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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
How Baron Browning made versatility known for Buckeyes
In the short-lived spring practice Ohio State had in March, Baron Browning found himself in a similar, yet not-so-similar position.
Following the graduation and departure of former Buckeyes linebacker Malik Harrison, Browning slid from the inside linebacker slot outside, where he was a five-star prospect coming out of high school, and was gaining valuable reps with more room to roam and be free within the defense.
So when the Buckeyes are able to return to the practice field when given the green light, expect Browning to have the freedom and responsibilities of an outside linebacker. Only he can do so much more.
“I haven’t really been on the inside, I’ve been kind of focused on the outside role now,” he said. “It’s more of my natural position that I played in high school, so I feel comfortable doing it and I’m excited for it.”
That shift to the outside is part of a larger shift the Buckeyes are undergoing on defense as they look to field the 11 best players at any time. Pete Werner and Tuf Borland are already a part of that formula, mostly on the inside, so Browning fits outside — not to mention it’s his natural spot on the field.
That doesn’t mean he can’t play inside, but when he does, it can look more like it did against Penn State in November.
Even from the inside, Browning can show off some athleticism in drop-back coverage before playing the run. That could be useful against dual-threat quarterbacks when the Buckeyes need Browning to key the signal-caller.
But now in an outside linebacker role, Browning no longer has to shed a guard or center trying to get to the next level. He can move about freely and find new ways to terrorize an offense.
“It’s our job to find a way to keep guys engaged, give them roles and give them an opportunity to contribute,” linebackers coach Al Washington said. “Because we need it.”
Entire article: https://lettermenrow.com/ohio-state...ll-buckeyes-versatile-linebacker-depth-chart/
Maybe getting him to his natural position (i.e. outside linebacker) will enable him to become the dominate, game changing, impact player (i.e. AJ Hawk 2.0) we expected during his recruitment.
In the short-lived spring practice Ohio State had in March, Baron Browning found himself in a similar, yet not-so-similar position.
Following the graduation and departure of former Buckeyes linebacker Malik Harrison, Browning slid from the inside linebacker slot outside, where he was a five-star prospect coming out of high school, and was gaining valuable reps with more room to roam and be free within the defense.
So when the Buckeyes are able to return to the practice field when given the green light, expect Browning to have the freedom and responsibilities of an outside linebacker. Only he can do so much more.
“I haven’t really been on the inside, I’ve been kind of focused on the outside role now,” he said. “It’s more of my natural position that I played in high school, so I feel comfortable doing it and I’m excited for it.”
That shift to the outside is part of a larger shift the Buckeyes are undergoing on defense as they look to field the 11 best players at any time. Pete Werner and Tuf Borland are already a part of that formula, mostly on the inside, so Browning fits outside — not to mention it’s his natural spot on the field.
That doesn’t mean he can’t play inside, but when he does, it can look more like it did against Penn State in November.
Even from the inside, Browning can show off some athleticism in drop-back coverage before playing the run. That could be useful against dual-threat quarterbacks when the Buckeyes need Browning to key the signal-caller.
But now in an outside linebacker role, Browning no longer has to shed a guard or center trying to get to the next level. He can move about freely and find new ways to terrorize an offense.
“It’s our job to find a way to keep guys engaged, give them roles and give them an opportunity to contribute,” linebackers coach Al Washington said. “Because we need it.”
Entire article: https://lettermenrow.com/ohio-state...ll-buckeyes-versatile-linebacker-depth-chart/
Maybe getting him to his natural position (i.e. outside linebacker) will enable him to become the dominate, game changing, impact player (i.e. AJ Hawk 2.0) we expected during his recruitment.
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
UNLEASH BARON BROWNING: OHIO STATE'S SENIOR LINEBACKER NEEDS MORE PASS-RUSHING OPPORTUNITIES IN 2020
As Ohio State’s players slowly walked off of the indoor practice field at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center following the second spring practice in March, Baron Browning hung around.
He had to get in some reps as a pass-rusher before heading back to the locker room.
It was as though his pregame routine from the 2019 season had translated into a post-practice routine. In the hour-and-a-half before just about every game last fall, Browning spent a few minutes working on his standup pass-rushing technique.
