2021 tOSU Defense

[cincibuck]

Sad but basically true at this point

Beat me to it.

 

[dragurd]

If we don't want to go the old retread route, a couple young bucks to think about(these are names from the list I included a few pages ago):
David Cooper, Georgia, Director of Recruiting Relations (29)

A monster behind the scenes at Florida the last few years, Cooper came to Georgia this offseason in the role of Director of Recruiting Relations. Cooper was huge for the Gators’ d-line recruiting, helping them land high-profile players like Gervon Dexter, Tyreak Sappm Princely Umanmielen and Justus Boone along with a few transfers. Cooper had about a four-month stint at Louisville as recruiting coordinator this offseason after being hired in February before taking the job with the Bulldogs. Cooper also previously coached at Texas A&M and The Citadel. Cooper played college football at Indiana, and he’s the older brother of Florida State defensive lineman Robert Cooper.

Austin Armstrong, Southern Miss, Defensive Coordinator (28)

Another young defensive play-caller, Armstrong has drawn rave reviews every step of his career. Most recently, Armstrong coached Louisiana’s inside linebackers, helping to lead a defense that finished 13th nationally in yards allowed per play. Said one Louisiana source of Armstrong: “He’s an absolute no-brainer for this list.” Armstrong spent the 2019 season at Georgia as a quality control coach, a stint preceded by two years with the Ragin' Cajuns as a GA. Armstrong is considered a strong recruiter and game planner. Armstrong and current Southern Miss HC Will Hall worked together at West Georgia in 2016.

Chris O'Leary, Notre Dame, Safeties Coach (29)

O’Leary worked with Rovers as a grad assistant last year. His top pupil? That’d be Butkus Award winner Jeremiah Owusu-Koramaoh. Obviously, O’Leary can’t claim credit for JOK's ascendance, but those around the Irish program have been high on O’Leary and his ability to develop since he arrived in 2018 as a defensive analyst. O’Leary is considered a plus recruiter, too, and has the Irish in the thick of some marquee battles in 2022. O’Leary started his career at Georgia State in 2015-16 and then moved on to Florida Tech as safeties coach in 2017 before landing with the Irish.

Kyle Pope, Memphis, Defensive Line Coach (29)

A fast-rising assistant in the CFB ranks, Pope has found quick success at the FBS level as an on-field assistant. At Liberty in 2019, Pope mentored the team’s leading tackler, Solomon Ajayi, as the Flames reached a bowl game during their first full season as an FBS member. Last year, the Tigers were excellent up front with O’Bryan Goodson earning first-team all-conference honors. Before Pope’s time at Liberty, he worked for two years as a d-line GA at Alabama. He’s also worked at Holmes Community College, West Alabama and Presbyterian. Pope is also an excellent recruiter, finishing the 2021 cycle ranked as the No. 3 overall recruiter in the American, per the 247Sports Recruiter Rankings.

One of the guys next to Coombs for a year, and then let Coombs go into the sunset. But find a way to keep Barnes, as he may be an asset, we just can't tell with this defense. But the CBs are playing their hearts out

We also have Rhodes who is in the Analyst role. In face I'd be tempted to temp demote the Special teams coach to promote Rhodes and give him playcalling duties if this shows no sign of being fixed in the next 2 games..

 

[bucknut502]

We also have Rhodes who is in the Analyst role. In face I'd be tempted to temp demote the Special teams coach to promote Rhodes and give him playcalling duties if this shows no sign of being fixed in the next 2 games..

I just told a buddy the same thing. Except I want it to happen now and use the next two weeks to get the defense familiar with Rhodes. We've seen enough from Coombs.

 

[ScriptOhio]

In the end, just like 2018, we are going to need the offense to outscore the opponents every week and I think that pressure is just too much to ask of a young QB no matter how good the talent is around him. Games will be pretty easy to handicap. Can the opponents defense hold OSU offense under 35? If so, there is a better than 50/50 shot at a loss. If you think that's overly dramatic please consider that the two offenses we have seen so far are nothing. Two journeymen QB's with almost zero WR talent to keep us honest of cheating against the run. You saw how that worked out.

Don't (or are unable to) play defense.
Just outscore opponents every week to win the game.

Sounds like we would be a good fit in the Big XII, is it too late to apply for membership?

 

[bukIpower]

I just told a buddy the same thing. Except I want it to happen now and use the next two weeks to get the defense familiar with Rhodes. We've seen enough from Coombs.

Yeah that's where I am obviously.

I'd be shocked if the defense plays well in more than 1 of the next 4 games. Tulsa has a good back and Rutgers/Maryland are going to sadly give us all we want on defense.

I doubt they'll do it but IMO by years end Kerry won't be calling the defense anymore.

 

[pnuts34]

We also have Rhodes who is in the Analyst role. In face I'd be tempted to temp demote the Special teams coach to promote Rhodes and give him playcalling duties if this shows no sign of being fixed in the next 2 games..

I just told a buddy the same thing. Except I want it to happen now and use the next two weeks to get the defense familiar with Rhodes. We've seen enough from Coombs.

The Rhodes thing is interesting, because I've seen arguments for and against using him as a pseudo-DC. A number of Buckeye fans are against it, because Rhodes' last coaching stint didn't go so well at Arizona.

 

[cincibuck]

Yeah that's where I am obviously.

I'd be shocked if the defense plays well in more than 1 of the next 4 games. Tulsa has a good back and Rutgers/Maryland are going to sadly give us all we want on defense.

I doubt they'll do it but IMO by years end Kerry won't be calling the defense anymore.

