2019 tOSU Defense (Official Thread)

[bukIpower]

This is essentially what I was seeking to ascertain. I’m terrified of Borland being on the field on passing downs against good offenses or against well-executed-options attacks/mobile quarterbacks.

Guy isn’t a starter here anymore. It’s unfortunate but there’s no reason to have him in front of Browning anymore.

I agree and right now when we have Borland in teams take advantage of that a little. I would add that he never had any kind of Elite Speed. He was always a really instinctual player but physically he most definitely has limitations.

Especially against Nebraska and the spread teams expect to see a lot less of Borland and a lot more of Baron Browning and Brenden White.

I am actually pretty concerned about the defensive lines health right now. We are down four players and I also saw Hamilton had his arm and some sort of heavy brace as well.

I really hope that three of those players we were missing this past week were only held out due to the opponent.

If this defense can get Cooper back especially we go to a different level.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

...

If this defense can get Cooper back especially we go to a different level.

Agree completely

A different level than:

• 2nd in Total Defense
• 3rd in Scoring Defense
• 2nd (tied) in yards per carry Rushing Defense
• 2nd in yards per play Total Defense

As I’ve said elsewhere, stats after the mostly non-conference portion of the schedule don’t tell you much, but they do tell you that the single season transformation of this defense is as dramatic as any that college football has ever seen. Big words, I know, but if anyone has an example of anything even close, I’m all ears.

 

[bukIpower]

Agree completely

A different level than:

• 2nd in Total Defense
• 3rd in Scoring Defense
• 2nd (tied) in yards per carry Rushing Defense
• 2nd in yards per play Total Defense

As I’ve said elsewhere, stats after the mostly non-conference portion of the schedule don’t tell you much, but they do tell you that the single season transformation of this defense is as dramatic as any that college football has ever seen. Big words, I know, but if anyone has an example of anything even close, I’m all ears.

Had no idea the defense was doing that well lol...scary considering how banged up they've been since game 1.

Just shows how bad the coaching was last season.

 

[NFBuck]

Agree completely

A different level than:

• 2nd in Total Defense
• 3rd in Scoring Defense
• 2nd (tied) in yards per carry Rushing Defense
• 2nd in yards per play Total Defense

As I’ve said elsewhere, stats after the mostly non-conference portion of the schedule don’t tell you much, but they do tell you that the single season transformation of this defense is as dramatic as any that college football has ever seen. Big words, I know, but if anyone has an example of anything even close, I’m all ears.

I don't know if it's quite as significant as this, but scUMs 2011 defense under Mattison comes to mind. Their 2010 GERG defensive abortion was historically bad, but Mattison whipped them into pretty solid shape quickly.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

I don't know if it's quite as significant as this, but scUMs 2011 defense under Mattison comes to mind. Their 2010 GERG defensive abortion was historically bad, but Mattison whipped them into pretty solid shape quickly.

That's a great call on the 2010 to 2011 transformation of TTUN.

As for which is the bigger transition, that depends on how you choose to look at such things.

For my part, I look at Ohio State's worst defense ever, at least statistically, transforming into one of its best (depending on a lot of subjective comparisons), so it's hard to top the Silver Bullet Transformation. When you look at sheer numbers changed in national ranking, then an argument could be made for the team from up north 2010-2011.

2010 to 4th week 2011 TTUN
Scoring D: 108th to 53rd --> 55 places
Total D: 110th to 71st --> 39 places
Rushing D: 95th to 87th --> 8 places

2018 to 4th week 2019 tOSU
Scoring D: 51st to 3rd --> 48 places
Total D: 72nd to 2nd --> 70 places
Rushing D: 56th to 7th --> 49 places

As you can see, it's kind of hard to compare, as 2010 scUM was by far worse than the worst-ever Buckeyes. So while it's not a fair comparison, it is true that they did move up a few more places in Scoring Defense.

But the 2019 Buckeyes have moved up a LOT more places in Total Defense and Rushing Defense, and have actually gone from mediocre to excellent, bordering on elite, while 2010 TTUN simply went from dreadful to mediocre. IMHO the transition from mediocre to outstanding is more significant than what TTUN did in 2011.

 

[NFBuck]

That's a great call on the 2010 to 2011 transformation of TTUN.

As for which is the bigger transition, that depends on how you choose to look at such things.

