Poll: JT's Best DC

[osugrad21]

Originally Posted by NFBuck

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...

Oh I understand your opinion completely...

For me, in terms of personnel breakdown...

The DL is obviously 02

The LBs obviously goes to 05

Secondary:

FS: Salley vs. Nickey-- Nate is a major hitter and is improving in coverage, but he is still a liability back there at times. Nickey was under-appreciated due to a rocky start to his career. However, he became a very steady FS in his final years. In a close one, I go with Nickey.

SS: Doss vs. Whitner-- Again, Doss was a major hitter who was a coverage liabilty at times. His All-American status, however, shows his penchant for the big plays. Whitner is getting better and better every game. He hits like a truck and is also regarded as a big play guy. This one is too close to call, but when leadership and All-American awards are taken into consideration, give me Doss by a hair...but that one hurts.

Boundary CB: Fox vs. Everett/Jenkins-- Give me Fox all day over Everett. Malcolm has all the makings of a great one, but the argument is for right now, not for potential. Fox.

Field CB: Gamble vs. Youboty-- Chris Gamble is an unbelievable athlete, but was just learning the position in 02. He got by on pure athleticism which was more than enough. AY is as solid of a CB as I have seen at tOSU in a while. Using the same logic as used on the other side of the field, I would take AY in 05 over Gamble in 02. I think AY would have benefitted from the tenacious DL pressure if he was able to play at his current skill level on the 02 team. Another close one, but I would go with AY on a year-related judgment call.

Secondary goes to 02 -- 3-1...at least IMHO

[NFBuck]

I do like Heacocks "attack" philosophy better, but we need better coverage for it to work to full effect, I think next year with Jenkins (who I also feel has the makings of a good one), Yabouty, Whitner plus JamO and BMitchell all improving, that facet could be vastly improved in '06. Hopefully MDA, Freeman, Hoobler et al can prevent TOO BIG a dropoff in the LB corp. The DL should be pretty solid too with Pitcock, Patterson, Abdallah, Penton and Worthington coming back. Next year is going to be fun too.

[Yertle]

JXC and Smitty03......SNYDER?!?!?!

[Mr. Clutch]

Dantonio was the best coordinator, but all three of them were above average defensive coordinators. Heacock is doing a pretty good job right now, but I believe that our D isn't playing as well as they could.

[Sdgobucks]

I voted Heacock, because the only thing separating this defense from the 2002 squad, and a national championship is the turnover margin. Coaches don't create turn overs, players do. Schemes don't cause turnovers (for the most part) players do. If this defense (and team, because part if it is due to the sloppy offensive ball protection) had the same turnover margin as our 2002 team we would be undefeated and on our way to the rose bowl. The other thing I like about Heacock is that he makes GREAT second half adjustments. How many second half touchdowns do we have against us this year, 4 or 5? How many of those came in junk time with backups? Dantonio's 2003 team especially gave up a lot of 2and half points, and often allowed teams back into the game when they should have been out of it.

[osugrad21]

Originally Posted by BCSBust

but I believe that our D isn't playing as well as they could.

Man, you need to explain this one more for this crowd.