Eleven Warriors

Urban has been quoted as saying he went over to talk and be more involved with the D. He made the call to be more aggressive (man to man and more blitzes). Wasn't it also Urban's idea to move Boren to linebacker? I really think Urban saved Luke and maybe other D coaches their jobs. They seemed certain that they just couldn't bring much pressure or blitzes even before losing Sabino and others to injuries. I really think Luke is a very conservative coach based on what we saw from him as head coach last year and the D this year, until Meyer pressed the issue. Maybe we don't blame Fickell as much as he learned under Tressel who was great for OSU but undoubted one of the most conservative coaches around. If Tress called the D plays I think it would have been similar to what Luke was trying to do earlier this year (bend, don't break, don't bring too much pressure etc)...not blaming Tress, just saying Luke was probably coaching how he'd been brought up and now we'll see if he'll take on more of Urban's style/beliefs?

I was wondering the same thing about Fickel. Is he just that conservative from learning under Tressel or what. I will give him props though for the last few games. Good job D

R.Shazier has been playing lights out for the last 3 weeks. He is the B.Miller of the defense, and their finally starting to use him in a variety of different roles, not to mention his tackling has been much improved. His improved play seemed to also coincide with the improvement of the defense. He was already fast, but for the last couple of weeks he seems to be playing even faster, I do believe the light has come on for Mr.Shazier. I commend Z.Boren on his move to LB, and he is doing a admirable job, but that guy is so slow, our entire defense as a whole is slow. I watched the Bama vs. Lsu game, those defenders run/move like deers. We have a ways to go I think before being able to compete w/the tip top teams of the SEC, but we are going to get there.

Am I the only one who is still pulling his hair out over our safety play? They're only slightly less experienced than our D-line (several have had 2 to 3 years of game experience), but Christian Bryant keeps making stupid mistakes, costing us penalty yards most often in 15 yard increments, while C.J. Barnett and Ohrian Johnson have been mediocre at best... 

Fickell bashing will probably go to whole new levels next year. The only starters back next year are both Safeties, which are average at best, Shazier, and maybe Hankins and Roby if they don't go pro. It is going to be a very young and inexperienced defense, which means there will likely be as many, if not more, mistakes as there were this year. Hopefully, he survives until 2014, because that will be his first chance to show what he can do with a talented and experienced defense.

Luke is running the defense that Urban wants him to run.. When/if Fickell leaves, the next DC will run what Urban wants. Urban said he picked asst. coachs that will work with him on what he wants to do. It was just crazy to think that all the new coachs this year would be perfect right out the gate and then throw in key injuries & a bunch of young players that lack experience. Plus there is 2 DC's and its just wrong to point the finger at one.

10-0 is a good place to be and when the offense wasn't 100% the D helped preserve the W and keep the Buckeyes undefeated. It was an all around team perfomance and credit goes to all the players & coachs

Go Bucks