What's Wrong With the 2013 Defense?

[NFBuck]

It was said last night (I think it was bucklion, I don't know now, the end of the game was a blur), this program is at a crossroads on the field. The results aren't there, the transition from Tressel recruits to Meyer recruits is underway right as we yahoos talk about it here. Next year will show us how UFM got to where he is and I'm certain we'll see some improvement.

On defense, it has to. I mean, my God, it is just bad. But I see reason for hope. The DL is nasty and should be one of the best in the country again next year. And the way this staff has recruited, the talent should see a significant upgrade. Howevah...gonna be a lot of youth on the field next year. On both sides of the ball, in fact. So, I suspect it will still be bumpy at times. Meyer is at a crossroads on the D side of the ball, and this coming hire has to be one that upgrades the staff. I expect that it will be.

I've mellowed in my old age. So I have infinitely more patience than I once did. But, if we don't see some tangible improvement on defense next year, I'll be firmly in the "FIRE EVERYBODY!!!11!!1!" camp wrt to the defensive coaches. Talent was an issue this year. But that excuse has an expiration date. And with the recruits that have come on in the last two classes, it's soon.

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

IMO.. the problem... the Mike position..
not saying Grant is a problem... just that Grant is not an AJ Hawk or Laurinaitis or even Zach Boren
that's the glue that keeps an OSU defense centered.. and we have not had it since Laurinaitis
Shazier is a great player.. but he's not the field general that the troops rally around
Defense needs a clear field general

 

[Taosman]

I saw hope in the guys playing in the back seven. But somebody has to step up in the secondary next season and make sure guys are where they should be. In other words, "leadership and knowledge". I think that's "do-able".
Marcus had a very good game, also. He played his ass off last night!
Bosa was just a monster, again. How good can he get?
Washington will get healthy and be his old self just like Bennett did when he had a similar injury. He's been a disappointment because of his injury. I still love the guys potential.
Spence will get his "issue" sorted out before his suspension is over and will come back.
I'm guessing Shazier will take his chances in the NFL Draft. There is big money waiting.
C. Grant needs to get mover to DE. He's not a linebacker.
Perry keeps getting better and I have high hopes for him.
Recruiting will impact the defense at linebacker and defensive back. Powell, Grant and Bell are starters. The fight for playing time in the back seven will be epic and very good for improved play on defense.
As a team we will be more balanced between offense and defense next year. Brax will be back because his passing needs lots of work. His play at QB has a ways to go before he's draft-able. He still makes way to many basic mistakes.

 

[NFBuck]

IMO.. the problem... the Mike position..
not saying Grant is a problem... just that Grant is not an AJ Hawk or Laurinaitis or even Zach Boren
that's the glue that keeps an OSU defense centered.. and we have not had it since Laurinaitis
Shazier is a great player.. but he's not the field general that the troops rally around
Defense needs a clear field general

It's one of the huge problems along with poor safety play, and corners who have struggled mightily. Guys like Vonn Bell, Mike Mitchell, and Kwon give us hope for the future, though. Just gonna have to take the inevitable bumps in the road as they adjust to the college game.

 

[Buckeneye]

Howevah...gonna be a lot of youth on the field next year. On both sides of the ball, in fact. So, I suspect it will still be bumpy at times. M.

Meyer won one half of his championships fielding a pretty youthful team in 08.
Most of the impact players (specifically on the defense that won them that title) were sophomores. That was the one benefit of him fielding and array of freshman in 07'.

 

[CookyPuss]

Well, I think throwing the whole staff out is a "throwing the baby out with the bathwater" scenario. Especially when they've been recruiting their asses off the past two years. And I don't think it's gonna happen at all. In fact, if anybody is relieved of their duties, I'll be surprised. What I expect/hope to happen is Urban going out and finding a big name to take over the defense with Fickell retaining his co-DC title.

Coaching is absolutely an issue right now. However, injuries ravaged an already thin unit this year. The thinnest position, LB, was hobbled by the loss of Grant for large chunks. The defense also lost their on-field leader in Christian Bryant. In this game alone, they were without (arguably) the two most important players in Spence and Roby. The recruiting classes of 2010-11, that should be providing the upper-classmen on this year's team, were busts for the most part. And I think there's gonna be some addition by subtraction with some of the guys moving on from a talent/ability standpoint. Not gonna point any fingers. Next year is going to be a rebuilding year regardless with most of the OL, Hyde, Philly, and potentially Braxton and Devin Smith moving on. Might as well see what happens when some of the highly rated kids from 2012 on start seeing the field more regularly. I expect next year will be the "final exam" for most of this defensive staff.

I agree with all of this, but that D scheme has to change. I'm not an X and O guy by any means, but it was clearly an issue last night. Never made an adjustment on those screen passes. Playing 10 yards off the line on 2nd and short. Earlier in the year I found myself shaking my head at players for being out of position on plays, but last night they were never in position to begin with. I thought the players all did admirably given the scheme. For once, tackling wasn't even an issue. The few times we did man-up, it seemed like our guys hung with theirs. They did beat the man coverage but only because their receivers were beasts and made great plays on the ball. I just don't get why we gave them 5 yards for the taking all night and let them run that same play over and over.

 

[NFBuck]

I agree with all of this, but that D scheme has to change.

