Defensive Line Set to Lead the Buckeye Defense
Not since the days of Will Smith AKA “The Fresh Prince of Columbus,” has an Ohio State defense been lead by the front four. Ever since the 2003 season, the Buckeyes have featured linebacking corps that have been the best part of the defense, this season, the defensive line is set to steal the show.
Eight deep at defensive end, EIGHT DEEP, the Buckeyes arguably have one of the best pass rushing crews in the country, mainly led by Thaddeus Gibson, Cameron Heyward and Nathan Williams. Aside from these three, Jim Heacock’s defense features a trio of skilled rushers in senior Lawrence Wilson, out of Akron’s St Vincent-St Mary’s High School, is returning from injury and is remembered for a spectacular 2006 season where aside from Vernon Gholston, Wilson was the top end on the line. Along with Wilson, Ohio State throws out Robert Rose, a big run stuffer from Cleveland Glenville, Melvin Fellows, a Sergio Kindle like player from Youngstown and Willie Mobley, another run stuffer who excels in the pass rush and he is out of Minnesota. The Buckeyes hope to improve on the 21 times they got to the quarterback, with Gibson leading the way with five.
With a cornerstone pass rusher on the right end, the linebacking corps should be given a break with the newfound loss of Tyler Moeller, who was punched in the head while in Florida on vacation which demanded surgery and a break from football for 2009. Expected to start is Etienne Sabino at middle linebacker and on the edges are Brian Rolle and Ross Homan.
Looking for a new identity, this Buckeye defense is very drastically changed from the teams of the past three seasons, a group that went 33-6 and 0-3 in bowl games, all BCS contests. Led by two Florida boys in Sabino and Rolle, this defense looks to be more coverage oriented as the line will get better pressure and will need to in order to be more successful.
Lining up at the two tackle spots will likely rotate between Doug Worthington, Todd Denlinger, Dex Larimore, Garrett Goebell and Adam Bellamy, a stud freshman who helped stall the Eastmoor rushing attack in the state championship last season for Aurora High School. Cameron Heyward is also expected to play some defensive end as the junior has bulked up in an effort by Heacock to utilize the speed on the ends.
The true test for this run defense will be in the first two games as the Buckeyes play Navy and USC. The Midshipmen feature a triple option attack that ran for over 200 yards a game last season and should be a great tune-up for USC, who is as deep at running back, if not deeper than Ohio State is at defensive end. The Trojans like to throw out CJ Gable, Joe McKnight and Stafon Johnson for the most part, all three could start anywhere in the country and USC also has seen much improvement in Mark Tyler, whom Pete Carroll said, “he will get on the field alot this fall.” With such a thick stable of backs, the defensive line must step up and stop the run then utilize the athleticism in Gibson and Williams to get to whoever starts for the Trojans, but the good thing is that not one of the potential starters has started a game since 2007, as Mitch Mustain split time with Casey Dick for Arkansas as a true freshman. Showcasing young and inexperienced linebackers and secondary, the line is the best part of a defense that hopes to improve on the 13.1 points per game given up in 2008, good for 7th in the country.
