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2019 tOSU Defense (Official Thread)

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Expect More Linebackers On Field This Season For Buckeyes

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Back when former Ohio State cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs was trying to create a 3-man — or even 4-man — rotation at cornerback, he would frequently have people asking him why.

He would explain his position and also remark that nobody had any problem with defensive ends rotating, so why should people be so preoccupied with corners doing the same thing?

Coombs was correct. A third cornerback at 100% was more effective than a starter at 80%, and three talented guys constantly at 90% is a prescription for success.

That cornerback rotation is expected to be gone this season, but a new one may be emerging at linebacker.

There are 11 scholarship linebackers on the Ohio State roster right now, and more than half of them could be regular fixtures on the field this season.

Starters Malik Harrison, Tuf Borland, and Pete Werner all return, and there are talented players behind them working hard to earn playing time. Only two linebackers from last year’s team are gone, which gives you another measure of the amount of returning experience.

The sheer number of options at the position is one reason why head coach Ryan Day is looking at another position of depth as the model for how to make a rotation work.

“We want that room to look like the defensive line room has looked in the past,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of guys in that room that have, and Larry Johnson has built that room up to where you look at the guys who have come before and then the young guys who are there, there’s a mentorship going on in that room, and we want to build that in the linebacker room, and Al Washington is working on that.”

Washington is the position coach in charge of figuring out how to get good reps for the guys who deserve to play. It is also a versatile group featuring players with all kinds of different strengths and weaknesses, and Day wants as many of those strengths on the field as possible.

“We have a lot of depth at linebacker, and with the new scheme, we actually have the ability to use different personnel groupings,” he said. “We’ll put five DB’s in a game, we’ll put three linebackers in a game and kind of mix that up.”

Entire article: https://theozone.net/2019/07/linebackers-field-buckeyes/
 
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Ohio State Football Notebook: ‘Tyreke Smith will be a wicked guy coming off the edge’
August 8, 2019by Tony Gerdeman0 comments
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Scarlet Lines Run Deep
When people look at the Ohio State defensive line this season, they see Chase Young.

Young is a potential All-American and has already been talked about as the possible No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Senior tackles Robert Landers, Davon Hamilton, and Jashon Cornell are experienced, as is Young’s bookend Jonathon Cooper.

There are some young players to know about this year, however, and Young believes many of them are being overlooked.

“I feel like this year we have a lot of sleepers that a lot of people other than you guys haven’t heard about across the country,” Young told a group of reporters. “[Sophomore defensive end] Tyreke Smith will be a wicked guy coming off the edge. People don’t know about him.

“[Sophomore nose tackle] Tommy Togiai, another guy. I think inside we’re really deep right now, especially at nose tackle. And we’ve got three tech, [sophomore] Taron Vincent, he’s coming up too. I feel like we’re more deep this year inside than outside, but all in all, we’ll be really good.”

Learn Something From Everyone
Ohio State junior cornerback Jeff Okudah is now in his third fall camp at Ohio State and learning from his third position coach.

As a freshman, he had Kerry Coombs. Then last year it was Taver Johnson. Now it’s Jeff Hafley.

With a never-ending conveyor belt of tricks of the trade for football players to acquire, the learning never truly stops.

Okudah has learned plenty of football from his position coaches, but he’s also taken other things from each of them as well.

“I think coach Kerry Combs really helped develop my toughness,” Okudah said. “Being able to take what anyone gives you, you know, he’s an intense guy. Getting in your face. That style is really different from high school because I wasn’t really used to guys in your face, yelling at you, yelling at you.

“I think Taver I would say his perseverance. I know he was put in some weird situations at times with having to do things that I don’t know if he was the most comfortable with. And I know coach Hafley I’m just soaking up so much knowledge from him. And I think you take all that stuff and then you put together a final product that is this. I think it translates really well to the next level.”

https://theozone.net/2019/08/ohio-s...oC4dqlvP3zBrh252x2a4N5-c8aAyI23fCKqPO37f8_PwE
 
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brodybuck21 said:
Ohio State Football Notebook: ‘Tyreke Smith will be a wicked guy coming off the edge’
August 8, 2019by Tony Gerdeman0 comments
IMG_6499-Edited.jpg




Scarlet Lines Run Deep
When people look at the Ohio State defensive line this season, they see Chase Young.

