Big Ten 2010 // Ohio State's Greatest Strength - Run Defense
by Jonathan Franz on May 26, 2010 12:15 AM CDT
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There are a lot of things to love about Ohio State this season: a USC-esque stable of dynamite running backs, a giant stiff-arming gazelle behind center, one of the best wide receiver corps since 2006, Cameron "Hippo" Heyward on the defensive line, tackling machines Ross Homan and Brian Rolle -- the list goes on and on. But individual superlatives are flashes in the pan compared to the strength of the scarlet's front seven. For the last half decade, Ohio State has hung its hat on its ability to suffocate (or, at least, severely truncate) opponents on run downs. Take a look at where the Buckeyes have ranked nationally the past five seasons in run defense:
| Year | National Rank |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 15 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 7 |
These finishes are all the more impressive in a run-obsessed league like the Big Ten, where a "cloud of dust" seems to perpetually float between the hashes. Athletic defensive ends, strong interior tackles, and fundamentally sound linebacker play makes running off-tackle against the Buckeyes a little like putting your bare hand in an anaconda's face. Last year, a defensive line led by Cameron Heyward and Thaddeus Gibson "disrupted" ground games from State College to Eugene. All-conference running backs, Evan Royster (13 attempts, 36 yards) and John Clay (20 attempts, 59 yards) were held dramatically below their season averages. Oregon came into the Rose Bowl boasting one of the Top 5 rushing attacks in the nation, a unit that ran for over 250 yards five times -- and limped out with just 179 yards (18 of which were credited to LeGarrette Blount on a drive killing fumble into the endzone). The unit routinely "covered" for a lackluster offense.
Before.
After.
However you spin it, Ohio State broke the resolve of many an opponent.
Now, I know what you're thinking. That was then, this is now. A great deal of the scarlet's success up front in 2009 was attributable to Jim Heycock's patented "9-man" rotation. Ohio State routinely scrolled through a reservoir of capable linemen, often playing 9 different guys before the end of the first quarter. That ridiculous depth, and the fresh legs it wrought, kept Ohio State energetic and aggressive in the trenches. The Buckeyes lost two starters off the line, senior Doug Worthington and junior Thaddeus Gibson, but as one source reports, that's only half the story, "...three senior backups are gone - Todd Denlinger, Lawrence Wilson and Rob Rose. All three played in more than 40 career games."
So why am I more confident now than ever that Ohio State will continue to emasculate opponents? It's the returning one/two punch of (Dexter) Larimore/Heyward and Homan/Rolle. The big men up front are ready for an every down workload -- while Homan might be on the cusp of a Butkus-caliber season. Familiar names like Nathan Williams, John Simon, and Solomon Thomas, as well as up-and-comers Garrett Goebel and Keith Wells will help forge a talented two deep. The size and speed of the Buckeye's front seven will allow it to continue to prey on the I Form.
This week...
MONDAY: Spring Field Guide
TUESDAY: Achilles Heel
WEDNESDAY: Greatest Strength
THURSDAY: MVP Profile
FRIDAY: Keeping the Enemy Close
***
More Big Ten 2010...
Indiana | Michigan | Illinois | Minnesota | Purdue | Michigan State | Northwestern | Wisconsin | Penn State | Iowa
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I tend to agree.
The D-Line anchored the defense last year, and probably will next year as well. If we had a little more experience in the running back position I think that would be the greatest strength. I’m covering the D-Line tommorow, so we’ll see how that turns out.
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by Ian_InsideTheShoe on May 26, 2010 5:48 AM CDT reply actions
This is the strength?
Recent history says yes, but 5 of last year’s 9-man rotation on the d-line are now gone, and this is the strength? There’s no facet of OSU’s team that should be stronger than a unit returning half of its players that played meaningful downs?
It would’ve been difficult to write, and it was certainly touched on yesterday, but I would say that this team’s greatest strength is its apparent lack of any weaknesses. This is an OSU team that on both defense and offense opponents will be forced to pick their poison and hope for mistakes, rather than try to find a good mismatch.
The run defense might end up being the strongest aspect of this team, but the thought that it’s the strength right now shows somewhat of a lack of confidence in the players and coaching staff to improve (or make more consistent) other areas.
No alarms and no surprises please.
I like the way you think.
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by Ian_InsideTheShoe on May 26, 2010 6:36 AM CDT up reply actions
Completely agree.
The line (and by extension, front 7 in general) may well be the strength of this team (this is OSU after all), but I refuse to believe they can sustain last years production after losing over half of the producers. Sure Heyward is effing nasty, but he’s one man. I think OSU and PSU are in similar boats, in that their oft-reliable front seven are “relatively” unknown this year, and to folks outside of Columbus and Happy Valley may be cause for concern. But I’ll believe both are as strong as history suggests when I see it.
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by Jeff Junstrom on May 26, 2010 8:03 AM CDT up reply actions
Here's the main thrust of LB's point
In my opinion, we shouldn’t go all “depth chart” on analyzing OSU’s front 7 and the rush D. Frankly, OSU just has a recent history of being tough up front, no matter who you plug in. Michigan was the same way for years and years – In 2006, they allowed something like 30 yards rushing a game. It just seemed that future NFLers were replaced by just-as-capable bullheaded linemand and LB’s.
by Graham Filler on May 26, 2010 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions
I agree with this.
But, as I stated, people outside Columbus and Happy Valley will argue that both front sevens are weak, because of attrition. Both OSU and PSU have tradition in putting out nasty DL/LB corps, so a perceived lack of depth does not mean a weakness until it turns into an actual weakness in actual gameplay.
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by Jeff Junstrom on May 26, 2010 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions
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