Football
2008 Football Outlook - Part Two - Defense
By John Porentas

Introduction, Defensive Ends, Defensive Tackles, Linebackers, Corners, Safeties, Overview

Introduction

Like the OSU offense, the Buckeye defense returns a lot of players in 2008.

The only 2007 starters not returning in 2008 are linebacker Larry Grant and defensive end Vernon Gholston. While finding a defensive end of Gholston's caliber will be difficult, the Buckeyes will be loaded with returners in 2008. Add to the returners the fact that just one backup in the two-deep will not return, defensive end Alex Barrow, and it's easy to get excited about OSU's defense in 2008.

Defensive Ends - Vernon Gholston is gone, as is backup Alex Barrow, but the Buckeyes have plenty of talent returning in 2008.

OSU was hit by the injury bug at defensive end last season, with starter Lawrence Wilson going down in the first game and missing the rest of the season. Additionally, top backup Robert Rose also had injury problems and missed much of the end of the season. That meant that freshman Cameron Heyward got on the field.

Heyward performed beyond all expectations, and his season of experience will pay huge dividends in 2008. He has size, strength, speed and a motor that doesn't quit. He is a star in the making on the OSU defense, and with a season of experience behind him and a year in the weight room, should be an improved player in 2008.

Wilson was back practicing at the end of the season and probably could have played in the bowl game, but the OSU coaching staff elected to hold him out and preserve the possibility of a medical redshirt for him. Wilson was expected to be OSU's top defensive end last year. His return will soften the blow of Gholston's departure.

Rose underwent off-season surgery and is expected to be back in 2008. Thaddeus Gibson will also be available after moving to the Leo position (rush end) after starting his career as a linebacker. Gibson has enough size to play defensive end and the kind of motor and speed to be a devastating pass rusher.

Heyward and Wilson will be the favorites to land the starting positions. Rose will push for playing time as well. It's also possible that Doug Worthington could see some time at defensive end after spending last season at defensive tackle. Gibson will probably be on the field in passing situations, but if he bulks up could see more playing time due to his aggressive style of play and speed.

The Buckeyes signed two defensive ends in this recruiting class.

Returning Starters: Cameron Heyward (6-6, 280, rising sophomore), Lawrence Wilson (6-6, 2 70, rising redshirt junior).

Returning Backups: Robert Rose (6-5, 280, rising junior)

Other Returning Scholarship Players - Thaddeus Gibson (6-3, 240, rising redshirt sophomore), Solomon Thomas (6-5, 225, rising redshirt freshman)

Newcomers: Keith Wells (6-5, 238), Nathan Williams (6-4, 245)

Defensive Tackle: The defensive tackle position was hit hard by graduation in 2006 and was a question mark going into last season. The defensive tackles played well at times in 2007, most notably in the Michigan game. Against Illinois and in particular LSU, the interior defensive line looked vulnerable and did not supply much pass rush.

Starters Doug Worthington and Todd Denlinger will be back in 2008. Worthington's year was wholly unremarkable in 2007, though in fairness it was his first season at defensive tackle after moving to that position from defensive end. Denlinger was a more physical player than Worthington and at times showed the ability to be a playmaker. Both should be better in 2008 as a result of a year of experience and a year in the weight room.

The top backups in 2007 were Nadar Abdallah and Dexter Larimore, and both will be back in 2008. Both saw considerable action in 2007, and not just in mop up roles. OSU used four defensive linemen in 2007, and the experience Abdallah and Larimore got will serve both well in 2008 as well as the year in the weight room.

The defensive interior line has to be better in 2008, and probably will be. We think all four returners will be significantly improved in 2008 and therefore the overall line play.

The Buckeyes signed three interior defensive linemen on signing day. At least one of those players could push for playing time in 2008. If one of even two can contribute in 2008, Worthington may be able to see some time at defensive end.

Returning Starters: Doug Worthington (6-7, 275, rising junior), Todd Denlinger (rising redshirt junior).

Returning Backups: Nader Abdallah (6-5, 310, rising 5th-year senior), Dexter Larimore (6-3, 275, rising redshirt sophomore)

Returning Walkons: Chris Riestschlin (6-4, 270 rising senior)

Newcomers: Garrett Goebel (6-5, 280), Willie Mobley (6-2, 265), Shawntel Rowell (6-4, 330)

Linebackers: The Buckeyes not only return a huge number of quality linebackers, they added some newcomers beside to make this a position of strength on the defense.

Marcus Freeman and James Laurinaitis both decided to forego the NFL and return to OSU next fall. Freeman was a better linebacker in 2007 than he was in 2006 and there is no reason not to believe that he will be even better in 2008. It will be hard to get him off the field next year, and Laurinaitis will be entrenched in the lineup as well. That leaves just one spot open and a whole lot of talent chasing it.

Two players will be back from injury next fall, Curtis Terry and Ross Homan, and both have a reasonable chance of winning the lone remaining starting position. Additionally, Mark Johnson is finally healthy, Austin Spitler returns and Brian Rolle is back, and all of those players have the talent to be contributors. The competition for playing time will be fierce, and that should make this group better in 2008 than it was in 2007. Laurinaitis, Freeman, Homan and Terry are the most experienced members of the group so probably will see most the playing time next fall, though Spitler has seen the field considerably as well.

