik Harrison was Ohio State’s first-team strongside linebacker and Keandre Jones was Ohio State’s first-team weakside linebacker when the Buckeyes opened spring practice last month.

Recently, however, Harrison has spent much of his time practicing at weakside linebacker while Jones has spent much of his time practicing at strongside linebacker.

That’s a reflection on how Ohio State linebackers coach Bill Davis views those two positions within the Buckeyes’ defense.

Davis sees the two outside linebacker positions in Ohio State’s defense as interchangeable, and he wants all of his outside linebackers – including his potential starters – to be able to play both spots.

"They need to know both," Davis said earlier this week. "There’s just so much carryover in both positions."

In Ohio State’s defense, Davis and his players say the strongside linebacker – or "SAM" linebacker – takes on greater responsibility in pass coverage and tends to play more in space, while the weakside linebacker – or "WILL" linebacker – has greater responsibility in fitting to play the run.

All in all, though, the responsibilities for the SAM and WILL linebacker spots in Ohio State’s defense are considered very similar to one another – much like the boundary and field safety positions in the secondary – other than which side of the field each player lines up on.

Therefore, much like how safeties coach Alex Grinch rotates his players between the boundary and field spots in practice, Davis rotates his outside linebackers between the strongside and weakside spots in practice, enabling them to learn both positions while also enabling coaches to evaluate all the outside linebackers against one another, instead of splitting them up into two separate positions.

How the Buckeyes specifically utilize their strongside linebacker and their weakside linebacker can vary from game to game, Davis says, because of how the Buckeyes change their defensive game plan each week to adjust for each opponent. Depending on an opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, the Buckeyes might play a weakside linebacker more in space than a strongside linebacker, depending on what the Buckeyes feel they need to stop and how they can be aggressive in their attack.

"We have different gameplans where we’ll put someone in space more," Davis said. "We can dictate that. (Defensive coordinator Greg) Schiano does a great job of being the way we want to be against an offense, to stop what we want to stop. And we kind of go on the aggressor. So they’re interchangeable in that sense."

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...-to-be-interchangeable-in-ohio-states-defense

 

[pnuts34]

No doubt program standards are something to consider. I’m just of the belief that Wade will be able to supplant Arnette also and at some point (sooner rather than later) it’ll be obvious that Sheff, Wade and Okudah are all markedly more talented and better players.

I could easily just be wrong as fuck. But Wade and Okudah are some of the biggest talents we’ve brought in — let alone in the same class. It’s not going to be easy for him to hold them off; but if he does, I guess it speaks volumes of his progress.

I agree with both of your posts! Nothing last season about Arnette really impressed that much, and he looked like the obvious weak link between he, Ward and Sheffield. He seemed to have a lot of flash but not much substance, IMO. He's a depth guy, to me, and could provide leadership, but talent wise I see him behind Sehffield, Okudah, Wade and even Williamson(don't sleep on him, any kid who could leave Columbus for HS and go to the biggest powerhouse program in the country and start, speaks volumes). And I too could be wrong as fuck, and that'd be a good problem if Arnette stepped up and forced an actual rotation with no drop offs.

If Wade gets healthy and shines
AND
If Pryor is not ready (I think he will be, at least by mid-season)

The Fox Arnette to safety drumbeats would get pretty loud. He hits like a safety, has very nice coverage skills (for a safety) and has the experience to make the switch. He's not Malik Hooker (which is a demographic of one in OSU history) but I'd put him firmly in the Damon Webb territory as an athlete. It's a big switch and who knows how well he would handle that position, but that would be an intriguing option if Isaiah is still a year away.

I can't wait until 2019 when Okudah, Wade, Arnette are all veterans with Pryor, Proctor, Tyreke pushing for time (assuming Fuller bolts). Lots of good chatter on Sevyn Banks so far as well.

And Arnette to Safety could be held by a name that few are mentioning, Amir Riep. Riep could be a very talented S, and he and Johnson remind me of similar players. Long, athletic guys, who don't cover the best to play CB, but have coverage skills that would be great at S.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Ohio State Football Notebook: ‘I took the biggest jump in my career’

Four’s Company
The desire to have fresh legs in the fourth quarter — and in November — has been the reason there has been so much rotation in the Ohio State football program the last few years. Cornerbacks have done it, receivers have done it, and the Buckeye defensive ends have certainly done it as well.

The last two seasons, there were four future-NFL defensive ends rotating for the Ohio State defense. While the future with the current group is somewhat unknown, what is know is that defensive line coach Larry Johnson wants to go with a rotation of four once again.

“We’re going to try to stay with four guys,” he said. “We don’t want to add more plays than we need to have. We don’t want to put 90 plays on Nick [Bosa] all of a sudden. Now he’ll probably play 60-65 probably in a great game, but we’re not going to give him 90-95 plays. We want to still play fresh, and that’s why we were successful.

