• New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.

Poll: JT's Best DC

Jump to latest Follow Reply
plum diamonds buckeye planet

Best D Coordinator of the Tressel era?

  • Total voters
    70
Sort by date Sort by votes
osugrad21

osugrad21

Capo Regime
Staff member
One of the better BN writers, Bill Greene, made a comment on BN$ about Coach Heacock being the best DC of the Tressel era. Bill says this year's team is more sound than any other JT squad...including Dantonio's '02 squad. That type of statement brings up great discussion material. Talent comparisons, scheme, etc...

Vote and explain your thoughts. Let's see what BP thinks.
 
I voted for Dantonio.

The main reason I voted for Dantonio was the simple fact that his defenses were the back bone of the team week in and week out, especially in 02. Point blank his defenses needed to play dominating football to make up for the mediocre offense in his years, not to mention the conservative playcalling. I don't think we win the national championship with another DC. That group just responded to him, they played with unbelievable intensity every week when they knew the pressure was on them to hold the opponent to under 14-17 points a game.

Heacock has enjoyed a little more offensive firepower and a more open offense than Dantonio ever saw.

FWIW
 
Upvote 0
At this point, I would say Dantonio because that 2002 defense wasn't the most talented, but was really something special. We'll see what Heacocks D does next year when we lose all this talent. I have a feeling we'll be fine.
 
Upvote 0
NFBuck said:
At this point, I would say Dantonio because that 2002 defense wasn't the most talented, but was really something special. We'll see what Heacocks D does next year when we lose all this talent. I have a feeling we'll be fine.
Click to expand...

I know what your trying to say, but Im not going to buy it. The 2002 OSU defense had all 11 starters drafted right? Thats plenty of talent.
 
Upvote 0
I think Heacock's defense closes games better than the other 2 so I voted for him. Dantonio had possibly the best DL in the history of OSU so the Heacock has a talent edge argument doesn't hold any water. Heacock has better LB's, but that's it.
 
Upvote 0
The 02 DL was incredible. Having great players behind them is a good thing, but the DL is what made that defense. Heacock has to lose one of his LBs to gain one player worthy of comparison to that DL, and even then Carp falls short.
 
Upvote 0
Tough call, I'mma have to chew on this one for a bit. My gut says Dantonio, but Heacock's doin a hell of a job.

Of course, looking at the progression, this is still Dantonio's D, in a lot of ways. On the other hand, in a lot of ways, Pagac started it, even though he's not an option here....
 
Upvote 0
Maybe "talent" wasn't the word I was looking for. Gamebreakers may be a better word. Smith, Wilhelm, Doss, Scott, Gamble were all really tremendous players, but guys like Hawk, Carp, Kudla have been really disruptive forces this year. It's hard to call, but I think Dantonio had that D playing better "all around" that year. My opinion...:ohwell:
 
Upvote 0
hey, we appreciate opinions around here, we just prefer good rationale (which you provided). I think we might have more gamebreakers, but I think the 02 DL disrupted the entire play on a more consistent basis...

I think Heacock has been challenged with better offenses, but his defense has also had letdowns in a few games.
 
Upvote 0
I voted for Dantonio. National Championship, nuff said.
Heacock is doing very well with just slightly less talent.
Snyder, don't even go there!

We're going to to very well with Heacock. :bow:
Heacock's use of Carp at DE is brilliant!
 
Upvote 0
The 2002 defense had superb talent, so I'm not sure I can give all the credit for their success that year to Dantonio. His 2001 defense gave up 61 more points in two fewer games, and his 2003 defense gave up 46 points more in one less game. Seeing as both Snyder and Heacock have only one year (Heacock of course doesn't have the full year yet), it's not a viable comparison with Dantonio, who had three full seasons at the position. Actually, Snyder's defense gave up fewer points in 2004 than did Dantonio's 2001 and 2003 defenses, despite losing a boat load of starters. And Heacock's defense is doing even better this year, giving up only 14.5 ppg, better than Snyder's and two of Dantonio's three (only the 2002 defense gave up less, at 13.1 ppg).

Pretty tough to make a objective vote at this point...
 
Upvote 0
jwinslow said:
hey, we appreciate opinions around here, we just prefer good rationale (which you provided). I think we might have more gamebreakers, but I think the 02 DL disrupted the entire play on a more consistent basis...

I think Heacock has been challenged with better offenses, but his defense has also had letdowns in a few games.
Click to expand...

It's all good, Taosman had a GREAT point...Nat'l championship. I do have a feeling if Heacock sticks around long enough he'll have one too with all the talent we have in reserve and coming in as well.
:lift:
 
Upvote 0
'02 defense:

dl: smith, anderson, peterson, scott
lb's: reynolds, wilhelm, grant
db's: gamble, doss, nickey, fox

05 defense:

dl: kudla, green, pitcock, patterson
lb's: hawk, schlegel, carpenter
db's: youboty, whitner, salley, jenkins

i take the entire '02 DL in a heartbeat, position by position. i certainly take the kaiser. gamble at cb as well. you could make an argument for youboty over fox, but that is irrelevant because fox played bench corner like jenkins, in which case that's a tough call, but i'd opt for fox. doss and whitner are close, with the edge to doss. salley is a bit better than nickey only because he is better against the run and a big hitter. both are suspect in pass coverage.

hawk and carpenter are really the only guys on the '05 squad that are better than their '02 counterparts, but the gap isnt very pronounced.

what does all this mean? essentially heacock plays a bit more of an attack style defense whereas dantonio did not. if osu had will smith at DE this year, this defense would be unstoppable. that really is the biggest difference.
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top