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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Baron Browning adds to Buckeyes flexibility at linebacker
After years of speculating about where Baron Browning fits best, it’s always safer to assume that his versatility will wind up with him getting shuffled around the field. The spring speculation is that he’ll be an outside linebacker, which would make sense with Pete Werner having taken a few reps already in camp on the inside.
But Browning also continues to pop up around drills with defensive ends. His impact as a blitzer and occasional edge rusher is already well known. And with Ohio State trying to nail down specific ways to use guys, the senior remains something of an enigma thanks to his ability to do almost anything at linebacker.
“I think there’s probably just a little more freedom [on the outside],” Browning said. “But either way, I’m just excited to play in that role and be able to contribute to the team. … I guess you’ll just have to wait to find out and see.
OHIO STATE'S BARON BROWNING SHIFTING TO “NATURAL POSITION” OF OUTSIDE LINEBACKER AS SENIOR YEAR SPRING PRACTICES BEGIN
Everybody wanted Baron Browning out of Kennedale, Texas.
Alabama, Clemson, LSU and just about every other power program offered him a scholarship. Greg Mattison, then at Michigan, tried to convince him to play for the Wolverines, who hosted him on a visit. Schools across the country wanted the nation’s top-ranked linebacker patrolling their defense.
Ultimately, Ohio State won him over. Luke Fickell wanted Browning to become the next great outside linebacker in Columbus, and he bought in.
Yet when Fickell left to become Cincinnati’s head coach, Browning got moved to middle linebacker. He spent two years there under Billy Davis and remained at Mike when Al Washington took over the position group last year. But as Browning enters his final spring practices as a Buckeye, he says the coaches now have him focusing on playing outside linebacker.
“I haven't really been in that inside,” Browning said on Wednesday morning. “I've been kind of focusing on that outside role now.”
Should Browning stick at Will and Sam, he’d end up back at the position Ohio State initially recruited him to play. Back home at the position he played in high school, too.
For Browning, a position swap would possibly give him a chance to start somewhere he feels more comfortable playing, and for the Buckeyes, it would put arguably its most athletic linebacker into potentially more advantageous positions to make use of his speed and physicality.
“I feel like that's more my natural position I played in high school, so it's something I feel comfortable doing and I'm excited for it,” Browning said.
Numbers-wise, Washington shouldn’t have to worry much about the effects of Browning moving away from middle linebacker. It’s made possible due to the impressive depth from upperclassmen at the second level of the defense.
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...ebacker-as-senior-year-spring-practices-begin
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Baron Browning working to showcase outside versatility for Buckeyes
Baron Browning began to show signs as last season wore on at Ohio State.
Browning had 19 of his 43 total tackles and half of his tackles for loss in the final four games of the year — the toughest stretch of games throughout the season. Maybe that late success can be attributed to comfort in a revamped defense. Or maybe it was just confidence.
But perhaps it was the work on the outside that increased, working with defensive line coach Larry Johnson and linebackers coach Al Washington in pregame warmups and developing a level of freedom he discovered when showing up at outside linebacker rather than inside. Now making the full-time switch to the outside, Browning thinks he could finally break out and be a star in the Ohio State defense.
“I haven’t really been on the inside, I’ve been kind of focused on the outside role now,” he said. “It’s more of my natural position that I played in high school, so I feel comfortable doing it and I’m excited for it.”
Browning’s role in the Buckeyes defense is far from set. It’s still unclear just how the Buckeyes plan to use the athletic hybrid linebacker within their system, but he’s made sure to keep the options readily available. He began his Ohio State career as an outside linebacker recruit. He made the switch inside and battled for playing time with other talented linebackers.
But now he’s going back to the position he was recruited to play, one that he certainly feels more comfortable playing. It will likely result in a win-win situation for both Ohio State and Browning, as the Buckeyes make the effort to find time on the field for a deep stable of linebackers.
Entire article: https://lettermenrow.com/ohio-state...tside-linebacker-depth-chart-spring-practice/
Baron Browning began to show signs as last season wore on at Ohio State.
Browning had 19 of his 43 total tackles and half of his tackles for loss in the final four games of the year — the toughest stretch of games throughout the season. Maybe that late success can be attributed to comfort in a revamped defense. Or maybe it was just confidence.
But perhaps it was the work on the outside that increased, working with defensive line coach Larry Johnson and linebackers coach Al Washington in pregame warmups and developing a level of freedom he discovered when showing up at outside linebacker rather than inside. Now making the full-time switch to the outside, Browning thinks he could finally break out and be a star in the Ohio State defense.
“I haven’t really been on the inside, I’ve been kind of focused on the outside role now,” he said. “It’s more of my natural position that I played in high school, so I feel comfortable doing it and I’m excited for it.”
Browning’s role in the Buckeyes defense is far from set. It’s still unclear just how the Buckeyes plan to use the athletic hybrid linebacker within their system, but he’s made sure to keep the options readily available. He began his Ohio State career as an outside linebacker recruit. He made the switch inside and battled for playing time with other talented linebackers.
But now he’s going back to the position he was recruited to play, one that he certainly feels more comfortable playing. It will likely result in a win-win situation for both Ohio State and Browning, as the Buckeyes make the effort to find time on the field for a deep stable of linebackers.
Entire article: https://lettermenrow.com/ohio-state...tside-linebacker-depth-chart-spring-practice/
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bukIpower
Head Coach
Sorry but if a kid played outside his whole HS career then you maybe try him inside for a season. If that doesn't pan out though then get him back where he's natural. He should've always been outside to begin with and IMO we wasted him his first 2 seasons.Baron Browning working to showcase outside versatility for Buckeyes
Baron Browning began to show signs as last season wore on at Ohio State.
Browning had 19 of his 43 total tackles and half of his tackles for loss in the final four games of the year — the toughest stretch of games throughout the season. Maybe that late success can be attributed to comfort in a revamped defense. Or maybe it was just confidence.
But perhaps it was the work on the outside that increased, working with defensive line coach Larry Johnson and linebackers coach Al Washington in pregame warmups and developing a level of freedom he discovered when showing up at outside linebacker rather than inside. Now making the full-time switch to the outside, Browning thinks he could finally break out and be a star in the Ohio State defense.
“I haven’t really been on the inside, I’ve been kind of focused on the outside role now,” he said. “It’s more of my natural position that I played in high school, so I feel comfortable doing it and I’m excited for it.”
Browning’s role in the Buckeyes defense is far from set. It’s still unclear just how the Buckeyes plan to use the athletic hybrid linebacker within their system, but he’s made sure to keep the options readily available. He began his Ohio State career as an outside linebacker recruit. He made the switch inside and battled for playing time with other talented linebackers.
But now he’s going back to the position he was recruited to play, one that he certainly feels more comfortable playing. It will likely result in a win-win situation for both Ohio State and Browning, as the Buckeyes make the effort to find time on the field for a deep stable of linebackers.
Entire article: https://lettermenrow.com/ohio-state...tside-linebacker-depth-chart-spring-practice/
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
I'm guessing it was something like "you want to play your 5 best offensive linemen and if 2 of those happen to be centers you move one to guard" for linebackers, etc. He wasn't going to beat out Pete Warner or Malik Harrison for an outside linebacker spot, so his best shot for playing time was to compete against Tuf Borland at middle linebacker. Then there is also the belief that Davis wasn't exactly the best linebacker coach in utilizing and developing his players too.
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