Young is a potential All-American and has already been talked about as the possible No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Senior tackles Robert Landers, Davon Hamilton, and Jashon Cornell are experienced, as is Young’s bookend Jonathon Cooper.

There are some young players to know about this year, however, and Young believes many of them are being overlooked.

“I feel like this year we have a lot of sleepers that a lot of people other than you guys haven’t heard about across the country,” Young told a group of reporters. “[Sophomore defensive end] Tyreke Smith will be a wicked guy coming off the edge. People don’t know about him.

“[Sophomore nose tackle] Tommy Togiai, another guy. I think inside we’re really deep right now, especially at nose tackle. And we’ve got three tech, [sophomore] Taron Vincent, he’s coming up too. I feel like we’re more deep this year inside than outside, but all in all, we’ll be really good.”

Learn Something From Everyone
Ohio State junior cornerback Jeff Okudah is now in his third fall camp at Ohio State and learning from his third position coach.

As a freshman, he had Kerry Coombs. Then last year it was Taver Johnson. Now it’s Jeff Hafley.

With a never-ending conveyor belt of tricks of the trade for football players to acquire, the learning never truly stops.

Okudah has learned plenty of football from his position coaches, but he’s also taken other things from each of them as well.

“I think coach Kerry Combs really helped develop my toughness,” Okudah said. “Being able to take what anyone gives you, you know, he’s an intense guy. Getting in your face. That style is really different from high school because I wasn’t really used to guys in your face, yelling at you, yelling at you.

“I think Taver I would say his perseverance. I know he was put in some weird situations at times with having to do things that I don’t know if he was the most comfortable with. And I know coach Hafley I’m just soaking up so much knowledge from him. And I think you take all that stuff and then you put together a final product that is this. I think it translates really well to the next level.”

https://theozone.net/2019/08/ohio-s...oC4dqlvP3zBrh252x2a4N5-c8aAyI23fCKqPO37f8_PwE
Click to expand...
I won't lie... it's these clips that make me not mind training camp and the anticipation. Players always look to be having so much fun.

It's great that it appears the team really has taken to Fields coming in. Even better to see Fields having so much fun with his new team.
 
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TooTallMenardo said:
I can’t really say I’m surprised. There isn’t an abundance of depth at the position to begin with. Not to mention, I think most of us grasped the fact that 2018’s failures weren’t entirely on the personnel on the field...
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I actually thought that we have a lot of depth at the LB position. Its unproven, but we have a number of guys there that will probably be on special teams
 
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pnuts34 said:
I actually thought that we have a lot of depth at the LB position. Its unproven, but we have a number of guys there that will probably be on special teams
Click to expand...

If you look at how we've recruited the position, we should have insane depth and talent at the position. I think pretty mitch everyone here knows the shortcomings at the position were in great part due to coaching. With the way we've recruited the LB position, there's no excuse for not having better production there. Hopefully the coaching changes markedly improve the position and I think they will. I say that because I don't think our starters last year were really the problem, so it doesn't concern me that there isn't much of a shakeup there. But hopefully some guys like Browning, Mitchell, Gant, Pope, etc. emerge and earn some PT.
 
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FILM STUDY: WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE NEW LOOK SILVER BULLETS AGAINST FAU

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After decades of regularly featuring a defense in the top 20 nationally, last year's Buckeye unit struggled to slow down the opposition. In 7 of 14 contests, offenses averaged over 6 yards a snap against the 2018 Silver Bullets, and although the team was crowned Big Ten champions, it was denied a spot in the College Football Playoff for the second consecutive year thanks in large part to the unit's perceived failures.

Now, with coordinator Greg Schiano replaced by the brain trust of Greg Mattison and Jeff Hafley, many fans will watch Saturday's season-opening clash with high hopes and even higher standards. Although the OSU offense must replace eight starters, those same supporters have faith that Ryan Day and his staff on that side of the ball will continue their record-setting ways, leaving the pressure on the defense to live up to the same level of excellence.

