is a bill of goods.
I try to rewatch the games every Wednesday night because I don't have to work Thursday mornings and Grant couldn't have been less impressive last Saturday. Benched in favor of Storm Klein who is no gem either. Grant was given a chance to redeem himself in the second half and he did not.
The MIKE position is a huge weakness on this team right now, and I don't know if there is anyone able to step up and make it better. Against MSU whoever plays MIKE better be ready to have a heck of a game or Bell will run all over the Bucks.
Upon further review Curtis Grant..... is a sophomore still trying to learn the position and needs more time before being reviewed.
Not everyone can show up and start as a freshmen, like Hawk, Laurinaitis, and Shazier.
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
The #2 recruit in the entire country shouldn't need this much time to make an impact. Benced for Storm Klein for pete's sake.
Middle LB is not a new position for Grant. He has a long way to go to even be an average starter. He is easily the worst player on the starting defense.
I would love to see Cam Williams or Crowell get some reps this week.
vacuuming sucks
Frankly, no one has their crap together right now...
It's disappointing that you're writing off Grant so easily/early. Brian Rolle was only a two year starter at MLB for OSU, he was pretty darn good.
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
the whole lb core looks bad. to me sabino seems to be the most solid one. shzr hasnt been in the back feild and goes for the big hit too much and misses or just hits the guy really hard but doesnt knock him down than the guy goes for 3-5 more yds. i mean he leads the team in tackle but ive been under whelmed by the entire lb corp.
O'Deez330
stark county football
Writing him off entirely no. Writing him off as a dominant player that his recruiting ranking would indicate YES.
vacuuming sucks
Brian Rolle was only a two year starter at Ohio State because there was this one guy...oh, what's his name...James Laurinaitis starting ahead of him. Rolle, when given the chance even early on, didn't look as lost as Grant. I want nothing more than for Grant to turn into a total stud for his sake and for the team's but geez, he really is a weak link right now. I'm not blaming the defensive issues on him but really our LBs in general are the weakspot to me. Shazier is all over the place and is the best of all of them but plays incredibly undisciplined.
The Mike positions limits Grant like it did Sabino. Move Grant out. Honestly, I believe someone like Luke Roberts and Camren Williams would be a good duo to play Mike. Cam is the son of an NFL lineman and Luke has the brains much like Buckeye great Marcus Marek.
Grant is unfortunately following the trend of overrated recruits at linebacker we've had the last few seasons. Etienne Sabino, Dorian Bell, Scott McVey, Andrew Sweat to name a few haven't lived up to their billing, flat out disapointed or have been unfortunately injured. To add to that we've missed out on future in-state star linebackers like Jordan Hicks and Trey DePriest. I would love to see what Coach Meyer's recruits like Cameron Williams, David Perkins or few others could do. UAB would be a perfect game to find out and probably the last chance. I hope Grant can turn it around, but I don't think he'll ever be the next James Laurinaitis, A.J. Hawk or even Brian Rolle.
We need Mike Mitchell or Raekwon McMillan... Enough said... The front 7 wins national titles and our LB's are weak... Spence, Schutt, and Washington are going to become beasts... Throw in Bosa, Hill, and hopefully Lewis... Stacked D-line... Gotta get on the LB's even though I believe Boom Perkins pans out... Too much speed and athletic ability to not be good.
I agree with STEENSN, its not just Grant thats sucking its various members of the defense. I also think Grant is similar to Sabino in that its going to take time for him to reach his potential, something I dont think Sabino will ever reach. Grant has the benefit of being under Urban's microscope, he will be pushed to the limits to be the best. Not too worried about where he is now, I will worry a lot more about him if he doesnt improve throughout the year.
We've come to expect a lot from our LBs, and that's understandable, but I'm not ready to give up on Grant. Sure tackling is obviously an issue for many players, and Grant probably still has a lot to learn to be the leader of the Defense.
Meh, he's a sophomore, he'll be fine. Top 5 recruits don't always just jump right in and dominate. This is why I hate the obsession with recruiting that has come about the last couple of years. If I guy is highly ranked and doesn't dominate from the start he's automatically a flop.
He still has a year or so but I hate to say I told you so. Lacks instincts and that "see ball get ball" animal mentality that all the great ones have. Great frame on the kid, I mean GREAT...but Brian Rolle was 5'10 225 or whatever here and was All-Big Ten.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
To be fairRKYlet83 Scott Mcvey wasn't a bust he just had too many injury problems..he would've been the next stud mark my words.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
Instead of judging the player by his "recrutiing ranking," and calling him a bust because he's not Chris Spielman 3 games into his sophomore year, how about just realizing that players develop at different speeds?
