2018 tOSU Defense Discussion

[jwinslow]

Only thing I'd nitpick is that Harrison is a year older than the Borland/Browning/Werner triumvirate so I'm not as comfortable/hopeful of giving him the benefit of the doubt from his youth and inexperience.

So far I'd say the best lineup is Borland, Werner, Browning if you can move him back outside.

You're benching Harrison for Browning, who has struggled the most at LB? Is there a reason for this besides age?

 

[Jaxbuck]

You're benching Harrison for Browning, who has struggled the most at LB? Is there a reason for this besides age?

Just a hunch based on his overall physical tools as I see them from a TV screen hundreds of miles away.

Put him back outside and let his freak flag fly type of thing

I think his struggles have been because they are playing to his weakness (inexperienced and lack of instincts) and not his strength (athleticism).

I wouldn't argue too hard about Harrison taking that spot though.

 

[GovTressel]

It's hard to find a pure MLB that can also cover. That's why Boren moved inside, and 1 legged Shazier played there in The Game. It's why an undersized freshman played there last year.

Also, Darron Lee is probably the fastest LB that Meyer recruited to OSU (other than maybe Jerome Baker). He is an unusual choice as a rebuttal to the mistake of focusing on putting the fastest player on the field. McMillan as well (he's not a speed merchant but he was an athletic guy).

Lee has the fastest combine 40 by an OSU linebacker ever...to his credit, Baker’s 4.53 is tied for 3rd.

 

[jwinslow]

Just a hunch based on his overall physical tools as I see them from a TV screen hundreds of miles away.

Put him back outside and let his freak flag fly type of thing

I think his struggles have been because they are playing to his weakness (inexperienced and lack of instincts) and not his strength (athleticism).

I wouldn't argue too hard about Harrison taking that spot though.

I appreciate the response. The number is obviously a factor, but I can't help but think of Josh Perry when I watch Harrison. Perry was pretty rough early in his career and quietly shifted to steady to pretty darn good. The LB coaching also went up several notches. I think Malik has shifted into the steady category (or close to it), but is surrounded by other newbies not doing their jobs well.

Browning does not hold an edge over Malik in terms of freak measurables, as Malik is quite a specimen athletically. I agree that I'd like to see a simpler role for Browning to see how he does. That is one thing that Sparty has done well over the years (though their development and coaching is well established).

Tuf has 2 years left anyway, so if Browning wants to play, it will need to be outside. I'd like to see Baron in the Booker role of occasional playtime outside. Hopefully his raw talent translates better.

 

[buchtelgrad04]

I appreciate the response. The number is obviously a factor, but I can't help but think of Josh Perry when I watch Harrison. Perry was pretty rough early in his career and quietly shifted to steady to pretty darn good. The LB coaching also went up several notches. I think Malik has shifted into the steady category (or close to it), but is surrounded by other newbies not doing their jobs well.

Browning does not hold an edge over Malik in terms of freak measurables, as Malik is quite a specimen athletically. I agree that I'd like to see a simpler role for Browning to see how he does. That is one thing that Sparty has done well over the years (though their development and coaching is well established).

Tuf has 2 years left anyway, so if Browning wants to play, it will need to be outside. I'd like to see Baron in the Booker role of occasional playtime outside. Hopefully his raw talent translates better.

Not that close to it.

 

[jwinslow]

Not that close to it.

Beggars can't be choosers :)

 

[ScriptOhio]

OHIO STATE'S DEFENSIVE LINE HAS NO PLANS TO STOP ITS STRING OF TERROR ON OPPOSING QUARTERBACKS

Imagine being a freshman quarterback and coming off your first career win over Texas State. You're riding the high of that win, you're off to the start you dreamed of and cloud nine isn't so far away.

Now imagine knowing your next test will come against arguably the best defensive line in the entire country, a feared unit that's shaped its entire reputation on terrorizing quarterbacks. Oh yeah ... and also in front of close to 105,000 rabid fans rooting against you.

That's the situation Rutgers signal-caller Artur Sitkowski finds himself in.

Rutgers pays a visit to Ohio State at 3:40 p.m. Saturday in both teams' Big Ten openers. After sacking Oregon State's quarterback five times in the first half during Week 1, Ohio State's defensive line will look for more of the same facing Sitkowski.

Unfortunately for the freshman, the Buckeyes show no signs of slowing down.

"We're going to get after it," defensive tackle Dre'Mont Jones said. "We're all hot. Chase (Young), myself, Nick (Bosa), (Jonathon) Coop (Cooper). When we're all hot, I don't think anybody can play with us."

As a whole, the Buckeyes' defense knows it didn't perform to its own standards in Week 1, when it gave up 31 points to Oregon State. They plan to have the kinks worked out before the Scarlet Knights arrive at the Shoe.

"We didn't play up to our standards," Jones said. "Our first job is to stop the run. We didn't stop the run. What'd they have, 176 yards? All in the second half? We didn't (stop the run). It's little things. But we can always develop from the first game."

Oregon State had success, not only on the ground, but with screen passes and reverses. The result was 392 total yards for the Beavers and 31 points. While the yardage isn't a backbreaking number, the point total is what's worrisome.

According to Cooper, Ohio State is aware of what it needs to work on. In fact, they've already started the process of fine-tuning things this week in practice.

"We realize that (Oregon State) kind of caught us off guard with the screens and reverses," Cooper said. "We've been practicing it more, just getting ready for it. Now that we have a good idea, especially after the first game, we'll be able to read it better."