But after 8 long months of waiting, the squad may not look entirely different to both casual observers and experts alike. At least, not at first.

FIRST DOWNS
After relying heavily on man-coverage with a single, deep safety in the middle of the field for the past three seasons, many welcomed the change to a variety of pattern-match coverages. On first downs, however, the Buckeyes will likely line up with a nearly identical look to the one Schiano called upon regularly.

Despite a great deal of excitement for the hybrid Bullet defender, replacing the SAM linebacker and lining up in the alley over a slot receiver, it's unlikely that anyone will line up in that spot in typical 1st-&-10 situations. When expecting a run, we'll likely see the Buckeyes in a 4-3 alignment with Shaun Wade at Cover Safety, which is essentially a Nickelback in this look, lining up over the slot and employing man coverage with the rest of the secondary.

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According to starting cornerback Jeffrey Okudah, “Shaun's a really interesting player because he's so versatile as far as he's shown that he's going to make plays at cornerback, shown that he can make plays at nickel and he's shown that he can play safety.”

For those questioning why Mattison and Hafley would replicate the mistakes of the past, their version of the same scheme would allow the three linebackers to keep their eyes strictly in the backfield instead of chasing motion and finding themselves out of position. Instead, the defense will keep seven defenders in the box and rely on the athleticism of their four starting defensive backs to take away the pass with blanketing coverage.

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“You'll see us press,” Hafley said. “I just don't think it will be on every single play, you won't press.”

MEDIUM PASSING DOWNS
Assuming they hold their opponents to a short gain on first down, then Mattison and Hafley will likely begin mixing things up. The first move on 2nd or 3rd-&-long will likely be to bring the Bullet onto the field, leaving just two traditional linebackers in a 4-2-5 alignment.

“Remember now, in our scheme there's a lot of different packages,” Mattison said earlier this month. “There's a nickel package, regular package, bullet package, penny package, there's all kinds of things.”

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With this additional speed on the field, Hafley can employ a variety of coverages, but he'll often begin by lining up both safeties 12 yards off the ball. From there, the physical Bulletcan fill a gap if the offense still decides to run with plenty of coverage downfield.

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But as both coordinators have proclaimed publicly on more than one occasion, the Buckeyes will show a number of looks to keep opponents off-balance. Thanks to the versatility of players like Wade and Bullets Brendon White and Jahsen Wint, the unit can substitute with ease and employ a variety of looks.

“It lets us be more creative,” Hafley said of their versatility. “It lets us do more things, especially situationally. Maybe third down, you can get a little bit more creative."

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...-from-the-new-look-silver-bullets-against-fau
 
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Ohio State’s New Defense Shines in First Game

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This entire offseason, Ohio State’s coaching staff and players talked about the changes on the defensive side of the ball. The new defensive staff highlighted the need to get their guys playing fast and simple.

But some of the biggest questions coming into Ohio State’s home opener were about what the new defense would look like and how effective it would be.

Saturday was not only the first test for the new Buckeye defense, but it was also their first chance of showcasing all of the changes on the defensive side of the ball.

From kickoff, it was evident that Ohio State’s defense came out with something to prove.

At halftime, FAU had negative 14 yards of total offense. Owls quarterback Chris Robison completed 8 of 12 pass attempts for just 10 yards in the first half.

For head coach Ryan Day, his defense did exactly what he wanted them to do.

“What I was looking for was guys running to the ball and hitting. I felt that,” Day said, “I was watching Pete Werner and Malik Harrison and Jeff Okudah come into the ball and you could feel the violence on the field. That’s what we want. We want that toughness. And I felt that. I felt those guys flying around. And it was, to me it was intimidating. It was downhill, it was what we want.”

Last year, the defense was a weak point for the Buckeyes. They were ranked 71st in the FBS in total defense, giving up an average of 403.4 yards per game. Ohio State gave up big plays in nearly every game last season. In total, the Buckeyes gave up seven plays that were over 70 yards.

