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LB Marcus Freeman (HC Notre Dame, Constant Backtracker)

Makes me wonder if they're gonna switch Kerr to back-up MIKE and move Grant to back-up SAM/LEO... that would make more sense to me. Kerr's best position is MIKE and Larry's speed and blitzing prowess would be best used at SAM/LEO.

I noticed that Freeman started at WILL and Terry started at SAM against Minnesota last week. I LOVE watching Terry blitzing from the edge and was a wrecking ball in the backfield (as evidenced by forcing Cupito into the screenpass INT that JamO INT'd). Freeman's played well too- 6 tackles, 1 TFL.
 
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BuckTwenty;650130; said:
Makes me wonder if they're gonna switch Kerr to back-up MIKE and move Grant to back-up SAM/LEO... that would make more sense to me. Kerr's best position is MIKE and Larry's speed and blitzing prowess would be best used at SAM/LEO.

I noticed that Freeman started at WILL and Terry started at SAM against Minnesota last week. I LOVE watching Terry blitzing from the edge and was a wrecking ball in the backfield (as evidenced by forcing Cupito into the screenpass INT that JamO INT'd). Freeman's played well too- 6 tackles, 1 TFL.

I noticed Kerr in there at the MIKE with Homan at the WILL and Grant at the SAM in the 4th quarter against Minnesota.
 
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Link

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Freeman?s versatility pays off for OSU[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]BY JIM NAVEAU - Nov. 2, 2006[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]COLUMBUS ? Marcus Freeman?s eyes lit up when he was asked to choose. He knew either way he won.
The Ohio State linebacker had just been asked earlier this week which he preferred, intercepting a pass or making a big hit on a ball carrier.
The 6-2, 242-pound sophomore, who has played both strong-side and weak-side linebacker this season, can produce both. He is third on the Buckeyes in tackles and has had two interceptions.
?A big hit is good, but an interception gets the offense the ball,? Freeman said. ?Both are great feelings, but ultimately you want to get your offense the ball.?
Ohio State has been particularly adept at stealing the ball from opposing offenses with interceptions. Nationally, the Buckeyes are tied for second with 18, seven of them by the linebackers.
Early in the season, when middle linebacker James Laurinaitis recorded interceptions in three consecutive games, the linebackers had more picks than the defensive backs, which led to some good-natured verbal jabs.
?When we?re in the weight room we always talk about it,? Freeman said. ?For a while, when the linebackers had more interceptions than the defensive backs, that?s something we bragged about. We have a friendly competion.?
?We want to make turnovers. Having a competition between the linebackers and defensive backs is something we can do to make ourselves better.?
Freeman began the year as a starter. When Curtis Terry earned more playing time because of his run-stopping abilities, Freeman?s time was supposed to be reduced. But last week in a 44-0 win over Minnesota, he was back among the top three linebackers.
?From the start of the year to now it has changed a lot,? Freeman said. ?Last game we had a different lineup. Whatever is going to help us that week is what they?re going to do.
?Obviously, you want to be on the field as much as you can. There are situations where maybe they?ll take me off the field and put somebody else in there who can do a better job at whatever they need them to do. You just have to be a team player.?
Freeman and the rest of OSU?s linebackers started the year as some of the biggest question marks the Buckeyes had. They were replacing A.J. Hawk and Bobby Carpenter, both first-round NFL draft choices, and Anthony Schlegel, a third-round choice.
Ohio State?s defense ranks No. 1 nationally in points allowed per game at 7.3. Much of the credit for that has gone to Laurinaitis, who leads the team in tackles and has four sacks and four interceptions.
Freeman says the linebackers are also team players when it comes to who gets the spotlight.
?James is out there making plays and he is the son of (professional wrestler) The Animal, so he gets a lot of love. But we just want to make plays, we?re not really concerned about who gets the credit.?
[/FONT]
 
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Article published Thursday, November 9, 2006
OSU defense jump-started by Freeman

COLUMBUS - Marcus Freeman was the quickest, baddest linebacker in Ohio State's 2004 recruiting class.

The high school Parade All-American from the Dayton suburb of Huber Heights didn't disappoint.

