Can Mitchell or Johnson make an immediate impact?

By Adamant73 -12 December 2012
26 Comments
- Football

I am really excited like everyone else for the possible commitments of Trey Johnson and Mike Mitchell but is it realistic to think that either can come in as true freshman and be the LB's that we desperatly need? Besides Katzenmoyer I can't think of a true freshman LB to have ever made an immediate impact and Andy was a special type player that doesn't come around very often. Personally I think we are gonna have to rely on the current guys we have to step up and fill the 2 LB spots. Not only that but with departure of our starting front 4 we really need something spectacular to happen at that position.

Buckeye_in_SEC_... on 12 Dec 2012 - 8:16pm #

From what I've read on this site both guys have the oopportunity to come in and compete right away. Other than Shazier, no one has locked down PT at the LB position.

D. Anthony on 12 Dec 2012 - 8:20pm #

Yes...I think Mitchell has skills that rival Katzenmoyer's and he made a pretty good freshman LB.

D. Anthony

Adamant73 on 12 Dec 2012 - 9:18pm #

Katzenmoyer was 245lbs his freshman year and was physically strong enough ans fast enough to dominate as a true freshman. I've never seen a high school kid as physically ready for college than Katzenmoyer, he was a monster at 18 and if remember he had his best year his freshman season. Mitchell has the speed and athletic ability but his size makes me a skeptic, think 20-25lbs would make me feel more confident. Johnson has good size but may lack the overall talent of Mitchell. I am really hoping that one of the other returning LB's steps up and can fill that role.

BuckGnome on 12 Dec 2012 - 11:44pm #

The Big Kat came in with an incredible set of tools, no doubt.

He also benefitted greatly by playing behind a very talented and very seasoned defensive line. A goup that included guys by the names of Vrabel, Finkes, and Fickell.

Remington2323 on 12 Dec 2012 - 8:23pm #

Lets Get Them First.

steensn on 12 Dec 2012 - 8:30pm #

Matters who is ahead of them. There are some potentials there, but these guys seem to have a higher cieling than last years crop. But, clearly unlike the D-Line, it seems the LB corp is harder to find playing time on early. There is too mauch risk of being out of position, dumbmistakes, that lead to big gains. Therefore, I think that there is less likelyhood that next year freshman LB's can actually get a lot of playing time past special teams. But with Mitchell's speed, imagine him as a gunner! Huge and fast!

johnblairgobucks on 12 Dec 2012 - 8:37pm #

can they? yes.

will they? any answer is a complete guess. It would help to get their NLOI signed first.

The only freshman LBers, off the top of my head, that I recall getting playing time, not talking about mop-up duty during a blowout win, are Katzenmoyer, Lauriniatis (Michigan game and Bowl Game), Hawk (2002 vs Miami when Grant went down) and Shazier (last half of last year). So were talking about exceptional players that can make the jump to high school ball to reliable OSU LBers, in less than a year.

The size and speed of college OL is such a big change, similar to the NFL OL compared to college OL, that the player has to be able to physically handle this. College OL get out and attempt their blocks much faster, take better angles, and are stronger at the point of attack.

Also the freshman must be able to absorb the coaching....better coaching and more intricate strategy, where each player has a responsibility to cover....if one player fails his responsibility, the defense has a hole in it....ala Storm Klien in pass coverage against Indiana on the first play. In high school, alot of these recruits are flying all over the field chasing the ball down (seek and destroy). The player must be able to overcome his tendency to want to seek and destroy, and be able to become a piece of the defense that controls his responsibility. 11 guys controlling their gaps = awesome defense. 10 guys controlling their gaps + 1 guys out of position = hole in defense.

Pass coverage. not many of these guys have had to cover a highly skilled RB or TE, when the QB throwing the pass has much time to throw, much arm strength to go with accuracy. Pass coverage instincts take time. Guys like the Big Kat, Shazier and Lauriniatis struggled with coverage as freshman and were more often used as blitzers.

long post.....sorry...just alot has to go right for these guys to step in and play. Alot of 5* guys have attempted and failed to become freshman starters.

farmerbuck on 12 Dec 2012 - 8:40pm #

I think they can for sure, and I hope they will if we get them. But nothing is for sure, look at C. Grant. He was a stud and came to OSU and can't grasp the playbook and has all the chances to get playing time.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning! GO BUCKS!!

oregonianbuckeye on 12 Dec 2012 - 8:48pm #

Perry looked pretty good towards the end of the year, and I think he has the inside shot at starting. At Mike, who knows? I think Grant, Perkins, Williams, Crowell, and any freshmen will all have a shot. I'd bet against a freshman starting, but you never know.

lljjgg on 12 Dec 2012 - 8:53pm #

I suppose this is the answer to a different question than you're asking, but to me the true impact of landing Mitchell and Johnson will be seen in 2014, so whether they make an impact in 2013 I don't find overly important.