Ahead of the Indiana and Nebraska game, he worked on his pass-rush moves with former defensive line graduate assistant Kenny Anunike, and before the Maryland beatdown, he got reps in with the rest of the defensive linemen then spent a couple of minutes with Anunike and Teradja Mitchell working on their outside rush. Browning had the same routine in the leadup to facing Penn State, then he worked on his pass-rush with Tyreke Smith, K’Vaughan Pope and Mitchell, getting pointers from Larry Johnson, Al Washington and Anunike in advance of the Fiesta Bowl.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with what Ohio State does ahead of a game. From the team’s perspective, it’s a regimented, well-thought-out process. From an outside observer’s point of view, it can be chaotic. Scattered throughout one side of the 100-yard field, Ohio State’s entire team goes through their weekly process, everybody in motion at a rapid pace. Players and coaches move with a purpose, knowing what they have to accomplish, yet in doing so it’s often hard for someone watching to pay attention to one player or position group for too long. Eyes tend to wander.
But every time Browning got some work in as a pass-rusher, you couldn’t help but watch.
He’s a physical specimen. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, nobody has to do any deep dive into his film to see why analysts once rated him as a five-star prospect and the best linebacker in his class. Back in high school, he clocked a 4.56-second 40-yard-dash time, which helped him play nearly 750 defensive snaps over his first three seasons at Ohio State.
And as a pass-rusher, he’s a natural.
“I feel like Baron, if he wanted to, he could go play the edge right now and be dominant,” Shaun Wade said in August.
In 2020, Ohio State has to figure out how to unleash Browning as a pass-rusher off the edge more than ever before. He deserves the opportunities, and the Buckeyes – who lost Chase Young – would benefit from his impact in that area of the game.
Do you know who else agrees? The soft-spoken senior linebacker from Texas.
“Hopefully something more,” Browning said when asked in March whether he was working on third-down pass-rushing moves after practice or preparing for a larger role. “We'll definitely see. I'm just not sure yet. Just working on it so when it comes time I'll be ready.”
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...needs-more-pass-rushing-opportunities-in-2020
As Ohio State’s players slowly walked off of the indoor practice field at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center following the second spring practice in March, Baron Browning hung around.
He had to get in some reps as a pass-rusher before heading back to the locker room.
It was as though his pregame routine from the 2019 season had translated into a post-practice routine. In the hour-and-a-half before just about every game last fall, Browning spent a few minutes working on his standup pass-rushing technique.
Ahead of the Indiana and Nebraska game, he worked on his pass-rush moves with former defensive line graduate assistant Kenny Anunike, and before the Maryland beatdown, he got reps in with the rest of the defensive linemen then spent a couple of minutes with Anunike and Teradja Mitchell working on their outside rush. Browning had the same routine in the leadup to facing Penn State, then he worked on his pass-rush with Tyreke Smith, K’Vaughan Pope and Mitchell, getting pointers from Larry Johnson, Al Washington and Anunike in advance of the Fiesta Bowl.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with what Ohio State does ahead of a game. From the team’s perspective, it’s a regimented, well-thought-out process. From an outside observer’s point of view, it can be chaotic. Scattered throughout one side of the 100-yard field, Ohio State’s entire team goes through their weekly process, everybody in motion at a rapid pace. Players and coaches move with a purpose, knowing what they have to accomplish, yet in doing so it’s often hard for someone watching to pay attention to one player or position group for too long. Eyes tend to wander.
But every time Browning got some work in as a pass-rusher, you couldn’t help but watch.
He’s a physical specimen. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, nobody has to do any deep dive into his film to see why analysts once rated him as a five-star prospect and the best linebacker in his class. Back in high school, he clocked a 4.56-second 40-yard-dash time, which helped him play nearly 750 defensive snaps over his first three seasons at Ohio State.
And as a pass-rusher, he’s a natural.
“I feel like Baron, if he wanted to, he could go play the edge right now and be dominant,” Shaun Wade said in August.
In 2020, Ohio State has to figure out how to unleash Browning as a pass-rusher off the edge more than ever before. He deserves the opportunities, and the Buckeyes – who lost Chase Young – would benefit from his impact in that area of the game.
Do you know who else agrees? The soft-spoken senior linebacker from Texas.
“Hopefully something more,” Browning said when asked in March whether he was working on third-down pass-rushing moves after practice or preparing for a larger role. “We'll definitely see. I'm just not sure yet. Just working on it so when it comes time I'll be ready.”
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...needs-more-pass-rushing-opportunities-in-2020
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
10. BARON BROWNING, LB (752 SNAPS)
Unlike the rest of the players on this list, Browning has never been a regular starter for the Buckeyes, but he has been a regular in the linebacker rotation for the past two seasons, splitting time at middle linebacker with Tuf Borland. And while it’s unclear exactly what his role in Ohio State’s linebacker corps will be for 2020, he’s certainly expected to be an impact player for the Buckeyes’ defense one way or another.
