| DE | Cameron Heyward | SO |
|---|---|---|
| DT | Doug Worthington | JR |
| DT | Todd Denlinger | JR |
| DE | Lawrence Wilson | JR |
| LB | Marcus Freeman | SR |
| LB | James Laurinaitis | SR |
| LB | Rolle/Spitler/Moeller/Sweat | -- |
| CB | Malcolm Jenkins | SR |
| CB | Donald Washington | JR |
| SS | Kurt Coleman | JR |
| FS | Anderson Russell | JR |
When Laurinaitis announced his intention of returning for his senior season, the 2008 defense was basically locked down, save for the battle for Larry Grant's vacant spot at linebacker.
Facing a potential defection of four stud juniors, fans were granted a January miracle (one week late, alas) when Gholston was the only one of the four to announce his early exit.
The defense returns 9 starters from a unit that was rock solid all year with the exception of one outing against a "damn strong football team" executing a brilliant gameplan.
The Gholston loss is obviously huge. He is to talent what Marco Cooper was to "getting into a little bit of trouble". Still, you have to like Heyward coming back with a full year of experience and don't sleep on Wilson. You could make an argument that with his return from injury the Buckeyes are actually returning 10 starters.
After getting manhandled in New Orleans, the interior line should benefit from the extra year of conditioning and experience. A crew that was heavily rotated at times, "backups" Nader Abdallah and Dexter Larimore also return to add depth behind Worthington and Denlinger.
The backer corps, despite breaking in a new starter, will be one of the better units in the nation. Thankfully Laurinaitis reads this blog and based his decision to return solely on the fine unsolicited advice offered in these parts because despite tremendous numbers on the season, he should dominate games as a senior. Like a Butkus winner should. Complimenting him will be Freeman, a guy many fans think may be every bit as good as Laurinaitis.
Larry Grant, the lone senior on the 2007 squad, vacates his spot to the winner of the Rolle/Spitler/Moeller/Sweat derby. Spitler will be looking to put the punt whiff in the past, Sweat has great size and I know there are plenty of Rolle and Moeller fans, but this one is probably a long way off from being settled.
All four starters return in the secondary, and one thing is for certain: Coleman and Russell better bring their blitzing shoes. The surprise return of Jenkins teamed with a seasoned Washington at the corner spot should allow the team to show more man-to-man looks instead of the dreaded zone we've seen picked apart on the biggest stage the last two seasons.
And how much saltier do nicklebacks come than Chimdi Chekwa? He's currently on the Antoine Winfield ascent where he saw a ton of nickle time as a freshman and sophomore only to blow up his last two years when finally getting a corner spot of his own.
So this is all great, right? Fans are on a high. They've seen their teams soundly beaten by senior-laden SEC squads the past two seasons and have a new ray of hope. And it couldn't have come at a better time in regards to wound-licking and all that.
Still, the defensive coaches should use this opportunity to dial it up a bit and come with a more aggressive scheme. The zone got to go. Bring back that bump-and-run of Springs-Howard and Winfield-Plummer past.
Comments
I'd like to thank myself and Gatorpilot for convincing JL to come back.
If in real life you really do read this, I think Buckeye Nation would've proudly backed your entry into the League -- I know I would have. But I'd like to think that I'm right in saying that the money will be there next season. We're glad to have you back Animal.
How about Ross Homan at Grant's position?
I'd also like to take credit for convincing TE Cornelius Ingram on changing his mind and returning to the Gators after reading my blog.
http://www.orangeandbluehue.co...
Good to know JL listened to the voice of reason. I give most of my credit to God, and also Dave.
"How about Ross Homan at Grant’s position?"
What happened to Thaddeus Gibson? Seemed like he saw more time than Homan or Spitler last year. I was thinking Thad would be the natural choice to replace Larry Grant. He's a terrific pass-rusher.
great to have such a defense back...LB competition should be fierce for that final spot but lets not sleep on Curtis Terry, with a little work his arms could be as big as Verns next year!
Or what about last year's OLB starter Curtis Terry, who had a medical redshirt this year? Or ILB Ross Homan, who also had a medshirt?
What if God actually started interveining on behalf of those of us seeking to bring back a stalwart defense?
