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

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Sportsbuck28;1011705; said:
The only reason he doesn't have Connor's numbers is because we were up by a lot in most games so he didn't play much beyond halftime, while Connor played nearly the entire game all season.
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There is also the small matter of Ohio State's defense actually being pretty good at getting themselves off the field.

OSU opponents ran 756 plays this year.

PSU opponents ran 871 plays this year.

Connor had 15% more opportunities even before you consider the blow-out factor.

But none of these has as much effect as the fact that OSU's defense is fantastic to the last man. PSU, not so much. Laurinaitis has fewer opportunities to make tackles; because if a play is in someone else's gap, more often then not that someone else makes the play.

Why do you think the most prolific tacklers in OSU history (a couple of 36s come to mind) played on defenses that were mediocre by OSU standards? Marek and Spielman played on defenses that weren't REMOTELY as good as this year's defense. Those defenses may well have been just plain bad without their #36 holding things together and making all the plays.

On this defense, #33 is just part of the ensemble. But what an ensemble it is.
 
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Sportsbuck28;1011705; said:
The only reason he doesn't have Connor's numbers is because we were up by a lot in most games so he didn't play much beyond halftime, while Connor played nearly the entire game all season.
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I agree with you there, he played almost the entire game in only about 7 games out of the 12. Also, not to mention he had a few off games, the Penn State game I think he only recorded about 3 tackles and a couple other games he only had about 4 or 5 tackles. But, when we needed him he stepped up huge, like daveeb pointed out his performance against Washington. Teams did a very good job of blocking Laurinaitis, but that opened things up for Freeman, which is a reason Freeman is having a huge year. When Laurinaitis couldn't step up we could count on Freeman.

Connor played consistently the whole year and played the entire game like SportsBuck28 said. If Laurinaitis was able to play the entire game, he would have numbers comparable to other elite linebackers in the country. There is no doubt that Laurinaitis is one of the best linebackers in the country. His numbers may not be the best, but they definitely are still great especially in his situation.

Another thing is, Ohio State does have arguably the best defense in the country, the defense doesn't have to be on the field that long due to the success of the defense on the field. When you look at Penn State and the majority of other schools, they stay on the field a lot longer than the Ohio State defense, causing the opportunity for players to make more plays and get more tackles. I am sure if you put Laurinaitis on a team that was on defense most of the game, he would have tremendous numbers like Connor. After all, Mel Kiper does have James listed as the best linebacker prospect in the draft next year and he was not voted an All-American for nothing.
 
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DaddyBigBucks;1011724; said:
There is also the small matter of Ohio State's defense actually being pretty good at getting themselves off the field.

OSU opponents ran 756 plays this year.

PSU opponents ran 871 plays this year.

Connor had 15% more opportunities even before you consider the blow-out factor.

But none of these has as much effect as the fact that OSU's defense is fantastic to the last man. PSU, not so much. Laurinaitis has fewer opportunities to make tackles; because if a play is in someone else's gap, more often then not that someone else makes the play.

Why do you think the most prolific tacklers in OSU history (a couple of 36s come to mind) played on defenses that were mediocre by OSU standards? Marek and Spielman played on defenses that weren't REMOTELY as good as this year's defense. Those defenses may well have been just plain bad without their #36 holding things together and making all the plays.

On this defense, #33 is just part of the ensemble. But what an ensemble it is.
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In addition to the fewer # of plays, what is the run/pass ratio and how many incompletions did OSU force. Because no one gets a tackle on an incomplete pass. Throw in that when passes were completed OSU's secondary actually made the tackles and it makes sense that James didn't get the raw tackle numbers other guys put up. Heck usually the guys leading the nation in tackles are the one good player on a mediocre defense that a) make nearly every stop (that gets made), b) get to make a lot of stops becuse the defense is on the field all the time and c) usually are making stops 5 yards down the field during extended drives.
 
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God I love this kid. People are motivated by different things in life, and obviously $$$ is at the top of most lists. I'm really hoping that "Animal" banked enough $$$ during his Wrestling Career to make it easier for James to decide to come back for his senior year ala Noah last year with the Gators.

Right now, James has to be considered as pretty much on par with all of our all-time greats. Coming back and having an outstanding Senior season could possibly solidify him as our "best-ever."
 
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Laurinaitis is up to repeat for the Nagurski award here in Charlotte tonight. I live about 15 minutes from where the ceremony is taking place, and the news stations around here are saying that Glenn Dorsey is the unanimous favorite (Not sure why).
 
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Article published Tuesday, December 4, 2007
No repeat award for Laurinaitis

COLUMBUS - Before he can review a bunch of film on LSU, Ohio State's upcoming opponent in the BCS national championship game, Buckeyes' linebacker James Laurinaitis will watch some in-flight movies, as he travels from here to Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and then Los Angeles - and back again.
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Today and tomorrow, Laurinaitis will be in Houston where the Rotary Lombardi Award will be presented to the top lineman or linebacker in the college game. Michigan's LaMarr Woodley took the honor last year.

He will be in Orlando on Thursday for the ESPN awards show and stay there on Friday for the presentation of the Butkus Award, which goes to the top linebacker in the nation.

On Sunday, Laurinaitis pops up in Southern California for the ceremony for the Lott Trophy, which goes to the individual voted as the leading I.M.P.A.C.T. player, an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity.
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toledoblade.com -- No repeat award for Laurinaitis
 
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Dispatch

Laurinaitis' awards tour will be a trip




Tuesday, December 4, 2007 3:10 AM
By Ken Gordon


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Louisiana State scored the first points in the monthlong buildup to the national championship game last night when Tigers defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey beat out Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis for the Nagurski Trophy. The players' teams will meet Jan. 7 for the title.
As a sophomore last season, Laurinaitis won the Nagurski, given to the nation's top defensive player. Last night's banquet in Charlotte, N.C., was the first of five awards ceremonies Laurinaitis will attend in the next week.



Cont...
 
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DDN

Buckeye LB in an award whirlwind

Laurinaitis hits four banquets across the country in seven days.


By Doug Harris
Staff Writer

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

COLUMBUS ? Ohio State's James Laurinaitis has a pet Rottweiler that his parents named Bronko in honor of the Bronko Nagurski Award he won last year as the nation's top defensive player.
The junior All-American is a finalist again for several national individual awards, meaning the next family dog might have to answer to Vince, Chuck, Dick or Ronnie.


Laurinaitis was in Charlotte, N.C., on Monday as a finalist for this year's Nagurski (won by LSU's Glenn Dorsey), will be in Houston tonight for the Lombardi (top lineman or linebacker), will go to Orlando on Thursday for the Bednarik (best defensive player) and Butkus (top linebacker) and then end his tour Sunday in Newport Beach, Calif., to find out about the Lott (top defensive player with high character).



Cont...
 
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