For my part, I look at Ohio State's worst defense ever, at least statistically, transforming into one of its best (depending on a lot of subjective comparisons), so it's hard to top the Silver Bullet Transformation. When you look at sheer numbers changed in national ranking, then an argument could be made for the team from up north 2010-2011.

2010 to 4th week 2011 TTUN
Scoring D: 108th to 53rd --> 55 places
Total D: 110th to 71st --> 39 places
Rushing D: 95th to 87th --> 8 places

2018 to 4th week 2019 tOSU
Scoring D: 51st to 3rd --> 48 places
Total D: 72nd to 2nd --> 70 places
Rushing D: 56th to 7th --> 49 places

As you can see, it's kind of hard to compare, as 2010 scUM was by far worse than the worst-ever Buckeyes. So while it's not a fair comparison, it is true that they did move up a few more places in Scoring Defense.

But the 2019 Buckeyes have moved up a LOT more places in Total Defense and Rushing Defense, and have actually gone from mediocre to excellent, bordering on elite, while 2010 TTUN simply went from dreadful to mediocre. IMHO the transition from mediocre to outstanding is more significant than what TTUN did in 2011.

I certainly can't argue against that.

I've said each week what a remarkable transformation our D has shown. The one thing that, maybe, gives scUM 2011 a little more juice is just how freaking bad their defense was in 2010. While last year's Buckeye D was certainly bad by tOSU standards, I wouldn't call it "inept." They were mostly hurt by giving up some big plays. Teams didn't necessarily consistently March up and down the field on them. scUM's 2010 D was an utter clown show that was gashed week in and week out.

One note is that last year's Buckeye D was infinitely more talented. Stocked with 4 and 5 star kids that seemed to lack discipline, whereas scUM's 2010 unit just wasn't good at all. Last year's Bucks were stocked with guys who will likely play in the NFL. Looking at 2010 scUM on collegefootballreference, DT Mike Martin is the only guy on the whole roster that sniffed the NFL. So that has to be taken into account.

Any way you look at it, there's one guy both of those Ds have in common...Greg Mattison.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

I certainly can't argue against that.

I've said each week what a remarkable transformation our D has shown. The one thing that, maybe, gives scUM 2011 a little more juice is just how freaking bad their defense was in 2010. While last year's Buckeye D was certainly bad by tOSU standards, I wouldn't call it "inept." They were mostly hurt by giving up some big plays. Teams didn't necessarily consistently March up and down the field on them. scUM's 2010 D was an utter clown show that was gashed week in and week out.

One note is that last year's Buckeye D was infinitely more talented. Stocked with 4 and 5 star kids that seemed to lack discipline, whereas scUM's 2010 unit just wasn't good at all. Last year's Bucks were stocked with guys who will likely play in the NFL. Looking at 2010 scUM on collegefootballreference, DT Mike Martin is the only guy on the whole roster that sniffed the NFL. So that has to be taken into account.

Any way you look at it, there's one guy both of those Ds have in common...Greg Mattison.

Great points, especially about how 2018 Silver Bullets were under-performing, based on talent.

I compare them to the 2001 Buckeyes (the whole team, not just the defense). If you look on page 99 of THIS PDF, you will see that Ohio State 2002 was the most improved team over 2001, and one of the most improved teams based on W-L record in college football history. They are, by my count, one of only 3 teams in CFB history that had a winning record one year and yet were the most improved team in the nation the next year. They are the only team in history to improve by 7 games (6 if you count them baseball-style, which the PDF seems to do) AFTER a winning season.

 

[MGMT]

Agree completely

A different level than:

• 2nd in Total Defense
• 3rd in Scoring Defense
• 2nd (tied) in yards per carry Rushing Defense
• 2nd in yards per play Total Defense

As I’ve said elsewhere, stats after the mostly non-conference portion of the schedule don’t tell you much, but they do tell you that the single season transformation of this defense is as dramatic as any that college football has ever seen. Big words, I know, but if anyone has an example of anything even close, I’m all ears.

Curious about faced opponents’ offensive rankings upon the conclusion of week 4.

