LB Raekwon McMillan (New England Patriots)

[ScriptOhio]

HOW RAEKWON MCMILLAN TOOK THE STEP FROM RETURNING STARTER TO MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER ON OHIO STATE'S DEFENSE

Don't expect Raekwon McMillan to advertise the fact he knows exactly how many tackles he or another Ohio State player would need to top former linebacker and current Pittsburgh Steeler Ryan Shazier's career-best mark. McMillan knows that isn't the most stops a Buckeye defender has ever had in one game, but Shazier's performance sticks out, as he often did as a star linebacker.

“He had 21, right?” McMillan said on Monday. “I’d rather have two tackles and them not score a touchdown. I’m that type of guy, man. I’m not really worried about breaking records or anything like that. As long as we’re up on the scoreboard and they have less points than us I’ll be OK.”

Shazier actually recorded 20 tackles in Ohio State's 42-14 victory against Indiana at Ohio Stadium in November 2013. It marked the first time a Buckeye hit the 20-tackle plateau in 10 years and put Shazier in rare air with names like A.J. Hawk, Chris Spielman, Randy Gradishar, Tom Cousineau and others. Spielman's 29 tackles against Michigan in 1986 is tied with Cousineau for the program's all-time single-game record. Cousineau had 29 stops against Penn State in 1978.

Still, the point is clear: McMillan knows the great tradition of Ohio State linebackers. And even though his tackles per game number is down slightly from a year ago, the former five-star prospect is as important as anyone to what the Buckeyes do defensively.

“He’s the heart and soul of our defense,” co-defensive coordinator Greg Schiano said. “He makes all the checks. I think he’s playing really well too–just a critical part of what we do.”

Entire article: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...-most-important-player-on-ohio-states-defense

 

[GovTressel76]

Film room isn't going to be pleasant for him this week. After seeing his stat line I rewatched the game specifically with an eye on him...almost can't believe how passive he was.

 

[SEREbuckeye]

Film room isn't going to be pleasant for him this week. After seeing his stat line I rewatched the game specifically with an eye on him...almost can't believe how passive he was.

To be fair to Kwon, he lost the most experienced player on the D-Line (Tracy Sprinkle). The interior is hurting badly for size and knowledge. He's being asked if a lot - come crashing down to fill the gaps and support the tackles, while also keeping an eye of anything over the middle. He's pulling a lot of duties this year. The DTs need to grow up fast or this is going to continue against any good rushing attack.

 

[GN1295]

Something is definitely up with RW this year. Very few if any impact plays. It became very obvious to me while watching Wisconsin LB's last week and the way they were everywhere making big plays and disrupting our offense. RW has been virtually invisible when needed the most. Possible injury?

 

[jwinslow]

Something is definitely up with RW this year. Very few if any impact plays. It became very obvious to me while watching Wisconsin LB's last week and the way they were everywhere making big plays and disrupting our offense. RW has been virtually invisible when needed the most. Possible injury?

Having 1 veteran and nothing but freshman DTs will do that. Raekwon is closer to Laurinaitis (without the game changing turnovers) than some of the LB greats, but he will be sorely missed next year when it's Dante Booker, Hilliard or Conner.

I think he's a victim of major hype. He's a very solid MLB who will not take over a game and can't succeed without help (like many MLBs).

 

[SEREbuckeye]

Having 1 veteran and nothing but freshman DTs will do that. Raekwon is closer to Laurinaitis (without the game changing turnovers) than some of the LB greats, but he will be sorely missed next year when it's Dante Booker, Hilliard or Conner.

I think he's a victim of major hype. He's a very solid MLB who will not take over a game and can't succeed without help (like many MLBs).

You could even say that his lack of turnovers is due to him having to cheat up and play the inside rather than drop back into space and watch the QB eyes (like last year)

 

[ScriptOhio]

Raekwon McMillan's Pre-Snap Process May Exhaust You

On Monday, a pair of Buckeye linebackers -- middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan and Will linebacker Jerome Baker -- were named two of the 12 semifinalists for the Butkus Award, which is given annually to the nation's top linebacker.

McMillan currently leads the Buckeyes with 51 stops through eight games, but his value to this defense goes well beyond his tackling. As the team's middle linebacker, he is the quarterback of the defense and he is doing just as much before the snap -- if not more -- as he is after the snap.

