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2019 tOSU Defense (Official Thread)

Football: Chase Young and Jonathon Cooper see themselves in Zach Harrison



The main storylines at bowl games usually does not revolve around the game itself. The topic is usually broader: the last game of a career for a senior wide receiver, the decision a draft-eligible quarterback will make after the final game of the season, the head coach who will be on the sideline one final time after a storied career on the sideline.

But no matter the position, the focus is on the future. And when asked about the future of the defensive line, sophomore defensive end Chase Young could do nothing but smile.

Because the future of the position was set: five-star 2019 defensive end Zach Harrison from Olentangy Orange High School, the No. 1 recruit in the state of Ohio, was the future.

Knowing the decision was between Ohio State and Michigan, Young described himself as an integral part of Harrison’s eventual commitment, serving as his host when the 2019 recruit visited campus, calling him from time to time, hanging out with him when he was around.

“I would just chill with him,” Young said. “We’d go get a bite to eat or just chill, watch TV, stuff like that. So not really too much about football.Just because [defensive line coach Larry Johnson] told him what he told him, [head coach Urban Meyer] told him what he told him. It’s really just like what you want to do.”

That’s all Young could really do. The decision was up to Harrison.

But it is a decision Young could relate to.

Harrison seems to be an amalgamation of the two leaders at defensive end: Young and junior Jonathon Cooper.

Young was a former five-star recruit and one of the most sought-after defensive ends in the 2017 class with expectations extremely high. Cooper, the No. 3 defensive end in the 2016 class and the No. 2 recruit from Ohio, played his high school ball at Gahanna Lincoln in Columbus.

Now, with Harrison joining them shortly as an early-enrollee, Cooper and Young view themselves as mentors to a player they seem themselves in.

“He’s definitely coming in not knowing what’s going on. He definitely going to have to follow somebody so he’s definitely going to have to follow me and Coop,” Young said. “I’ve just got to be a leader for him, take him under my wing. Anything I can do for him to speed up the process faster for him.”

Young and Cooper were very praiseworthy of Harrison’s ability, calling him the best player in the nation. But with that comes an expectation.

Cooper describes the transition to Ohio State as coming into a place that will give him love, but a tough love, one that’s going to get after him and toughen him up early on, which is something he had help with learning when he was a freshman.

“It’s difficult, you know, because you’re going in and then you’ve got classes and weight lifting and you’re a freshman so you have to find your way and what’s going on, but I found big brothers, so I had like Tyquan [Lewis], Jalyn Holmes, Sam Hubbard, Tracy Sprinkle, my big brothers,” Cooper said. “I latched onto them. They told me how to do it.”

Entire article: https://www.thelantern.com/2018/12/...athon-cooper-see-themselves-in-zach-harrison/
 
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Only "talent" I don't want to see back is Schiano and Davis. Even Withers never gave up 50 to bad offenses in back-to-back years.

Schiano inheritted a really good defense when he showed up in 2016 and the defense was a tick down the wheels started falling off in 2017 and this year the wheels just disappeared all together.

There are really only two main variables that changed... Our DC and the players. Either we have to admit it is either the coaching or players that are overrated/underachieving (or a combo of both).

The trend line Schiano is on doesn't bode well for him. I hope the rumors of him leaving for another job are true because he fielded one of the worst D we've seen in a while these last 2 years and there are other DCs doing more with less talent.
 
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The defense played really well for three quarters yesterday, but their fourth quarter Chernobylesque meltdown in the fourth was flat out terrifying. Glad UFM was still able to get his farewell victory.
 
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Schiano inheritted a really good defense when he showed up in 2016 and the defense was a tick down the wheels started falling off in 2017 and this year the wheels just disappeared all together.

There are really only two main variables that changed... Our DC and the players. Either we have to admit it is either the coaching or players that are overrated/underachieving (or a combo of both).

The trend line Schiano is on doesn't bode well for him. I hope the rumors of him leaving for another job are true because he fielded one of the worst D we've seen in a while these last 2 years and there are other DCs doing more with less talent.
Worst defense I believe OSU has fielded stats wise.

That's with 5 stars Chase Young/Cooper/Okudah/Wade/Browning and highly rated kids like Jones/Werner/Fuller/Sheffield.

It ain't talent.
 
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The fourth quarter was a mixture of them focusing on not giving up quick scores and Jake Browning finally deciding not to suck. There was stuff there for Washington in the first half if Browning wasn't shit.
 
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FIXING OHIO STATE'S RUSH DEFENSE WILL BE A KEY MISSION DURING RYAN DAY'S INAUGURAL SEASON

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Ryan Day's coaching experience is solely on the offensive side of things but as the new head man at Ohio State, he must concern himself with all aspects of Buckeye football and there may be no greater concern than the current state of the rushing defense.

With a leaky rushing defense paving the way, last season's unit gave up the most points in program history, the most yards per carry, the most rushing touchdowns and the third-most rushing yards, among other horrifying numbers.

In fact, with the defense giving up 26 rushing touchdowns, last year marked the first time in 30 years an Ohio State squad finished with more rushing touchdowns allowed than its offense created (23).

Giving up long runs was a huge issue as the Buckeyes ranked 124th nationally giving up eight rushes of 50+ yards. For comparison, last year's defense gave up just two such plays.

The Buckeyes also ranked 114th surrendering 15 runs of 30+ yards. Similarly, last year's defense gave up about half that (8).

It wasn't just the big plays, and of course those do inflate this next metric, but on a down-by-down basis, Greg Schiano's defense yielded 4.52 yards per carry – good for 79th nationally – which also set a new historical low for the program and was well off last year's pace when the 2017 defense allowed just 2.84 yards per rushing attempt.

If you're wondering, the previous record of 4.4 yards per carry allowed stood since 1989.

Looking ahead to next year and how Day and his staff stop the bleeding, the good news is veterans like Chase Young, Johnathon Cooper, Robert Landers, Jashon Cornell and Davon Hamilton will be back along the defensive line.

Additionally, last year's freshmen to see action up front – names like Tommy Togiai, Haskell Garrett, Tyreke Smith and Tyler Friday, among others, will have a year of seasoning under their belts. And of course true freshman Zach Harrison could potentially work himself into the rotation (or even Noah Potter).

Bottom line, there appears to be talent across the defensive front and they will surely receive elite coaching from savant Larry Johnson.

SCHIANO.jpg

Greg Schiano's defensive scheme came under attack by opponents and fans alike in 2018.

Things get a little trickier at the second level which, combined with the overall scheme, drew the most criticism for last year's lackluster results.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...-a-key-mission-for-ryan-days-inaugural-season
 
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