2006 Ohio State Outlook: Defense

[AirForceBuck]

Originally Posted by sandgk

Am I the only one who thinks (hopes?) that the DE play will be far more dynamic this year than last?

Last year it majority contain and collapse. This year I expect to see a lot more rush-DE play. Heavens, I can even foresee Rose getting looks early in the year in rotation. (His Army All-American performance was a tour-de-force).

I agree with you as well. other than Kudla last year, we were average at best with our typical DE lined up (meaning no Carpenter or other DB blitzing in). I remember an article in the Dispatch last year, prior to the season about Richardson finally getting the chance to prove himself. From what I saw of his work last year, he came up short. So short we ended up bringing other guys in for him (ie. Wison).

Personally, I feel we should have a better year off the edge this year. Look for Gholston to garner alot of PT this year. Looking at his body and his play at the Spring Game, he has excellent work ethic off the field at is worthy of an on the field try out.

PS. Excellent writeup!

[pianobuck46]

Originally Posted by RhodeIslandBuck

2006 Ohio State Football Outlook & Preview

Defense
Overview- Last year, the Buckeye defense was ranked fourth in the nation in total defense and first in the nation in run defense, but the Buckeyes lose nine players from that juggernaut defense heading into 2006. But seriously folks, when was the last time Jim Tressel coached a bad defense. Unlike the past few years the defense doesn’t have to be great. Returning on the defensive side of the ball are defensive tackles Quinn Pitcock and David Patterson and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins who started the second half of the season last year. One thing everyone remembers about last year’s Buckeye defense is the linebackers, all three are making millions in the NFL but Ohio State has a somewhat experienced group to replace the best linebacking group in the nation. The defensive backs are the big question mark, only one of the players has starting experience and the rest did not see much playing time on defense last year. This Ohio State defense is talented and blazing fast, they just have to prove that on the field.
Defensive Ends- Lawrence Wilson and Jay Richardson will have control of the starting job when the season comes around. Wilson has game experience from last year after starting in the Fiesta Bowl. Behind them are Alex Barrow, Vernon Gholston (who could take over the starting job during the season), Doug Worthington, and Robert Rose. Rose was ranked the number one high school defensive end in the nation last year by Rivals.com after a tremendous showing in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and will see a lot of playing time this year.
Depth Chart
LE

1. 87 Lawrence Wilson, 6-6, 270, So.
2. 78 Alex Barrow, 6-5, 275, So.
3. Doug Worthington, 6-7, 274, Fr.

RE

1. 99 Jay Richardson, 6-6, 276, Sr.
2. 50 Vernon Gholston, 6-4, 260, So.
3. 9 Robert Rose, 6-5, 260, Fr.

Defensive Tackles- This is the strongest position for the Buckeyes on defense, they return All-American Quinn Pitcock, and David Patterson to form one of the best defensive tackle duos in the nation. Following those two are Todd Denlinger, Nader Abdallah, and Joel Penton. Abdallah and Denlinger seem to be the favorites to be the starters in 2007. Denlinger had a great spring and will get a decent amount of playing time. This is a more than solid group that may not have a lot of depth but the starters make this one of the best groups in the country.
Depth Chart

1. 90 Quinn Pitcock, 6-3, 295, Sr.
2. 97 David Patterson, 6-3, 285, Sr.
3. 92 Todd Denlinger, 6-3, 280, Fr.
4. 98 Joel Penton, 6-5, 290, Sr.
5. 93 Nader Abdallah, 6-5, 310, So.

Inside Linebackers- The Buckeyes have strong group of athletes here, led by Indiana transfer John Kerr, as a freshman Kerr won defensive freshman of the year in the Big Ten and led Indiana in tackles. Behind Kerr is Mike D’Andrea, who was a highly touted recruited who has been plagued by injury throughout his career. Rounding out the group is Chad Hoobler and Mark Johnson. The Buckeyes have an experienced player stating and have D’Andrea waiting in the wings (if healthy) to contribute. Hoobler will see some playing time this year.

1. 52 John Kerr, 6-1, 233, Sr.
2. 5 Mike D’Andrea, 6-3, 248, Sr.
3. 46 Chad Hoobler, 6-3, 240, Jr.
4. 44 Mark Johnson, 6-4, 230, Fr.

