2010 tOSU Linebacker Discussion

[BB73]

Returning starters Homan and Rolle lead a deep group for the real LB U.

 

[Civic06]

I'm really excited to see how Dorian Bell steps up this season. A lot of people say Storm Klein is the best LB from the '09 class but I think Dorian will make a big name for himself.

BTW: did Dorian play on Special Teams last year? Or did he redshirt?

 

[BB73]

I'm really excited to see how Dorian Bell steps up this season. A lot of people say Storm Klein is the best LB from the '09 class but I think Dorian will make a big name for himself.

BTW: did Dorian play on Special Teams last year? Or did he redshirt?

Bell was a redshirt in '09.

 

[WaitingforKickoff]

What I want to see out of this group in '10:

Homan: 1st All Big Ten, make himself first day NFL money.

Rolle: Spiritual leader of the D. Need for a guy like him to step up with Worthington's departure.

Sabino: emerging as the next great one, take a few opposing QBs out of the game.

Sweat: Taking a lot of reps and fully ready to fill Homan's shoes in '11.

Klein/Bell/Whiting: emerge as terrors on special teams. The lack of hungry pups probably contributed to our struggles on kickoff coverage this season.

 

[jenkins_( )_2]

IIRC the "Viper" position was the one played by Bobby Carpenter where he lined up at the SAM on all downs except on passing downs he was used on the line as a pass rusher. I don't recall seeing this position used since Bobby and was wondering if Sabino could fill this in '10 while sliding Cameron inside. Has anyone ever seen Etienne line up with his hand in the dirt before? I'd love to see him with an opportunity to all-out rush the passer.

 

[BB73]

Brandon Castel reviews the LB position.

Ozone

10 Things We Learned About the Linebackers in 2009
By Brandon Castel
...

2. The Buckeyes were loaded at linebacker in 2009. Think about it. The Buckeyes lost Tyler Moeller, the projected starter at Sam linebacker, to a head injury before the season and had Andrew Sweat for only half the year because of a knee injury, and never once did anyone talk about taking the redshirt off Dorian Bell. While some might see that as an attack on Bell?s status as a five-star prospect in the class of 2009, it really speaks to the depth and talent at the linebacker position. With Klein's emergence in the spring and Sabino's ability to play both Sam and Mike, the Buckeyes never missed a beat without Moeller and Sweat.

1. They will be even more loaded in 2010 . Although they lose Spitler from this year's team, the 2010 Buckeyes should be even deeper and more talented at the linebacker position. Sweat will be ready to go for spring practice and could challenge for the starting spot vacated by Spitler, but he will face stiff competition from Sabino and Bell. Both players were among the highest-rated linebackers in their respective recruiting classes, and if Moeller can get back and get some of his weight back, he would also be in the mix at the Sam linebacker spot. Then there?s Jordan Whiting, a four-star linebacker who also redshirted last season, and Jonathan Newsome, who moved from LEO to Sam last season. Both should provide quality depth in 2010, and that says nothing of the two newcomers, David Durham and Scott McVey. Both will likely redshirt in 2010 because of the depth already in place.

Cont'd ...

 

[Buckeye86]

Way too early look at the linebackers from The Buckeye Battle Cry.

link

 

[Buckskin86]

Strongest position: Linebacker

Key returnees: Ross Homan (108 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 5 INTs, 10 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries); Brian Rolle (95 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery)
Key losses: Austin Spitler (38 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 INT).
The skinny: Ohio State returns more players at other positions, namely offensive line and running back, but no spot boasts a tandem like Homan and Rolle, who both could earn first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2010. The Buckeyes' linebackers were incredibly underrated last season, particularly Homan, who developed into one of the team's top playmakers. Spitler is a loss, but Ohio State should fill the void with Etienne Sabino or Tyler Moeller, provided Moeller returns near full strength from a head injury. There's also depth with guys like Storm Klein, Andrew Sweat and Dorian Bell.

Big Ten Blog - ESPN

 

[Diego-Bucks]

What position is Sabino projected to battle for? More of the Gibson/Gholston role as an edge rusher or kinda the coverage guy?

 

[bucknut502]

What position is Sabino projected to battle for? More of the Gibson/Gholston role as an edge rusher or kinda the coverage guy?

