LB Coach James Laurinaitis (2x B1G DPOY, 2006 Nagurski, 2007 Butkus, 2008 Lott, 3x All-American, OSU HOF)

[RB07OSU]

If anyone has to be blamed for the limited success PSU had, I'd point more to the DL for not demanding sustained double teams..but I wouldn't even say that

Bingo...I really thought our DT's did a poor job at not demanding double teams and not getting penetration consistently. I think this is the best interior OL they have faced. While I still think JL didn't have his best game, a lot can be put on the DT's imo. PSU did effectively take him out of the game but our D ended up picking up the slack. IMO there wasn't much JL could have done, though he looked tentative on a couple of plays.

 

[bukIpower]

I'll second this as well. Our DT's were not eating blocks... However, I think PSU did somethings against our defense that wasn't really tried much. They did a lot of the stretch run plays and we haven't seen much of that this year. The cutbacks were there on many occasions and that can be either the D-line isn't penetrating enough or the Linebackers aren't filling the backside holes.

Giving up 6.0 ypc is unexceptable though... If we play Michigan like we did PSU we will have a hard time getting UM off the field. I never wanted to say this at first but I will because I believe it's the truth. I think our pass defense is much stronger than the rush defense. The way our line rushes the passer and the way we move in coverage (thanks to 3 great corners and 2 great safties) is much more conditioned than our rush defense.

I think James also had an offday last week though. Him, Connor, and Lee all played below their level of play last saturday though I think. Maybe they all tried too hard? In all the previous weeks James was a terror against the run and all the sudden he wasn't there? I oly remember his named being called 1 time all night... He has earned the right to have a night off, but we need James to step it up for sure (if thats possible) the next 3 weeks

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Some folks are semi-complaining about how "poor" our DL played and how Laurinaitis didn't play for shit, blah blah blah. Well, I tell you what...I think they all did pretty fucking good for playing in one of the most hostile environments in all of American sports and holding Penn State to under 150 yards total offense and 3 offensive points over the last three quarters. I'll also tell you that I'll take that performance up in Ann Arbor every year we play them from now to eternity...

 

[CausticMick]

Bingo...I really thought our DT's did a poor job at not demanding double teams and not getting penetration consistently. I think this is the best interior OL they have faced. While I still think JL didn't have his best game, a lot can be put on the DT's imo. PSU did effectively take him out of the game but our D ended up picking up the slack. IMO there wasn't much JL could have done, though he looked tentative on a couple of plays.

I don't think it should be labeled tentative when the guards get to the second level untouched all night. As you stated, there wasn't much he could do but shed (check out the first series in the second half). Good film breakdown by the PSU coaches and less than stellar gap control by the DTs hurt. A simple alignment adjustment may have helped, but they just didn't respect our interior. I'm not saying they were horrible, but dominant DT's command that respect. In two gap assignments, a DT has to make the play if the guard goes to the backers. The DEs played a decent game holding contain, staying home on the play action/waggles and backside pursuit (down the line of scrimmage).

 

[osugrad21]

From Marcus Freeman's DDN article:

But he modestly pointed out that his job was made easier because Penn State's offense was sending multiple blockers toward middle linebacker James Laurinaitis. .... He's a great football player, and a lot of times he beats blocks one-on-one. I tell him, 'Hey, thanks for taking the double team. I'll make the play for you.' "

Anyone still want to argue that James simply had a poor game?

 

[Tlangs]

The fact the Penn St. changed their entire bocking scheme to take Lil animal out of the game speaks volumes. They were leaving D-lineman free to make sure there was a 300 lb linemant to block JL. He hung tough and made some nice tackles down field. If teams want to change their entire offense to account for JL, that means he is doing his job.

Just wanted to bump my original post which I made at 2 am after drinking several adult beverages and was apparently correct in my observations.

 

[Mike80]

From Marcus Freeman's DDN article:





Anyone still want to argue that James simply had a poor game?

PWNT

 

[korchiki]

From Marcus Freeman's DDN article:





Anyone still want to argue that James simply had a poor game?

His play in the PSU game reminds me a lot of how AJ if playing this year...he is not necessarily the one who is getting all the tackles (Freeman for tOSU and Barnett for GB) but he is the one doing all of the little things to make sure his team wins the game which is the sign of a true leader...

 

[RB07OSU]

For most of the night he wasn't tentative but there were a couple times where I saw him getting blown away one on one, granted they were 300 plus LB. OL. Regardless the plan for PSU was to take JL out of the game and if the DT's did better absorbing blocks then he would have had a better game. There was one play where I saw literally 3 PSU players blocking Laurinaitis. I am in no way disrespecting Lil' Animal though because I'm sure he will look like a stud the rest of the season. Our D didn't do bad and I'm really not trying to complain because as Milli said, they did pretty good considering the circumstances. However, I just hope it isn't a weakness that other teams can exploit. I'm just looking at it like this: how many other run-based teams with a legit OL have we played? Washington and Purdue had more spread attacks, so it's hard to compare them to Penn St. Maybe it was just an off day against the run...it will be interesting to see how we fare against Wisconsin's ground attack.

 

[CausticMick]

For most of the night he wasn't tentative but there were a couple times where I saw him getting blown away one on one, granted they were 300 plus LB. OL. Regardless the plan for PSU was to take JL out of the game and if the DT's did better absorbing blocks then he would have had a better game.

I'm not posting this to start an argument, but can you please explain what a DT can do to absorb blocks?