“If you look at last year, Nick played 42 plays a game and Tyquan [Lewis] played 41. That’s pretty even, to make sure guys were fresh, and I think that’s the reason we were so successful up front because those guys were fresh in the fourth quarter.”

Making Good Use of Camp
Spring practice is an opportunity for the Ohio State football coaches to get their depth charts set in advance of the season. Things can obviously change from May to September, but a working idea of probable starters is a must.

There can be quite the fluctuation throughout spring camp, however, because of the improvements that players can make. It can also be what was needed to turn very goodplayers into great players.

“It’s super helpful. Last year I think I took the biggest jump in my career as a player in spring, so I’m hoping to do that again,” said junior defensive end Nick Bosa. “If I can do that again, then I’ll be really good. I take it as a luxury. You get a day off between each practice so that you can recoup. It’s not as tough as camp, it’s not even close to it.”

Entire article: https://theozone.net/2018/04/ohio-state-football-notebook-jump-career/

 

[ScriptOhio]

Best Guessing the Ohio State Depth Chart on Defense — April 7

With just three practices left in spring camp for the Ohio State football team, we now have a pretty good grasp on where things stand with the depth chart on both sides of the ball. Yesterday we covered the offense, so today we will focus on the defensive side of the ball. Like there were on offense, expect a handful of ORs in these waters.

These are fall projections based on what coaches have said — and also what they haven’t said. Injured players have been included as well because they will factor in once fall camp gets underway. The only newcomers listed below are the ones who are currently enrolled.

Defensive End
97 Nick Bosa, Jr
9 Jashon Cornell, rJr

What they are saying: Jashon Cornell has adapted well to defensive end from defensive tackle. It has been a couple of weeks since we talked with the defensive line, so we don’t really know how things are going at the moment. With the amount of rest that Nick Bosa is receiving this spring, Cornell should be progressing on a daily basis with all of the work that he is receiving.

Nose Tackle
67 Rob Landers, rJr
53 Davon Hamilton, rJr
51 Antwuan Jackson, rSo OR
98 Jerron Cage, rFr

What they are saying: Jerron Cage has earned some praise from teammates this spring. Antwuan Jackson is still working his way back to full speed from a broken foot. Davon Hamilton may be the most-improved defensive lineman on the team. Even after losing a pair of fifth-year seniors at this spot from last season, this could be one of the deepest positions on the team.

Defensive Tackle
86 Dre’Mont Jones, rJr
55 Malik Barrow, rSo OR
92 Haskell Garrett, So OR
72 Tommy Togiai, Fr

What they are saying: I’m not really sure where freshman Tommy Togiai is lining up, be it the three-tech or the nose tackle, so he’s here in order to even out the numbers. Malik Barrow was hampered by an injury earlier this spring, but it doesn’t appear to be anything serious. There is a bunch of potential in this group, which is one reason the coaches were okay with moving Jashon Cornell.

Defensive End
2 Chase Young, So OR
18 Jonathon Cooper, Jr

What they are saying: If you want to see what hungry looks like, watch these two guys going through pass rushing drills. You’re going to be hard-pressed to find anyone who will say anything bad about Chase Young or Jonathon Cooper this spring. They continue to rotate this spring in preparation for rotating during the season.

Entire article: https://theozone.net/2018/04/ohio-state-depth-chart-defense-april-7/

 

[ScriptOhio]

LUKE FARRELL EMERGES AS LEADER AT TIGHT END, OTHER POSITION BATTLES STILL UNDECIDED AFTER SPRING GAME

On the defensive side of the ball, Ohio State's defensive line appears to be set-in-stone with Nick Bosa, Dre'Mont Jones, Chase Young and Robert Landers anchoring the front line for the Silver Bullets.

At linebacker, the Buckeyes must replace three starters and in the middle, Meyer mentioned Baron Browning and Justin Hilliard as the top two contenders to fill in for an injured Tuf Borland.

In the secondary, Meyer said Ohio State plans on using its patented three-man rotation for the third straight season, and said the three corners through spring practice are Kendall Sheffield, Damon Arnette and Jeffrey Okudah. Okudah was the only one of the three that did not play on Saturday, as he continues to rehab from offseason shoulder surgery.

"There might be another one pop in there if the young guys keep developing," Meyer said, suggesting that a fourth corner could be added to the rotation. Redshirt freshman Shaun Wade collected the lone turnover of the Spring Game, intercepting a pass from Tate Martell in the fourth quarter.

Replacing Damon Webb at free safety is "probably our No. 1 concern on our team right now," Meyer said, adding that Jordan Fuller is locked in at the other safety position.

Isaiah Pryor and Jahsen Wint appear to be the top candidates to replace Webb. Pryor led the Scarlet team with four tackles on Saturday, while Wint led all players with 11 stops.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...ion-battles-still-undecided-after-spring-game

Re: Nick Bosa, Dre'Mont Jones, Chase Young, and Robert Landers

This has to be the top DL in college football. All 4 guys will very likely be playing in the NFL in the next 1-2 years.