2006 Ohio State Outlook: Defense

[RugbyBuck]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

The most important stat obviously is scoring defense. We keep holding teams to a single TD per game and you can book your flight to Glendale...

Amen.

[osugrad21]

Morning Journal

Big Ten has no room for comfort
Jason Lloyd, Morning Journal Columnist
09/19/2006




BEFORE Saturday, Ohio State was starting to look like a runaway train rolling downhill in the Big Ten.


Iowa needed overtime to beat Syracuse, Michigan's Chad Henne couldn't complete a pass and Michigan State, well, at some point every year, the Spartans punch out and go home well before they run out of games to play.

Then a funny thing happened on the way to a conference championship. Drew Tate got healthy last week and the Hawkeyes beat Iowa State, the in-state rival that always gives them fits. Michigan State's defense fought back, for once, when Pitt held a 10-0 lead in the first quarter and had possession after recovering a surprise onside kick.

Now the Spartans are 2-0, as usual, and preparing to welcome a Notre Dame team that is more black than blue and full of lumps following what Michigan did to them.

Of all the teams Ohio State needs to worry about, Michigan State is quietly creeping to the top of that list. Quarterback Drew Stanton is looking like the best Big Ten quarterback not named Troy Smith, if not for a botched field goal attempt at the end of the half, the Spartans probably should have beaten Ohio State last year in Columbus, and now the players and coaches realize they're probably playing for coach John L. Smith's job.

Then there is Michigan, which looked no better than mediocre through the first two games. Now the Wolverines are going old school and winning with defense, a sound running game and a few big plays.

That was all Big Ten football used to be, before the spread offense, the scrambling quarterbacks and the zone blitzes became common in the Midwest and everywhere else.

So what does it all mean? Ohio State is obviously the favorite to win an outright Big Ten championship, something the Buckeyes haven't done since 1984, but it won't come without a fight. And the first fight will happen long before Nov. 18.

As Big Ten play opens this weekend, here is a look at the top three most dangerous games left for Ohio State, plus why they will and why they won't win all three.

Sept. 30 at Iowa

Why Ohio State will win: The Hawkeyes can't score enough to keep up. Drew Tate joins Stanton and Smith as the Holy Trinity of Big Ten quarterbacks, but someone has to catch what he's throwing. And thus far, Iowa's passing game hasn't been what it should be with a guy like Tate flinging it.

Why Ohio State will lose: They got past their phobia of night games with the win over Texas, but believe it or not, the scene at Kinnick Stadium might be even crazier. Texans certainly know how to have a good time, and the whole weekend surrounding Texas-Ohio State had the feel of a national championship, but the structure of Royal-Memorial stadium keeps the Longhorns from having a real home-field advantage. Even when the crowd is roaring, it's not deafening on the field.

That's not true of Kinnick, which joins Wisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium as two of the Big Ten's toughest venues for road teams. The fans are just a few feet from the benches and the crowds know how to use it to their advantage. Iowa has won 32 of its last 35 at home, including a school-record 22-game streak that ended last year. Bottom line: Iowa is difficult to beat at home, and doubly difficult to do it at night.

Oct. 14 at Michigan State

Why Ohio State will win: Because the Spartans almost always fold against adversity. It has been their trademark since Smith replaced Bobby Williams as head coach.

Need proof? After starting 4-0 last year, including a stunning overtime win in South Bend, the Spartans ended the season by losing six of their last seven. They have plenty of glitz and they can score with any team in the country, but as soon as they get pushed, they don't know how to shove back. Ohio State is a team that likes to push ... hard.

Why Ohio State will lose: Stanton and his receivers could cut apart the Buckeyes young secondary, which really hasn't been tested by a veteran quarterback yet. Tate will be the first, but Stanton might be the best test.

Matt Trannon, who also plays on Michigan State's football team, set a school record by catching 14 passes in a game earlier this year. The Spartans can, and will, score points in bunches. In order to beat them, you have to outscore them. Ohio State has clearly shown that ability, but doing it on the road, against a team that learned how to fight back in last week's win over Pitt, will be difficult.

Nov. 18 vs. Michigan

Why Ohio State will win: Because it's Michigan and Jim Tressel has the same kind of voodoo magic on Lloyd Carr that Carr held over John Cooper. And because Tressel has Troy Smith, who has proven he plays his best in big games. While it's still entirely too early to start projecting, the way Michigan played Notre Dame over the weekend, it's not too far of a stretch to imagine both teams entering The Game unbeaten and untied. That hasn't happened since 1973.

Why Ohio State will lose: Because Carr is 1-4 vs. Tressel, and you figure sooner or later he's due. Beyond karma, Michigan's defense is the best it has been in years, running back Mike Hart is healthy and the Wolverines have adopted a run blocking scheme this year that allows Hart to choose which hole to hit. This is an angry Michigan team full of players tired of hearing about last year's 7-5 season and tired of defending Carr's status in Ann Arbor. Nothing will silence all of that like a win in Columbus, regardless of what happens between now and then.

