This is driving me nuts. We've conceded 5-yard receptions all season long. When we're having tackling issues the last thing we want is to give these receivers a running start and space to operate with the ball. I understand UAB liked to throw the ball down the field in their first few games, but you have to expect them to make an adjustment to account for the Ohio State pass rush. My single biggest disappointment this season has probably been with the defensive staff. BTW, what was that punt formation? UAB was clearly going for the block, how was that not audible'd out of. It's not all bad though. 4-0 and still a lot of room for improvement.
The silver lining is the 4-0 record.............. The issues we are having in the first 4 games will end up costing us a game or two down the road........... I keep going back to the linebackers...........there struggles are effecting the whole defense....
I feel like they are not adjusting during the game............the comments after the game by Withers concerns me on many different levels.............. Coach Withers...........this is Ohio State...........not North Carolina where if you win they are happy....... People in Columbus are going to eat you for breakfast with that attitude...........
Not enough urgency on defense by all 11 at the same time. I see our LB group walking too much and DB's either out of position or doing the same. D-line is playing very aggressive! All 4 hustling and getting after it. LB's and DB's not playing hard/aggressive 4-6 seconds of every play. Calling bubble-screen, traps, etc. will work against us and cost us a game until the back 7 get on script. Go Bucks!
Exactly! I remember two years ago when our special teams were terrible and it kept getting down-played. Then Wisconsin takes the opening KO back for a TD. We need to get these “small” things corrected because they are becoming huge problems.
Pretty simple; see ball, bite ball! Wrap and squeeze, pinch the hamstrings of guy carrying the ball and watch it pop out! Time to get nasty w/tackling and follow up hitting on D. Go Bucks!
Scout.com$ Sunday Observation: UAB............The Ohio State football team probably didn't win with as much style as Urban Meyer would have liked in its 29-15 win over UAB on Saturday. Meyer, however, will settle for winning his fourth game in as many tries. Get all the initial talking points in the latest version of View From Press Row.
Exactly right! Our LB's look lost, Shazier when he is wrapping up is the only one making plays. Sabino is the same old Sabino, makes mistakes, has a decent hard hit every once in a while. Grant and Klein look lost. Our LB corps is definitely scary to me, but I agree with you in that fact that talent seems to be a key here.
I honestly think that our problem is we don't have that true MLB that is always in the right position and makes consistent plays (Hawk, Laurinaitas, Rolle, etc). We don't have to have a star at that possition, but you need a guy that is in the right spot on every play so a 4 yard run is a 4 yard run, and not a 15+ yard run... I also think we will be much improved with Roby and Grant at CBs... You are at such and advantage when you have 2 shutdown CBs that can play man to man so you can afford to blitz whenever the hell you want... If we can fix the tackling issue, we could turn the struggles around on D and finish the season un-beaten...It's possible
Is it perhaps because of our linebackers that we're playing our receivers so far off? Are they thinking that they want the secondary there in case a run play gets by the linebackers and if they played press coverage then they'd basically be conceding a touchdown? Or are they just really badly telegraphing Cover 3 ?
Finally heard the audio of Withers's "give a shit" comment. It was said tongue-and-cheek. Not as bad as the way I initially read it.