I don't mean that in a snarky way at all! And this might be an unpopular opinion, but if championships are what matter, I don't think we're going to have a team that can truly win a National Championship next year (unless it's an off-year for the SEC and we ended up playing a team like KSU or Oregon that were slotted earlier in the year). We're losing WAY too much on defense, and those that we have are just too young. However, in 2014 you're going to have two top 5 recruiting classes that are coming into their own as Juniors and Sophmores, and you'll have Braxton at his best as a true senior with a whole lot of weapons around him that he's had 2, 3 years to get accustomed to. That, to me, is when you'll see Mitchell and Johnson (if they choose us) as Sophmores who are capable of kicking butt and taking names the way Shazier was able to this year.

otrain2416 on 12 Dec 2012 - 9:38pm #

Special teams yes they would both probably be part of the piranhas on kick off. I doubt they would push for any major PT at linebacker, but hey I would love to be proven wrong. Lets get them committed before we are talking like we have them signed

kareemabduljacobb on 12 Dec 2012 - 9:54pm #

I'd say the '14 class of potential LBs have the best shot of any to make major contributions at the LB postion as freshmen.

Buckeye_in_SEC_... on 12 Dec 2012 - 10:06pm #

It will depend on how quick they pick up the schemes. Mitchell is physically ready to play and working with Coach Mick will only get him stronger. If he's smart enough to pick up the schemes he will have a shot at PT. I'm not sure about Johnson. Physically he's not as mature as Mitchell.

Jake in Cali on 12 Dec 2012 - 10:20pm #

I hope OSU lands both but I don't see either starting as a freshman, which is why I was hoping for a juco inside linebacker like Auston Johnson to really impress but it doesn't look like he did. Mitchell looks like an incredible athletic specimen but also a step or 3 slow. Not very sound at all. His athletic abilities really help him on film but thats against high schoolers. I doubt he'd get redshirted though with the depth and that he should be awesome on special teams. Johnson looks more sound but it takes something special to be ready physically and mentally as a freshman at Ohio State. Plus I haven't heard anything about them enrolling early so odds definately look slim at either of them starting. Just have to hope one of the incoming backers last year can really step up and that the coaches are a little creative when filling out the other 2 starting linebacker positions. Personally I hope Perry fills out a bit more and can man the middle with Marcus or Grant at SAM.

Buckeye_in_SEC_... on 12 Dec 2012 - 10:46pm #

Mitchell is a step or 3 slow? I'm pretty sure he had a 4.3 40 at The Opening.

zenshade on 12 Dec 2012 - 11:13pm #

I think he probably meant slow in reading/reacting, which keeps you from playing "downhill" (a popular phrase now that vaguely means something like attacking straight to the ball carrier). Compare Zach Boren late season to Curtis Grant early season.

Grant was definitely a step or 3 slower than Boren, even with a sub 4.5 40 compared to Boren's 4.8 40.

Buckeye_in_SEC_... on 13 Dec 2012 - 12:33am #

I understood what he meant. I don't believe Mitchell's weakness is playing downhill. The only knock I've read on him is passing schemes. Supposedly having a nose for the football and making ridiculous athletic plays are his strengths, but dropping in pass coverage he is raw. I understand pass coverages are crucial for a LB, but if he has any sense at all he should be able to learn/process coverages.

If Grant doesn't step up, we are looking at a true sophomore or freshman at MLB next year anyway. I think Mitchell has a chance to fill that role if he commits to the good guys.

Alpo on 12 Dec 2012 - 11:19pm #

Yeah I wouldnt consider Mitchell slow at all. Kid has freakish speed for his size along with unbelievable potential. Hope we land him!

Jake in Cali on 13 Dec 2012 - 4:17pm #

Everybody knows Mitchell's 40-time; It was quite the news story. I was talking about diagnosing plays and routes as well as overrunning in pursuit. All of which are very fixable. The larger point was simply that I don't see him being the immediate, plug-n-play starter we hope he'll be.

Triv on 12 Dec 2012 - 10:28pm #

I think they would need to enroll early if they want any shot at starting

Sorry Urban, Woody is still my favorite

Toilrt Paper on 13 Dec 2012 - 2:18am #

If Ohio State is recruiting at a high level on a yearly basis, it should be a rarity for a Freshman to start at any position.

Northbrook on 13 Dec 2012 - 2:46am #

Their impact would be to increase competition but I seriously doubt either would be a starter next season.

luckynutz on 13 Dec 2012 - 11:40am #

Haven't seen any film on johnson, but what stood out to me in mitchells film is he has some technique issues. He plays extremely fast, sometimes too fast. Has a tendency to overrun plays and get himself out of position. Granted, he still made the plays. But its a lot harder to recover at the college level. Guys are too fast. Not saying mitchell isn't a stud. Just saying there are issues that will need to be corrected. We definitely have the coaches to get it corrected, it just really depends on how hard he is willing to work. The lb position is wide open next year, aside from shazier at the will. You can bet there will be some stiff competition to fill the other two spots, and our coaches will make sure the best man fills the spots.

buck-I.8 on 13 Dec 2012 - 11:43am #

It's a little encouraging though, that the only knock you point out on him is the exact same problem Shazier had/has. It's something that can be fixed, technique can be fixed, and he can grow into the same type of talent.

buckeye76BHop on 13 Dec 2012 - 11:45am #

Possibly they could get playing time...depends on how well the others do (I still think J. Marcus, Perkins and Perry will get playing time and I'm still baffled by Curtis Grant's situation...seems to be another Sabino situation...at least I hope it is).

"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you."
"I love football. I think it is most wonderful game in world and I despise to lose."
Woody Hayes 1913 - 1987

Et_Tu_OSU on 13 Dec 2012 - 12:27pm #

Hawk made some very significant plays as a freshman playing partial-time. That said, I think either can make an immediate impact, but it's anyone's guess as to will they (see Grant, Curtis).

"The revolution will be televised."