LB Dorian Bell (official thread)

[billmac91]

Originally Posted by Buckin Crazy

We Need Hines,Bell, and Williams on the feild at the same time... can you say scariest blitz package ever?

not to be a kill-joy, but this stuff is always overdone. Thaddeus, Laurinitis, Freeman, Wilson, with Heyward and Rose on the inside was suposed to be SCARY.

Our sack leader last year had 4 sacks, if I'm recalling correctly. I think a lot of that may be scheme, but this enthusiasm carries over into every position group.

The quickest/best freshman will be an automatic contributor at returner. The best receiver will instantly improve the receiving core. The highest touted CB will make an instant impact. The athletic incoming LB will push for a starting position.

Not saying any of this won't happen, but it rarely does. I guess in a way it reminds me of people saying Rob Schoenhoft could be used in trick plays from the TE position. Or people saying we would utilize Boeckmen and Pryor in the same backfield as a regular package (I realize it happened against Texas but some thought it'd be an every game reality that would be indefensible). Or how about those calling for an option backfield of Saine, Berry, and Herron?

Bell will be a beast, but knowing tOSU's style, I'm a bit cautious to predict his impact as a freshman. At safety I would expect Domicone and Gant to get a lot of back-up time, with Moeller still getting some time at the Star, and I think at LB, we're pretty loaded with upper-classmen who have been waiting their turn (Rolle, Spitler, Sweat, Moeller, Sabino).

Welll se though...again, not a knock on what Bell can bring to the unit if given a chance.

[OregonBuckeye]

Originally Posted by billmac91

Our sack leader last year had 4 sacks, if I'm recalling correctly.

5.5. The team only had 27 total sacks. Still, their was a lot of improvement once Wilson went down. It's like the players finally realized they needed to step their game up once that happened.

Moeller, Williams, and Gibson are a great pass rushing trio. Sabino could be another good one. Don't think Dorian will factor in much as a frosh.

[billmac91]

Originally Posted by OregonBuckeye

5.5. The team only had 27 total sacks. Still, their was a lot of improvement once Wilson went down. It's like the players finally realized they needed to step their game up once that happened.

Moeller, Williams, and Gibson are a great pass rushing trio. Sabino could be another good one. Don't think Dorian will factor in much as a frosh.

5.5 isn't much better. That is really weak for a team with such high profiled recruits. Again, it may be a bit influenced by scheme, but 5.5 sacks out of your leader in college is pretty low.

The D-line did look a lot better towards the end of the year but it still needs to pick up a lot to lift tOSU into a championship caliber team.

[OregonBuckeye]

Originally Posted by billmac91

5.5 isn't much better. That is really weak for a team with such high profiled recruits. Again, it may be a bit influenced by scheme, but 5.5 sacks out of your leader in college is pretty low.

The D-line did look a lot better towards the end of the year but it still needs to pick up a lot to lift tOSU into a championship caliber team.

Wasn't trying to infer it was a whole lot better. Just giving the exact number. I agree it was way too low.

[Buckeye86]

the low sack total may or may not have to do with how teams attempt to attack our defense

it seems to me, based entirely on my impression of games the last couple years and not actually going back and watching any of them, that very few teams ever take five step drops against us or run play action, the plays where you would expect a lot of sacks from

most teams attempt to dink and dunk us in the flats rather than going downfield and on plays like that you really can't expect many sacks

just my impression though

it may be overblown to expect an exponential improvement in the pass rush from one year to the next, but getting guys like Bell sure doesn't hurt

[Viking]

One of the reasons we don't have sacks is because our talent at end is overstated and we've been rather mediocre at the tackles of late. I'm hopeful for Gibson but Rose hasn't really shown much. Wilson hasn't either, although he has an excuse. Heyward was worse last year than he was his freshman year and I'm curious as to how well he will do at defensive tackle, if/when the move materializes. Abdallah finished out last season strong, but outside of him (and even including him, really) the talent level on the interior just isn't/hasn't been fitting for a team like Ohio State.

Nathan Williams and Thaddeus Gibson are the best pass rushers we have, but you have to consider their ability against the run, too, which is why neither might see the field as much as they could. Heyward, Simon, and Goebel could be a different story at tackle, but I have reservations about all of them.

The other thing is we don't blitz creatively/well.

[BloowdBuck]

It has more to do with the fact that 85% of the plays ran against our D were bubble screens, outs and quick slants. Not much time to sack a QB when the ball is gone before u beat your blocker(s) and have a chance to get within a few yards of him.

