2008 Linebacker Discussion

[Onebuckfan]

Originally Posted by generaladm

Not to sound crass, but is it bad that some guys just don't cut it? JL and MF could have gone pro last year. By coming back, they are delaying certain player's development, most notably, Spittler, Terry, and Homan. I especially hope Terry gets a chance this year, since this is his last season of elligibility, but, at the risk of sounding crass, you earn your spot. If you commit to OSU, you are aware that you are competeing against some of the best talent in college football. If you don't think you can be an All-American, OSU may not be the school for you. I wish the best for every student athlete that chooses to come to OSU, but they have to earn their job. If you want to be the best, you have to compete against the best. Given OSU's reputation in the NFL draft, you can make an NFL roster without being a star at OSU.

Hawk and Lil Animal both came in as less than heralded recruits but went out and did it on the field. They earned everything they got. They didn't worry about hype the went out and took the job!!

[buck2006]

Originally Posted by Jaxbuck

Just to dust this off with camp a week away.

Heading into fall camp it looks like:

Starters: Terry/JL/Freeman
2 deep: Rolle/Spitler/Homan

Sabino/Sweat/Hines knocking on the door of the two deep

Bell/Klein/Whiting on the way

Million dollar question is who, if anyone, goes to FB and the corresponding moves.

After the spring game its hard to imagine Sabino not getting some PT.

In the end the starters will be:
Freeman/JL/Homan
Backups
Hines/Spitler/Rolle

Terry will be the starting FB, they changed his number to 99 for a reason.

[jwinslow]

Rolle

I love Brian's edge and potential, but I'm not sure what he's done to catch Moeller, let alone surpass him.

[DSelwyn]

Didn't Jermale Hines suffer a serious leg injury in the Spring Game?? Will he be ready for contact in Fall Camp??

[DaddyBigBucks]

Originally Posted by DSelwyn

Didn't Jermale Hines suffer a serious leg injury in the Spring Game?? Will he be ready for contact in Fall Camp??

Found this using the search function:

LINK

[buck2006]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

I love Brian's edge and potential, but I'm not sure what he's done to catch Moeller, let alone surpass him.

Rolle is a WLB and Moeller is a SLB. Ever thing I have seen says Hines is ready to go.

[sparcboxbuck]

Originally Posted by brutus2002

The good thing about having this senior talent is that when the 2 deep gets PT they will be doing an audition for next year. I can name 6-7 schools in the Big 10 I'd take our second string over without hesitation.

FIFY

[Kahuna825]

Maybe I am the minority here, but I would like to see Freeman play a little faster and with a little more instinct. I thought last year he found himself out of position to make some plays. That being said: I think Freeman has all the tools to be an AA this year. I would like to see Rolle and Sabino get some major PT though.

[buck2006]

Originally Posted by Kahuna825

Maybe I am the minority here, but I would like to see Freeman play a little faster and with a little more instinct. I thought last year he found himself out of position to make some plays. That being said: I think Freeman has all the tools to be an AA this year. I would like to see Rolle and Sabino get some major PT though.

I agree on Freeman has the tools to be an AA, but he just does not have the instincts that some of our LB?s have. That is why the talk is Freeman is going to move to SLB, I think he is very good in coverage and not so good on the run. If they make the move Homan is a beast and I think will have a great year at the WLB, has great instinct always in the right position on the field to make the play. Last year when JL and Homan were on the field together they just worked well together.

[craigblitz]

Homan is a beast

I like his potential a lot but his limited play last year I would not yet call him a beast. I fully agree with Freeman stopping the run... Nothing to quantify this, but it just seemed Freeman was always a step or two away from where he needed to be and could not remove the blockers on him to make a play to stop the run. Having said that he made a lot of great plays last year and maybe this year it all clicks with him and he will dominate.

