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2017 tOSU Defense Discussion

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Buckeye Football Notebook: 'We don’t recruit 50 kids to go into that room because 50 kids can’t do what they do'

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Since Kerry Coombs' arrival, defending the pass has been something that his corners have done very well. Every single one of his starters has earned either first-team All-Big Ten accolades or some serious NFL money.

Bradley Roby, Eli Apple, Marshon Lattimore, and Gareon Conley were all selected in the first round of the NFL Draft over the last few years. That's a pretty remarkable run, and it looks like momentum is only increasing.

So how is this possible?

"First of all, we recruit great players," Coombs explained. "They understand what the standard is. We don’t recruit 50 kids to go into that room because 50 kids can’t do what they do. There’s a handful across the country that have the ability to do year in and year out what those guys do.

"The second thing is because that is the standard. They watch the guys ahead of them who sit in the front row and they know that is what it takes to be that guy. Right now (Marcus) Williamson, (Jeffrey) Okudah and (Shaun) Wade are watching Denzel Ward and learning how to do it, just like Denzel Ward learned from Gareon and Marshon, just like they learned. That’s what has taken place. It’s not me, it’s them."

Entire article: http://theozone.net/2017/06/buckeye-notebook-recruit-50-kids/
 
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Buckeye Football Notebook: 'It's the best I've ever seen collectively on the field at any given time'

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Pass defense is a many-pronged attack, but the cohesion between pass rush and pass coverage will always be the key. You can dial up as many different looks and formations and defenses as you like, and they will all work as long you can rush the passer and cover the receivers.

Ohio State cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs understands this symbiosis better than most, and what he saw from the OSU defensive line this spring should have Buckeye fans excited about 2017.

"It’s the best I’ve ever seen collectively on the field at any given time," he said. "They’re fast, they’re physical, they’re intense, they’re experienced, they’re strong and they’re going to put pressure on everybody’s offense. If we can get pressure with a four-man rush, which we should absolutely be able to do, that aids the coverage. Our guys know those guys are going to get home. That’s a real advantage for us."

Entire article: http://theozone.net/2017/06/buckeye-football-best-ive-ever-seen/
 
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The Replacements: How will Ohio State replace CB Gareon Conley?

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Although Ohio State is set to return 15 starters this season, the Buckeyes still have holes to fill.

That includes replacing two cornerbacks who were taken in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

With Gareon Conley and Marshon Lattimore off to the pros, Urban Meyer finds himself forced to replace one of college football’s most talented cornerback duos. However, because of how well the Buckeyes have recruited at the position in recent years, Ohio State possesses a plethora of options when it comes to naming new starters.

Already, the Buckeyes know they’ll be relying on junior Denzel Ward to fill one of the open spots. The other void, however, remains very much open — and with plenty of competition.

What exactly is Ohio State replacing in Conley, and how will it do it? Let’s take a look.

The production

A 4-star prospect byway of Massillon (Ohio) Washington, Conley’s career got off to a slow start. After redshirting in 2013, he struggled in spot duty while playing behind future NFL draft picks Eli Apple and Doran Grant.

As a redshirt sophomore, however, Conley developed into a steady starter, tallying 49 tackles, 5 pass breakups and 2 interceptions. In 2016, he took his game to another level, earning All-Big Ten honors with 26 stops, 8 pass breakups and 4 interceptions.

With a year of eligibility remaining, Conley declared for the draft. The Oakland Raiders selected him 24th overall, making Ohio State the first school to have three defensive backs selected in the same first round since Miami (Fla.) in 2002.

The candidates

Damon Arnette

One of the breakout stars of spring practice, Damon Arnette put himself in position for significant playing time in 2017. As a redshirt freshman, the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native began the 2016 season as Ohio State’s No. 1 nickelback before being benched midway through the year.

But after bouncing back with a big spring, Arnette now finds himself in the driver’s seat to replace Conley. At the very least, given his experience at nickel, he should make his return to the field in one form or another.

Entire article: https://www.landof10.com/ohio-state/ohio-state-replacing-gareon-conley-candidates
 
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I was looking at the roster today. I wanted to see if there were any obvious gaping holes at any position, and Urban, of course, has recruited well across the board.