Think it's strange how most teams mock Florida's O from the NC game where they quick hit us all the way down the field? It's the only way we get scored on. No chance to put consistant pressure on the QB. Then when we start blitzing, we get hit with draws and screens.

Originally Posted by Viking

One of the reasons we don't have sacks is because our talent at end is overstated and we've been rather mediocre at the tackles of late. I'm hopeful for Gibson but Rose hasn't really shown much. Wilson hasn't either, although he has an excuse. Heyward was worse last year than he was his freshman year and I'm curious as to how well he will do at defensive tackle, if/when the move materializes. Abdallah finished out last season strong, but outside of him (and even including him, really) the talent level on the interior just isn't/hasn't been fitting for a team like Ohio State.

Nathan Williams and Thaddeus Gibson are the best pass rushers we have, but you have to consider their ability against the run, too, which is why neither might see the field as much as they could. Heyward, Simon, and Goebel could be a different story at tackle, but I have reservations about all of them.

The other thing is we don't blitz creatively/well.

[SayNoToMichigan]

Senior highlights:

http://media.gatewaygators.com/2008P...Dorain-Def.wmv

http://media.gatewaygators.com/2008P...Dorain-off.wmv

[Tresselbeliever]

Fun to watch.

[Taosman]

Originally Posted by Tresselbeliever

Fun to watch.

An understatement. Get this kid on the field with Storm Klein!

[TheIronColonel]

Get this guy into a blitz package ASAP. He diagnoses the play quickly and moves in a bee-line to the ball. He sheds blockers like rain. Pretty obvious why he was so highly regarded in HS.

[RB07OSU]

I'm not sure there was a better LB in the country last year, outside of Teo and that's simply because of size. Dorian was the best player in the class last year imo.

[Buckeneye]

Just watching that film, he loves to attack the LOS. He's got a motor and thats freaking great to see. Can't wait to see this kid.

[Buckskin86]

Confident freshman Bell expects to make quick impact at linebacker: Ohio State Insider
by Doug Lesmerises/Plain Dealer Reporter
Monday August 10, 2009


Gateway High School
Freshman linebacker Dorian Bell isn't lacking for confidence when it comes to playing time as an OSU freshman.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Freshman Dorian Bell didn't sound very interested in waiting his turn when he talked about his future before the start of Ohio State's preseason camp.

As the Buckeyes started practice Monday, with the status of junior Tyler Moeller in doubt for this season, more playing time may be available at linebacker. Bell wants some of it.

Moeller was released from Ohio State Medical Center on Monday after a hospitalization required by an apparent head injury. A source confirmed previous reports that Moeller had suffered the injury while with his family in Florida in July.

Moeller had been listed as the starting strongside linebacker during spring football. The Columbus Dispatch reported that Moeller could miss the entire season as a result.


While Ross Homan, the only returning starter, figures to take up most of the playing time at one position, there may now be two spots waiting to be filled by a group that includes senior Austin Spitler, junior Brian Rolle, sophomores Etienne Sabino and Andrew Sweat and maybe even true freshmen like Bell and Storm Klein.

"Hopefully, I learn everything so hopefully I am going to start," Bell said recently, before reports surfaced about Moeller's injury. "I have the ability, I think, and I have the smarts for it."

Much of this is just an expression of the confidence that the Buckeyes hope every player brings to camp, regardless of age. But remember that Bell was a five-star recruit, ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Pennsylvania last season. The state's No. 1 recruit from the year before, quarterback Terrelle Pryor, wound up starting in the fourth game a year ago.

"I play at any speed of any game. I can play anywhere at any time," Bell said when asked if he's expecting the game to change in college. "When I get everything down and know my plays, I'll be ready to play."

At the very least, Bell could see a freshman season much like Sabino did a year ago, when he was a major recruit from Florida. He earned important practice reps as a backup and played on special teams, even scoring a touchdown against Purdue. Those are the kinds of plays that Bell expects to be making sooner than later.

"I'm fast, physical and I'll make an impact every single game," Bell said. "I promise you that. When I get on the field, I'm an impact player."

Confident freshman Bell expects to make quick impact at linebacker: Ohio State Insider - cleveland.com

[smoney]

Bell easily passed the "looks" test coming into camp. Like someone else said, he already looks like a seasoned senior. If he can grasp all the schemes I would look for him to get all the work he wants.