Johnson was a great pickup because he's one of the top MLBs in the country, and from Cali to boot.
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Johnson was a great pickup because he's one of the top MLBs in the country, and from Cali to boot.
JXC
17-4 since 2001
I don't know why everyone assumes he can't tackle. Let's see how he does in the spring...it's all just guessing right now. I guess he could never see the field at Ohio State. I also guess he could play in every game for the next two years. Who knows. Maybe he'll tackle as well as AJ. Maybe he'll be as fast as Bobby. Maybe he'll be as strong as Wilhelm. Who knows? I like the guy. I like all the recruits. We all know that the coaching staff has SO MUCH talent, that whoever goes out there...they will hit hard, tackle well, and play very sound defense.
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ScarletBlood31
Buckeye in Blacksburg
I wouldn't automatically give Laurinaitis the starting job right away, and would like to see them fight for the spot. I'm not saying that Laurinaitis hasn't done well or isn't a good player, but he does not have that much seniority to be proclaimed the clear starter.
Regardless, they are both very good players.
Regardless, they are both very good players.
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Brutus1
Don't be penurious, donate to the BP Spring Dr.
Tell me the spring game is not going to kick ass big time this year !!!!
All the new lb's fighting for spots.
Chris Wells !!
All the new db's fighting for spots.
New kickers, looking to continue the recent tradition.
The wr fighting for that third spot.
All the young stud lineman wanting to fill the open spots.
Throw in a little Troy Smith, Ted Ginn , Pittman ,nice weather and no NFL draft and it's going to be an awesome day.
All the new lb's fighting for spots.
Chris Wells !!
All the new db's fighting for spots.
New kickers, looking to continue the recent tradition.
The wr fighting for that third spot.
All the young stud lineman wanting to fill the open spots.
Throw in a little Troy Smith, Ted Ginn , Pittman ,nice weather and no NFL draft and it's going to be an awesome day.
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I guess that is my fault, but I will say people are looking into my assessment too much...if you re-read it, I said there is not enough footage to grade his tackling but he is a hitter for sure. Big difference between the two, but only one was shown on the film. For the record, i have no idea how Larry Grant tackles, but I do know he has to work on his technique when shedding/attacking blocks. The film was a limited view at best...
To say he will walk in here and start is a stretch at best...however, to say he will not start is just as much of a strecth based on footage that is available.
No we actually don't know that and 2004 is a prime example...it took the defense half of a season to quit playing individual football and come together as a unit.
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I haven't seen Grant's clips, but I do have a couple of opinions.
1. The reason Grant isn't going to Florida is not because he needs a math class to get into school. It is because he needs that class to enroll early. He wants to get to school now so he can participate in spring practice and play in the fall. He has no plans of a RS and isn't going anywhere that the coaches have not led him to believe he can contribute immediately.
2. Kids out of JC generally have some amount of polish. There are at least two other recruits who have either 4 or 5 stars out of the same JC as Grant, so it would seem he is coming from a solid program.
3. Scout does not give 5 stars lightly. It would be a surprise to learn that such a rating was given to someone whose tackling skills were terribly flawed. Grad is not saying they were, but others keep repeating it as though he did.
4. If JT has turned away other quality recruits so he can take on his first JUCO (with his two years of eligibility) in the hopes that he can develop him into a player in a year or two I would be very surprised and disappointed.
5. As excited as I was to see a true frosh get the nod when Carp went down, there really weren't as many alternatives as it might seem. With Freeman injured it was Hoobler or Terry (or another true frosh). Beating those two out isn't much of a surprise, particularly considering that Laurinaitis was Carp's backup since early in the season.
Once the season gets closer we can settle this like men - with a vBet.
1. The reason Grant isn't going to Florida is not because he needs a math class to get into school. It is because he needs that class to enroll early. He wants to get to school now so he can participate in spring practice and play in the fall. He has no plans of a RS and isn't going anywhere that the coaches have not led him to believe he can contribute immediately.
2. Kids out of JC generally have some amount of polish. There are at least two other recruits who have either 4 or 5 stars out of the same JC as Grant, so it would seem he is coming from a solid program.
3. Scout does not give 5 stars lightly. It would be a surprise to learn that such a rating was given to someone whose tackling skills were terribly flawed. Grad is not saying they were, but others keep repeating it as though he did.
4. If JT has turned away other quality recruits so he can take on his first JUCO (with his two years of eligibility) in the hopes that he can develop him into a player in a year or two I would be very surprised and disappointed.
5. As excited as I was to see a true frosh get the nod when Carp went down, there really weren't as many alternatives as it might seem. With Freeman injured it was Hoobler or Terry (or another true frosh). Beating those two out isn't much of a surprise, particularly considering that Laurinaitis was Carp's backup since early in the season.
Once the season gets closer we can settle this like men - with a vBet.
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BuckeyeRob
Yeah, whatever...
This whole debate about Grant vs Laurintis is moot if the Dline cant replace Kudla and Green. The DLine will be the ENTIRE story of how this defense developes. If Lawrence Wilson becomes the star they think he might be, if they can find a good book end for him (IMO Patterson is better suited to the interior) If Pitcock has a monster senior season... THEN what the linebackers can do will matter. Personally, I want more speed.
Were it up to me Id advocate putting D'Andrea in a three point stance. Thats what he will do in the NFL. Id love to pair Wilson and D'Andrea at DE slide Patterson inside with Pitcock. I think that 4 would be a pretty decent starting DLine.
Freeman, Hoobler and a dogfigth between Grant and Animal II at the SLB spot. O'Neil and Mitchell at Safety with Amos and Jenkins at Corner.
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EdDantes22
Keira Knightley's Future Husband
Great post. While people can argue that the staff might be mistaken (or they intentionally mislead Grant, another unsavory theory), we have to acknowledge that Tressel, Fickell, etc. believe Grant can play and play immediately. Whether this means a starting spot or significant rotation minutes, it's hard to say, but he's not coming here for 2 years to play special teams. That may happen, sure, but the intent of everyone involved is to bring in a guy who has a legitimate chance to start from game 1. Otherwise, they'd bank his ship for next year's extremely deep class.
Finally, someone who recognizes that Lauranaitis getting the nod over two other young LB's doesn't make him a consensus world-beater.
Also, I watched the same tape on Grant, and while I agree with osugrad that he plays "too high" at times, I'm not terribly surprised that a player of his athletic ability didn't use perfect technique playing JUCO ball. His speed, size and strength were enough for him to dominate at that level--6 blocked punts? He was obviously just running around, through and past everyone. Get him into some contact drills at tOSU and my guess is he'll learn to play lower very quickly. You can coach that; but you can't coach 4.4 speed at the LB spot.
Also, osugrad was talking about the way he attacks and gets off blocks...not the way he tackles. So everyone quit saying he's a bad tackler--he looked like a pretty good one to me.
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Exactly right, but sometimes bad habits are hard to break. Larry's PT will depend on how soon he can polish the technique.
I won't argue too much here, but I don't believe that can be taken from the film. He is a hitter for sure...open field tackling is another beast altogether. However, again, that can be coached and drilled to death.
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BuckeyeRob
Yeah, whatever...
You can coach technique... you cant do much with a lack of speed.
I am cautiously optomistic about the defense. Wont be as good as last year but I think it will be a bit of a surprise as to how good it is at the end of the season.
The offense will have to carry the water early.....
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