This is the worst tackling Buckeye team in memory...en route to passing last years abyssmal performance. Based on penalties.. this is the lowest IQ team, or at least the most immature. Our linebacker play is still subpar. Shazier had some moments, Sabino mediocre, Grant aspiring to mediocre but hasn't quite performed to that level yet. Our secondary still blew a few coverages but had a solid game. We have wonderful athletes on the d-line and a rush finally emerged. The d-line looked tired at the end of the game. We need to substitute more frequently. There still seems to be a lack of unit cohesion on defense. There seems to be vulneralbility where the d-line stops and the LBs take over, and the LBs stop and the secondary takes over. Play calling was spotty but improved .. at Meyer's insistance we got more aggressive with blitzes. A very average Cal team statistically dominated us...at home. I know Urban wanted continuity with Fickell but I think he did himself a disservice in retaining him. We have the money to attract the best and next year we should make the change. The athletes are there. The performance is not.
I expected the offence to be the work in progress that they are. Braxton is individually brilliant. Our rushing game is unremarkable although Jordan Hall added the pitch option and a little bounce overall.The receivers, minus 4 drops, are servicable. I liked that Stoneburner, Vannett, and Heuerman were utilized. The offensive line was adequate, barely.
Can anybody tell me why Brionte Dunn is returning kicks when Najee Murray and Bradley Robey are available? He has neither the speed or the moves and acceleration to be back there. Special teams were good. Kudos again to Jamal Marcus.
Right now we are contending with Nebraska and Michigan for the 2nd spot in the incredibly weak Big 10. Michigan State refuses to accept first place unequivically, base on what I am seeing from the Notre Dame game. Thank God for Jalin Marshall, Ezekial Elliott, Taivon Jacobs, and Joey Bosa. We need LBs and OTs. Cross your fingers for Dorian Johnson.
What are your thoughts, particularly on Fickell.
This team needs to tackle better - this is undeniable - but I would stop short of calling them the worst tacklers in memory.
Everyone improved today, despite two brilliant plays by #5 (theirs, not ours).
It's game 3 - I've watched a number of games involving a number of ranked teams and none of them have looked particularly spectacular - these things take time.
While I won't give Fickell a free pass to run the defense into the ground, I haven't seen anything yet to make me sorry he's the DC.
If we're having this same conversation after the MSU game, I may feel differently...
"The revolution will be televised."
OSU LBers are average at best. The biggest problem with our defense if you ask me. Pass rush can be fixed, and was, with scheme adjustments. LBers who CONTROL their area and the 5 yard box around the line of scrimmage, isn't what we have out there right now.
Talented offensive players like Leveon Bell and Deetard Robinson will expose our linebackers again this season, much like Cal's offense did today. We have what we have at linebacker, but 1/4 of the season is past us, maybe coaches can improve their pursuit angles, gap control, OL shoulder leverage, proper tackling techniques. Other than replacing one of these guys with a walk on or true freshman, I don't expect to see much happening with these boys this year.
Grant has plenty of time to shine..but nothing jumped out at me watching his HS film besides a big bodied athletic kid..I'm not an expert though obviously. Shazier was a rush end in HS so I can see it taking a while for him to develop great LB skills..I have faith in him though. Sabino probably reached his potential last season and he is what he is.
I don't think theyd put Dunn back there if he didn't have any speed. He's probably faster than Jordan Hall.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
it is a transitionall year and urban is still working on getting the talent level updated. the coaches are fine, they just need more talent to work with and time to implement the changes from the tressel era. relax folks. the season is still young too.
The thing is...Fickell IS from the Tressel era and he's responsible for the D. They didn't change much on defense. It's not like the offense where they had a total overhaul. It doesn't seem to be anything to do with schematics anyway. It's basic fundamental tackling, angles and discipline that these guys seem to have trouble with.
and the linebackers need upgraded, that would help big time. fickell IS (emphasis on the word is, is neat) responsible for the defense, that much IS correct. but the talent level isnt what it should be, especially the linebackers.
2008- recruited 2 LBers- Andrew Sweat and Sabino
2009- recruited 4 LBers- Klien......Whiting, Bell, Newsome
2010- recruited 3 LBers- Jamel Turner, Scott McVey, David Durham
No depth, and tiny talent puddle to search from.
I want C-Grant to be good as much as the next guy but he made 3 big mistakes in a row before being taken out for Klien.
He simply blew a tackle, then he was caught out of position and finally he wiffed on Allen (before he had the catch settled).
It was very disappointing and I think one of the main problems with the D. Historically we have had strength at that position, look at the list from Kat (my first osu memories) until Homan/Role. All were the strength, we are not there now.
2 good points:
1) At least we didn't totally blow many (any?) coverages this week like we had in the past.
2) If we simply form tackled better you could erase roughly 200 yards of Cal offense in about 5 plays. (think Williams in the backfield, then off for 6)
RDS is fine. Brax is keeping up the tradition of TS and TP.
Our 2009 and 2010 linebacker classes F'ed us big time!
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
No kidding. You can't expect to whif on that many players from two different classes. Sad to say Storm Klein is the most successful out of those two classes.
Wonder why Cam Williams and David Perkins havent seen the field if our LBs are an issue... Perkins is supposed to be incredibly fast
Most of the comments I've heard about the new LBs are that they go from Point A to Point B, but they don't know what they're doing. I'm not sure that's an improvement over what we have. I would like to see new blood get some snaps next week though.
Yeah putting in guys that are green would be worse off than guys who have experience at least. With Perkins and Williams in I would assume things could get a lot worse!
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
LB is the most demanding position on the D. It is equal parts cerebral (recognizing your responsibilty within the scheme and in respect to the offensive formation) and maniacal killing machine (see ball, get ball, as Spielman put it). It seems like our LBs haven't fully absorbed the mental aspect of the game which is a necessary prerequisite to effectively letting physical instinct take over.