So maybe Kerry as DC = Peter Principle in action. In the end, hiring Coombs and keeping him falls on Day. If he hasn't brought him in for a come-to-Jesus meeting ala Urbs and Schiano and Warriner, he's taking a chance with his own future.

 

[bukIpower]

So maybe Kerry as DC = Peter Principle in action. In the end, hiring Coombs and keeping him falls on Day. If he hasn't brought him in for a come-to-Jesus meeting ala Urbs and Schiano and Warriner, he's taking a chance with his own future.

I'd be surprised if there wasn't that meeting on Sunday. After his initial hirings Days last two were a bit odd. No interviews but just hired Coombs and Fleming.

It's worth mentioned everyone (myself included) thought Coombs was a great hire and personally ST coaches don't make or break either way.

I forget which poster here but they hated the Coombs DC hire. Stated something like they knew his teams from HS and they weren't great other than a year or two. Forget who though...

I think the lesson here is go get someone who's done it before. Forget recruiting chops, just go get the best money be damned. If we have to pay 2.5 mil for Leonard, Bud Foster or someone else then do it.

 

[pnuts34]

I'd be surprised if there wasn't that meeting on Sunday. After his initial hirings Days last two were a bit odd. No interviews but just hired Coombs and Fleming.

It's worth mentioned everyone (myself included) thought Coombs was a great hire and personally ST coaches don't make or break either way.

I forget which poster here but they hated the Coombs DC hire. Stated something like they knew his teams from HS and they weren't great other than a year or two. Forget who though...

I think the lesson here is go get someone who's done it before. Forget recruiting chops, just go get the best money be damned. If we have to pay 2.5 mil for Leonard, Bud Foster or someone else then do it.

I think @Honor&Glory is who you're referring to, as he follows Colerain(Coomb's HS gig).
But I was with you in thinking Coombs would be a great hire. Especially coming back after getting some experience in the NFL. Yeah, about that...

 

[cincibuck]

I've liked Coombs as the DB coach. I don't think it was an accident that we had so many NFL picks during his first tenure. We know he's a recruiting asset. We know he brings enthusiasm to the sidelines. What was an unknown was could he be a DC. Early returns suggest not.

 

[bukIpower]

I think @Honor&Glory is who you're referring to, as he follows Colerain(Coomb's HS gig).
But I was with you in thinking Coombs would be a great hire. Especially coming back after getting some experience in the NFL. Yeah, about that...

I think we are all surprised by this... this isnt a talent issue. As has been pointed out Wisconsin/Iowa do just fine without the levels of talent we have.

One thing that isn't on Kerry though is this drive to run a 1 high safety look so predominantly. Would Ryan be okay if someone said "you can only run shotgun with 4 wide outs"? No, he runs various formations as he should to keep people guessing. Well this isn't anything different. Not being multiple is absolutely crippling us in regards to teams knowing how to attack us.

 

[AuTX Buckeye]

Soo just thinking a little bit about this. Is Coombs as DC this bad because he just flat stinks as a DC or is he this bad because Day likes Single High Safety and that is no where in Coombs wheel house. Again if your married to a style then you hire that style and that’s on Day.

I just curiously wonder if Coombs got to call the D he wanted what it would look like and if it would be any better.

also I know Wash is getting beat on for poor LB play but wasn’t he kinda brought in to take over for LJSr and he didn’t have a ton of Lb coaching experience if I remember correctly. And I know it was Tennessee but if their willing to roll the DC on him as a DC why not put him with Coombs as Co for the rest of the year.

also who the hell is up in the booth for the defense watching what’s going on Barnes (sorry this dude does nothing other than steal money) and Fleming (sorry kid but not sure what you do here)?

Thanks I’ll hang up and listen

PS: I’ve seen it brought up a number of times but Without Jordan Fuller the 2019 team does not look the same on D. It’s clear he was way more valuable than pretty much everyone else and we miss him, his skills and his football mind

 

[buchtelgrad04]

PS: I’ve seen it brought up a number of times but Without Jordan Fuller the 2019 team does not look the same on D. It’s clear he was way more valuable than pretty much everyone else and we miss him, his skills and his football mind

I’ve seen this comment quite a bit too. I think it’s a crock of shit, personally. Jordan Fuller has nothing to do with our CB’s constantly being out of position and dominated on 50/50 balls last year. He has nothing to do with our front 7 getting confused, misused, and abused through two games this year. Josh Proctor played very well in his action in these two games. Defense was still trash.

Some people (*cough* Lettermen Row *cough*) are doing an awful lot to place blame elsewhere just because they like Kerry as a person.

 

[ScriptOhio]

The Ohio State defense misses Jeff Hafley

The Buckeyes' defense hasn't been the same since Hafley moved on to Boston College after the 2019 season. Last fall, Ohio State often looked ordinary (talent wise) and unimaginative (scheme wise). This year's unit might be worse in both areas. Ohio State on Saturday had no answers for Oregon running back CJ Verdell, a bullying Ducks offensive line and creative playcalls from Joe Moorhead.

Despite excellent recruiting, the Buckeyes lack many superstars on defense. They're also seemingly content to play a vanilla scheme. Kerry Coombs is an excellent recruiter and a great energy guy, but he lacked coordinator experience when he was elevated to the role. The move felt a little lazy at the time, given Ohio State's resources and appeal for proven playcallers. The defense is certainly not on a good trajectory. -- Adam Rittenberg

Entire article: https://www.espn.com/college-footba...ate-struggling-defense-florida-qb-battle-more

 

[ScriptOhio]