So who will win and who will lose these three?

How should I know? I picked Texas.

[osugrad21]

Link

Football
Defensive Line Living Up to Expectations for OSU Defense
By John Porentas

OSU watchers continue to fret over the young OSU defense as young linebackers and defensive backs struggle to find their identities and round into effective units.

Nobody is doing that about the Buckeye defensive line.

The OSU defensive line was considered to be a strength heading into the season. Three games into it, that has definitely proven to be true.

OSU's defensive front has been all you could ask for thus far this season. The interior play has been stellar, headed by Quinn Pitcock and David Patterson, and the defensive end play has probably been better than expected, with at least five players contributing to a very effective group at defensive end. It's a combination that has left OSU defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Jim Heacock smiling because the effectiveness of that defensive line has not only led to plays, but has given the young back seven some time to develop. For Heacock, the key has been the play of his interior guys, Patterson and Pitcock.

Jim Heacock
Photo by Jim Davidson

"I'm really high on Dave and Quinn," said Heacock.

"I think those guys are really doing a good job in there.

"A lot of times you feel like you have to cover up for inside guys. I think it's (their superior play) allowed us to not blitz as much, maybe not zone pressure as much, allow our front four to be the pressure and be the guys who are getting after it and hopefully keep seven guys back in coverage and run a little bit more change ups in the coverage area and not have to send five, six or seven to get pressure on the quarterback," Heacock said.

That has given that back seven a comfort zone as they gain experience this season, and Heacock gives Patterson and Pitcock much of the credit for that.

"If you have a couple of guys up front that can do that it really helps," Heacock said.

Quinn Pitcock
Photo by Jim Davidson

Pitcock recently turned some heads with a dominating performance against Cincinnati in which he registered three sacks and simply blew up the Bearcat offense at the line of scrimmage. Some may have been surprised by Pitcock's effectiveness, but not Heacock.

"He's dominating. If you can dominate the line of scrimmage you have a chance in most games," said Heacock.

"If you watch the film, spend some time and watch the film of Quinn Pitcock playing you'll never ever see him not play well. You'll never ever see him not be dominant, physical, taking on two blockers.

"From my standpoint, he's as good as we've had around here," Heacock said.

"I don't know how many tackles he had last year and how many sacks and I don't care. I know he's a very valuable football player on our football team that can go down inside and take on three guys or four or five whatever it takes, and he's dominant, and he really helps the linebackers make plays," Heacock said.

Pitcock's interior linemate, David Patterson, is a big fan and was not at all surprised by Pitcock's big sack day against Cincinnati.

David Patterson
Photo by Jim Davidson

"Quinn is an amazing player," said Patterson.

"People build you up to what they think you are. I see Quinn every day in one-on-one pass rush. I know he has moves. Quinn is a beast. People might slot you as a certain type of player, but I knew that Quinn is capable of those type of plays, that he's very capable of getting pressure on the passer, so when people say he's a run-stopper I kind of laugh sometimes because he's an all-around good player," Patterson said.

OSU offensive lineman Doug Datish, who goes against Pitcock on a regular basis in OSU practices, was also not surprised by his sack outburst.

"I'm glad he doesn't get stats for practice, because he's pretty good," Datish quipped.

Doug Datish
Photo by Jim Davidson

"He was telling me all week that he was going to get single blocked (against Cincinnati). I told him that that guy (blocking him) was in for a world of hurt because Quinn's pretty good. That guy had a tough game. I'm sure he was trying as hard as he could. Quinn just had dominance," Datish said.

While Pitcock, Patterson and Joel Penton are holding down the middle of the defensive line of scrimmage, at least five players currently figure into Heacock's plans at defensive end. Veteran Jay Richardson has thus far had his best year as a Buckeye, while newcomer Vernon Gholston has come on this season and proved himself a force at the other end opposite Richardson. Gholston, a redshirt sophomore who sat out last year and did not begin his football career until midway through high school, is a diamond in the rough that is acquiring more polish every week.

"I think when he got here he was a little bit raw, there's no question about that and probably good to redshirt last year," said Heacock.

"It gave him a year to work with the scout team and he had an injury also, but he was raw fundamentally.

"I'm excited about the way he came on in the spring and thought he had a chance, then each game he's gotten a little bit better I think.

"He's still fundamentally got a long way to go but he goes hard and has good strength and good skills. He's got good arm strength and long arms and good acceleration to the ball. He's got tools and hopefully that's why he's improving each week. As he develops those fundamentals and develops some moves and techniques he's going to get better," Heacock said.

