LB James Laurinaitis (St. Louis Rams)

[NightmaresDad]

Originally Posted by Tlangs

The fact the Penn St. changed their entire bocking scheme to take Lil animal out of the game speaks volumes. They were leaving D-lineman free to make sure there was a 300 lb linemant to block JL. He hung tough and made some nice tackles down field. If teams want to change their entire offense to account for JL, that means he is doing his job.

They may have changed some of their blocking schemes relative to what we had seen on tape - just like we ran a few of things they had not seen before - but to say they changed their entire blocking scheme just to make JL ineffective doesn't hold water.
Some of their run block schemes were effective against our formations, and JL made some very bad plays as well.

As pointed out earlier, he couldn't shed a block to save his ass Saturday night - he might aas well have been wearing a Browns' uniform.

Originally Posted by DaddyBigBucks

kthxbai

um


Did anybody see that giant red mark (bruise?) on Laurinaitis' forehead after the game?

What happened? Did he head-butt half the team in celebration as the clock wound down, only to realize later that everyone else still had their helmets on?

That's from the pad in his helmet. If a player doesn't have a red spot there then his helmet doesn't fit properly.

[Bleed S & G]

Crow eating time. I was one, before this season started, felt that JL was not all he was cracked up to be. I felt he was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time, and was "lucky" with all the interceptions.

JL has an uncanny ability to be around the ball all the time. He's always influencing the play, and I was wrong for ever doubting. In Tressel we Trust. Keep up the awesome job JL!

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by VegasBuckeye

Were is your proof PSU changing their whole offensive game plan around JL? Fact is I seen one blocker assinged to JT as it should be. He was being gobbled up. Slow to disengage from blocks and fill holes aggresively. I'm not a negative Nancy I think several players of our defense played outstanding tonight but not JL. I played linebacker so thats the position I watch every play and I have been watching good and bad play at the collegiate level for some time now. I watched blockers try to block Freeman today and it didnt happen. JT is a good player but fact of the matter is he didnt play well tonight.

I don't care if you played linebacker or not...PSU's main focus was neutralizing Laurinaitis, and that's what allowed Freeman to dominate once our defense made the adjustment.

[BengalsAndBucks]

Originally Posted by VegasBuckeye

Were is your proof PSU changing their whole offensive game plan around JL? Fact is I seen one blocker assinged to JT as it should be. He was being gobbled up. Slow to disengage from blocks and fill holes aggresively. I'm not a negative Nancy I think several players of our defense played outstanding tonight but not JL. I played linebacker so thats the position I watch every play and I have been watching good and bad play at the collegiate level for some time now. I watched blockers try to block Freeman today and it didnt happen. JT is a good player but fact of the matter is he didnt play well tonight.

Your right, he is terrible, when are we going to see Spitler? I mean really, he is the captain and anchor of the #1 scoring defense in the nation, and the #1 total defense in the nation, and a very good offensive line keyed on him all game preventing him from making his usual double digit tackles and allowing our weakside LB to make 14.5 tackles. I mean why even keep him on the squad, can we cut him? Can you cut someone in college football? I hope so, cause we really need to cut this Laurinaakjfdkla whatever fellow he is just terrible I mean really I could probably get 2 assists with multiple 300 lbers on me, its not like they are big and strong and have someone keying off their blocks.

Btw, I know all this because I played linebacker in 4th grade. True story.

[BuckeyeMike80]

Originally Posted by VegasBuckeye

Were is your proof PSU changing their whole offensive game plan around JL? Fact is I seen one blocker assinged to JT as it should be. He was being gobbled up. Slow to disengage from blocks and fill holes aggresively. I'm not a negative Nancy I think several players of our defense played outstanding tonight but not JL. I played linebacker so thats the position I watch every play and I have been watching good and bad play at the collegiate level for some time now. I watched blockers try to block Freeman today and it didnt happen. JT is a good player but fact of the matter is he didnt play well tonight.

