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Well to start, there will definitely be growing pains next year. You just cannot lose Joey, Adolphus Tommy and Joel without initially losing some production. As it relates to this thread, I believe DE is going to be more than set next year. One does not ever replace Joey Bosa, but we have so much talent already here and even more coming in. Biggest question mark at DE is whether someone can come in and play the run like Joey did. Hubbard is a great pass rusher but is not yet proven against the run. Holmes is another guy who I think could really develop well.

Of course the biggest question is inside at DT, where we have not recruited particularly well at in recent years. I saw some positives out of Hill and there were some really good reports on Landers in bowl practices, but we need 2-3 guys to really step it up inside. There are multiple guys to be excited about that may slide down, such as Dre'Mont Jones and Jashon Cornell. Plus I have always been high on Dylan Thompson, he just needs to get healthy.

All that being said, my incredibly early rotation looks like this respectively:

DE: Lewis, Bosa (if healthy, Nick might split snaps evenly...he is that good)
DT: Hill, Cornell, Barrow (Barrow might steal a bunch of snaps here, he is lights out and just needs to add a few pounds)
DT: Landers, Munger, Sprinkle (just a guess here, Landers has a lot of momentum...Munger and Sprinkle need to take the next step though)
DE: Hubbard, Holmes, Slade (loaded group here and while I think Hubbard will be a monster next year, these other guys will play plenty)
X-factor: Jonathan Cooper (will only be a true frosh and needs to add some weight, but he actually bulked up a lot already and if healthy, he could be a terror pass rusher on third down...my money is on him red-shirting but he is so crazy talented that we might find a niche for him)

Nice breakdown. Thanks for sharing. I liked what I saw from Sprinkle and Munger against ND and so if Landers is better will will be in good shape.
 
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Really not too worried about the guys that have to gain a few pounds with Mickey's track record. It's the hand technique that Johnson is instilling in these guys that takes some time - which Joey obviously perfected. Whoever gets that the fastest will be in line for PT.

Honestly I'm most concerned about the guys behind them than this group. Will be fun to watch them all compete with literally 4 spots open.
 
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I'm not sure Schutt or Hale were every very consistent contributors this year and definitely did not distance themselves from Hill, who is still coming into his own. Washington and Bosa are huge losses, especially since both offer scheme versatility.
 
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Well to start, there will definitely be growing pains next year. You just cannot lose Joey, Adolphus Tommy and Joel without initially losing some production. As it relates to this thread, I believe DE is going to be more than set next year. One does not ever replace Joey Bosa, but we have so much talent already here and even more coming in. Biggest question mark at DE is whether someone can come in and play the run like Joey did. Hubbard is a great pass rusher but is not yet proven against the run. Holmes is another guy who I think could really develop well.

Of course the biggest question is inside at DT, where we have not recruited particularly well at in recent years. I saw some positives out of Hill and there were some really good reports on Landers in bowl practices, but we need 2-3 guys to really step it up inside. There are multiple guys to be excited about that may slide down, such as Dre'Mont Jones and Jashon Cornell. Plus I have always been high on Dylan Thompson, he just needs to get healthy.

All that being said, my incredibly early rotation looks like this respectively:

DE: Lewis, Bosa (if healthy, Nick might split snaps evenly...he is that good)
DT: Hill, Cornell, Barrow (Barrow might steal a bunch of snaps here, he is lights out and just needs to add a few pounds)
DT: Landers, Munger, Sprinkle (just a guess here, Landers has a lot of momentum...Munger and Sprinkle need to take the next step though)
DE: Hubbard, Holmes, Slade (loaded group here and while I think Hubbard will be a monster next year, these other guys will play plenty)
X-factor: Jonathan Cooper (will only be a true frosh and needs to add some weight, but he actually bulked up a lot already and if healthy, he could be a terror pass rusher on third down...my money is on him red-shirting but he is so crazy talented that we might find a niche for him)

I hope Landers gets that kinda run - diamond in the rough. One thing Cooper has going for him is he is an EE, correct?

Only thing I would disagree with is Bosa, if healthy, even being able to split with Lewis. I thought Tyquan had such a solid and consistent year, especially against the run....played through some nagging injuries, I think he's ready to be 'the' guy with Hubbard. I was also a little sad you left out Jones!
 
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I hope Landers gets that kinda run - diamond in the rough. One thing Cooper has going for him is he is an EE, correct?

