Ohio State spotlight: Ross Homan
Friday, October 15, 2010
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Turn on the video or watch the Wisconsin running game in person and the warning appears evident: To stop those big fellows, a defense better have a lot of its own fellows running to the ball. That's what the Badgers want the other team thinking, because just when the defense sells out running to the point attack, John Clay and especially his freshman sidekick James White are particularly adept at planting a foot and cutting it back the other way.
Where did the weak side linebacker go? That's a question Ohio State's version, senior Ross Homan, better not have to answer too much tonight when the Buckeyes play at Wisconsin. That actually goes for every defensive player, defensive tackle Dexter Larimore said.
"That's the big thing, you watch the film and the big runs that they have come as they get the guys moving, get (the defenders) going side to side, then he cuts it back," Larimore said. "Then all of a sudden you see those big running backs going against a safety in the open space, and it's not really a pretty sight to see."
The weak side linebacker must stand his ground and not get caught up in the flow. Homan did a good job of that last year against the Badgers, and wound up leading the Buckeyes with 15 tackles, including two sacks.
Larimore said such discipline doesn't just for Homan. Every defender needs to maintain what's known as his gap responsibility as Clay, who is averaging 115.33 yards per game, and White (80.83) try to catch one of them on the lean.
"It is key that our guys play their position, everybody do their job," Lairmore said. "Then you can really start to get after them.
"But if everybody is just running around like crazy men trying to get to the ball, they'll cut it back, and all of a sudden they've got a big gain on it."