Outside Linebackers- After losing an All-American and two first round NFL draft picks at this position, you will always experience atleast a bit of a drop-off. That doesn’t mean the Buckeyes will have horrible linebackers this year, it just means replacing A.J. Hawk and Bobby Carpenter will be very difficult. Taking over hawk’s old job will be Marcus Freeman who sat out last year with an injury and got a medical redshirt. Taking over Carpenters role will be James Laurinaitis, who started in the absence of Carpenter in the Fiesta Bowl. Behind the two starters will be Junior College transfer Larry Grant, Curtis Terry, Thaddeus Gibson, and Ross Homan. Homan looked great in the spring game and will definently get his fair share of playing time this year. Larry Grant will as well.
Depth Chart
WILL

1. 1 Marcus Freeman, 6-2, 242, So.
2. 51 Ross Homan, 6-1, 237, Fr.
3. 55 Curtis Terry, 6-2, 234, Jr.

SAM

1. 33 James Laurinaitis, 6-3, 244, So.
2. 6 Larry Grant, 6-3, 225, Jr.
3. 37 Thaddeus Gibson, 6-2, 220, Fr.

Cornerbacks- If Ashton Youboty had stayed for his senior year this would have been a strength for Ohio State heading into the 2006 season, Ohio State would have two obvious starters and it would be one of the best cornerback duos in the Big Ten. Malcolm Jenkins now leads this group and is a definite starter at one corner spot. The other starting job belongs to former walk-on Antonio Smith, for now. Donald Washington and Andre Amos will be pushing Smith for that position for the entire year. Also freshman Kurt Coleman, who had a great spring will get a lot of playing time. Finishing this group off is Shaun Lane.
Depth Chart

1. 1 Malcolm Jenkins, 6-1, 202, So.
2. 14 Antonio Smith, 5-9, 195, Sr.
3. 20 Donald Washington, 6-1, 195, Fr.
4. 13 Andre Amos, 6-1, 180, Fr.
5. 4 Kurt Coleman, 5-11, 185, Fr.
6. 29 Shaun Lane, 5-10, 180, So.

Safeties- The Buckeyes lost two very good players here in Nate Salley who graduated and Donte Whitner who entered the draft a year early and was picked number eight. If Whitner were returning this would be one of the best defensive backfields in the nation. The man that will be replacing Whitner at strong safety will be Nick Patterson who won the starting job over Brandon Mitchell who will see time at nickel back. The starter at FS will be Jamario O’Neal who had a great spring game and won the job over Anderson Russell who will see most of his playing time at the ‘star’ position. The players that round out this group will be Curt Lukens and Grant Schwartz.
Depth Chart
FS

1. 3 Jamario O’Neal, 6-1, 190, So.
2. 21 Anderson Russell, 6-0, 190, Fr.
3. 36 Curt Lukens, 6-3, 215, Jr.

SS

1. 23 Nick Patterson, 6-2, 210, So.
2. 32 Brandon Mitchell, 6-3, 205, Sr.
3. 24 Grant Schwartz, 6-0, 200, Fr.

I'll have a Special Teams outlook around this time tommorrow.

Hey, thanks, Friend--feel like you did it just for me! This team's gonna be "killer"!



x

[tressel4god]

i wan't to know where our d, is at... malcom jinkins...jamairo oneal....marcus freeman. those are going to be the big young players in the defence backfield and at linebacker....i live in califorina right now and don't get the coverage,,,, let me know where we stand on d...go bucks

[Tlangs]

Check out this thread
CFN's Defensive Unit Rankings

it has the national rankings for Defense as well as some good discussion.

this one is exellent as well
2006 Ohio State Outlook: Defense

[osugrad21]

DDN

QB Smith likes new OSU defense, but time will tell

Tressel isn't sure how the inexperienced unit will respond


By Doug Harris
Staff Writer

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

COLUMBUS — Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith professes to have no worries about the team's defense, although it's gone through an extreme makeover since the last time the game jerseys were unboxed.
No A.J. Hawk, Donte Whitner or Bobby Carpenter — all taken within the first 18 picks of the NFL draft — and nine new starters in all.
But while even coach Jim Tressel admits he's not sure how the newbies will fare Saturday in the opener against Northern Illinois, Smith is convinced of one thing after three weeks of preseason camp: He's tired of tangling with them.
"They give us fits and troubles every day in practice, so I know what kind of defense they can be," he said. "They're going to be fast. They're going to come after you. We've got some defensive backs ... with a nose for the ball. And (defensive tackles) Quinn Pitcock and Dave Patterson are probably two of the best interior linemen I've ever played against."
The Buckeyes had the stingiest defense in the Big Ten last season, allowing just 15.2 points per game. But they went through a similar overhaul after waving good-bye to a menacing 2003 bunch, and the 2004 squad needed more than half a year to find its footing.
"Do they have similar athletic abilities (as last year's defense)? I think the answer to that is yes," Tressel said.
"The original assessment of height, weight and speed, I think we're fine. Now, we'll find out football-wise (if they're just as good). And that's what the season's for."