Only thing I would disagree with is Bosa, if healthy, even being able to split with Lewis. I thought Tyquan had such a solid and consistent year, especially against the run....played through some nagging injuries, I think he's ready to be 'the' guy with Hubbard. I was also a little sad you left out Jones!

I believe Cooper will be here early, yes. So that does help.

And I could see Bosa splitting time up with both Lewis and Hubbard. I wholeheartedly agree that Lewis had a fantastic season and Hubbard was pretty darn good as well. Nick Bosa is just too good to not be utilized immediately though...I'm thinking he may not start, but will get plenty of PT.

But Jones could certainly be in play, he was a great prospect coming out. Just with the injury I haven't heard anything. But if he is healthy and lives up to expectations, I imagine he would play.
 
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Between Hill, Munger, Sprinkle and Landers we should be solid on the inside. Remember Hubbs played inside a bit as well and if you throw in Bosa playing inside and out Johnson should have a really good rotation of talented players to work with.
 
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COST OF DOING BUSINESS: OHIO STATE DEFENSE WILL GET MAJOR OVERHAUL IN 2016

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When Ohio State loses its eighth of its 11 defensive starters from the 2015 season — assuming that Vonn Bell joins so many of his teammates in declaring for the NFL Draft — it will lose 465 of the 687 tackles made by its starting lineup. It will take far less time to point out the few non-holes than the holes left behind by three defensive linemen, two linebackers, both safeties and a cornerback.

That’s 68% of the tackles from the starting lineup alone and 53% of the entire team’s tackles from 2015.

The exodus began with Tommy Schutt’s season-ending injury and Adolphus Washington making a bad decision and prematurely ending his own career. It continued on with the graduation of senior Joshua Perry. Then came Joey Bosa’s announcement, followed by Darron Lee, Tyvis Powell, and Eli Apple. The lone domino left to fall is Bell, and nearly everyone has him going pro.

In addition to all of those tackles lost from 2015, the Buckeyes lose nine of 12 interceptions (75%), 19.5 of 38 total sacks (51%), 50 of 83 total tackles for loss (60%), five of eight forced fumbles (63%), and three of nine fumble recoveries (33%).

The 2016 defense will have talent, to be sure. A month ago, Eric showed you what that might look like. But it’ll be the biggest coaching job of Luke Fickell’s career, with the help of new co-DC Greg Schiano, to get that raw group of new starters to gel and become a cohesive unit.

You might need to keep a game program handy to tell who everyone is for the first few weeks of the season. Up front, Tyquan Lewis is the lone returner on the defensive line, but it helps that Sam Hubbard, Michael Hill, Tracy Sprinkle and Donovan Munger got playing time in 2015. Jalyn Holmes has a couple years under his belt and will be able to provide experienced depth at defensive end.

Raekwon McMillan will have two brand new partners among the starting linebacking corps. Ohio State has gotten good linebacker play for the past two seasons, but prior to that there were a couple of shaky years with that area of the defense. We could see somewhat of a return to that in 2016 if the unit takes time to come together. Jerome Baker and Dante Booker will push for starting spots, but I’d really like to see Nick Conner fight his way into the lineup. You may recall his stellar 2015 Spring Game performance. After a couple of years of hiding younger talent on the bench, it would be nice to see Urban Meyer live by his “we don’t redshirt” credo and let some of the kids play.

OHIO STATE LOSES 465 OF THE 687 TACKLES MADE BY ITS STARTING LINEUP.

I mean, they’re going to leave early anyway, so you might as well use them while they’re here.

In the secondary, and again, assuming Bell leaves, the safety spots will be an open competition. Malik Hooker, Erick Smith, Cam Burrows and Damon Webb will fight it out.

Across from returning starting corner Gareon Conley, Marshon Lattimore, Dez Ward and Eric Glover-Williams wait in the wings. Chances are good that more than one of those raw youngsters will have to play at some point during the season. Opposing teams will be all too happy to test them, so the new starters on the defensive line had better bring heat to bear on quarterbacks.

If you’re looking for good news, that’s where it starts. Lewis and Hubbard combined for 14.5 sacks in 2015 and McMillan had 1.5 sacks. Conley registered half a sack and backups Chris Worley and Holmes added a sack apiece. The Buckeyes have guys who can get to the quarterback. The trouble is, Joey Bosa was largely responsible for other guys getting those sacks, as he occupied multiple blockers on every play.
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More good news: the team's leading tackler returns in McMillan, who posted 119 stops this season. On the other hand, Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 10 are gone.
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Entire article: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...state-defense-will-get-major-overhaul-in-2016
 
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An Early Look at the 2016 Ohio State Depth Chart on Defense

15-09-26-FB-1125.jpg


The losses from the 2015 defense are going to be significant. In fact, there may only be four starters returning to the 2016 Ohio State defense.

