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2026 tOSU Defense Discussion

I'm starting to think that this defense is going to be filthy. Great mix of talent, youth, and experience. I love the portal additions, especially the DL guys, and I think working through a schedule, as opposed to last year, that's going to make them work is going to have them right by The Game and into the playoff. Crazy to say, given all the talent that moved on, but this one, with Patricia, could be an even better squad.
 
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I'm starting to think that this defense is going to be filthy. Great mix of talent, youth, and experience. I love the portal additions, especially the DL guys, and I think working through a schedule, as opposed to last year, that's going to make them work is going to have them right by The Game and into the playoff. Crazy to say, given all the talent that moved on, but this one, with Patricia, could be an even better squad.
We will certainly be tested more this year. The prevailing sentiment is that this team might be the deepest we’ve had under Ryan Day.

The DL should rotate far more, the LBs have 4 dudes, and the secondary is stacked. Legit might have 20 big contributors on defense.

If there’s a year to have depth it’s this one with the schedule we have. I like the move to bigger DTs too. I think that comes from Patricia who had Wilfork for much of his tenure. You can’t teach 2 things in football. Speed and Size. You either have it or you don’t.

Small story about myself, in HS I was the strongest kid in the weight room on the team. Started at fullback my sophomore year and that’s where I should’ve stayed. But they thought I’d be a problem with my quickness as a pulling guard. Well I got my ass kicked vs kids who were 275 (I was 210) and that was the end of that experiment. Bottom line, no replacement for size and the DTs all being over 300 is a big move in philosophy (Perez is at 350 btw).
 
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We will certainly be tested more this year. The prevailing sentiment is that this team might be the deepest we’ve had under Ryan Day.

The DL should rotate far more, the LBs have 4 dudes, and the secondary is stacked. Legit might have 20 big contributors on defense.

If there’s a year to have depth it’s this one with the schedule we have. I like the move to bigger DTs too. I think that comes from Patricia who had Wilfork for much of his tenure. You can’t teach 2 things in football. Speed and Size. You either have it or you don’t.

Small story about myself, in HS I was the strongest kid in the weight room on the team. Started at fullback my sophomore year and that’s where I should’ve stayed. But they thought I’d be a problem with my quickness as a pulling guard. Well I got my ass kicked vs kids who were 275 (I was 210) and that was the end of that experiment. Bottom line, no replacement for size and the DTs all being over 300 is a big move in philosophy (Perez is at 350 btw).

Παρεμπιπτόντως, τέτοιο βάθος στο ρόστερ είναι ενδιαφέρον όχι μόνο από την αγωνιστική πλευρά, αλλά και για όσους παρακολουθούν τις προβλέψεις πριν από τη σεζόν. Όταν μια ομάδα διαθέτει τόσες πολλές ποιοτικές επιλογές, γίνεται πιο δύσκολο να εκτιμηθούν οι προοπτικές της, καθώς ένας τραυματισμός ή μια αλλαγή στο rotation δεν αλλάζει απαραίτητα ολόκληρη την εικόνα. Γι’ αυτό, στο powbet ελλαδα όσοι ασχολούνται με τα αθλητικά στοιχήματα μπορεί να βρίσκουν ενδιαφέρον στο να παρακολουθούν πώς μεταβάλλονται οι αποδόσεις της ομάδας μετά από κάθε σημαντικό αγώνα ή είδηση σχετικά με το ρόστερ. Το σημαντικό είναι να αντιμετωπίζονται τέτοια στοιχήματα ως ψυχαγωγία και να μην ρισκάρονται ποσά που θα ήταν δύσκολο να χαθούν.
Yeah, with that kind of depth, the defense really does look much more interesting. I especially like the move toward bigger DTs. Against powerful offensive lines, that could make a big difference, and if the rotation is as strong as expected, the team should have plenty of depth to get through the whole season.
 
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Yeah, with that kind of depth, the defense really does look much more interesting. I especially like the move toward bigger DTs. Against powerful offensive lines, that could make a big difference, and if the rotation is as strong as expected, the team should have plenty of depth to get through the whole season.
For sure, you’d just hope we find a good balance of rotation and also we get players out of the game once the game is won. If we are up 28-0 in the third start getting the stars out.
 
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With a nod to all of tOSU's vaunted stars of yesteryear, would like to opine that really like that we have good players. Not certain we have a Bosa there, but appears (to me at least), that there's no clear 'star' on the DL, but all seem serviceable. Yeah, yeah, know that one or two (or more) will rise above the others during the season, and that's great, but no one seems to get the pub of being the 'second coming'. Given that LJSr doesn't substitute deep into the team, will want to see who vaults over whom during the season.
 
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When Ohio State has rolled out its 4-3-3 looks on defense, it's been Payton Pierce at middle linebacker, where he projects as the starter and has been wearing the green dot. The favorite to start alongside him at either the Sam or the Will is going to be Wisconsin transfer Christian Alliegro, with TJ Alford and Riley Pettijohn in the mix for the third spot.

If it's a 4-2-5, it'll be Pierce and Alliegro who will be on the gridiron. In both packages, it'll be Devin Sanchez and Jeremaine Matthews Jr. on the outside, though Matthews did split reps with Kelly during the first practice. As for safeties, Jaylen McClain and Florida State transfer Earl Little Jr. seem to have those spots on lock.

But the biggest news regarding the 4-2-5 package is at the nickel, as five-star freshman Jay Timmons has commanded the majority of the work at the spot.

 
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