For instance, here is what he went through after the snap on his tipped pass against Northwestern that was intercepted by Damon Arnette.

"I had the B gap, so if the quarterback had handed the ball to the running back in that situation I would have had to tackle the running back in that gap, but it’s a mesh-point and the quarterback pulled the ball when he saw me come up," he explained.

"He was kind of reading me the whole play to see if I was going to be in my zone, but I had the gap and I had to be in that assigned position in the middle of the field, so I had to come up for the run and once I read the mesh and saw that the quarterback had pulled the ball, I had to get back and get a little depth to help my corner or nickel at the position at the time on the inside route, so I got back in my zone, he threw the ball and we made the play."

Simple enough, but what happens before a play like that can even happen? What does McMillan do before the snap? A whole helluva lot.

"Get the crowd hyped," is step one, he said.

Next?

"Look to the sideline, get the call from Coach Fick, then I relay the message to the guys in front of me and the guys behind me."

Okay, that's manageable. Just relaying plays and whatnot.

Oh, there's more?

"Then based on their formation I have to align my D-linemen and make sure they’re set up right for the run game, and I have to communicate with the back end."

Again with the back end? Can't they do anything on their own?

"Usually I’m dealing with the Sam linebacker and the backside safety, get them aware on the coverage that we’re running."

Entire article: http://theozone.net/Ohio-State/Foot...on-McMillans-Pre-Snap-Process-May-Exhaust-You

Just sayin': I was surprised to see Raekwon McMillan projected to be a 1st round draft pick in some mock 2017 drafts. He is a very good and very solid linebacker. He makes the tackle; however, it is usually downfield after the offensive player has gained yardage. So far, he isn't what I would call an "impact player" or a guy that blows up the play for a loss, gets the sack/interception, and/or causes a fumble. The type of player that NFL teams like to take with their #1 pick. Ohio State runs a recruiting video where they show that they develop players (for the NFL), i.e. # of his high school ranking vs (a lower number of) where he was taken in the NFL draft. Rivals had him as the 19th best high school player, etc. Hey I'm not an NFL scout; but at this point in his football career (if he comes out early) I just don't see him as a #1 pick. I don't think he has reached his full potential yet, and unless he will have already graduated and/or has a severe "family financial hardship" it just may be in his best interest to come back for his senior year.

 

[GN1295]

He just isn't passing the eye test. I keep waiting for him to take over a game and it hasn't come close to happening. He seems to have regressed if anything. Hopefully he has some big games the rest of the way.

 

[calibuck]

Kinda look at this as a reversal, when Katzenmoyer was a freshman. He played like heck, making tackles all over the place, etc. However......he had Bellasari and Rudzinski hanging back and filling the gaps when Big Kat free-lanced. OK, it appears (to my jaded eyes at least), that Baker and Worley are making the blitzes, and leaving Kwon to fill the gaps. Just my opinion, but it takes a self-sacrificing person, team player to give up his own game for something greater. He's wearing his captain mantle very well. Go Bucks

 

[ScriptOhio]

Numbers don't tell whole story of Raekwon McMillan's impact for Ohio State

If the traditional measures aren’t working to properly appreciate Raekwon McMillan's impact, maybe some new categories are needed for Ohio State’s star middle linebacker.

Total tackles aren’t cutting it. Scrap them and count the single-digit misses or refer to the coaching grades that are so high the Buckeyes have to use a curve with the junior.

Sacks or fumble recoveries? Those are down for McMillan. But they’re up for his teammates, so start giving him credit for all the pre-snap adjustments and alignments he’s responsible for as the signal-caller for one of the nation’s toughest units.

After tipping passes two weeks in a row that directly produced interceptions for somebody else, how about assisted picks?

“Nah, man, it’s all right,” McMillan said with a smile. “I’m not having the year I had last year statistically or whatever. And you know, a lot goes into that. I had 100-plus tackles last year, and we were on the field a lot more last year as well, so there were more opportunities to go make plays.

“That’s just life, man. You’re not always making the play at middle linebacker, trying to get everybody else situated and right. You’re not always being the flashy guy that gets the most accolades or whatever.”

Entire article: http://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/pos...ry-of-raekwon-mcmillans-impact-for-ohio-state

 

[ScriptOhio]

 

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[Dryden]

 

[MD Buckeye]