Cameron Heyward can be OSU's version of Justin TuckTwo years ago the New York Giants shocked the world by upsetting the undefeated New England Patriots en route to a Super Bowl XLII victory. While the team was filled with offensive stars like Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs, Plaxico Burress, and Jeremy Shockey, it was the defense, more specifically the defensive line, that was given credit as the unit that helped Tom Coughlin's team unseat Bill Bellichick's squad at the top of professional football's ranks.
The 2007-2008 New York Giants team sent a common message to all football coaches, players, and fans across the nation after their big win in January 2008: Defense definitely wins championships. The Giants formula of having versatile players playing interchangeable parts on their defensive line and in their linebacking corps produced great results in getting to opposing quarterbacks and creating pressure on those players to have to make quick decisions of what do with the ball. This strategy and philosphy of Steve Spagnuolo's defense is what enabled the Giants to be so good on the defensive side of the ball and hide inadequacies that may have been existent on the team.
Although Spagnuolo is gone to coach James Laurinaitis and the St. Louis Rams, the Giants still employ this philosophy and with a defensive line unit that consists of Osi Umeniyora, Justin Tuck, Matthias Kiwanuka, Fred Robbins, Barry Coefield, Rocky Bernard, Jay Alford, and Chris Canty, among others, Big Blue still claims the deepest and most talented defensive line in the NFL. It is a unit that not only relies on talent, but on teamwork and buying into a system that will help each individual as well as the team succeed on a weekly basis.
So where does all this chatter bring us, you ask? The answer: The 2009 Ohio State Buckeyes.
The Buckeyes defensive line is not only the strength of the 2009 Silver Bullets, but it is the best defensive line unit in the conference and one of the tops in the entire country. When looking at the New York Giants and their recent defensive line success, I cannot help but think about the similarities between those teams and the potential of Jim Heacock's unit this year.
At defensive end, the wealth of depth is at an all-time high. Thaddeus Gibson brings tremendous athletic ability and the skills to be a consistent force as a pass rusher, while Cameron Heyward, starting opposite Gibson, has the brute strength and smooth athleticism to be a force getting to the quarterback and stuffing the run. Like Tuck for the Giants, Heyward can even be moved inside, particularly on passing downs, and play defensive tackle, giving way to Lawrence Wilson, Solomon Thomas, Keith Wells, Rob Rose, and Nathan Williams who have some major talent to contribute.
At defensive tackle the Buckeyes parallel the 2009 Giants in that both units will utilize a rotation that will keep players fresh and present different looks. Doug Worthington and Dexter Larimore will be the starters for OSU this year, while Todd Denlinger, Garrett Goebel, and freshmen John Simon and Adam Bellamy look to rotate in and share their skills. The tackles have had some trouble in the past, but with the effective pass rush on the outside, coupled with off-season improvement, look for this unit to take a big step forward this year.
With effective defensive line play, new doors are opened up for other parts of the defense to succeed. Pressure is taken off of the linebackers to break off their own blockers and make plays as close to the line of scrimmage as possible. This is very important for a young unit who is trying to find an early season cohesiveness and takes on some very good running backs in early opponents Navy and Southern California. In addition to helping the linebackers out, any weaknesses in the secondary will be helped out as quarterbacks will have less time to decide where to throw the ball and will not be able to make their passes as strong or as accurate as they would like. This certainly will help Andre Amos and Devon Torrence who will be seeing major playing time for the first time in their careers.
The similarities are there. The talent is there. The chance to be great is there. The 2009 Ohio State Buckeyes can be college football's New York Giants and if they play their cards right they have the potential to be the best defensive team in the country, even rivaling the 2002 National Championship team's defensive unit. The big game flops Ohio State has had the last few years can be partially attributed to losing the game in the trenches. This is where games are decided. This year, OSU has the advantage in those trenches and must utilize their strengths to buck the trend of big game losses and return to college football prominence. The parts are in place, it's just up to the players to make it happen.
Comments
BIG BLUE! *High-Five BuckeyeChief*
The D-Line similarities are most def. there. Who do I place my bet with on the over/under for how long it takes for a hater to show up w/ a Bills comment? If you could point me to the book I'd be much appreciative.
Defense definitely wins championships! A bit of inside information, Dick Lebeau was in town recently and met with the Buckeye coaches. Let's just hope he smacked a couple of them and left his playbook.
Lebeau is a god among men when it comes to defense.
I completely agree, but the conservative offense can be partially blamed also. Does anyone remember the 3rd quarter of the Texas Games in January... OSU played to not turn the ball over and scored nothing.... any score at all would have won the game!
Lets not forget about our unproven secondary...
I really think the D-line especially has hurt us in big games. I know the O-line gets all the blame, but the last couple of years, the D hasn't pressured the QB like they used to or forced turnovers. I think having, the QB on the run a lot this year is going to help even the playing field against the big teams. Even though Texas got their yards and put up points, MC Coy was pressured more than he had been all year.