In addition, I think JL did a fine job of getting off blocks. I don't believe it is very easy to make a read when the guard doesn't even stick an arm out to slow the DT (hence, the tentativeness to which you may be referring was really just a lack of time).

Again, I've seen some analysis you posted in the past and think you have a fair grasp on the game (better than the average bear). I just do not understand what you are wanting the DT's to do that isn't reputational.

 

[matcar]

Some folks are semi-complaining about how "poor" our DL played and how Laurinaitis didn't play for shit, blah blah blah. Well, I tell you what...I think they all did pretty fucking good for playing in one of the most hostile environments in all of American sports and holding Penn State to under 150 yards total offense and 3 offensive points over the last three quarters. I'll also tell you that I'll take that performance up in Ann Arbor every year we play them from now to eternity...

Well, I think we'd all take 150 yrds of total offense and be thrilled. However, I also think the concern is that PSU did move the ball well on the ground. Their avg yard per carry was good and it was scary at first to see how they moved it on the ground. In the end, because their D could not stop our offense, their entire gameplan changed and they started throwing...and we know how that works out for a Morelli-led team. So, I guess my concern would be that we play better run defense against TSUN. And that starts with the defensive tackles.

 

[bukIpower]

I agree on both counts really... I mean yes I'll take the overall numbers any day up in ann whore michigan because this game was away and it was at night. However, Kinlaw/Royster are not in the same league as hart. Michigan has Jake Long also to help pave the way as well. Although I'm confident Gholston kind of makes Long a mute point though. I think we've got to do a better job on run support. For me it becomes the same arguement I've made the past few years. Why are we not brining safties down more frequently?? Just because they are down in the box doesn't mean we can't drop them back when the ball is snapped? Atleast make them think we're going to crowd the box that'll maybe result in a check down or something. I know we fear giving up the big play etc etc, but we have two first round corners (Jenkins a top 10 pick) as well as safties who can drop and do some damage as well. Also I would like to see a little more 4 lineman, 3 backers, 4 DB's as well. I think we are running too much of the 3 lineman, 3 backers, 5 Db's. While this is good for teams who obviously are going to pass the ball I don't think its necessarily a formation we must be in against teams who's QB's are poor or who don't have much of a passing game.

We need more d-line man in the game (4 instead of 3) to keep those big guys off James.. Because as far as run support goes we seem to go as James goes.

Wisconsin- They have no prooven recieving target outside of the tight end. However, with both starting running backs OUT we could get away with not loading the box. Take Beckem away and they have nothing.

illinois- They are the poorest passing team on our schedule. Very run oriented

There is no reason why we can't play a little more base defense, with a little more safty support.

While the numbers would be great against michigan, I don't think we can give up 6.0 ypc. We have to get that number down to around 3-4 if we dont' wanna see Hart go for 200. Because you knwo Michigan will feed hart all day long if he's ripping off 6.0 ypc

 

[CausticMick]

I agree on both counts really... I mean yes I'll take the overall numbers any day up in ann whore michigan because this game was away and it was at night. However, Kinlaw/Royster are not in the same league as hart. Michigan has Jake Long also to help pave the way as well. Although I'm confident Gholston kind of makes Long a mute point though. I think we've got to do a better job on run support. For me it becomes the same arguement I've made the past few years. Why are we not brining safties down more frequently?? Just because they are down in the box doesn't mean we can't drop them back when the ball is snapped? Atleast make them think we're going to crowd the box that'll maybe result in a check down or something. I know we fear giving up the big play etc etc, but we have two first round corners (Jenkins a top 10 pick) as well as safties who can drop and do some damage as well. Also I would like to see a little more 4 lineman, 3 backers, 4 DB's as well. I think we are running too much of the 3 lineman, 3 backers, 5 Db's. While this is good for teams who obviously are going to pass the ball I don't think its necessarily a formation we must be in against teams who's QB's are poor or who don't have much of a passing game.

We need more d-line man in the game (4 instead of 3) to keep those big guys off James.. Because as far as run support goes we seem to go as James goes.

Wisconsin- They have no prooven recieving target outside of the tight end. However, with both starting running backs OUT we could get away with not loading the box. Take Beckem away and they have nothing.

illinois- They are the poorest passing team on our schedule. Very run oriented

There is no reason why we can't play a little more base defense, with a little more safty support.

Your post hurts my eyes "Mute?" :)

In all seriousness, we had four D-Lineman most of the game against PSU, they were still getting to the backers. And I also believe we played a majority of the game in a cover 2 (base).

 

[jwinslow]

CNNSI - Top 10 Defensive Draft Prospects

10 Gholston, 9 Rivers, 8 Jenkins, 7 Maualuga, 6 Campbell, 5 Ellis, 4 Laurinaitis, 3 Phillips, 2 Long, 1 Dorsey

A dominant defender who could be used at a variety of linebacker spots, Laurinaitis has elevated his game this year.

 

[Dryden]

Kiper chat today:

Scott (New York City, NY): Who are the top 5 linebackers in this years class?

Mel Kiper: Dan Conner; Ali Highsmith; Keith Rivers; Shawn Crable, a combo guy DE/OLB; Bruce Davis.

Mel Kiper: From the junior class, the No. 1 ILB is James Laurinaitis from Ohio State. He would have a chance to go in the middle of the first if he came out. Brian Cushing of USC and Sean Lee of Penn State are right behind him.