2008 tOSU Defense discussion (official thread)

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by BrutusBobcat

The 2002 defense was brilliant because they stepped up and stopped you when they need to do it. They had great stats, but the story wasn't the stats -- it was the STOPS. Right up until the final stop against Miami, they showed up and made it happen on big downs.

Couldn't have said it better myself. The 2002 defense probably didn't quite have the stats the 2007 defense did, but they sure stepped up everytime they needed to...

[RB07OSU]

Originally Posted by rocketman

I don't really know much about X's and O's but from a scheme perspective how can you get a guy like Rolle, with the unique abilities he has, on the field more often?

I would love to see a package that includes a ROVER position like Georgia's defense. They usually have a guy in the Brian Rolle mode that is a Safety/LB size and play him as a mixture. Essentially they make a lot of tackles and are free to roam the field a bit. I would also love to see Brian get in on passing downs to blitz off the edge with that great speed.

[RB07OSU]

Originally Posted by Bleed S & G

2 words. Senior leadership.

And that is exactly what we were missing this year. It's really tough to have the kind of leadership we had in '02 and it's absolutely vital. As BrutusBobcat said, the '02 defense made stops when they needed to and not just against the puds, up by 20 plus points. We will have outstanding senior leadership next year on defense from Lauranaitis, Jenkins, Freeman, Terry, Abdallah, Wilson, and Patterson. That is a good mix of seniors with returning seniors on offense with Boeckman, M. Wells, Robiskie, Nicol, B. Smith, Boone, Mitchum, Person, Rehring, and Skinner. I really think the leadership will be there on defense but don't forget 1 other vital thing...luck. We had a great team in '02 that absolutely deserved the title, but the bounces also have to go your way as well.

[bukIpower]

Brian Rolle would bring an attitue to our defense thats what he would bring... To be honest I don't think our defense is mean enough, they don't strike any type of fear into an opposing offense. Brian Rolle the way he hits would make eveyrone around him better. Personally the more gifted linebacker probably would be Homan, but the one who would benefit our defense from an attitue stand point would be Brian Rolle which is why I hope he starts. When you have a kid out there flying around jacking every thing that crosses his face it makes the kids around him that much more aggressive, and that much more likely to create turnovers and to make them more tentative the next time around. I love the way that guys hits and thats what our defenses is missing. We don't have any heavy hitters right now on this defense, but I believe every single one of them would have a attitude if someone just stepped up and made it a point to make the ball carries PAY.

When I think of OSU defense I think, very sound, fast ,won't get beat by the big play, BUT not that aggressive of a defense. Thats atleast what I think of when I think of our defense. It's ok to play this non blitzing, sit back and make the tackle type of defense when the teams you face dont have the athletic ability to get around you, but when the competition level rises our defense has not performed all that well with this conservative approach. IMO, its not the players, its the coaches scheme. The coaches coach the kids up very well, because IMO we seem to know what we're doing but the thing is we can't play this passive defense ALL the time.

I mean this defense from last year/this year will all be moving onto the NFL most likely so the talent is there you can't deny that. Do we have a good defense HELL YEAH we do we HAVE THE BEST DEFENSE, but when you let other offenses dictate the speed or the tempo of the game you're going to pay when you run into a team that can go toe to toe with you. It's like in a fight if you're fighting someone thats smaller, sure let him swing on you first it won't hurt that much. However, I dunno bout you guys but if it was someone my size or slightly bigger (better) I'd want to take the fight to them you're surely not going to go into it with a conservative approach. You don't let them come out and push you around and dictate how the game is going to be played. Now to their credit they were a little more aggressive against LSU, but IMO NOT ENOUGH. We have a back 7 that will all most likely see extensive playing time in the NFL one day so stop being so gun shy about being beat DEEP! When the only team on your schedule that can play with you is USC why do we fear the big play so much? If we get beat deep, fine just sit down with your defense do some adjusting and get back into the game and get after it again. It's only going to cost you 3-7 points if you get beat deep and with our offenses we can get those points back.

Also about the SEC... we need to get some OOC games with them to get our feet under ourselves here. I know this would be funny to see but I'm serious when I say this.. Play Vanderbuilt, Kentucky,Arkansas, and Ole Miss over the next few years just to get some wins and to put a stop to the mental road block that is the SEC. I think now its not so much they're better, its just that they know they can win were as we DOUBT we can win. We've got to get some wins against these guys.

[Sportsbuck28]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

Couldn't have said it better myself. The 2002 defense probably didn't quite have the stats the 2007 defense did, but they sure stepped up everytime they needed to...

I agree completely. Every time we needed a huge stop of defense, I was confident in the 2002 defense. This year, despite all of the talent, I held my breath every time we needed a stop because this team wasn't anywhere near as sure of a bet.

Another year of S&C not to mention more technique instruction will work wonders for these guys.. not to mention that they all have at least a year of starting experience, and a lot of them have two years of experiences of playing on the biggest stage there is in college football.

[bukIpower]

agree though.. More Senior leaders, more work in the weight room (DT's especially), and more practice will make for a better defense.

I'll gauge this defense on ONE game alone next year maybe two. The USC game will tell me all I need to know next year about our defense, and maybe Illinois as well. We will rule the College football world from a stat stand point once again, but it means nothing to me if we can't stop the two most potent offenses on our schedule. If we play great agaisnt USC but lose then I'll still think of this defense as a tremendous group, but if we get blown out I'll look at this group who benefits from playing a soft schedule.

[Jaxbuck]

Originally Posted by GrizzlyBuck

The back seven is potentially the best we've ever had in terms of talent and depth, and I just hope they let them use that ability and just sub out for them if they're tired.

I would say the '98 back 7 was and still is the most talented we've had since the '68-'75 era teams.

Winfield, Plummer, Barry and Moore were the best secondary we've had since I've been old enough to remember. Nate Clements was the nickel back for gods sake. They were significantly better than the current group no matter how much they improve. The two starting CB's and the nickel were all first round draft picks and true shut down corners. They all shut down the pass and played the run equally well.

Diggs, Big Kat and J Rud were equal to or better than our current LB's as well. JL is a stud but no way in hell he's the block shedding, inside run stopper that AK was. Diggs was as athletic as Freeman, the only one I'd say wasn't better than the current group was J Rud but his leadership was invaluable.

[Kickdown02]

Originally Posted by bukIpower

Also about the SEC... we need to get some OOC games with them to get our feet under ourselves here. I know this would be funny to see but I'm serious when I say this.. Play Vanderbuilt, Kentucky,Arkansas, and Ole Miss over the next few years just to get some wins and to put a stop to the mental road block that is the SEC. I think now its not so much they're better, its just that they know they can win were as we DOUBT we can win. We've got to get some wins against these guys.

Good scheduling idea, the problem is getting these teams to come up north. Is there any validity to the rumor of Georgia doing a 1-1?