No that will be Nathan Williams holding down that position. Sabino will replace Spitler at strongside LB. Although, I would like to see him move down as a pass-rusher in the nickle instead of coming off the field. Lets just hope the light comes on for this kid because he will make us a much more athletic defense.

 

[Buckskin86]

VIDEO: OSU NOTES: ?Listen and learn,? linebackers keep preaching
Published: Saturday, April 10, 2010
By JOHN KAMPF
[email protected]

COLUMBUS ? Patience is supposedly a virtue.

Good luck telling that to a freshman football player who is used to being ?The Man? on the football field.

Brian Rolle and Ross Homan know all about it. The pair of returning starting linebackers for Ohio State remember coming to Columbus and being told by the likes of James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman to be patient, listen and learn.

It wasn?t easy for them. And now that they are veterans and saying the same thing to a current group of OSU youngsters, Rolle and Homan understand if they get a roll of the eye or two from their new teammates.

?You tell them to keep learning, that?s the main thing,? Homan said. ?Keep competing, it?ll come to you. No one?s perfect.

?They?re coming from a high school where they are Mr. Everything to a program like this.?

Rolle agreed. He said he remembers the tutelage of Laurinaitis and Freeman, and also shared a story about a conversation he had with redshirt freshman Dorian Bell on Friday on the virtues of staying patient.

?Guys come out of high school rated high,? Rolle said. ?They expect to come in and jump into a role. What I learned from Laurinaitis and Freeman is (if) you wait your turn, everybody is going to know your name. That?s how it is here. But you?ve got to wait and do the small things.

?Everybody wants to come in and jump into the play book. But you?ve got to do the small things. That?s how you get on the field.?

Co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell said that when he is recruiting players, he expresses the importance of hard work and persistence.

?I tell them, ?It?s not where you start, it?s where you finish,?? Fickell said. ?That?s hard for young guys and that?s hard for guys who are in the recruiting process. It?s hard for freshmen. I just try to talk about it from the get-go of camp. It?s not where you start, it?s where you finish.?

VIDEO: OSU NOTES: ‘Listen and learn,’ linebackers keep preaching - Morning Journal Sports: Serving Lorain, Erie, Huron and western Cuyahoga counties

 

[Buckskin86]

Article published April 11, 2010
Linebacker a key role at OSU
Rolle, Homan shy away from comparisions to past greats
By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

COLUMBUS - They stand where many of Ohio State's greatest football legends have stood over the decades - guys named Hawk, Spielman, Laurinaitis, and Katzenmoyer. Cousineau, Gradishar, Freeman, Johnson, Marek, and Tovar.

For Ross Homan and Brian Rolle, playing linebacker at Ohio State carries a huge responsibility - both to the current team and to those who have held the post before them.

But any mention of fame, and the iconic figures who have played linebacker at Ohio State, makes Homan and Rolle uncomfortable. They prefer relative anonymity.

"We still don't think about that. We don't believe in the hype," Homan said as the Buckeyes reached the halfway point in their month of spring practice. "We're going to be a scrappy bunch again, and be the no-name bunch again."

toledoblade.com -- The Blade ~ Toledo Ohio

 

[Buckskin86]

Spring Back: Linebackers Anchor 2010 Defense
By Brandon Castel

COLUMBUS ? Spring camp is over at Ohio State, but what did it all mean?

The Buckeyes won?t be back together on the practice field until August when they open fall camp in preparation for the 2010 season-opener against Marshall. As the players move into summer conditioning, we look back by position at how things look now compared to what we expected heading into spring practice back on April 1.

We begin our ?Spring Back? series with a look at the linebackers.

Key losses: Austin Spitler (Miami Dolphins, Pick No. 252)
Returning lettermen: Ross Homan, Brian Rolle, Storm Klein, Andrew Sweat, Etienne Sabino
Spring newcomers: None
Help is on the way: Scott McVey (St. Ignatius), Chad Hagan (Canonsburg, Pa.)

The-Ozone, Ohio State Football, Wrestling, Softball, Basketball, Hockey, Baseball and More

 

[BB73]

Brandon Castel looks at the LBs for the season after this one.

Ozone.LB.2011

 

[pnuts34]

I'm surprised Michael Caputo and Curtis Grant aren't on Castel's list of guys that are possibilities to commit. I know they're longshots, but just as long a shot as Crowell. And Price stated several times that we're his leader, don't know why he's at medium