Better yet: what if God was one of us?
just a slob like one of us?
Yeah. Just a stranger on the bus, trying to make his way home.
Where does Robert Rose fit in the mix? Just as a backup at DE?
Damn, I forgot about Gibson & Terry. The Bucks seem to be stacked at LB! Both of those dudes are freaks & could help the pass rush.
Homan impressed me until he got hurt. Wasn't he splitting time with Freeman up until then? Maybe 60-40 or 70-30 Freeman to Homan?
Both Rolle & Spitler had good years on special teams. Rolle seemed to stand out. Spitler did as well until he forgot that the LSU punter was a righty rather than a lefty. Ugh.
Keith @ Buckeye Commentary says he read Gibson might be on his way out the door...unfortunately...I agree, Gibson is a sick pass rusher.
I guess I'm most concerned up front. Will the DTs step it up? LSU seemed to expose the Bucks up the middle.
I think concern over the DTs is fair. But I also think that on the ends we're looking solid enough that those guys will have some time to pick it up.
They will have to pick up everything quickly though considering that trip to L.A. in the 2nd week...
I blame myself for the Joan Osborne. Apologies all around.
Dave? Gatorpilot? no love? I believe I was in on helping convince JL to come back. Did you guys forget about me? Or do you think I'm God? (in which case I have to let you know that I, in fact, am not God) .....because if I was tOSU would be defending their 112th National Championship and Michigan's team colors would be something gay like maize and blue......oh wait....I guess I wouldn't have to change that.
Great they have a defense back that has been shredded by the SEC in championship games the last 2 years! I'm a huge buckeye fan, but until someone comes into the program and teaches our players how to identify a TE that is going out to catch a pass, and gets DT's that penetrate the play and don't get blown off the ball all the LB's in the world won't matter. This team has the makings of "best Ohio State defense of all time" talk but until they show it when it counts, ON THE NATIONAL STAGE! I'll remain skeptical.
Please come here terrell pryor please play QB for us please please please, that will make me smile again. If you commit and take the job from slow Todd.
More apologies owed to Wil who also took the stand in order to testify in the case of the People v. Laurinaitis.
Sorry that there was no representation on that man. I dropped the ball.
Dave and Gatorpilot, stop slobbering all over each other and on WIL. You girls had nothing to do with it, other than; snapping your panty-waists, grab-assing, and lamenting the loss of JL's jock. JL received a good recruiting report from his NFL draft status app. His friends and family had a lot to do with coming back and a sense of unfinished business.
Anyway, without better play at DT and on the ends our LB's can get isolated against some teams. Not too mention the play calling. It is one thing to play call against a 1AA school, MAC, or other teams you frequently play, but against top teams that can run a variety of formations at you until they expose your weakness, well, that has been a problem.
Not too mention, our QB play against tough teams.
Still, it should be a very exciting season and I thank the players for coming back to go for it all once again and complete their educations!
I disagree Jim Thorpe. I think without us JL would have went pro. I have evidence by asking the Ghost that never lies, but only I can hear....well I guess Peter Griffin can still hear him also.
Lol,
Check your sources on campus, WIL. I have firm data from insiders, that JL did not stay due to any blog musings. Though, it would be interesting if you had that type of effect. Kinda like Eminem's 'with out me' rant.
Alas, the slobberknocking over who influenced JL's stay is merely slobberknocking and is revolting. Speaking of revolting, isn't there a band named after you guys: The Revolting Cocks?
I kid, I think it is the "Butthole Surfers"
I'm pumped about the defense this year for certain. Looking at that list though, think of how many we could lose after this season. 3 seniors will be gone, plus I would say Washington and Russell could possibly go early, maybe even Wilson if he has a great year.
*dries off slobber*
Sorry Jacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe, I couldn't hear you over the celebration slobber granted me in the jubilation through hearing that JL will be back.
*throws towel to Jacobus Franciscus Thorpe in order that it might be laundered while the celebration continues*
Lol
I kid I kid, I joke I joke.
Did someone mention my band?