In the home opener last season against Oregon State, the Buckeyes gave up an 80-yard touchdown run. The largest play Ohio State gave up against Florida Atlantic was a 38-yard reception.

On Saturday while the game was still in doubt, there were hardly any weak points in Ohio State’s defense. The defensive line was getting to the quarterback, there were multiple linebackers making tackles, and the secondary was staying on the ball.

Entire article: https://theozone.net/2019/08/ohio-states-new-defense-shines-first-game/

OHIO STATE'S NEW-LOOK DEFENSE BEGINS SEASON WITH LONG-AWAITED PERFORMANCE IT CAN BUILD UPON

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Damon Arnette remembers exactly what happened to Ohio State’s defense last year.

The record-breaking more than 400 yards allowed per game. The 25.5 points allowed per game. The 26 rushing touchdowns given up. The 51 points that Maryland scored, and the 304 yards rushed for by Anthony McFarland Jr.. The 93-yard run by TCU’s Darius Anderson and the 93-yard pass to Penn State’s K.J. Hamler, both of which are now tied for the longest plays from scrimmage ever against the Buckeyes.

Arnette heard it all through the offseason, and he got tired with the talk about last season’s performance. Eleven days before the Buckeyes’ season-opening game against Florida Atlantic, he declared a return of the Silver Bullets.

“Reset. Click a reset button,” Arnette said on Aug. 20. “Forget it. Don’t even think about last year. Don’t even think about that because the Bullets are back, for real.”

Just a day later, Malik Harrison doubled down.

“Last two years, we went down,” he said on Aug. 21. “But, you know, like (Arnette) said, we're back. Put a stamp on that. We're back.”

Then they went onto the field and offered the 103,228 people in Ohio Stadium on Saturday some results to back up their words.

In the first half, Lane Kiffin’s Florida Atlantic team went backwards on 32 plays, accumulating minus-14 yards. On 19 rushes in the first 30 minutes, the Buckeyes held the Owls to minus-22 yards on 19 carries. Quarterback Chris Robinson managed to throw for just eight yards in the first half, completing nine-of-13 passes.

“That says a lot about our players and coaches,” first-year co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Jeff Hafley said after the 45-21 win.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...-long-hoped-for-performance-it-can-build-upon

FOOTBALL: LINEBACKERS DISPLAYED NEWFOUND PHYSICALITY AGAINST FAU

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By laying the wood to James Charles, Malik Harrison laid the groundwork for Ohio State’s linebackers in 2019.

The senior linebacker’s first quarter hit on the redshirt junior Florida Atlantic running back Saturday symbolizes the mentality that linebackers coach Al Washington spent this offseason ingraining within his players.

“He’s a physical guy. He likes physical things,” Harrison said. “He gets inside [in drills], damn near playing a rep. [The hit] was just natural to me, because we practice like that.”

Harrison followed up the first quarter shot with a bone-rattling knock to FAU senior tight end Harrison Bryant, and the force caused him to drop the intended pass.

The hits also symbolized Ohio State’s first-half defensive dominance, as it held FAU to negative four yards the first 30 minutes.

Harrison said he didn’t feel alone in his efforts, and that he felt his physicality throughout the rest of the linebacker position.

“Coach Washington doesn’t care who you are, we all have the same standard,” Harrison said. “If you’re in there, you’ve gotta come with it.

Co-defensive coordinators Jeff Hafley and Greg Mattison have each talked all year about designing a defense that allows their defenders to play with that aggressive, energetic mindset.

Today Ohio State rolled with a mix of looks. It started with one high safety, three corners and the bullet position, then rolled back in a third linebacker. An occasional corner would slip back, mostly redshirt sophomore Shaun Wade, to make a two-deep formation.

No matter the look, Hafley was pleased with the way his defense attacked.

“The way we ran to the ball, the way we tackled — it looked to me, at least from upstairs, like there’s seven guys around the ball carrier on every single play,” Hafley said. “From that regard, which is probably the thing I was most anxious about, I’m really proud of those guys.”

Entire article: https://www.thelantern.com/2019/08/football-linebackers-displayed-newfound-physicality-against-fau/
 
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