The DB's have been a big concern it seems in Buckeyeland. Ward and Webb are the only knowns. The unknowns tho are uber talented. Should be able to find a CB among Okudah, Sheffield, Arnette, and Wade. There is also Riep and Williamson coming in. Should be able to find a safety among Fuller, Pryor, and Smith. There is also Davis, Wint, and maybe White.

I'm also looking at DT with some concern only because no one has emerged as a monster in there. But Landers, Sprinkle, Hill, Cornell, and Hamilton would seem to be able to handle it, and there is also Thompson, Barrow, Garrett, and Cage. Plenty of depth, just a little short on star power.

The DE's are ridiculous. I'm not sure I have ever seen anything like that.

I think they are looking good at LB. We haven't seen Booker play a lot yet, but if he beat out Baker last year, he has to be really good. If injuries occur, I will be interested to see who emerges from the pack of Jones, Hilliard, Harrison, Borland, Browning, Conner, and Werner.
 
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RugbyBuck said:
I used to worry about drop off and there were occasions where this was warranted; not anymore. We are in a golden age of recruiting and coaching on this side of the ball and I hope on O now with Wilson and Day. This defense is going to be serious.
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Especially that D line! So deep, that I find it hard for many offenses to keep up when you have the ability to possibly go 7-8 deep with little drop off. There's going to be a lot of exhausted OTs
 
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OSUK said:
I'm also looking at DT with some concern only because no one has emerged as a monster in there. But Landers, Sprinkle, Hill, Cornell, and Hamilton would seem to be able to handle it, and there is also Thompson, Barrow, Garrett, and Cage. Plenty of depth, just a little short on star power.
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Dre'Mont Jones was pretty darn good for a frosh tweener. Excited to see what this year yields after another year of physical and technical maturation.

The 1 tech spot is more concerning. Hill is gone for awhile and Landers may be a better sub than a full time guy. Also this is by far the weakest position when it comes to recruiting under Meyer. The incoming class (and the one after it) are changing that, but that is the realm of men and a hard spot for a true frosh to make a big splash (consistently).
 
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jwinslow said:
The 1 tech spot is more concerning. Hill is gone for awhile and Landers may be a better sub than a full time guy. ...but that is the realm of men and a hard spot for a true frosh to make a big splash (consistently).
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Hill is gone for a while. I must have missed something. Injury?

I was a DB in HS and college, mostly a safety, so I got a good look at what was happening inside the D line. "The realm of men": truer words never spoken. I'm not sure people understand how brutal it is in there. I played with a guy in HS who was 6-5 285 and very quick - African American and Somoan. Bill was the nicest guy off the field, but on it, he was a holy terror. There were a few times where he came unblocked and hit a QB or RB, and I seriously thought: "That guy's dead. Bill just killed someone." Bill played pro football for 20 years (3 NFL seasons, a few in NFLE, and the rest in European club football). Had to retire because the knees couldn't take it. Talked to him a few weeks ago at our 35th class reunion. That guy was/is a real man. Almost all DT's in CFB are Bills.

But there is that elite level of interior linemen, and you are correct that Urban hasn't landed many of those. I hope the guys coming in become those elite guys because that is the one area where I think we are trailing Alabama.
 
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jwinslow said:
the rumor is non injury. I don't think that's been confirmed.
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Dang. I hate the period from the end of spring practice to fall camp. There is always something bad. Academics, drugs, fights, girlfriends, arrests, and young men finding trouble.

I looked at Hill, at worst, as an essential depth guy. Hope he gets clear of whatever this is.
 
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One Thing We Must See From Each Buckeye Position Group

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The Ohio State Buckeyes are the most-talented team in the Big Ten, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t question marks.

No team is perfect. In fact, it’s overcoming their flaws that makes great teams unforgettable. Did the 2002 Buckeye offense have any business winning a national title? No. Did the 2014 OSU defense? Certainly not early on.

They overcame those deficiencies, however, and now those two teams have been adorned on more Ohio walls than Farrah Fawcett in her prime.

How do the 2017 Buckeyes do the same? By turning question marks into exclamation points.