With Malik Harrison now in the NFL, Browning could potentially be Ohio State’s third starting linebacker this season alongside fellow seniors Borland and Pete Werner, while he could also be in line to play at least some of his snaps in a pass-rushing capacity. He is expected to line up primarily at outside linebacker, but still has to earn a starting job in Ohio State’s most experienced position group on defense.
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
“I haven’t really been on the inside, I’ve been kind of focused on the outside role now,” Browning said this spring. “It’s more of my natural position that I played in high school, so I feel comfortable doing it and I’m excited for it.
“I definitely feel a higher comfort level and freedom in those situations.”
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Austin Ward: Baron Browning will lead linebackers in sacks
Baron Browning’s ideal position still seems unclear even heading into his senior season, and it’s possible that it’s not even at linebacker given how destructive he can be when lined up near the line of scrimmage as pass-rusher. Odds are, Ohio State will keep coming up with ways to let Browning attack opposing quarterbacks coming off a season that included five sacks even while playing through various injuries and missing a couple games a year ago. The Buckeyes have no plans to turn Browning into a full-time defensive end, but if they did, there’s a chance he might lead the entire team in sacks. Instead, he’ll have to settle for just setting the pace for the linebackers while continuing to show off his versatility.
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Just sayin': He sure passes the "look test".....
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Yowzers...Browning was already a physical specimen but that is just insane. Really hoping he puts on a huge season.
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Current, former Buckeyes stars set to graduate
Ohio State is much more than just an NFL factory. The Buckeyes coaching staff and administrators stress academics and stress earning a college degree. Two current Buckeyes football players will earn their degrees this weekend.
Linebacker Baron Browning and captain Shaun Wade will receive their degrees Sunday afternoon. Browning, a communications major, will be a key part of the Ohio State linebacker room this season. Wade put off the NFL to return to the Buckeyes, and the sport industry major will earn his degree, as well, while becoming a leader of the Ohio State secondary.
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
LB Baron Browning
The former five-star prospect began to flash as a do-it-all player late last season. Baron Browning grew into one of the most important pieces of the Ohio State front seven, stopping the run, playing sideline-to-sideline and rushing the passer. The latter might be where he fits best in the NFL, but his experience is limited as an edge player at Ohio State. He certainly could use another year with the Buckeyes to work on that craft and become a better linebacker overall. If the Buckeyes play in October, Browning could have a breakout season and catapult himself up draft boards around the league.
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Baron Browning came to Ohio State with extremely high accolades. Now as a senior, the linebacker has one final chance to live up to the lofty expectations that were placed on him. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Browning was ranked as the No. 1 outside linebacker and the No. 11 overall recruit in the country in the 2017 class, according to the 247Sports Composite.
The native of Kennedale, Texas, is expected to play both middle linebacker and OLB for the Buckeyes this season, and can even put his hand down and be a rush end on passing downs.
“Yes, he is going to have the opportunity to do a little of both this year,” OSU linebackers coach Al Washington said. “We have him coming on the outside a little more here and there. (Defensive line) coach (Larry) Johnson is working with him at times when we get into our third down stuff. But I’m really excited about Baron.
“The most exciting element about Baron right now for me is the mental side. I feel like he’s in a place where he is built himself into a very smart player. He’s just highly motivated and highly aware. He’s really taken big steps there and I can’t stay enough nice things about him. I love him like a son.”
Browning participated in a teleconference with the media on Thursday and elaborated on the role he expects to play and wants to play this season.
“I feel like playing on the outside (at strong-side linebacker) is my natural position because that’s what I played in high school,” Browning said. “I played on the outside since the start of my high school career, so that is what I was used to playing. So, it was just kind of different coming in and playing a position (middle linebacker) where there’s more responsibilities and lining guys up. It was just something I wasn’t used to. So, I just had to adapt.
“But yeah, I feel like the outside is my natural position and I feel very comfortable there.”
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
“I adapted and I grew in that role over the last three years, and it helped me a lot to see the bigger picture of the defense,” Browning said on Thursday afternoon. “So I feel now making that switch to outside is a lot easier on me because I know how the guys around me work.”
“I just think it shows I'm versatile and that I have range, especially with me just being able to run sideline to sideline, that I'm just a pure athlete,” Browning said. “There's not one position you can label me as. I can fit in anywhere, whether that's outside linebacker, stand-up rushing or middle linebacker.”
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