Changing the subject: for all of OSU's keeps and portal pickups, did they find any "aliens" at defensive tackle?

Submitted by tah15 on January 23rd, 2024 at 9:10 PM

There's a lot of energy around what OSU is retaining and bringing in for next year, but it seems the most important position on the field for determining National Championships the last couple years has been dominant defensive tackle play (see such "aliens" as Jalen Carter, Mason Graham, and Kenneth Grant). Will it really matter what offensive weapons they have if the line of scrimmage is still getting mutilated by Grant and Graham over and over again? Conversely, do they have anyone that can inflict that kind of damage when they don't have the ball?

Okay, did that get the subject changed? Thanks Coach Harbaugh for taking an extended sabbatical from your regular job as one of the best NFL coaches out there. You brought us back! Now go get you one! (And keep Sherrone well-supplied with the NFL DC internship program, thanks!). 

Football

Bo Harbaugh

January 23rd, 2024 at 9:56 PM ^

They are still just good and not elite in the trenches, on both sides of the ball.

They don't have a Burrow type QB to make up for it.

Georgia will be better and probably the favorite next year.

If UM's defense remains elite and O-line gels, The Game will be a toss up once again.

Joined: 08/03/2019

MGoPoints: 38615

WestQuad

January 24th, 2024 at 8:38 AM ^

That'll be the best Orji ever!  

Does anyone know how good of a passer Orji is?   Can he read defenses?   We ran so much this last year, does he have to be a great passer?   Did Jack Tuttle get his 7th year?   Are our QBs at least decent game manager types, or are they (god bless them) Nick Sheridan/Steven Threet/John O'Korn level?  (All of those guys were warriors who put it all on the line for Michigan.)   Alan Bowman did fairly well of Okie St.

Joined: 07/22/2011

MGoPoints: 31146

Brimley

January 24th, 2024 at 9:41 AM ^

My idiotic opinion (I'm quite aware that I'm a C- football student; tries hard, not very smart): don't sleep on Jadyn Davis. He's not the 6-4, cannon arm QB with measurables to Neptune that make analysts drool but he just keeps doing enough. The hardest thing to measure is football IQ and my sense is that he's got that. It's possible that by the end of the year, with the Bowl practices and some Kirk Campbell coaching, he just might be the best option.

Joined: 03/22/2011

MGoPoints: 11661

Perkis-Size Me

January 24th, 2024 at 10:02 AM ^

I don't think anyone is "sleeping" on Jadyn. We all know he's the future and his play speaks for itself. But at the end of the day, he's still a true freshman. And unless you're Trevor Lawrence, handing the reigns of an entire offense over to a true freshman QB is usually never a recipe for success. 

Maybe it gives him a year to "take his lumps" and be even more ready for 2025, but I would not expect big things from him next year. I just hope we see signs of what's to come, and steady progression as the season goes along.

Joined: 11/30/2011

MGoPoints: 105740

Midukman

January 24th, 2024 at 6:24 AM ^

It’s funny to read. We just won a championship yet they’re convinced our program is in the shitter. If we get investigated for farting on public transit, how the hell can the ncaa not sniff around them spending north of 15 million to beat us? Until I see an OSU team play with the same edge that Urbans teams had I’ll remain skeptical. 

Joined: 09/13/2018

MGoPoints: 15906

NeverPunt

January 23rd, 2024 at 11:27 PM ^

While true it does seem like OSU is building….basically a weirder version of their team this year? Decent but unspectacular back, decent to totally unknown but unspectacular qb options, good but not elite WRs…and a good defense except for if they have to play big boy football in the trenches. 

OSU won titles on the back of top tier qbs, elite elite WRs and RBs, and offensive lines that dominated in the trenches. I think their D will be pretty damn good but a middling qb and some highly rated freshmen, the shitty bama center and a good enough RB aren’t making me shit my pants

Joined: 03/26/2019

MGoPoints: 41187

BlueTimesTwo

January 24th, 2024 at 10:10 AM ^

Neither OSU nor Bama could beat Michigan, so they decided to combine their teams into an all-star team and see if that will be enough.  Hopefully bringing in me-first guys like Judkins will continue their culture/chemistry/toughness issues.  If they can't win with all of the guys that they brought (bought?) this year, then their fans will absolutely lose it.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 13407

Laser Wolf

January 24th, 2024 at 8:06 AM ^

Quinshon Judkins is a beast. 2,725 yards rushing and 31 TDs across two years at Ole Miss and seems to have the ability to catch the ball if someone would build it into the gameplan. I just wonder how they split the work between Henderson and Judkins. Where Corum and Edwards have differing and complementary skill sets, Henderson and Judkins are a lot the same guy in my eyes. Feel like someone is ending up unhappy as the season goes along there.

Joined: 07/09/2008

MGoPoints: 33416

iMBlue2

January 23rd, 2024 at 9:17 PM ^

Well the media all think tyliek Williams will be the second coming of Mason Graham based on the one somewhat decent game he had against M.  Media darlings those buckeyes winning the offseason as per usual but walking away with nothing when the games have to be played.  The Mike Mamula of college programs.  

Joined: 11/24/2017

MGoPoints: 15871

SagNasty

January 23rd, 2024 at 10:05 PM ^

I’m interested to see if they actually play like a team. Any adversity and that locker room could crumble. They do have a very favorable schedule though. 

Joined: 06/22/2011

MGoPoints: 931