And my hope/expectation is that the guy being brought in for Withers' spot will take on that responsibility. Fickell has a role on this coaching staff, I just don't think it should be scheming/playcalling anymore.

 

[Jaxbuck]

IMO.. the problem... the Mike position..
not saying Grant is a problem... just that Grant is not an AJ Hawk or Laurinaitis or even Zach Boren
that's the glue that keeps an OSU defense centered.. and we have not had it since Laurinaitis
Shazier is a great player.. but he's not the field general that the troops rally around
Defense needs a clear field general

I don't think it's just the Mike

I love Shazier but the kid never took that step from being an out of control heat seeking missile to an under control destroyer of all things offense. At the end of his OSU career he was just as likely to go flying harmlessly past the ball carrier as get him down.

Grant is just not a good LB. Limited instincts, lost in space. He may have been hell on wheels back in the 90's when he could just blow up the FB 45-50 times a game.

Perry.....same story as Grant but x 1000. His football instincts seem to be non existent, not just limited. I have to go back to Steve Bellasari to come up with a player that was so obviously hurting the team by being on the field but was somehow, always on the field.

Seeing those 3 play and knowing there wasn't anyone else on the roster good enough to take playing time away from them is probably the single most troubling thing for me as we head to the 2014 season.

 

[ScriptOhio]

What's Wrong With the 2013 Defense?

ANS: Almost everything

1. missed tackles
2. unable to shed blocks
3. bad pursuit angles
4. DBs out of position and/or missed assignments
5. stupid penalties
6. predictable defensive schemes
7. getting burnt on blitzes and/or just whiffing on many QB sack opportunities
8. unable to stop a team on 3rd down and/or giving up too many "big plays".
9. injuries/suspensions to key players
10. lack of consistent play by all 11 defensive players on the field for a full 4 quarters

Yeah, the overall linebacker play was average at best; however, I'll say the glaring weakness (or biggest need of the defense) was the lack of a couple "shut down" CBs.

 

[Onebuckfan]

What's Wrong With the 2013 Defense?

ANS: Almost everything

1. missed tackles
2. unable to shed blocks
3. bad pursuit angles
4. DBs out of position and/or missed assignments
5. stupid penalties
6. predictable defensive schemes
7. getting burnt on blitzes and/or just whiffing on many QB sack opportunities
8. unable to stop a team on 3rd down and/or giving up too many "big plays".
9. injuries/suspensions to key players
10. lack of consistent play by all 11 defensive players on the field for a full 4 quarters

Yeah, the overall linebacker play was average at best; however, I'll say the glaring weakness (or biggest need of the defense) was the lack of a couple "shut down" CBs.

All those are traits of John Cooper team..how Urban fixes this will be interesting..Coaching or Players..probably both..need more FOOTBALL players less WORKOUT WARRIORS..

 

[buckeyebri]

I don't think it's just the Mike

I love Shazier but the kid never took that step from being an out of control heat seeking missile to an under control destroyer of all things offense. At the end of his OSU career he was just as likely to go flying harmlessly past the ball carrier as get him down.

Grant is just not a good LB. Limited instincts, lost in space. He may have been hell on wheels back in the 90's when he could just blow up the FB 45-50 times a game.

Perry.....same story as Grant but x 1000. His football instincts seem to be non existent, not just limited. I have to go back to Steve Bellasari to come up with a player that was so obviously hurting the team by being on the field but was somehow, always on the field.

Seeing those 3 play and knowing there wasn't anyone else on the roster good enough to take playing time away from them is probably the single most troubling thing for me as we head to the 2014 season.

As highly regarded as these three were and as highly regarded as Mitchell and Johnson were coming in this year and the fact that they didn't see the field, gives me great concern with our scheme/player development. More talent is on the way and I can only hope we can get these guys ready to play. As much as I am not a Cooper fan, if a dog is gonna bite......

 

[CookyPuss]

As highly regarded as these three were and as highly regarded as Mitchell and Johnson were coming in this year and the fact that they didn't see the field, gives me great concern with our scheme/player development. More talent is on the way and I can only hope we can get these guys ready to play. As much as I am not a Cooper fan, if a dog is gonna bite......

The young guys that did get on the field looked good, so I dunno. I also have no idea how much duties were split between Fickell and Withers and whether Withers departure will change anything. Still, our scoring D was in the top 35. The kids I saw in the Army game today looked like studs. I'm looking forward to seeing what they put on the field next August.

 

[Taosman]

When you start out low on numbers and experience, then people start getting nicked, things usually go down hill pretty quick.
We will take some lumps early next year playing a lot of young guys but talent and depth will make the defense better at the end of the season next year. We could be a better team next year with multiple season loses.

 

[Onebuckfan]

Burrows and Apple..Mitchel and Johnson couldnt see the field. If Webb, Smith, Hubbard and Latimore play next year Urban changed the whole defensive staff.

 

[Taosman]

We hit a wall. We have been humbled. Someone once said; "You don't get better by winning all the time."
Winning 24 straight you may not take a deeper look at your "issues" or be as motivated to act on "issues".
That isn't a problem, now. You lose 2 straight, it's back to work fixing what's wrong. Prioritizing what went wrong. I have every faith that Urban and the coaches will be focused on defensive improvement.