I hope the D-line is similar to 2002. I'll never forget before the game hearing how Ken Dorsey was only sacked 3 times in 2 years or something crazy like that. He got hit more in that game then the rest of his college career.
Well, I have been saying for weeks that if the D-Line is getting a lot of pressure, the DB's will have a lot less pressure on them.
I was watching that game, and what amazed me most was how often we were only rushing three or four. We were getting that much pressure without blitzing most of the time.
I think that our defensive schemes are in many ways dependent on having a dominant defensive line. Read-react cover-2 works great when the quarterback doesn't have time to hit his reads. When your front four isn't bringing pressure a good quarterback can pick you apart.
I'm not drinking the d-line kool-aid until I see results on the field. I see an undersized pass rusher with a lot of heart that plays well above his ability (Gibson), an highly-touted recruit who plays below his talent (Heyward), a guy that can't stay healthy (Wilson), a tackle that is too tall and too lean for his position (Worthington), and a pair of tackles that do a good job if they occupy one linemen (Denlinger and Larimore), let alone a double team or more that is required of championship caliber D-line tackles. The reserves and situational linemen are good but with the exception of Williams, largely unproven. I have hope for this d-line but I wouldn't anoint them as the heir-apparent to the 2002 crew just yet.
Brian you are correct. History has shown, if your front 7 can apply pressure, your DB's can play press coverage which will throw of the QB's timing.
God Bless you, Fresh Prince of Columbus.
I miss Big Willy Style and Tim Anderson.
That being said I think this year's line will be the best line since those guys were terrorizing errbody.
Steeler coaches are gods among men when it comes to defense.
fixed/
Lebeau couldn't do it in Cincy, though you might be able to blame Mike Brown.
Well, I'm going off of what I saw against Texas, and they looked really good in that game. As I said, I know Texas still go their yards and points, but they were one of the best offensive teams in America. I believe the D-Line was the toughest Mc Coy saw all year. That's my opinion, but I figure if they could do that to Texas last year, they can pull it off on just about anyone. It could've just been a one game fluke, but I doubt it.
I hope you are right about how good this line is. I think people way underestimate the role the D-line play played in the 2009 national championship (especially against Miami.)
2002* sorry.
A first down would of kept the drives going - if I remember right all we did were 3 and out.
Defensive line should be fantastic, no doubt, but Tress is simply not a good offensive coach, and the defense can't be expected to be on the field for most of the game. I hope I'm wrong, but I think we can expect to see another sputtering offense this year.
roffle, as another buckeye living on 90, the bills kill me. too bad they're turning into a big 10 team.
Time will tell, i think tressel does what he can with his personell. nobody can say we didn't have an offense, with troy smith and 3 NFL wide recievers.
Now we've got Terrelle Pryor and 3 NFL Wire Recievers (Posey, Sanz, and Carter).
hah, just realized carter has supplanted small in my mind.
I'd take him over Small and he hasn't played one snap yet. He works hard and has a good attitude.
dont forget about the flowing dreadlocks made of gold. LOL
though you should definitely blame Mike Brown
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:D
Sorry, I ain't buying it until I see it on the field under the lights.
Hell yeah! The G-Men + 11W= Utter Awesomeness. I am waiting for the Giants to draft a Buckeye, any Buckeye, so I can buy their "kit"
Dammit you got me all excited. I thought your fortune teller gave you a tip.
Hopefully they spell his name right in prison: Burress not Buress (sorry, im a giant fan)
So are the buckeyes going to win the Superbowl now?
If so, how do we run up the score?
What if it's a day game?
i guess he won't believe it
I'm skeptical that the line will be that great. I listen every year about the improvements and the lessons learned, but, I have yet to see anything more than an average performance. I don't believe anything from preseason talk anymore.
Sorry Bob..._unintentional single "r"....
Even though the Buckeyes are ranked plenty high enough to make a BCS title run, nobody outside of OSU fans believe they'll beat USC, or even PSU and maybe Iowa, Illinois or Michigan.
That's just how i want it to be too, b/c doing it unexpectedly will make it sweet and making it to the BCS title game and thumping Florida would seriously make me blow my wad, lmao!
I don't know if we will make it, but I'm hoping for the best.
Anything is possible so GO BUCKS!
@poop,
The O-line will be good, the D-line will be flat-out sick!
Sanz? lets not jump the gun on him. Carter and Posey can be pros but so can Ray Small.
We'll see. I, too, would blow my load if we were to win the NC. Especially against Florida.
good point, josh. troy's senior year is the only one that stands out from the rest. obviously, an experienced quarterback with a good arm is a tremendous asset. keep in mind that ginn & gonzales were crazy fast and could put the fear of god into the opposition. 06 was the exception though, not the rule. most of the time they are predictable and clumsy, especially in big games. let's hope terrelle has improved as much as some people say he has. he's one of the most electrifying players i've ever seen, and can definitely can put the fear of god into other teams.
The day games are against Navy and Toledo. We will murder them. I'll believe their impact and disruption when I see it against the best o-line in the country.
lol