People are forgetting about Curtis Terry and Robert Rose. I still have dreams of Curtis Terry launching into the backfield and taking Colt McCoy's head off back in 2006. That was great. Anyway, those two will and should get plenty of time. And then of course, there's Thaddeus Gibson. The defense was a lot more dinged up this past season than most Buckeye fans realize.
With our perceived weakness at the D-Tackle spots, does anyone know whether they might move Robert Rose to DT? I think I remember someone saying that was his natural position anyway (could be wrong).
@ Al Jourgensen:
Well played.
Thorpe, there's little doubt that Dave, Wil and myself had a lot to do with JL's decision to remain at OSU.
Next year when he's pounding Rich Rodriguez's poseur Wolverines, you can thank me. Until then, please keep your volume knob on "1". We'd all appreciate it. Thanks.
Gatorpilot, there is mucho doubto. You had nothing to do with it. Ask JL or check with the team or sources close to them.
Like tits on a bull; you had as much usefulness as a poopy flavored lolipop. And, your rants are as superfluous as a frog's croaks or as superfluous as a prostate gland is to Dave. Further, your blog droppings were as useful as a condom machine in a convent and a men's bathroom at a Lillith Fair show. Though, WIL & Dave like to squat in the dirt and wee... at Lillith Fair shows.
You're snippets were as useless as a book with no words. A veritable poem with no rhyme. Or, an orchestra with no sound. Or, useless as a football that's not round and a runner with no legs.
Ultimately, you're slobberknocking was USELESS in the retention of JL. But not in the retention of Dave and WIL's administrations.
However, it was quite amusing!
Wow, poems, & Lillith Fair references! You should change your name to:
"Jim Thorpe if he were gay"
I kid I kid!
P.S. who told you I liked to sit to pee!
Tom Blogical...
I would just like to point out that I am coming back mainly due the advice Wil, Gatorpilot, and Dave left on www.elevenwarriors.com.
Mainly because of Wil......but a little bit because of Gatorpilot and Dave also.
Ross Homan or Curtis Terry will take the spot.
Jim "Mapple" Thorpe: I have a friend who does the Laurinaitis' family dry-cleaning, and Animal Sr. (by the way, you ought to see the dirty laundry -- literally! -- he brings in) and says they have referenced Wil, Dave, and myself here at Eleven Warriors from time to time in their conversations. Laurinaitis decided to come back for a variety of reasons, but the contributions made by Wil, Dave and myself rank among the top factors James considered when making his decision. End of story, end of debate.
By the way, I would just like to offer some constructive criticism on your punctuation. You used "you're" twice in your comment, and both times it was incorrect. It's "your", sir. Apostrophes get the best of us, sometimes, but they're beating the shit out of you.
Also, I would posit that instead of...
Like tits on a bull; you had as much usefulness as a poopy flavored lolipop [sic]
... you would have been better served had you written it like this:
Like tits on a bull, you had as much utility as a poop-flavored lollipop
It's not what you say, it's how you say it. Perception is everything, and if people around you perceive you to be, say, a 15-year old high school dropout based on your poor spelling, grammar, and punctuation, why... that is what you will be.
I am the "REAL" James Laurinaitis...and I did not read this blog or any blog, until now; so no blog had any influence whatsoever on my decision to stay.
Though, Nader mentioned that the pesky WIL and his troubadours of love, Michigan style, that is... were jonesing for my jockstrap. Sorry dudes, I like the ladies!
Better luck next time,
- The "REAL" James Laurinaitis
Why does everyone steal my jokes just because they can't come up with their own. I guess it's just my curse that I was born a trend-setter while so many others (you know who you are) where born as trend-followers.
And Gatorpilot, I too am getting the impression we might be dealing with a 15-year old high school dropout. Oh well, the fact that they couldn't pick up on our sarcasm when we initially mentioned that we thought we played some vital role in JL coming back speaks volumes about their intelligence.
What if we're dealing with the real, dead Jim Thorpe who's just having trouble getting a grip on this whole internet thing?
What if the reality of the situation is that we have on our hands a dead, just re-animated corpse who stumbled into the local library in Jim Thorpe, PA only to find this site and this discussion something worth coming back from the dead for?
I just hope that's the truth, actually.
It's true.
Thank God!!!! It makes so much sense now!!! We were all getting dumber for having this discussion continue to go on thinking it was a real person!!!!
