Defensive Breakdown

D-Line

Loosing 2^nd Team All Big Ten defensive end, Vernon Gholston, would slow down any teams pass rush. Except by the end of this season many fans will have forgotten about Gholston due to the play of Lawrence Wilson. Wilson, who was the starter opposite Gholston at D-End last season, went down in week one due to a broken leg. But know he is back and is poised to replace Gholston as the main sack artist for the Buckeyes. Thaddeus Gibson joins Gholston at the other defensive end position. This converted linebacker has incredible speed and drive and enough athletic ability to play safety. Look for Thaddeus to surprise some people with Wilson requiring some double teams. For the rest of the line the Buckeyes have a solid mix of seniors and younger talent and Tressel likes to give all of them some playing time. The rotation includes Cameron Heyward, Rob Rose, Doug Worthington, Nader Abdallah, Todd Denlinger, and Dexter Larimore. If this is Ohio States one weakness it is the lack of a third or fourth stand out on the defensive line. Although, I believe that it speaks more to their depth and dedication than anything else. Each one of these players has the ability to be “the guy” but with them all fighting hard for playing time it will be hard for Tressel to keep any of them off the field.

Defensive Backs

Three words, Malcolm Jenkins Period. Jenkins possesses all of the skill and talent to be a number one cover corner in the NFL now. Passing up the draft Malcolm returned to Ohio State as their number one defensive back and the number one defensive back in the nation. At 6-1 220 he has great size and strength and his 4.3, 40 doesn’t hurt either. Even with the suspensions of the number two corner Donald Washington and maybe the best athlete in the secondary, JaMario O’Neal, the buckeyes have plenty of depth to make up for it. Andre Amos returns to the field after fighting through injuries. He is a smart, competitive player who adds more 4.4 speed to the secondary. He is working on becoming more physical and is starting his fourth year in this system as a Jr. Sophomore surprise Chimdi Chekwa, who is a sprinter on the track team, is one of the most versatile components of the veteran secondary. He possesses excellent man-to-man coverage skills and good speed and athletic ability. At the safety position Juniors Anderson Russell and Kurt Coleman are returning starters and fierce competitors. Coleman who is a beast in the weight room has shown flashes of following in the footsteps of great Ohio State safeties but has had trouble with finishing big plays and making interceptions. Russell struggles with the same things but brings loads of experience and his ability to play either safety as well as nickel back. Dropped interceptions have plagued the back end of the secondary but were a major emphasis in the spring. I expect major improvements from the secondary in that respect.

Linebackers

The buckeyes not only have one of the best inside linebackers in the nation, James Laurinaitis, but they also posses another top 10 linebacker in Marcus Freeman. Laurinaitis is a returning All-American, Butkus and Nagurski Award winner and one of the most proficient linebackers in the college ranks today. He has the ability to stuff the run, bring down the quarterback and drop back in coverage. Laurinaitis has 7 interceptions in his career at Ohio State. Freeman is coming off of a 109 tackle season and if he can pull off another season of 100+ tackles it will help this Ohio State team continue its dominance. Tyler Moeller, Austin Spitler and Curtis Terry, who also has seen some time at FB during spring practice, bring lots of talent and game experience to the position. The most exciting players in this core might be youngsters Brian Rolle and Etienne Sabino. Rolle has put in time as a special team’s standout last season and should see some good fill in time this year. Sabino a true freshman looks to be in line to become another great OSU linebacker.