Penn State's entire offensive gameplan was to eliminate JL from making the majority of the tackles.

It was obvious from the first drive on. Penn State did the same thing in 2005 to AJ Hawk.

And unlike our unfortunate experience in the BCS NC game, our coaches countered, adjusted and got the job done with the other players. Freeman has kind of been in JL's shadow this year because of the level of JL's play, but not last Saturday night. Freeman wasn't the only one, but he is the player who keeps coming to mind.

[GoodLifeSean]

To everyone who said they were keying on JL, so true.
It's a bitch getting a tackle when two guys who both outweigh you by 70 pounds are hitting you... well unless you have that SEC, I can beat The Flash in a footrace, speed. In which case you just have to run around the world away from the play and can tackle them five yards in the backfield. But even an animal has a tough time with 600 lbs of fast moving men in blue.
WTF with this smilie?

[shetuck]

Originally Posted by OhioSt88

There are no really good quality Heisman candidates this year. BC's Ryan played well in the only real game for 3 minutes. Hawaii's QB has yet to play anyone. Teabow and Woodson both lost. JL is having an outstanding year! Why is no one talking about him as a Heisman candidate? If there was ever a year for a difensive winner this is it. The best player in college football may be a buckeye!

ESPN.com - NCF - College Football

JL got a 5th place vote in this week's "espn experts poll". i was surprised that TB didn't get on there [as well?], but it's all good either way.

[NightmaresDad]

First and foremost, I am a fan of JL and think he is a great linebacker, and I wouldn't trade him for any other middle linbacker in the country.
However, he did have a rather poor game on Saturday.

You guys act like Penn St normally doesn't try to block the middle linebacker on a running play. Or that they sent two or three linemen after him and didn't block anybody else.
I guess I'm the only one who saw him attack the wrong hole numerous times, or stay blocked by an OL for about 3 full seconds repeatedly.
I think he was getting frustrated, and therefore became impatient rather than reading the plays, which is what he is so good at.

And, by the way, Freeman has been tearing it up since the Minny game, and I don't think it's fair to credit his success with PSU choosing to take JL out of the game at all costs and not blocking Freeman. Freeman is a stud.

I'm sure JL will have his usual great game against Wisky.

[osugrad21]

Originally Posted by NightmaresDad

First and foremost, I am a fan of JL and think he is a great linebacker, and I wouldn't trade him for any other middle linbacker in the country.
However, he did have a rather poor game on Saturday.

You guys act like Penn St normally doesn't try to block the middle linebacker on a running play. Or that they sent two or three linemen after him and didn't block anybody else.
I guess I'm the only one who saw him attack the wrong hole numerous times, or stay blocked by an OL for about 3 full seconds repeatedly.
I think he was getting frustrated, and therefore became impatient rather than reading the plays, which is what he is so good at.

And, by the way, Freeman has been tearing it up since the Minny game, and I don't think it's fair to credit his success with PSU choosing to take JL out of the game at all costs and not blocking Freeman. Freeman is a stud.

I'm sure JL will have his usual great game against Wisky.

Im not sure where he attacked the "wrong hole"

He has a fit based on his read...when he reads flow in the oneback, he then keys the guard. If he sees the guard down or out, he is filling that gap immediately. Often, Kinlaw bent the run back and JL was already in his fit...he is not getting out of that angle when the OL is already closed on him. He occupied OL and let the backside LB make the play.

If anyone has to be blamed for the limited success PSU had, I'd point more to the DL for not demanding sustained double teams..but I wouldn't even say that

[AKAKBUCK]

Originally Posted by osugrad21

Im not sure where he attacked the "wrong hole"

Well... I think we pretty much figured out where Thump is.

[Big Papa]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

I don't care if you played linebacker or not...PSU's main focus was neutralizing Laurinaitis, and that's what allowed Freeman to dominate once our defense made the adjustment.

