Our defensive line isn't top 10 in the country, but it's above average/good.
The linebackers still need to get better at controling the line of scrimmage.
The defensive backfield has been really strong, IMO.
Years past, OSU has used 1 or 2 linebackers in blitz packages, and alot of times brought the safety. We haven't seen that yet. OSU still hasn't unleashed the defensive beast yet, which leads me to believe OSU's defense will be better in the coming weeks, as more packages are employed.
OSU's offense is what it is.
I've been pretty underwhelmed by the defensive backfield so far.
The defensive backfield got burned against Miami and was still shaky against UCF; the interceptions saved them today. Overall, I'd say the D has been very shaky for OSU thus far.
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
Wait till everyone's healthy, Once Nathan Williams is able to go more consistantly and we get Bennett back, they'll be good. Bennett is the X factor in my opinion, I think he's gonna be gooood! Not to mention all the freshmen who are in rotation are only going to get better with more experience, practice etc. as the season goes on. It's only been 2 games, I'm not too worried.
yes OSU is playing basic defense. DB's are covering wr's with hardly any blitzes being used to speed up QB thought process. Bennett and Williams will add strength to DL. If the LBers improve, when OSU starts unfolding more intricate schemes, this defense will be stout.
I am sorry but getting Bennet and Williams back will not help our pass defense. They give up the 5-and-Out and 10-and-Out ALL DAY! it is always open. Our DB's need to learn to bite on that. we have safeties over the top to pick it up if they fake that and go up the sidelines. It is like they are being told to give up short passes and make sure they make the tackle. Even then they weren't making the tackle half of the time
Buckeye Nuthouse Member 2011-13 season
Block "O" 2012 season
OSU will win alot of games giving up only 16 points to an opponent.
OSU won't win a lot of games playing D like that against teams with better offenses that will score more than 16 points. Turnovers have saved out butts a couple times, we won't get those every time.
Steensn, you need a snickers bar.
Remind me of those commercials where a whiney dude gets played joe pesci, and then eats a snickers bar, calms his hunger, and turns back to normal. OSU is doing just fine. Better than last year for sure.
Did anyone else notice where Meyer walked over to Vrabel and yelled about something? He started to walk away and Vrabel went to say something back but then threw up his hands. You could really see Meyer was pretty frustrated. Or at least that was how I interpreted it.
@JOHNBLAIR Better than last year isnt saying much!!! lol
Fickell needs to learn how to blitz from Dick Lebeau of the Steelers. OSU doesn't use their athleticism on defense when they just play staright up. They need to bring a blitzer from somewhere and someone almost every play.
Urban needs to grab Luke and Vrabel by their ears and tell them that OSU is not a place for training wheels. Urban needs to call the shots on defense.
agree^^ OSU could make their defensive lives alot easier, if they brought some blitzers. Urbans offense uses numbers advantage to work well, so should OSU's defense.
It's only the second game but I'm shocked that Vrabel and Fickell, two of the best Silver Bullets to ever play D for Ohio State have such a passive defense that doesn't blitz like almost every one we've had sense way back to Cooper's days.
I get we are saving the blitz looks for the tougher games so msu and neb don't have film on them.
My only thought as to why they don't, is that they possibly have no confidence leaving the db's to cover without safety help, or the LBers to cover backs or a tight end man to man. Shazier struggles a bit covering in space, and I haven't noticed Grant at all in the first 2 games.
@highbalace - yeah I caught that clip of Urban "talking" to Vrabel. Looked like he was not too happy at all...
The world is full of kings & queens who'll blind your eyes & steal your dreams - it's heaven & hell - Ronnie James Dio.
Corners look awesome, the safties are very shaky
@HIGHBALLACE and @POISON NUTS, I think he was saying, "let's got get him!" I tried to read lips but couldn't. I had to agree, what were the LBs just standing there for?? More sacks please, go get that kid.
guessing that the defense has been so vanilla so as not to show much to our future opponents? i sure hope that is the case. i dont want to believe, this is as good as it gets defensively. not too worried about the offense and the turnovers and penalties today.
Not sure where this enthusiasm for the secondary is coming from...Roby, Horward, insert DB name here have all gotten beat - short, long, doesn't matter. An All-Big 10 WR would have them look silly. Thankfully there have been plenty of drops the first 2 weeks.
Can we get Dantonio back?
Fickell got/is still getting exposed for being a poor defensive strategist and between this year so far and last year, Vrabel can't coach. Im sure Meyer just went down to him and said ,"Why did I hire you again?" at which point Vrabel would only respond by throwing up his hands in confusion. When Heacock ran the show, our defense played with intensity and consistency. Also, the defensive line played far better than the one we have now. There are some positives (or negatives depending on your perspective): Noah Spence and Washington have been outplaying Simon (where the heck has he been?) and Hankins (not a chance hes an NFL first rounder). I think the Cal game is a big game in the sense that if our defense continues to struggle to get to the QB and we continue to give up big plays then some MAJOR changes need to be made if we are going to push for that division title this year, even in a year when our conference is absolute crap.
UCF is better then Cal... I don't see any problems until MSU, and thank God they don't pass..
Pretty sure Simon is being double teamed!
I am least worried about this game. UCF is a better team than Cal. Cal lost to neveda state week 1.
"We have always had the best damn band in the land, now we have the best damn team in the land"- Jim Tressel 1-03-03