Football
Heacock Says Surprising Buckeye Defense Still Evolving
By John Porentas

There are surprises every college football season. Sometimes it's a team that does unexpectedly well or poorly, other times its a player who has an unexpectedly good or bad season.

This season it's the Ohio State defense that has caught some people by surprise. The squad that was supposed to be the weak link isn't quite so weak, and according to OSU defensive coordinator, there is still ongoing improvement taking place and there is still plenty of upside left.

"The thing I like about them (his defense) most is that they realize that we really haven't done anything yet, that it's a work in progress and they're working hard, but I think they realize that we're not the defense that we need to be if we want to be where we want to be at the end of the year," Heacock said.

It makes you kind of scratch your head a little. This is defense that through four games is giving up just eight points per game, has not allowed a rushing touchdown and has produced nine turnovers, three more than last year's defense did all season. Just how much better can they be? Heacock thinks quite a bit better and sees continued evolvement not only on an individual player level, but in just how the OSU coaching staff is going to use that personnel.

According to Heacock, linebacker is one of the positions which is very much evolving and really is still in flux. What has become apparent is that certain players have exhibited strengths and weaknesses, and Heacock says the OSU coaching staff is set to make some changes in who plays in what situation. At outside linebacker, for instance, Curtis Terry has proven to be one of the best run stoppers on the team Heacock says that you can expect to see more of Terry in running situations and when the Buckeyes are in their base defense. There are other trends evolving at linebacker as well.

Curtis Terry

"Curtis is playing good run defense as is Kerr and Laurinaitis is playing well in both areas, dropping and playing the run," said Heacock.

"Those are probably our three best run guys (Terry, Kerr and Laurinaitis) right now and Freeman is a real good drop guy and a good athlete and plays well in space, so he and Laurinaitis have kind of taken on that role. Freeman runs a little bit better and is a little better in passing situations, so he and Laurinaitis are our nickel guys," said Heacock.

What is making that position even more interesting is the development of true freshman Ross Homan as the season has progressed. Heacock says Homan is getting better every week and will likely see more playing time as the season progresses.

Ross Homan

"Homan is going to play more, he and Kerr are going to split time a little bit more from now on," said Heacock.

The expected area of strength this season was the defense line, and it hasn't disappointed. But even there, Heacock sees players who are making a move and will probably see the field more. He really likes what he has seen of defensive end Lawrence Wilson lately.

Lawrence Wilson

"He didn't play as much as we thought he would (early in the season) but he'll play more as we go along. He's going to be a really good football player," said Heacock of Wilson

"I think he's a little bit like Homan. You'll see him more and more as time goes on. He'll play more this week than he did last week. He's getting better and better.

"He missed spring which was kind of tough on him but he's going to be an outstanding player. He's has a nice week of practice and he gives us a nice backup to Jay (Richardson). Those two will keep each other fresh and both will spend a lot of time on the field," Heacock said.

Linebacker and defensive end are not the only positions in transition, and Heacock likes it that way. The heavy substitution strategy that the OSU coaching staff has adopted on both sides of the ball this season has given hope to players at many positions, and Heacock says that has meant better overall play.

"I think the thing it does is it lets a lot of people know that they have to get ready to play," said Heacock.

"It promotes a good attitude because everybody knows they're involved with the game plan. We don't have a bunch of backups that know they're not going to play in the game. Everybody has a chance to play and if they have a great week of practice they will, plus we try to keep some competition going so we don't have that lull or complacency," he said.

Complacency is not likely on this defense. We count perhaps three positions that are really uncontested for playing time. Interior linemen Quinn Pitcock and David Patterson aren't likely to lose a lot of PT this season, nor is corner Malcolm Jenkins, but at every other position, there is somebody pushing the incumbent. Defensive ends Jay Richardson and Vernon Gholston will be pressed by Wilson, Alex Barrow and Robert Rose all season. Larry Grant will press James Laurinaitis, and Homan will pressure Kerr, while it already looks like Terry has moved up past Freeman in the base defense.

In the defensive backfield, Donald Washington and Andre Amos will keep the pressure on Antonio Smith, while Nick Patterson and Jamario O'Neal will keep safeties Brandon Mitchell and Anderson Russell looking over their shoulders.

As Heacock proved with his elevation of Terry at linebacker in the run package, he's not afraid to make changes based on who is performing. The OSU defense will definitely evolve and change as the season unfolds. If Heacock is right, that ought to make it pretty good as the season winds up.

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