Originally Posted by BengalsAndBucks

Your right, he is terrible, when are we going to see Spitler? I mean really, he is the captain and anchor of the #1 scoring defense in the nation, and the #1 total defense in the nation, and a very good offensive line keyed on him all game preventing him from making his usual double digit tackles and allowing our weakside LB to make 14.5 tackles. I mean why even keep him on the squad, can we cut him? Can you cut someone in college football? I hope so, cause we really need to cut this Laurinaakjfdkla whatever fellow he is just terrible I mean really I could probably get 2 assists with multiple 300 lbers on me, its not like they are big and strong and have someone keying off their blocks.

Btw, I know all this because I played linebacker in 4th grade. True story.

Originally Posted by BuckeyeMike80

Penn State's entire offensive gameplan was to eliminate JL from making the majority of the tackles.

It was obvious from the first drive on. Penn State did the same thing in 2005 to A.J. Hawk.

And unlike our unfortunate experience in the BCS NC game, our coaches countered, adjusted and got the job done with the other players. Freeman has kind of been in JL's shadow this year because of the level of JL's play, but not last Saturday night. Freeman wasn't the only one, but he is the player who keeps coming to mind.

Abso-[censored]ing-lutely the Penn State game plan was trying to take JL out of the game. It was obvious. We were talking about this during the game in the game thread. The observations made by Milli, B and B and BuckeyeMike are right on. Freeman was able to pick up the slack, as we all know he can. He was all over the field, making huge plays. You can't just game plan for one guy on this Defense, it's just too good, too well rounded. Man it gets me geeked just talking about these guys. Bring on Wisky so they can get their waxing!!

[CausticMick]

Originally Posted by osugrad21

Im not sure where he attacked the "wrong hole"

He has a fit based on his read...when he reads flow in the oneback, he then keys the guard. If he sees the guard down or out, he is filling that gap immediately. Often, Kinlaw bent the run back and JL was already in his fit...he is not getting out of that angle when the OL is already closed on him. He occupied OL and let the backside LB make the play.

If anyone has to be blamed for the limited success PSU had, I'd point more to the DL for not demanding sustained double teams..but I wouldn't even say that

YOU CAN'T WIN OG21.
I watched the first half last night, and heard Herbie blame Marcus Freeman for the touchdown run PSU had. Freeman did get blocked, but made a tremendous play to force the ball carrier inside only to NOT get tackled by a DB (not sure who it was) who didn't fill after contain was upheld. In fact, you might remember the play as Herbie the Buckeye Basher said the blocker "put Freeman on his back." I would also like to know what Herbie would've done in that situation, as Freeman was taking his read and stood up a great block and made an awesome play. Why is everyone an expert?

(read: Even Herbie doesn't know what he's talking about sometimes, so don't always believe what you hear on t.v. fans)

[Bucky Katt]

Originally Posted by Mr. Incredible

YOU CAN'T WIN OG21.
I watched the first half last night, and heard Herbie blame Marcus Freeman for the touchdown run PSU had. Freeman did get blocked, but made a tremendous play to force the ball carrier inside only to NOT get tackled by a DB (not sure who it was) who didn't fill after contain was upheld. In fact, you might remember the play as Herbie the Buckeye Basher said the blocker "put Freeman on his back." I would also like to know what Herbie would've done in that situation, as Freeman was taking his read and stood up a great block and made an awesome play. Why is everyone an expert?

(read: Even Herbie doesn't know what he's talking about sometimes, so don't always believe what you hear on t.v. fans)

I believe that was Malcolm Jenkins behind Freeman on the TD.

[CausticMick]

Originally Posted by Fungo Squiggly

I believe that was Malcolm Jenkins behind Freeman on the TD.

I did too, but I didn't want to say it.

[Bucky Katt]

Originally Posted by Mr. Incredible

I did too, but I didn't want to say it.

Seemed particularly appropriate in this instance.