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LB Mike D'Andrea (official thread)

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D'Andrea

Akron: I can't count out Kerr at Mike. That guy's a maniac. He doesn't take "no" for an answer. Good thing to have in a Mike.

He will see the field.

edit: 7 45, etal, isn't that the Backfield of Corny Greene, Archie, Pete J, and ???
 
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Kerr was a MLB at Indiana and I guess I just assumed he'd stay there. If he moves to SAM, then keep D'andrea at MLB and vise versa IMO. We need a solid backup at both spots.

I like D'andrea at SAM because I think it lets him use his athleticism more. Mili is right, he has to worry about blocking TE's, but he doesn't have to worry about OL nearly as much as he did in the middle. Also, the job of the SAM a lot of times it just to fill the hole by stuffing the blocker. The MLB and the safeties are the guys who have to come in and make the tackle. I think D'andrea can do a great job of going head to head with someone and getting a stalemate, I just don't think he does a good job of coming off the block and making the play. Every good play I remember from D'andrea was him running at full speed on the edge. I actually really like the idea of him at WILL, but Hawk has that locked up and we have a good bit of depth there with Lukens, Matthews, and most likely Freeman.
 
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Not sure how things will shake out with playing time, but D'andrea will most likely get reps at several positions. This seems to be a M.O. of Tressel's. Cross training at several positions and a good bit of players rotating in and out of the game. Seems to work well and keeps the D rested ... a necessity last season.

Also, I think JC & ashland have deciphered the moniker correctly.

7 45 33 48, is almost assuradly in reference to the "Fab 4". Possibly the best backfield ever to don the Scarlet and Gray as a unit.

Cornelius Green 7, Archie Griffin 45, Pete Johnson 33, and Brian Baschnagel 48
 
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3yardsandacloud said:
Not sure how things will shake out with playing time, but D'andrea will most likely get reps at several positions. This seems to be a M.O. of Tressel's. Cross training at several positions and a good bit of players rotating in and out of the game. Seems to work well and keeps the D rested ... a necessity last season.

Also, I think JC & ashland have deciphered the moniker correctly.

7 45 33 48, is almost assuradly in reference to the "Fab 4". Possibly the best backfield ever to don the Scarlet and Gray as a unit.

Cornelius Green 7, Archie Griffin 45, Pete Johnson 33, and Brian Baschnagel 48
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Yes, Baschnagel is the 4th man in that backfield. I was thinking of a name on here and decided to do numbers of a great unit from the past. I was thinking of 1996 DL, 2002 DL, 1998 DB, 1973 LB, 1969 and 1970 offensive backfields, and 1969 DB. Then I decided to choose the 1973-75 offensive backfield because that backfield was great and they were dominating before I was born.
 
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I just wanted to add that I feel like D'Andrea probably should have redshirted in 2002. It would have probably would have benefited him being one year apart from Carpenter and Hawk and now Kerr and Schlegal are on board. I am sure somebody could have filled his spot on special teams in 2002. I don't remember him making many ST plays that year. Even though Pagac didn't play the last 4 games in 2002, I would have to say Reynolds would have filled in at MLB if Wilhelm went down.
 
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't athleticism and speed more essential at SAM than at MIKE, while instincts and knowledge are king at MIKE? I think it seems natural that D'Andrea be placed at SAM, while Kerr ends up at MIKE. Once again, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the book on Kerr say that he's a step slower than the other LBs on the squad, but he has the instincts and toughness to make up for it? Sounds to me like he fits better at MIKE than SAM.
 
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D'Andrea seems to be better going to the action, rather than letting the action come to him; this has been a knock against Mike ever since his high school days. An MLB needs to fight off blocks and plug the middle first, then chase plays to the sidelines if necessary. With regard to D'Andrea, I feel that a position switch would be warranted less by his having the superior athleticism necessary to play OLB or DE, and more by his lacking the proper mindset / attitude required to play MLB. (BTW, for the sake of comparison, Andy Katzenmoyer also had superior athleticism and somewhat of a problem fighting off traffic in the middle of the field.)

In any event, it looks like D'Andrea is probably the 4th LB, and may get to rotate at both Mike and Sam.
 
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With regard to D'Andrea, I feel that a position switch would be warranted less by his having the superior athleticism necessary to play OLB or DE, and more by his lacking the proper mindset / attitude required to play MLB.
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You beat me to the punch on this on LordJeff. I echo your comments 100%. MDA is not a natural MLB. MLB is not a position that can be grown into, either you have it or you don't, MDA does not have the right tools for MLB. I will never question his athletism, but I still believe that he should be a rush DE.
 
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MDA ready to step up!!

Sorry Silverbullet (and everyone else). This is a premium article and we can't/shouldn't post it verbatim. You can paraphrase it if you like. Thanks - 3yards

Here is what anyone can view without a premium membership:

August 27, 2004
Roller-Coaster Ride On Uptick For MDA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Rea
BuckeyeSports.com Managing Editor Mike DíAndreaís two seasons at Ohio State best resemble a Cedar Point roller-coaster. First heís up, then heís down. Then heís up, then heís way down. Now after losing the final three games of last season and all of spring practice with a shoulder injury, DíAndrea is back climbing the hill and battling for the starting middle linebacker spot.

http://ohiostate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=324753



BTW: It would be nice when anyone posts articles (not just Silverbullet, for many folks do it) to copy just the text and link. PLEASE do NOT copy the whole html code and bring advertisements to this board. Clarity has put a lot of time and effort (and money) into this board to keep it advertisement FREE. Let's not clutter it up with stuff no one wants to see AND that puts money in other people's pockets. Thanks for helping to keep BuckeyePlanet commercial free.
 
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Silverbullet said:
First, he took an inadvertent swipe at former OSU cornerback Chris Gamble by saying the linebackers would probably be able to blitz more often this year because "for the first time since I've been here, we have corners who can really cover."
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[FONT = SARCASM] I guess this means Fox has been moved over to his natural Safety position. [/FONT]
 
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Dont get me wrong I think Gamble was a great CB but he was suceptable to biting on the hitch n go (Wisconsin '03) and getting beat bad. You can't say the same for Fox, yes he gave up alot of short gains, but he was never taken for a long gain that I can remember. Who was it that Edwards beat long last year during The Game.
 
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That is a rather strange comment, but I doubt he would say something like that if he didn't really mean it. If he believes it, then that should make all of us happy, too. Tress has said more than once that EJ is the best CC he's ever had, so how could you not be happy with that ?

Plus, I love the idea of seeing more blitzing from the lb's

:oh:
 
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