Ah gatorpilot,
"You’re snippets"
Yes, that was improper usage of a contraction. And "your" is the possessive form of you, so that would be the correct usage.
Same for: "you’re slobberknocking"
And my spelling of lollipop was sloppy. I did not proof read my post. Usually, I do not proof read my smack talk. I do proof read for business memos and letters. Thanks for the catch! I am glad I could help you engage in something useful.
Anyway, what I wrote is more amusing than your version.
"Like tits on a bull, you had as much utility as a poop-flavored lollipop"
Really? What you are striving for, because it is not amusing.
Are you trying to be an academic writer? Because, smack talk, trash talk, and general comedy is not stuck on academic writing convention. Come on, even literary writing is often grammatically different than the academic style of writing in college.
Anyway, the real issue is about your skewed notion that you influenced his decision to return. Also, your prose (voice) is absolutely horrible.
Of course, there is no debate. You had nothing to do with JL's return, but you did engage in some serious knobslobbering!
hey, quick questions for the position geeks out there. who would have been the number 2 & 3 WR's when Boston was the number 1? talking 98, 99?
thanks
97-98 was Boston, D. Miller & Rambo...98-99 was Boston, Miller, & Germany
"Oh well, the fact that they couldn’t pick up on our sarcasm when we initially mentioned that we thought we played some vital role in JL coming back speaks volumes about their intelligence."
Likewise, fellas!
I see, that you girls are not original in utilising your counter smack talk. Or, intrepreting another's sarcastic posts. Though, keep up the front!
Ladies, you three are somewhat amusing: in the vein of Mark May, Herbstreit, and Cowherd.
I see you keep referring to us as ladies, talking about squatting while peeing, and continue to reference several homosexual acts. If you're (see how you use that correctly) trying to come out of the closet please find a more suitable site such as a Michigan one.
No need to get testy, WIL. And, who said I was in the closet!
Really, no need to go to any Michigan sites... that is just disgusting. However, you should repent for your erroneous analysis. That, and agreeing with the likes of gatorpilot and dave. Wow, they have no clue. Though, they are amusing!
thanks mark. what about 96 & 97?
This just in, Terrel Pryor is now considering LSU....he did say they were not as high on his list as OSU, Michigan, Florida, & Oregon. He also mentioned Penn State but that they were on the lower on his list also (like LSU).
The big thing I heard him mention is that he will not have a favorite until AFTER he visits michigan. That leads me to believe that they might already BE his favorite and that he is just looking for verification on his visit.
Does Etienne Sabino play inside backer or outside?
Listed as Inside, but Laurinaitis started out as an Outside backer backing up, and then filling in for Bobby Carpenter.....soooo I guess tOSU has proven it likes to move its linebackers around to get the best 3 on the field.
Oh, and Zach, I think 96-97 was Boston, Demetrious Stanley, and I believe Michael Wiley got his first game time experience as a receiver then as a true frosh.....I'll have to check my copy of the Rose bowl to be sure though.
Terrelle Pryor is the biggest cock tease at the dance...
Jim "Mapple" Thorpe:
You and I both know that Wil, Dave, and myself had a lot to do with JL's return. You may not admit as much here at 11W, but dig deep and you'll find the truth inside of you, begging to be set free.
And the truth is:
You have a Gator to thank for getting one of your best players to return to school.
thanks wil
Hell, GP... your right. When you add it all up it is apparent that you and Wil and Dave brought JL back. Thanks... and that kills to say because your a Gator. :)
Heck, Gatordookie... you're not too bad after all. And, the whole JL lovefest was just good natured fun. However, you do turn things into extremes... kind of like an outlier in statistics.
Hence, your observations and thoughts are way off and quite distant from the rest of the data. Your ideas/thoughts are beyond the "outer fence" and far removed in value from what is actually occuring.
Therefore, you tend to have weak critical thinking skills and a very thin veneer of analytical thinking skill. It is nice that you focus on your grammar and punctuation, but what happened to your thinking?
Never mind, it is a closed issue. Let's move forward.
You are a great source of entertainment and your "comrades in arms" are as well!
Props to you Gatorpilot!
GO BUCKS!!!