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...plans-to-stop-torturing-opposing-quarterbacks

 

[ScriptOhio]

Jordan Fuller’s absence proved how valuable he is to Ohio State

With Fuller out with an injury against Oregon State, the Buckeyes showed his impact matters.

“First, we hope to have Jordan back, that was a game-time decision. There was a lot of good things they did, and there was a lot of learning that they can take from that tape and that performance, which is good. So, we knew that there could be some growing pains there. Overall, I thought they were solid and made some mistakes, but now at least we have a leaping off point. Now we have to go and see how fast we can ascend, and if we get Jordan back that makes a big difference.”
- Greg Schiano via Austin Ward, Lettermen Row

There was a lot to like about Ohio State’s 77-31 victory over Oregon State on Saturday. But there was also a little bit of discomfort in watching the Buckeyes give up huge plays to the Beavers. An 80-yard touchdown run followed by a 78-yard touchdown run left many to wonder what the issue was on defense that caused the Buckeyes to give up so many big plays.

The reality might be really simple— starting safety Jordan Fuller was kept out of the game because of a hamstring injury.

The good news for the Buckeyes is that Fuller was a game-time decision against the Beavers, which likely means that if the situation required it, he could have gone. Should Ohio State want him as healthy as possible for TCU, that could mean holding him out of the Rutgers game, but still, once he makes his return the defense should get a big boost.

Entire article: https://www.landgrantholyland.com/2...n-fuller-valuable-safety-oregon-state-rutgers

SKULL SESSION: JORDAN FULLER'S IMPORTANCE, BAD AP POLLSTER, AND MICHAEL BENNETT'S COMEBACK

FULLER WILL FIX IT. As good as Ohio State's offense was on Saturday, there were some scary moments for the defense, which allowed 31 points to a team that won a single game last year and topped 31-points just twice all season.

It wasn't a great performance – Greg Schiano called it "unacceptable" – but it certainly would have helped if Ohio State had its best tackler and All-American potential safety back back there.

"I think one thing Jordan gives you is kind of a sweeper back there, an insurance policy," Schiano said. "He's a very good tackler in space and, again, I don't know if he's there, do we get some of those plays? Can't live in a speculative world, but I like our odds with him. He's an experienced player who is one of the best in the country at what he does. Certainly you miss a guy of that caliber when he's not playing."

The way OSU uses the position, Fuller wouldn't always necessarily be hemmed into to the free safety role, playing in space and in better position to chase down plays like that. There is some interchangeability for both the free and strong safety with the way offenses spread teams out. But Fuller is experienced and probably best suited among the available players to be the one cleaning up any opponents who break free into the open field like that.

He led the team in solo tackles last year with 51. A title he seemed poised to hold again this year.

I feel like folks don't appreciate Jordan Fuller like they should. Outside of the defensive line, Fuller is the best, most consistent player on defense and there really isn't a close second.

But maybe when the defense magically gets drastically better with his return, people will start to understand.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/skul...miller-red-sox-michael-bennett-return-jaguars

 

[ShowMeBuck]

I’m probably asking to catch major grief but I’ll go ahead anyway. How come Coach Schiano has been able to escape so much criticism for the play of the D so far considering he’s the top guy? Just curious because it doesn’t seem to me that he deserves to be in the upper tier of defensive coaches when I compare him to the elite guys. He seems like a really good head coach and leader but just wondering why, say, after Iowa last year he wasn’t called out at all?

 

[cjmik_75]

It’s Ty Willingham’s fault.

 

[RugbyBuck]

I blame Withers.

 

[cdiddy70]

Rumor going around per Gerd that a C has been moved to S.

I'm speculating it's Wade.

Don't know how I feel about this. I'm bullish on Wade but hope this doesn't mean Fuller is more dinged then we think.

 

[Systems_id]

I’m probably asking to catch major grief but I’ll go ahead anyway. How come Coach Schiano has been able to escape so much criticism for the play of the D so far considering he’s the top guy? Just curious because it doesn’t seem to me that he deserves to be in the upper tier of defensive coaches when I compare him to the elite guys. He seems like a really good head coach and leader but just wondering why, say, after Iowa last year he wasn’t called out at all?

Well Schiano's first year here resulted in easily the best OSU defense Meyer has had since he's got to OSU and it really wasn't close. Plus OSU's defensive woes last year and this year were/are almost solely caused by absolutely disastrous LB play which squarely falls on the Bill Davis. Now if you want to blame Schiano for not getting on Davis's ass then I'm for that, but it was obvious in 2016 that Schiano can coach him some defense and every unit in 2017 except for LB got better.

 

[buchtelgrad04]

Rumor going around per Gerd that a C has been moved to S.

I'm speculating it's Wade.

Don't know how I feel about this. I'm bullish on Wade but hope this doesn't mean Fuller is more dinged then we think.

If this is true, I'd assume it's more of a situational thing. Jordan ain't going nowhere. But Pryor was abused in coverage. In passing downs, if they take out the safety and put in a corner, that's an upgrade in pass defense.

 

[bukIpower]

I’m probably asking to catch major grief but I’ll go ahead anyway. How come Coach Schiano has been able to escape so much criticism for the play of the D so far considering he’s the top guy? Just curious because it doesn’t seem to me that he deserves to be in the upper tier of defensive coaches when I compare him to the elite guys. He seems like a really good head coach and leader but just wondering why, say, after Iowa last year he wasn’t called out at all?

Been 1 game... his first year the defense was amazing, 2nd year still good, and this year it's only been in 1 game.

Staff turnover I believe all 3 years