[shetuck]

ESPN: Ranking the Big Ten linebacker units

Ranking the Big Ten linebacker units

August 1, 2008 3:30 PM
Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The position rankings resume with the linebackers, which is usually a strong position in the Big Ten but one that lacks headliners this season. Ohio State boasts two standouts in preseason Defensive Player of the Year James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman, but most teams welcome new players to their defensive midsection. Illinois lost All-American middle linebacker J Leman, Michigan lost backfield beast Shawn Crable and Penn State lost standout Sean Lee to a season-ending knee injury this spring. But I'll get to the individuals later.

Here's a look at the linebacker groupsin the Big Ten:

1. Ohio State -- Laurinaitis and Freeman passed up the NFL for one final season together and one final stab at the national championship. The star tandem has combined for 429 career tackles, easily putting Ohio State in the top spot for linebackers. Sophomore Ross Homan, a candidate for the third starting spot, could be the next great Buckeyes linebacker.

[...]

6. Michigan -- This appears to be the weak point of the Wolverines defense, which will miss All-Big Ten selection Crable and Chris Graham. But Obi Ezeh has experience at middle linebacker and will be pushed by John Thompson. Sophomores Marell Evans and Jonas Mouton bring speed to the weak side.

cont'd...

[Jaxbuck]

Originally Posted by buck2006

In the end the starters will be:
Freeman/JL/Homan
Backups
Hines/Spitler/Rolle

Terry will be the starting FB, they changed his number to 99 for a reason.

Originally Posted by buck2006

I agree on Freeman has the tools to be an AA, but he just does not have the instincts that some of our LB?s have. That is why the talk is Freeman is going to move to SLB, I think he is very good in coverage and not so good on the run. If they make the move Homan is a beast and I think will have a great year at the WLB, has great instinct always in the right position on the field to make the play. Last year when JL and Homan were on the field together they just worked well together.

Congrats, according to the reports from the first day of camp you were spot on with everything you said.

-Homan is the starter at WLB
-Freeman moved to Sam
-Terry fulltime FB

[buck2006]

Originally Posted by Jaxbuck

Congrats, according to the reports from the first day of camp you were spot on with everything you said.

-Homan is the starter at WLB
-Freeman moved to Sam
-Terry fulltime FB

Homan is a stud and will make 2nd team this year and be a AA before he is done at OSU.

With the move I think we may see the SAM on the field a lot this year, Freeman's coverage skills speak for them self. I look for our LB's to work well together this year should be fun.

This is a Good move for Terry and the team. Terry may have a shot at the next level at FB.

[matcar]

Originally Posted by buck2006

Homan is a stud and will make 2nd team this year and be a AA before he is done at OSU.

With the move I think we may see the SAM on the field a lot this year, Freeman's coverage skills speak for them self. I look for our LB's to work well together this year should be fun.

This is a Good move for Terry and the team. Terry may have a shot at the next level at FB.

It's clear from reading your posts that you know/understand this stuff far better than me. Having said that, I have concerns about other news outlets speculating that Homan will see the field more on passing downs and Freeman may be out because of nickel packages. If Homan does, indeed, have better instincts, then that is incredibly valuable. However, my memory of Ross is that he doesn't have the speed/quickness that Freeman brings to coverage. I really don't want to see Freeman coming out I guess...

In any event, YOU suggest that we'll see all 3 on the field more often precisely because of Freeman's cover skills. Perhaps that's as it should be.

[buck2006]

Originally Posted by matcar

It's clear from reading your posts that you know/understand this stuff far better than me. Having said that, I have concerns about other news outlets speculating that Homan will see the field more on passing downs and Freeman may be out because of nickel packages. If Homan does, indeed, have better instincts, then that is incredibly valuable. However, my memory of Ross is that he doesn't have the speed/quickness that Freeman brings to coverage. I really don't want to see Freeman coming out I guess...

In any event, YOU suggest that we'll see all 3 on the field more often precisely because of Freeman's cover skills. Perhaps that's as it should be.

I think Freeman's move is great, it take his best skill and puts it to work for us. I would not be at all surprised to see some 4 LB'er sets with this group. Hines, Rolle and Moeller are very good and we need our best players on the field. As for Homan I think he plays the run very well plays as fast as any LB we have very good instincts. I think he is good in pass coverage but not Freeman.