I know the popular choice will be Sabino, but after watching the scUM game the thought of Sabino as our MLB all year doesn't leave me with a warm fuzzy feeling. All of our incoming freshman seem more like OLB types. Is Grant moving to the middle? I will give Sabino some credit for playing much better vs Florida, but the position still seems like an area of concern.
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I think our starters will be Shazier as the Will, Grant as the Mike, and Sabino at Sam.
One of Grant or Sabino will have to step it up at Mike, and the other will almost certainly play Sam.
If Grant does move to the Mike, then I could see some of the freshman getting some PT at SAM. I don't want to trash Sabino, but he frequently seems like he doesn't know where he should be on the field, although he may have the best size/speed combo of all our LB's.
I hope Grant has put on a little weight, 225lbs is a little light to play MLB in the Big Ten.
While starters are important, it's worth noting that due to the 5 LBs added this year there is certainly going to be a lot more rotation in and out of the lineup than there was last year. Shazier will be in as much as possible, but I expect a whole lot of rotation.
Last I heard is that Grant was trying to Lose some Weight in camp last year he had got up around 240ish
Hardly home but always reppin
DMCDOUGAL, I agree with you. I think the 5 incoming players will create some serious competition for PT this year. As for MLB, I suppose it could be Grant or Sabino, but I think I recall the staff telling Cam Williams that MIKE was a possibility for him. If Luke Roberts can earn some PT, that seems like the logical position for him as well.
I think Curtis Grant will look great at MLB
Bassplayer - Roberts will be our Mike but probably not this year. I think he could use a year as a RS to learn the system and get familiar. However, the kid has all the tools to be an incredible future Mike.
Klein or Sabino at Mike..the other at Sam..Shazier at will. Grant at Mike next season if he steps it up..don't cout out Luke Roberts..Fickell is still the LB coach you know.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
I doubt Klein plays another meaningful down for OSU again.
Agree with William. Would be shocked if Klein is in the rotation at all.
If you ain't a Silver Bullet, you're a target
I see it is as follows:
Will:Shazier, Perkins/Marcus/Crowell.
Mike: Grant,Williams/Roberts.
Sam: Sabino, Marcus/Williams/Crowell.
I don't see Klein, or Whiting getting any meaningful time. Also I'd like to see Crowell make an impact as his tape was really good, you just have no idea how he's recovered from his leg fracture.
Is there still talk about Klein moving to FB?
Klien could end up starting at Sam over Sabino. I think a few of the freshman will step up, but experience counts for something on the field too.
I played against Klein in HS, and I didn't really think he was good enough to play for OSU then. After 3 years here, I still feel the same way. The weight he put on has made him even slower and he just seems to be running around the field aimlessly. I would expect any of the freshman to step up and see PT to join Sabino/Grant/Shazier.
Also, to whoever said 225 was a little light to be playing Mike in the B1G... don't tell that to Brian Rolle.
Don't give up... Don't ever give up.
As excited as we all are about the 2012 LB class, I don't think too many of them will see the field this year. There's always a few highschool kids that are truly college ready, but more times than not, they arent. I'd be pretty confident with Shazier/Grant/Sabino as the primary players.
"Love my State, hate the football"
I loved Rolle as a Buckeye, he was a good player, tons of heart and leadership. But I remember hearing complaints about his size right after Wisconsin ran right down our throat.
James, our DL in that game got thrown around like children. When there is no pressure on the QB, and no tackling at the LOS, we could have had Hawk, Laurinaitis, Spielman and Katzenmoyer in their primes back there and Wisky would have beaten us.
Klein was a beast RB/FB in high school...could see him moving to H-Back
I think sabino's light came on against Florida I'm not saying its shinning bright but it's on
Hardly home but always reppin
^ This. He can only get better and I think its all starting to come together for him. A more consistent Sabino will show up next year me thinks.
"Love my State, hate the football"
I doubt Sabino shows up next year. He's had 4 years to learn the system and has shown little progression since stepping foot on campus. After he is gone I think our LB corp will be truly elite again, with Shazier, Grant, and the 5 recruits brought in this year.
@William- "I doubt Sabino shows up next year"- Disagree. Here's why:
Not only is Fickell back to coaching LBs, but they added a guy to the staff, Bill Sheridan, who has primarily been a LB coach, and was the LB coach for the Super Bowl winning, Tom Brady killing, NY Giants AND they added Marotti, to turn tOSU players into the men they should be. That being said, I think we'll see a more confident Sabino next year. To me, his issue has always been his confidence-- he hesitates or doesn't seem to trust his instincts. tOSU also got Urban, a man who has been known to instill confidence in his players on occassion. So yeah, I'd bet heavy that we all see a much improved Sabino next year.
If you ain't a Silver Bullet, you're a target
I'll see it when I believe it with Sabino. I've heard it all, "Oh, he's just young let's redshirt him", "He needs more time as a backup", "He would be good if he got PT". The guy hasn't gotten much better in his 4 years here besides the Florida game. Granted that was the last game, or most mature version of him we could have possibly seen. However, until he does it consistently on the field I don't care
Don't give up... Don't ever give up.
Keep in mind that last year was Sabino's first year of actually getting playing time playing LB I expect to see much improvement and more confidence from his experience, I really Expect to see and improvement from everyone on the team to be honest with you with Urban he will bring intensity if we lacked anything last year outside of Simon I would say it was Intensity.
Hardly home but always reppin
Intensity..... and pursuit angles and tackling technique...
But I agree that the group should be much improved, especially with Fickell leading the charge and the additional depth at the position. The five freshmen should put pressure on the current guys to perform and earn their starting spots (vs. attrition).
Keep Calm and Ignore the Trolls.
Storm klein is a great football name. Sucks he hasn't panned out the way I would have hoped. But you have to love that name.
Don't count Klein out..Fickell is still the Lb coach and he started Klein all of last season. He's better than Sabino IMO and I don't see grant or a freshman starting.
Yeah, the guys not the fastest..but you don't need to be to play Mike. I expect huge improvements from him this season.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
It funny how most of you guy are picking Grant..when the guy, who had the greatest opportunity ever to play..couldn't sniff the field other then special teams. That says a lot to me. You think there will be some huge 180 from him in one off season? I hope so but I doubt it..could be another Sabino in the making..big, fast, highly rated..but something is missing?
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
It was Grants first year. Most freshman don't even get a chance to see the field and none of us had any real chance of seeing his potential. I'll be worried if he underperforms next year, but I have high hopes for him next year.
"Love my State, hate the football"
mfw BuckeyeJason thinks you're a bust if you don't start and shatter expectations as a Freshman. Give me a break.
Middle linebacker takes a lot more mental discipline than outside. They call the plays and run the defense like a QB runs the offense. Most freshmen wouldn't be able to take on that responsibility.
Colin - This is why I think Roberts is going to move there in 2013 and man the position for several years. The kid is a leader and is about as mentally tough as they come. It would not shock me at all if he ends up being the best LB in this class.