tOSU Linebackers History (Merged)

[matcar]

I am a very big fan of the rotation system. Doesn't allow guys to feel like they have a lock on their position and keep working hard. There is not a significant drop off to whoever was in and believe in the fourth quarter it really benefits the TEAM. The depth on this team needs more discussion because I have never seen this much talent and depth ever at OSU

I posted much the same thing on the Cincy game thread, but another poster suggested (not necessarily wrongly) that getting your starters plugged in there is more valuable. I'm not sure what the net is of the trade-offs. Obviously having a load of talent all playing, and all playing fresh is a benefit, but you've got to believe that cohesiveness would suffer as well. Perhaps leadership too. No doubt that having waves of fresh talent coming in each quarter/half has value, but the "rythm" that the player gets could be compromised.

 

[WaitingforKickoff]

Basically they want to find out who the best three guys are first. Once they do that, they will stick with those three on the field. Right now no one has the "hot hand" except for Laurinaitis...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

[FONT=arial,sans-serif]Thursday, November 02, 2006[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,sans-serif]As season goes on, LB rotation settles

3:47 p.m.

COLUMBUS ? Ohio State?s linebacker group has evolved to the point where James Laurinaitis, Marcus Freeman and Curtis Terry are on the field constantly now. John Kerr and Ross Homan, who had been getting regular action early in the season, have been relegated to backup duty.

Freeman started the season as the strong side linebacker, with Kerr starting on the weak side and Laurinaitis in the middle. Then Freeman gave way to Terry in Ohio State?s base defense, but he played when Ohio State frequently went to its nickel (five-defensive-back) defense. Kerr and Homan still manned the weak side.

Now it?s clear.

Freeman is the starter on the weak side, playing in the base defense and in the nickel on passing downs.

Terry is the strong side linebacker in the base defense, and stays in the game as a potential pass rusher if the Buckeyes go to only three down linemen in their passing downs.

Laurinaitis, as usual, almost never leaves the field.

?We were playing so much nickel, and (Freeman) was the (weak side) linebacker in the nickel, and it was just an evolution,? linebackers coach Luke Fickell said. ?It?s been what?s best for the team so far, not having to do double teaching or take double reps.?[/FONT]

 

[osugrad21]

Link

Ohio State's best linebackers including award winners

12/23/2007, 10:34 a.m. PSTBy The Associated Press
The Associated Press

Cont....

 

[ScriptOhio]

1. 1987
The 1987 trio of Chris Spielman, Eric Kumerow, and Ray Jackson stands atop the rest in our list of the 10 greatest linebacker units in Buckeye history. Led by two seniors, the group ranks in the top-seven in all of our categories, including first in chaos per game (1.27 per game) and fourth in tackles for loss percentage (39.2%).

Spielman earned consensus All-American honors following the season for the second time in his career. His 1987 season is ranked as the fifth-best in program history. Kumerow earned his second-consecutive First-Team All-Big Ten honor following his senior year.

2. 2005
Capping off a great career, A.J. Hawk, joined by Anthony Schlegel and Bobby Carpenter, saved their best season for last, finishing the season at No. 4 in the AP Poll. The trio ranked in the top-three in tackle percentage, tackle for loss percentage, sack percentage, and sacks per game.



Hawk was a two-time First Team All-American in 2004 and 2005 and cleaned up nearly every major major defensive award in his senior year. Carpenter earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors.

3. 1985
In a transition period for the Buckeyes' linebackers, the trio, led by senior Pepper Johnson and joined by Chris Spielman and Byron Lee, overlapped the careers two of the greatest defensive players in Ohio State history. Johnson, Spielman, and Lee accounted for over 34% of the team's total tackles, the highest mark in program history.

Johnson earned All-American honors after leading the Buckeyes in tackles following his senior season. Pepper is sixth on Ohio State's all-time tackling list with 379 takedowns. Spielman's first year as a starter was highlighted by his 19-tackle game against No. 1 Iowa. The sophomore earned First Team All-Big Ten honors.

 

[BB73]

The 11W article above states that James Laurinaitis was the first player to win two Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Awards. He was actually the first to win two of those outright, as the Illini's Dana Howard won the '94 award after sharing it in '93 with tOSU's 'Big Daddy' Dan Wilkinson. And Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald won the '95 award and then shared the award in '96 with tOSU's Shawn Springs.

And their ranking system downplays the effectiveness of the old squads like the 1973 group, since their were fewer sacks and opportunities for chaos when very few passes were thrown. But that defense only allowed 5.8 points per game, and had 4 conference shutouts over a 5-game span.

 

[WoodyWorshiper]

The 11W article above states that James Laurinaitis was the first player to win two Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Awards. He was actually the first to win two of those outright, as the Illini's Dana Howard won the '94 award after sharing it in '93 with tOSU's 'Big Daddy' Dan Wilkinson. And Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald won the '95 award and then shared the award in '96 with tOSU's Shawn Springs.

And their ranking system downplays the effectiveness of the old squads like the 1973 group, since their were fewer sacks and opportunities for chaos when very few passes were thrown. But that defense only allowed 5.8 points per game, and had 4 conference shutouts over a 5-game span.

So, so true about the 1973 team. And, as hard as anyone wants to try they will never convince me that Randy Gradishar wasn't the greatest linebacker we ever had. Dude had the size of a defensive end. The speed of a cornerback. And the ballhawking ability of a safety. Forget linebacker, he may very well be the best overall defensive player we ever had.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

So, so true about the 1973 team. And, as hard as anyone wants to try they will never convince me that Randy Gradishar wasn't the greatest linebacker we ever had. Dude had the size of a defensive end. The speed of a cornerback. And the ballhawking ability of a safety. Forget linebacker, he may very well be the best overall defensive player we ever had.

I wish GPAs were still a thing