The most "loud mouth, disrespect" poster on 11W.
5'10" is pretty generous for Brian Rolle. I'd give him 5'8" or so. My friend used to be the shortest guy on the team at 5'7" and there was pretty much no difference between him and B-Rolle standing side by side. Regardless, Rolle was actually a pretty damn good linebacker. Grant is looking like another Sabino, really. Someone that came in with the frame and athleticism and all that but just doesn't have that natural instinct to be wherever the play is. It's not just tackling, he on numerous plays is nowhere near the action, doesn't really seem to know where the action is and when he does he's never there in time unless its run right at him. I'm hoping he isn't another Sabino, because Sabino hasn't seemed to make much real notable improvement in 5 years here. I don't think the instinctual side of it is something that a guy learns or picks up on. It seems to be more innately ingrained. Laurinaitis, Hawk, etc had it the moment they walked out on the field and were immediately all over the place and seemingly involved in every play. The only player I see that with right now is Shazier but he tends to blow as many plays as he makes because he's out there like a chicken with his head cut off.
I'm not willing to call Grant a bust this early, but it is clear that he is not performing at the level Meyer said we needed him to achieve. I can't remember exactly the Meyer quote, but it was something like we need him to play well or our D is in trouble. Well, our D seemed to be in trouble at times last week. LB play was the weakness of the D last year, and appears to be the glaring weakness of the team again this season. Until LB play improves we will not see the kind of defenses that Buckeye fans have grown to expect.
I don't think it is all on Grant. First of all, he has only played in 3 games. He was a freshman during the worst year in the past 2 decades so its not like he has gotten a lot help in his development. Then throw in the bad play calling of sending him and other LB on delayed blitzes with dropping back DE like Simon and Spence, and Grant looks even worst. then he doesn't even get to play consistently because they keep switching to nickle.
Grant really has not had a lot of help becoming the player we all thought he was going to be. To blame him for that is overreacting! I don't see other LB or safeties doing that much of a better job either! There is a lot to be desired with this defense. Can't put it all on one player just because he was billed as an elite player.
I agree BuckeyeJason McVey would have been its unfortunate he was injured, that's why I put unfortunately injured at the end. Kind of like Mike D'Andrea
I don't think you should ever give up on a player, especially a true sophmore. But Curtis can be a lot better, and I hope watching this film is a humbling experience for him and the rest of the defense. I think that kid from Cal may be great, but no way should he have run all over the Buckeyes like that. MSU Bell has to be looking at this with a big grin on his face. I do think strategically the Buckeyes Defense will be better of against MSU, because they should be able to pin their ears back with impunity. But if they tackle like they did against Cal in the second half, the MSU single game rushing record may be in jeopardy.
Respectfully,
Larryp713
Yet another facepalm worthy post.
"if irony were made of strawberries, we' d all be drinking a lot of smoothies right now."
I posted this in the Storm Klein article as well, but I just heard Coach Meyer say that Cam Williams (and Josh Perry) will play this weekend, and it will likely be more than a clean-up role. Make the most of this opportunity, guys!
I'd like to see Jamal Marcus too! I have faith that they would tackle better than last week. I still have not given up on Grant! I think he will be a player.. He has all the god given gifts.. I expect a big improvement from him this week. I also think the D will perform well agains MSU because they are predictable. Cal ran a unique offense. We shall see.
I'm certainly not giving up on Grant, I hope he turns into a stud for us. I hope he's our most improved player by year's end. But there's been all this questioning and wondering about the struggles on defense. Well, you're looking at it. We're not very good at linebacker right now and the secondary has miscommunications and coverage breakdowns.
Sorry Bolt, officially listed at 5'9 5/8" at the combine.
Pre-draft measureables
Ht
Wt
40-yd dash
10-yd split
20-yd split
20-ss
3-cone
Vert
Broad
BP
5 ft 9⅝ in
229 lb
4.53 s
1.56 s
2.56 s
4.26 s
6.89 s
33 in
9 ft 7 in
28 reps
All values from 2011 NFL Scouting Combine.[1]
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
Bill of Goods - falsely advertised
Here are some other 5 star LB's per rivals over the past few seasons. There really aren't that many actually. Arthur Brown, Chris Galippo, Nigel Bradham, Nico Johnson, Jelani Jenkins, Manti Te'o, Vontaze Burfict, C.J. Johnson, Jordan Hicks, Christian Jones..........oh and Curtis Grant & Dorian Bell.