They don’t have to have an answer for every question, but they do need a solution for most of them.

What kind of concerns are we talking about? I’ll give you one for each position group to mull over. Feel free to add your own.

Defensive End
Getting home. We always hear about how opposing offenses switch to a quick passing attack when Ohio State shows up to play them. We also hear about how that is not an excuse for not getting to the quarterback. The Buckeyes are going to be rotating four NFL defensive ends this season, so there should be no reason they can’t get home against the UNLVs or Indianas or Michigans of the world.

Defensive Tackle
Holding their ground. The Buckeyes were No. 4 in the Big Ten in rush defense last year, allowing 123.9 yards rushing per game. They return everybody, but there are still concerns. Tracy Sprinkle is returning from injury and expecting the most playing time of his career. Robert Landers, meanwhile, is an undersized nose tackle who had 7.0 tackles for loss in the first five games last year, and just 0.5 in the final eight. Can the interior of this defensive line build a wall in the limited time they’re actually on the field.

Entire article: http://theozone.net/2017/06/must-see-buckeye-position-group/
 
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Ohio State Defense Made Better by Versatility of Linebackers

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This season, the Ohio State Buckeyes will feature a Mike linebacker who used to be a Sam linebacker, a Sam linebacker who used to be a Will linebacker, and a Will linebacker who used to be a Sam linebacker.

No, this isn’t three cases of mistaken identity, it’s the Ohio State linebackers in a nutshell.

The first start of Chris Worley’s career came at the Will in 2014. He spent the next three seasons as a Sam. This year he is the Buckeyes’ starting Mike.

Last year, Dante Booker started the season opener for the Buckeyes at the Will. He missed the rest of the year due to injury, but now he is the team’s No. 1 Sam linebacker.

Jerome Baker was a Sam up until the Bowling Green game last year. He then moved to Will and played the position seamlessly.

To recap, that was Chris to Will to Sam to Mike, Dante to Will to Sam, and Jerome to Sam to Will.

You follow?

It might sound like a lot, but there is one key thing to remember in all of this — the top three linebackers are going to play, and the rest will figure itself out.

“Coach (Billy) Davis said he’s going to get the three best out there,” Baker said back in the spring. “We’ve all got to learn all three linebacker positions. You can put me at Sam and I can play it. You can put Book at Will and he can play it. You can put me at Mike and I can play it. You can put Book at Mike and he can play it, so you’ve got to learn all three positions.”

Entire article: http://theozone.net/2017/06/ohio-state-buckeyes-versatility-linebackers/
 
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Could the Buckeyes Set an NFL Draft Record in 2018?

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It sounds unbelievable, but Ohio State football could have six defensive linemen selected in the 2018 NFL Draft.

The current record is five, and it probably won’t surprise you to find out that it was set by Miami in 2003.

That’s right, the Hurricanes team that Ohio State beat for the 2002 National Title sent five defensive linemen into the NFL Draft the following spring.

That might explain the Buckeyes’ difficulty running the ball that night.

Dozens of teams have sent three defensive linemen to the draft in the same year, including Michigan this past spring. But only four programs have ever sent more than three — and Ohio State played against almost all of them. The Buckeyes lost 41-14 to the 2006 Florida Gators, which sent four linemen to the draft. They lost 24-13 to the 2004 Wisconsin Badgers, who also had four linemen drafted. And thankfully for John Cooper and Greg Frey, they didn’t face the 1989 Miami Hurricanes, who had four defensive linemen selected as well.

While setting NFL Draft records is nothing new for Ohio State football, putting six defensive linemen into the same draft would be an incredible feat.

Last winter, defensive ends Tyquan Lewis, Sam Hubbard, and Jalyn Holmes all faced NFL decisions, and all three decided to return. Add those three players to a trio of defensive tackles in Michael Hill, Tracy Sprinkle, and Dre’Mont Jones, and you can see the possibilities begin to take shape.

Lewis, Holmes, and Hubbard all returned for more reasons than simply improving their draft stock, but that will be a happy byproduct of another year under defensive line coach Larry Johnson.

Entire article: http://theozone.net/2017/07/ohio-state-football-nfl-draft-2018/
 
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