Backing up Richardson is sophomore Lawrence Wilson who has shown himself to be a playmaker, as has Gholston's backup Alex Barrow who also has flashed when on the field. The fifth member of the defensive end group is true freshman Robert Rose who, like Gholston, Heacock sees as a future star.

"We just think he's a potentially outstanding football player and fits in with those four and he gives us another dimension," said Heacock.

"He can play both sides and can play Leo so we actually have two ends and two Leos and he's a guy who can swing back and forth and he gives us another guy who can rush the quarterback that we can put in at the end of the game or put in in the second quarter and get some pressure. He's strong and very talented, and like Vern he's fundamentally got a ways to go, but he's a strong kid and a good kid and he's going to be a great football player."

[OSU_Buckguy]

can you imagine how disruptive our defensive ends will be in two seasons, if not one, with gholston and rose? though there is much time between now and a couple years from now, it's hard not to see something really special brewing with our defense. last year's defense was spectacular; nonetheless, next year's and especially the following year's defenses could be just as exemplary.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ToledoBlade.com

Ohio State defense making the grade

By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER


COLUMBUS - Nobody is holding their breath, wrought with anxiety over the interim report on the Ohio State Buckeyes.

A quarter of the way through the 2006 season, the team is unbeaten, ranked No. 1 in the country, and the Ohio State offense has been every bit the venomous hydra many expected it to be - cut back one facet, and the others strike a mortal blow.

But the early report card on the Buckeyes carries one unanticipated gold star. The Ohio State defense has been a lot better than previously graded. Through three games, the Buckeyes have not allowed a rushing touchdown, and have given up just 26 points.

PENN STATE AT OHIO STATE? When: Tomorrow, 3:36
? Records: PSU is 2-1; OSU is 3-0
? Series: PSU leads 11-10
? Favorite: OSU by 17
? TV: Ch. 13
? Radio: 1470

MORE OSU
? Game 1: OSU 35, N. Illinois 12
? Game 2: OSU 24, Texas 7
? Game 3: OSU 37, Cincinnati 7
? More OSU football stories, scheduleThe expected struggles following the loss of nine starters, including three first-round NFL draft picks, have not materialized. The young defense might flex, but it has not snapped. Ohio State enters tomorrow's Big Ten opener at home against Penn State ranked second in the conference in scoring defense, allowing just 8.7 points a game, and has forced six turnovers.

"I think our defense is improving," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "They've done a good job of limiting people from a point standpoint, which is the bottom line. We did a great job in the last two ball games from a take-away standpoint, but I don't know if they have an identity after three games. We've got so much more to prove as a team, but I think they're coming along."

The Buckeyes are allowing a modest 293.7 yards per game, and have made 30 stops behind the line of scrimmage, with 13 quarterback sacks to date. The timing has been good, as well, with no touchdowns scored against Ohio State in the second half of the last two games, and the Buckeyes have held the opposition to just a 21 percent success rate on third downs.

Ohio State defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock, who along with fellow senior David Patterson account for the sum total of returning starters on the OSU defense, has initiated a lot of the pressure and disruption that has enabled the unit to be so successful. The 6-foot-3, 295-pound Pitcock had three sacks last week against Cincinnati.

"Quinn is an outstanding player and I've said many times that our two inside guys, David Patterson and Quinn Pitcock, are as good as it gets," Tressel said. "Those guys create havoc, and you've got to really figure out a way to slow them down."

"The defense has played pretty well, and I think the new guys, the young guys have grown up pretty quick," Pitcock said. "But I have to credit the coaching staff, too, because they really prepared the seniors and made us understand that a good defense would be made by us taking younger players under our wing, getting them ready for practice and excited about the games."

The Buckeyes are third in the country in sacks, 10th in scoring defense, and 12th in turnover margin, but Pitcock said it is too early to label this group as a certain brand of defense. Tressel continues to funnel a multitude of players into the rotation, leaving few positions locked in.

"I don't think we really have a signature yet," Pitcock said. "There are no true starters and you can't really get a feel for that until the ninth or 10th game. Turnovers are a big thing, though, and something we looked a lot at when we studied film from last year. We wanted to cause more turnovers than we were able to last year. We knew if we could do that, we could make the team better by giving the offense more chances to score."

Middle-linebacker James Laurinaitis has emerged as the team's leading tackler, with 26 stops in three games, including 13 in the road win over defending national champ Texas. Laurinaitis has also forced a pair of fumbles and intercepted two passes. He has not made anyone forget last season's dynamic trio of A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel, but he has minimized the laments over their departure.

"It's an honor for people to think highly of me, but we have, and I have a long way to go," Laurinaitis said. "I don't feel like I've arrived yet. I watch film of guys that played here, like A.J. and Bobby, and realize that I have a long way to go."

Contact Matt Markey at:
mmarkey@theblade.com
or 419-724-6510.