He appeared in all 13 games for the Buckeyes as a freshman two years ago.

Most of his playing time was logged on the special teams, but by the end of his first season, Freeman had worked his way up to No. 2 on the depth chart behind Bobby Carpenter.

Big things were expected from the lightning-quick Freeman last season even though he was the fourth linebacker behind an elite trio that included Carpenter, A.J. Hawk and Anthony Schlegel.

But Freeman tore up his knee in the opener against Miami (Ohio) and didn't play again. He redshirted after a staph infection slowed his recovery.

Freeman didn't sulk.

Instead, he added 12 pounds of bulk to his 6-foot-2 frame, pushing his weight to 242 pounds.

Freeman not only has become a more physical player this season, he has earned a more prominent role in the Buckeyes' rock-solid defense.

"He's moved around a little bit and has probably been at three different spots," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "He's a pretty flexible guy because he's been here three years and he's had a lot of experience at different positions. But his contribution starts with knowledge, then it goes to speed, then to production. He's done a good job for us."

Defense was the Buckeyes' biggest question mark entering this season. Nine starters were gone, including the entire linebacker corps - Carpenter and Hawk were first-round NFL draft picks, and Schlegel was a third-round selection.

But Freeman, James Laurinaitis and the rest of the gang have carried on the tradition of solid linebacker play.

Freeman has played both strong-side and weak-side linebacker spots, and Laurinaitis anchors the middle. The rest of the rotation has included Curtis Terry, Larry Grant, John Kerr and Ross Homan.

Laurinaitis is the undisputed leader with 86 tackles, five interceptions and four sacks. Freeman is third on the team in tackles with 49. He has two interceptions and one sack.

"You have to give the coaches a lot of credit," Freeman said. "They continue to put us in the right positions to do things well."

Just about every personnel decision defensive coordinator Jim Heacock and linebackers coach Luke Fickell have made has worked out dandy.

No. 1 Ohio State, which plays at Northwestern Saturday before finishing up with its Nov. 18 showdown against No. 2 Michigan, has limited its last five opponents to 27 total points.

The Buckeyes, ninth in the country in total defense, have surrendered just one touchdown in the last 12 quarters.

For the season, they have forced a whopping 22 turnovers, including 19 interceptions.

"We had a meeting at the beginning of the year and the coaches told us we had talent and we could see our potential," Freeman said.

"We haven't reached our full potential yet, but we keep getting better.

"Our defense has been getting better each week, too. Our goal at the end of the season is to be the No. 1 defense in the nation."

Ohio State's underrated defense still has some work to do to be the best, but Freeman isn't about to flinch.

Why should he?

This guy is confident enough to wear the No. 1 jersey.

Ron Musselman is a Blade sports columnist.
**** Email him at [email protected].

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061109/COLUMNIST37/611090431/-1/SPORTS
 
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OSU Picture Archive

Ohio State's Marcus Freeman (1) keeps the pressure on Illinois' quarterback Juice Williams (7) during their college football game at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2006. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

061104_ill_freeman1-vi.jpg


A week late...
 
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We come to Ohio State to win National Championships

Marcus Freeman, We come to Ohio State to win National Championships

By Steve Patterson
BrutusReport.com


Sophomore starting linebacker Marcus Freeman talks about beating Michigan, Coach Tressel, Beanie Wells and finishing the season as National Champions.

Has it always been a dream of yours to play at Ohio State?
'Yes it's always been a dream of mine to play for Ohio State. Being raised in Dayton I've grown up watching and rooting for OSU. Now that I'm here it?s just a dream come true.'

What has been your most memorable moment as a Buckeye?
'My most memorable moment so far is easily beating Michigan this year. It was the most exciting game I've ever been apart of and to get a win for our seniors is something I'll never forget.'

Which parts of your game have improved the most since coming to Ohio State?
'The part of my game that has most improved has to definitely be my knowledge of the game itself. To perform at a school like Ohio State you have to have more that athletic talent. Knowing your opponent and your own defense is what sets you apart. That?s the part of my game that I feel I have grown most at.'