However, of those non-starters, guys like Sam Hubbard and Michael Hill and Chris Worley have started games in the past, and both Marshon Lattimore and Damon Webb spent time with the starting defense as the team's No. 1 nickel back.

But, no, there is no Joey Bosa, no Adolphus Washington, no Darron Lee, no Joshua Perry, no Eli Apple or Tyvis Powell, and likely no Vonn Bell, although he has yet to declare at the time of this writing.

We're going to go ahead and assume that he's gone anyway, however.

(Current 2016 commits are included.)

See the O-Zone's depth chart: http://theozone.net/Ohio-State/Foot...at-the-2016-Ohio-State-Depth-Chart-on-Defense
 
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Even though we're losing so much experience on defense, the amount of talent that we've accumulated there shouldn't be much drop off. I can't wait to see how Fickell and Schiano and LJsr coach up this young team. I think we're in a great position with a bunch of young, hungry and filled with players looking to prove themselves. Many of the names I haven't heard mentioned since they signed, now guys like Lattimore, Ward, Holmes, Hill, Hooker, Smith, Booker,, Worley, Landers, etc will get their chance to shine. I'm excited about this young group
 
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Rewatched the entire Fiesta Bowl focusing only on DT play today. Here are some notes:

Sprinkle:
- played the 3 in base and NT in the rushmen package
- by far the best pass rusher of the DTs
- the times ND tried to run at the rushmen, he held his ground well
- best motor of the DTs

Hill:
- played primarily NT
- decent quickness off the ball
- had trouble shedding blocks
- below average motor
- was pancaked a few times

Munger:
- Despite being the biggest of the bunch, Munger did not see a snap at NT. It is clear he is still seen solely as a 3, as Johnson mentioned earlier in the season when Schutt went down.
- seems to have decent lower body strength, but is not very good with his hands
- gets sucked up into blockers often
- was also pancaked a few times
- below average motor

Overall, I came away impressed with Sprinkle and disappointed with Hill and Munger. Meyer and Johnson's tone regarding the latter two over the last year makes more sense to me now. Before this game, I assumed Hill and Munger would step up as the two guys in the NT rotation next season. I just don't think that's going to be the case. Neither showed the grit or effort level needed to battle double teams all game. Obviously we can win with them in there, but they have a long way to go. Sprinkle was by far the nastiest of the bunch, but he's obviously not the ideal body type for the nose.

Projected Line for 2016:

Base:
DE: Bosa, Hubbard
NT: Hill, Hamilton
DT: Landers, Sprinkle
DE: Lewis, Holmes

Rushmen:
DE: Hubbard
NT: Sprinkle
DT: Bosa
DE: Lewis

This is me holding out hope that Hill takes that next step at NT. If he doesn't improve much, he will get passed. Hamilton and Lawrence (fingers crossed) are bigger than Hill and bring an effort level closer to what Meyer is looking for. I think we'll see a healthy rotation of all 4 DEs listed early in the season, with Bosa eventually usurping one of Hubbard or Lewis, similar to what his brother did to Washington.
 
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An Early Look at the 2016 Ohio State Depth Chart on Defense

15-09-26-FB-1125.jpg


The losses from the 2015 defense are going to be significant. In fact, there may only be four starters returning to the 2016 Ohio State defense.

However, of those non-starters, guys like Sam Hubbard and Michael Hill and Chris Worley have started games in the past, and both Marshon Lattimore and Damon Webb spent time with the starting defense as the team's No. 1 nickel back.

But, no, there is no Joey Bosa, no Adolphus Washington, no Darron Lee, no Joshua Perry, no Eli Apple or Tyvis Powell, and likely no Vonn Bell, although he has yet to declare at the time of this writing.

We're going to go ahead and assume that he's gone anyway, however.

(Current 2016 commits are included.)

See the O-Zone's depth chart: http://theozone.net/Ohio-State/Foot...at-the-2016-Ohio-State-Depth-Chart-on-Defense

Jones has been mentioned by both Meyer and Johnson as a 3-tech. Something to the effect "If he were healthy, he'd be in the rotation at DT." I don't think he'll play DE in any package but goal line.
 
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