 

[Jagdaddy]

I compare them to the 2001 Buckeyes (the whole team, not just the defense). If you look on page 99 of THIS PDF, you will see that Ohio State 2002 was the most improved team over 2001, and one of the most improved teams based on W-L record in college football history. They are, by my count, one of only 3 teams in CFB history that had a winning record one year and yet were the most improved team in the nation the next year. They are the only team in history to improve by 7 games (6 if you count them baseball-style, which the PDF seems to do) AFTER a winning season.

One of the reasons why the 2001 Buckeye win over scUM is probably one of the most important wins in the history of the program: It gave Tressel the credibility he needed to do what he did in 2002 and thereafter and set the stage for what's happened since.

 

[Dryden]

That's a great call on the 2010 to 2011 transformation of TTUN.

As for which is the bigger transition, that depends on how you choose to look at such things.

For my part, I look at Ohio State's worst defense ever, at least statistically, transforming into one of its best (depending on a lot of subjective comparisons), so it's hard to top the Silver Bullet Transformation. When you look at sheer numbers changed in national ranking, then an argument could be made for the team from up north 2010-2011.

2010 to 4th week 2011 TTUN
Scoring D: 108th to 53rd --> 55 places
Total D: 110th to 71st --> 39 places
Rushing D: 95th to 87th --> 8 places

2018 to 4th week 2019 tOSU
Scoring D: 51st to 3rd --> 48 places
Total D: 72nd to 2nd --> 70 places
Rushing D: 56th to 7th --> 49 places

As you can see, it's kind of hard to compare, as 2010 scUM was by far worse than the worst-ever Buckeyes. So while it's not a fair comparison, it is true that they did move up a few more places in Scoring Defense.

But the 2019 Buckeyes have moved up a LOT more places in Total Defense and Rushing Defense, and have actually gone from mediocre to excellent, bordering on elite, while 2010 TTUN simply went from dreadful to mediocre. IMHO the transition from mediocre to outstanding is more significant than what TTUN did in 2011.

Considering the talent, I would argue getting that UM roster in 2011 to be average was a bigger accomplishment than figuring out how to make this OSU roster elite.

This roster was recruited because they were all elite.

 

[RB07OSU]

And it's not just the stats, it's watching them fly to the ball and flat out dominate just about every down. These guys are definitely Silver Bullets and at every position. Hope we're close to healthy for next weekend.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

I would expect all of us were thinking the same thing on the first series of downs vs FAU.

"This is more of a one year improvement by the defense (including a change in scheme) than we had any right to expect."

The stats bear it out. This is one of the biggest turnarounds on the defensive side of the ball in CFB history. It's a subjective thing; I'll concede that getting mediocrity out of TSUN's 2011 group might have been a better coaching job; but my view of the numbers (and the play) is that this is a bigger turnaround.

scUM went from terrible to mediocre. Congratulations.

The Silver Bullets went from the worst defense ever (or one of them) to a legit shot to be the best defense ever to wear the S&G. They won't dominate the way 1973 did, but no one ever will again. It's a different era. This group just might define that era.

 

[Systems_id]

I would expect all of us were thinking the same thing on the first series of downs vs FAU.

"This is more of a one year improvement by the defense (including a change in scheme) than we had any right to expect."

The stats bear it out. This is one of the biggest turnarounds on the defensive side of the ball in CFB history. It's a subjective thing; I'll concede that getting mediocrity out of TSUN's 2011 group might have been a better coaching job; but my view of the numbers (and the play) is that this is a bigger turnaround.

scUM went from terrible to mediocre. Congratulations.

The Silver Bullets went from the worst defense ever (or one of them) to a legit shot to be the best defense ever to wear the S&G. They won't dominate the way 1973 did, but no one ever will again. It's a different era. This group just might define that era.

Cincy and Indiana games were where I thought this defense had a chance to be something special. Indiana needed a trick play for their lone TD. Cincy got nothing. Those are teams with the talent that would've given us fits, even against solid Buckeye defenses.

 

[bukIpower]

Cincy and Indiana games were where I thought this defense had a chance to be something special. Indiana needed a trick play for their lone TD. Cincy got nothing. Those are teams with the talent that would've given us fits, even against solid Buckeye defenses.

And half of Fredos points were because of the safety.

This defense is really good and only thing that can derail it is injuries. We really need a bye week to get some guys back. Hopefully our guys can hang in there because coming up we have 2 byes in 4 weeks. We should be 100% for the last 4 games.

 

[RugbyBuck]

I'm on board, but we won't know for sure until the playoff.