All those players (other than Bell) listed have finished in the top 3 on their respective teams in tackles at least once, and several of them have led their teams in tackles. They are for the most part impact players pretty quickly upon arrival on campus. Only Jelani Jenkins had a tackle total as low as Grant's his freshman season. For Jenkins that year was followed by 76 tackles as a sophomore. Through 3 games Grant is on pace for 28 tackles this season.
My point is that when you are ranked #1 in the country at your position (#2 overall player by rivals) you are advertised as an impact player. Impact players, as the name implies, make an impact.
Here are some other #2 ranked players for some perspective. Joe McKnight, Andre Smith, DeQuan Bowers, Rueben Randle, Patrick Turner, Tedd Ginn, Reggie Bush, Haloti Ngata. Not an exact science since Seantrell Henderson was also a #2 player.
Grant hasn't shown any ability to separate himself as a special or unique talent. Linebackers make tackles. Especially LB's with 5-star chops.
vacuuming sucks
I agree to an extent. When I said stuff like this before people wanted to rip my head off and said I hated Curtis.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
I expected some of that too Jason. I wish nothing but the best for him. I would love to come on here and eat crow when he becomes an impact players, leading tackler, etc.
I just really expected him to be a player that stood out this season. Perhaps it will come, and the hype is not "his fault". When rivals compares him to Ray Lewis the expectations are going to be very high (again no fault of his own).
vacuuming sucks
I wanna see him play a whole game without being subbed out so much. Hopefully against traditional offenses like Sparty and wisconsin we'll get to see that.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
I assume that there was a reason that Grant was taken out after whiffing tackles on some of the early runs by Cal, and replaced by Slow, er, I mean Storm Klein. I also assume there is a reason Meyer is talking about freshmen linebackers getting some serious playing time this week. And that reason is..........Grant is not making the progress Meyer and Fickell hoped for. I hope he does make that progress, but he ain't there yet.....
He's a sophomore who had a throw-away first year and hasn't been prepared enough to stay on the field in nickel the first few games this year. Mike ain't easy - give him time.
BTW - Eddie wasn't anything to look at until he was something to look at...
"The revolution will be televised."
I think Grant will eventually win up as a serviceable starting SAM. He can't play the MIKE though. Just don't see it unless we majorly whiffed on a lot of recruits in the barn.
One of the most frustrating thing about last year was that a lot of guys who would have really benefitted from a red shirt didn't get it. Grant is a prime candidate.
I could argue a lot of guys should've been redshirted in the past. Andrew Sweat in 2008, Storm Klein in 2009, Steve Miller and Doran Grant last season.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
Difference between all those other #2 guys you talk about, they didn't go through what happened last year. Grant was mired in a horrible situation and was actually not even expected to start. So its not like he had much of a chance last year then goes in the dog house of Vrabel when everyone last year could have been in the dog house. Then he gets subbed all the time for the nickel this year. I think the kid hasn't gotten a true chance yet. How can we be disappointed when he has barely had a chance to begin!
with that said, I am really interested in Cam Williams getting on the field and seeing what he can do. I liked his film and believe he has what it takes to be the true MIKE!
Well Jason, if we were doing Price Is Right rules I'd still win.
LOL
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
this is why we redshirt kids and not waste a year of eligibility
Still catching up to the speed of the game. He shows signs that he can be very good, and I think he'll do so in time..
What signs?
vacuuming sucks
Lets face it, if he was 6' tall, 215 pounds and a former 3 star recruit nobody would really care about him..in fact people would be screaming to have him replaced already.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
If he was a 3 star recruit, he would be killing it right now. Seems to go like that. 5 stars bust and 3 stars become all-conference.
Which makes me laugh even more when people get on these blog sites and scream and moan when a 3 star commits to OSU. Seems to me like those 3 stars who love being at OSU turn out better than those 5 stars. For the most part though, a lot of 4 stars do work as well!
Agree 100 %
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
kind of makes me wonder about Joe Burger. Coach Meyer did recruit Curtis Grant while @ u o f, and prob has high hopes for him. Have not heard much about Burger except losing the black stripe . Do not know if Burger has seen any play time ? Would still love to see Nate W. or Mr. Simon lined up at mlb position. Let the young guns in on the edge and let it rip.
Burger hasn't played yet. Ive heard he can play though! There's no chance that Nate or Simon will play Mike..I don't even think I'd want them out there playing it.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
Yeah, I much rather Cam Williams, who is a true Mike, to start before they try moving Simon or Nate there.
Before moving guys like Simon to the Mike, I'd try to move Simon to OLB and switch to a 3-4. Dline would be Goebel at DE, Hankins NT, Washington DE. Simon SOLB, Shazier MLB, Sabino MLB, Williams WOLB. But even that is a far cry from happening.