[osugrad21]

ABJ

It's time for young Buckeyes to shine

Veterans laud talents of unproven OSU defenders

By Marla Ridenour

Beacon Journal sportswriter

COLUMBUS - It's not unusual for Ohio State players to be highly touted before getting the chance to be highly productive.
Upperclassmen raved about how quarterback Troy Smith threw the ball, were amazed by the swagger receiver Santonio Holmes had from the minute he arrived and wondered why a receiver as athletic as Roy Hall never played.
That's the kind of buzz surrounding the unproven Buckeye defense going into Saturday's season opener against Northern Illinois. OSU lost nine starters from a unit that finished No. 1 in the nation against the run. Six of the nine were drafted into the NFL, three in the top 18 picks.
Among the linebackers and defensive backs listed first on this week's depth chart, only three of the seven -- James Laurinaitis, Malcolm Jenkins and Brandon Mitchell -- have started a game for Ohio State.
That doesn't bother senior defensive tackle David Patterson.
Patterson, a Warrensville Heights product, is eager to see those stepping in for the likes of A.J. Hawk and Bobby Carpenter.
``I've watched a guy like Marcus Freeman who has been making plays in practice for years,'' Patterson said of the new starting strong-side linebacker. ``I've seen these guys do major things in practice. I can't wait to see them do it in a game. I really can't wait for you guys to see what they can do.
``It's like you have a little brother or cousin and you know he's good at football and you play with him in the backyard. No one else gets to see him but you. Then finally they play a game and their talents are on display for everyone.''
Smith, now a Heisman Trophy candidate, is confident the replacements will be fine.
``They give us fits and troubles every day in practice,'' Smith said. ``They're going to be fast. They're going to come after you. We've got some defensive backs who are going to make some plays on some balls, not to say we didn't have any in the past. We've got guys with a nose for the ball.''
Say what you will about the talented 2005 defense, but it had just six interceptions and six fumble recoveries in 12 games. The Buckeyes committed 21 turnovers.
Patterson said defensive end Vernon Gholston, redshirted last year with a hand injury, has made great strides. All-American candidate Quinn Pitcock, a fifth-year senior defensive tackle, said strong safety Mitchell has stepped up as a leader in the secondary after contributing mainly as a nickel back last season.
The defense gets an immediate test because Northern Illinois boasts the nation's leading returning rusher in senior tailback Garrett Wolfe. The 5-foot-7, 177-pounder has totaled 3,286 yards the past two seasons.
``I know our defensive coaches and I have a lot of confidence in this defense,'' OSU coach Jim Tressel said Tuesday. ``I also know we have some great challenges, Garrett Wolfe and these guys coming in. Look down the road at the rest of the people we play. They better grow.''
Tressel said the starting lineup probably will be in flux until the Sept. 23 Big Ten opener against Penn State. Ohio State also faces No. 3 Texas and Cincinnati before then.
``Maybe at the start of the Big Ten schedule you'll really see what our depth chart is,'' Tressel said. ``I don't know that there will be great changes. I'm saying I think we'll know.''
Pitcock said the front four needs to carry the young defense early in the season. He and Patterson are the two returning starters and team captains along with Smith and center Doug Datish.
``We feel like it is our responsibility,'' Pitcock said of the defensive line. ``If we can make a play quick and give them time, not have to worry as much and get used to game speed.... It should always be on us at all times.''
Smith thinks that will happen naturally.
``Our front four, I can't say enough about them,'' Smith said. ``David Patterson and Quinn Pitcock are probably two of the best interior guys I've ever played against. They're going to give teams fits.''
Tressel believes the defense has the talent to replace the standouts it lost.
``The assessment is two or threefold,'' he said. ``Do they have similar athletic abilities? I think the answer to that is yes. The next assessment is all about playing football, and playing football over time. The thing about A.J. Hawk, Nate Salley, (and) Donte Whitner is they were always there. I remember when Donte Whitner had knee surgery and was back in eight days.
``The original assessment of height, weight, speed, I think we're fine. Now we'll find out footballwise and that's what the season's for.''
Patterson doesn't sound the least bit worried.
``It's kind of a fun thing,'' he said. ``I can remember yesterday, everybody's like, `Let's get ready fellas, it's game week.' I remember walking up to Marcus Freeman in the locker room like, `It's showtime, baby. Let's show everybody you can play with the best of them.' ''