The linebackers played well throughout 2007 but like the rest of the defense, were not particularly effective in OSU's two losses. The linebackers should be better for all the reasons already outlined, and should also benefit from improved play along the defensive front.

The Buckeyes also signed two linebackers in their recruiting class, both of whom are expected to compete for playing time.

Returning Starters: Marcus Freeman (6-2, 245, rising 5th-year senior), James Laurinaitis (6-3, 245, rising senior)

Returning Backups: Brian Rolle (5-11, 210, rising sophomore), Austin Spitler (6-3, 245, rising redshirt junior), Tyler Moeller (6-1, 210, rising junior)

Returning Scholarship Players: Mark Johnson (6-4, 230, rising redshirt sophomore), Curtis Terry (6-2, 235, rising 5th-year senior), Ross Homan (6-2, 240, rising junior), Ryan Lukens (6-0, 230, rising 5th-year senior)

Returning Walk Ons: Kyle Libby 6-2, 235, (rising redshirt freshman)

Newcomers: Andrew Sweat (6-2, 225), Etienne Sabino (6-3, 230)

Corners: Everybody is back and healthy at corner and the Buckeyes should be both talented and deep.

Starters Malcolm Jenkins and Donald Washington are both back as are nickel Chimde Chekwa along with backup corners Andre Amos and Shawn Lane. Amos is coming back from major knee surgery and will be a welcome addition to the cornerback group. It wouldn't be too much of a surprise if both Chekwa and/or Amos push Washington for playing time in 2008, and the competition for the nickel position should be fierce.

The corners played well in 2007, but dropped too many interceptions. They need to be more productive in the turnover category in 2008.

Returning Starters: Malcolm Jenkins (6-1, 205, rising senior), Donald Washington (6-1, 205, rising redshirt junior).

Returning Backups: Andre Amos (6-1, 180, rising redshirt junior), Shawn Lane (5-10, 180, rising 5th-year senior), Eugene Clifford (6-2, 190, rising sophomore) (all four were listed as backups at some time last season)

Returning Scholarship Players: Donnie Evenge (5-11, 185, rising redshirt freshman), James Scott (5-10, 165 rising sophomore)

Returning Walkons: Zach Willis (5-10, 160, rising 5th-year senior)

Safeties: Everybody is back at safety. Starters Curt Coleman and Anderson Russell return in 2008 as do top backups Aaron Gant and Jamario O'Neal.

Like the interior defensive line the safeties were a question mark position in 2008 and like the interior line, at times the safety play was a little on the tepid side. Coleman is a very good run support safety but at time was a bit lacking in coverage in 2007, though he performed very well in the Michigan game. Last season was Coleman's first as a starter, so we would expect him to be improved in 2008.

Russell is a two-year starter and was usually always where he needed to be last year, but dropped way too many interception opportunities. Russell will have to be better at holding onto the ball in 2008 if the safety position is to be up to snuff.

Jamario O'Neal has been a bit disappointing in his career, mostly because of his lack of cover skills. O'Neal could get a challenge for the backup spot from any number of returning young players.

The Buckeyes signed three players who will probably play safety.

Returning Starters: Curt Coleman (5-11, 185, rising junior), Anderson Russell (6-0, 190, rising redshirt junior)

Returning Backups: Aaron Gant (6-0, 205, rising junior), Jamario O'Neal (6-1, 200, rising senior)

Returning Scholarship Players: Nate Oliver (rising sophomore), Nick Patterson (rising redshirt senior), Rocco Pentello (rising redshirt freshman), Jermale Hines (rising sophomore)

Returning Walkons: Matt Daniels (rising 5th-year senior), Mike Dougherty (rising 5th-year senior)

Newcomers: Zach Domicone (6-3, 215), Travis Howard (6-1, 185), Orhian Johnson (6-4, 190)

Defensive Overview: Defense is a team effort, and OSU's overall defense should be better in 2008 simply because all of its parts should be better, but in particular the defensive line.

We expect the defensive line, particularly the interior defensive line, to be much better against both the run and the pass, and that will make the back seven that much better. A better pass rush will help the defensive backs and linebackers in coverage. Tougher play up front against he run will make an already-good linebacker corps all that much better.

Against the pass, Vernon Gholston will be missed, but we think the overall pass rush will be better, and pressure up the middle will disconcert quarterbacks. We also think that Thaddeus Gibson coming off the edge could be very good for the Buckeyes, and that will make the entire pass defense better.

Physical skills are one thing, but with the experience that's returning, the overall understanding of the defense by the players on the field should be better in 2008. That should mean that the OSU coaching staff will be able to do more in the way of scheme.

The lone chink in the armor for the OSU defense is the tendency to substitute situationally. Reliance on specialists is OK until you run into an offense like Illinois' which doesn't allow substitutions when it goes no-huddle. Also, by the end of the season the opposition has enough tape to know what defense you are playing based on your personnel package. We like situational substitutions, but there are times when finding out who your best 11 are and just letting them play no matter the situation will serve a defense well. The Buckeyes have to work on identifying that group for those occassions.

Coming Thursday, Special Teams

Offensive Outlook

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