What do you think of Coach Tressel and his performance with the program?
'Coach Tressel is a great leader and example for each of his players to follow. He motivates each of us to give everything we have for this game because we are so lucky to play it and he strives to make us do it with class. He's just a great overall person and coach and that shows through each one of his players.'

What young players have impressed you the most this year?
'So many young players have contributed to the great season we have had so far that it's impossible to name just one guy. But I guy I see in the future being a great leader and player is Chris Wells. He works tremendously hard and is a very talented player. The sky is the limit for him and the rest of our young players.'

How do you see Ohio State finishing the season?
'Hopefully we finish the season as National Champions. The reason we come to Ohio State is to compete for National Championships and that?s the reason we train so hard each day. So hopefully we finish the season off right as champs.'

What will Ohio State be able to do against Florida to ensure they outscore them in the National Championship game?
'Going into every game our goal is to execute our gamelan. We can't go into the game hoping to outscore Florida; we can only strive to win each play. And if we do that I am confident that we will be successful in the National Championship.'
 
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DDN

Tom Archdeacon: Delay will not ground Freeman


By Tom Archdeacon
Dayton Daily News

Monday, January 08, 2007

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. ? He hopes this trip to the desert ends a little better tonight than the way it began 10 days ago.
 
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OSU's Freeman is thinking football ? virtual and real
Wayne grad's a starter and possible captain ... if he can put down the video game.
By Doug Harris
Staff Writer
Thursday, August 02, 2007

CHICAGO ? Ohio State's Marcus Freeman had good intentions when the latest college football video game came out, telling himself he wouldn't become as obsessed with NCAA Football 2008 as he was with last year's version.

"The thing about 'NCAA' is that it consumes your life for about three or four months," Freeman said. "People will play that every night. You'll be in practice, and all you're thinking about is, 'When can I get home and play that game?' I said, 'This year, I'm not going to be that guy. I did it last year, but I'm going to concentrate on football this year.' "

The Buckeyes have not had a junior captain since Steve Bellisari in 2000.

Freeman would be delighted to get the nod.

"Being a captain is a senior thing," he said, "but if he opens it up to fourth-year juniors, I would love to be a captain. With the tradition at Ohio State, the responsibility of being a captain is something you always dream of."

Marcus Freeman 2006 statistics

Category ? Total ? OSU rank

Total tackles ? 71 ? tie, 2nd

Interceptions ? 2 ?- tie, 3rd

Pass breakups ? 6 ?- 2nd


OSU's Freeman is thinking football — virtual and real
 
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An impressive lift by Marcus.

ozone.Fallcamp

Weight Room Record: A record was recently set in the OSU weight room. Linebacker Marcus Freeman broke the OSU record for the hang clean with a lift of 405 pounds last week. Freeman broke the record of around 380 held by former Buckeye Mike D'Andrea.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Marcus Freeman[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
Photo by Jim Davidson[/FONT]
MarcusFreeman.jpg


Woody Ball Revisited: In our feature earlier this month about the newly completed renovations of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center we reported that the football program is actually holding organized social activities at the WHAC for the players. The first of those was The Woody Ball, a dance at which players and coaches participated in ball room dancing and watched movies. Linebacker Marcus Freeman attended and gave the event high marks.

"It was fun," said Freeman.

"Not too many guys got out on the dance floor with their dates, but I did and Larry Grant did and Rory Nicol, even Coach Tressel with his. wife," Freeman said.

While Freeman was impressed with the ball, he was a little less-than impressed with Tressel's dancing.

"He did OK. We did ballroom dancing and things like that. We had to switch partners and when we did Mrs. Tressel was with a lot of players she was a lot more happier," said Freeman drawing a laugh from reporters.

When confronted with the fact that he was perhaps less-than accomplished on the dance floor Tressel defended himself.

"My ballroom dancing is good. Freeman doesn't think I danced that well?
He's pretty good. I have to say he's pretty good. Barton didn't try," said a smiling Tressel who then admitted that perhaps the signs were there that his dancing left something to be desired.

"She (his wife Ellen) kind of called for the circle dance where you end up trading partners all the time so she could get rid of me," he finally admitted.

Cont'd ...
 
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