Snowflakes Thread: Defense vs. Ohio State

Submitted by LSAClassOf2000 on

I am actually in Ann Arbor using a browser on a small tablet, so if this works, awesome for me (not for the game) - 

This will be your thread for snowflakes and hot takes regarding the defense and defensive playcalling versus Ohio State. 

Those of you talking about LBs in particular....yeah, I would agree.

victors2000

November 28th, 2015 at 4:58 PM ^

Coach Hoke wanted 'Manball' kinda guys like the good ole days without thinking Coach Bo moved away from it when FSU speed carved up the team back in '91. This game really displays how much Coach Harbaugh has done for the team to get them to 9-3 but it also contrasts the disparity between talent of 'The Game' rivals; we are miles behind them and it's going to take years to catch up to the Buckeyes in that department.

reshp1

November 28th, 2015 at 6:50 PM ^

Eh.. The buckeyes didn't run by our guys today, they ran through them. It wasn't a manball vs spread defense (Peppers is pretty much the quintessential anti spread player), just a plain talent disparity, especially with Mone, Glasgow, and Ojemudia all out.

CR7

November 28th, 2015 at 3:48 PM ^

6 in the box against 5 OL, a TE, Barrett and Elliot is how you get 4 bills rung up on you. Having safeties 15 yards deep; likewise. He easily could've mitigated our LBs deficiencies with numbers but didn't.




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Logan_Howlett

November 28th, 2015 at 4:09 PM ^

I don't diagree with both of your points, there is an element of scheme and play calling in what lead to this ridiculous outcome. But, my point is that even when the right calls were made, our players and leaders did not make the plays that they were in position for. Durkin is the easy scapegoat, and he could have improved on what he put out there, but he is not tackling for Bolden, or making the read for James Ross. Players need to execute and perform when they are in position to. 

Logan_Howlett

November 28th, 2015 at 4:09 PM ^

I don't diagree with both of your points, there is an element of scheme and play calling in what lead to this ridiculous outcome. But, my point is that even when the right calls were made, our players and leaders did not make the plays that they were in position for. Durkin is the easy scapegoat, and he could have improved on what he put out there, but he is not tackling for Bolden, or making the read for James Ross. Players need to execute and perform when they are in position to. 

TomJ

November 28th, 2015 at 5:27 PM ^

I was at the game (pity me) and you could see it coming. Michigan had NO chance with so few guys in the box and they never adjusted. N. E. V. E. R. Urban said, OK by me, and ran it down their throat. 

Durkin never adjusted.

I think in the last two weeks I've seen the two worst defensive schemes in college football all season: OSU vs. MSU, and MI vs. OSU. And Michigan's was worse because MSU layed out the blueprint for how to control OSU's running game and Michigan did the exact opposite.

bamf16

November 28th, 2015 at 7:28 PM ^

It's more than just guys in the box.  It's what they do.

With a 3 man front, you HAVE to activate your linebackers and even your safeties as part of the rush.  Today, 3 men rushed 6 and a bunch of linebackers got engaged by guards 4 yards downfield.

The DL was destroyed by injuries lately, so I can understand the call to go to a 3 man line with  any 3 of Ross, Bolden, Gedeon, Morgan behind them, but Christ Almighty, you can't just have them standing flat footed when the ball is snapped all the time.

Logan_Howlett

November 28th, 2015 at 3:38 PM ^

That's the story of the game right there.. our poor linebacker play and lack of establishing the line of scrimmage. We let them dictate the pace and run at will. I wouldn't be surprised if we had more missed tacklen than total plays. Very disappointing. And of course, nothing worse than seeing the stupid red banner they put up, the O-H-I-O chant at our home field, and Urban's smug ass running up the score and celebrating fo what seemed like the entire 4th quarter... fist pumping, smirking, high fiving, etc. This game reinforces our needs at the D-line and linebackers.

AZBlue

November 28th, 2015 at 3:46 PM ^

Hoke's recruiting finally bites us in the ass on D. I am sure these LBs are decent to good against power teams - Iowa, WI, MSU etc - but he never recruited ANY speed at LB. The DL helped hide/minimize the deficiencies until injuries proved too much (not sure we would have done a whole lot better with Glasgow and Ojemudia). As a glass half-full type I am confident that things will go up from here. VERY happy this was not for the division title as it would suck that much more in my eyes.

JT4104

November 28th, 2015 at 3:34 PM ^

It was a bad game overall in parts of the game. Pretty obvious the drop from 1st team to 2nd team on this program. There is no depth and it really showed today. Injuries hurt and lack of recruiting to fill said positions was glaring.

It's gonna take another year or two before the depth is properly built up and balanced.

bamf16

November 28th, 2015 at 3:43 PM ^

All day today, DJ Durkin called a bunch of 3 man fronts against six man lines with no pressure coming from the 2nd level.  So flat footed linebackers get to deal with guards locking in on them 4 yards downfield.

 

It's the exact. same. nonsense we saw with the glorious 3-3-5 under Greg Robinson, a DC whose forte was not designing & calling elaborate blitzes from the LBs.  With 3 man fronts, you HAVE to support it with attacking LBs and DBs from the next level.

 

Today, Durkin inexplicably channeled his inner Greg Robinson.

The Dude

November 28th, 2015 at 6:20 PM ^

This was driving me crazy. I was expecting 5 on the line, 8 in the box, blitzing and or stunting. Doing whatever it took to force the Buckeyes to throw the ball. I full expect whatever SEC team they play in a bowl to copy the Ohio State and Indiana offense. 

BlueArcflash

November 28th, 2015 at 3:48 PM ^

harbaugh did great considering the wasteland left by hoke and funk. gotta buy the good recruits and be patient. this isn't ohio after tressel bought 5 stars for years.

ThirdVanGundy

November 28th, 2015 at 3:50 PM ^

I hope someone overtakes Gedeon next year. He's the same as Morgan and Bolden to my knowledge. Slow as hell.

Pit2047

November 28th, 2015 at 3:55 PM ^

I actually thought Gedeon was the best looking guy out there today at LB. Physical, got off some blocks and actually wrapped on tackles. And as bad as Bolden has looked pretty much his entire career, what really scares me is that I think the LB's will be worse next year.

RagingBean

November 28th, 2015 at 3:51 PM ^

Dunno if Brian's UFR will verify this, but it felt like OSU schemed to put Bolden on the spot. That went about as we might have expected. Disappointed that Durkin didn't have more wrinkles here. First time all year that it felt like we were just plain outschemed.