BuckeyeRob wrote:

BuckMike wrote: IMO defense will be fine.  From the '13 schedule which offense scares you? 


2013
Buffalo (Aug. 31)
San Diego State (9/7)
at California (9/14)
Florida A&M (9/21)
Wisconsin (9/28)
at Northwestern (10/5)
Open (10/12)
Iowa (10/19)
Penn State (10/26)
at Purdue (11/2)
Open (11/9)
at Illinois (11/16)
Indiana (11/23)
at Michigan (11/30)

Well SDSU is a team that went 9-4 this season and returns I believe 16+ starters off that team.


Northwestern scares me big time.  They should have beaten Penn State, Michigan and Nebraska this year and they return a TON of people.  Next years team will be Fitzgerald's best by a wide margin.

Purdue traditionally always gives us trouble and now they have what I believe will turn out to be an elite guy in Hazell.

@Michigan... is Michigan

B.Y.U.  -  23

San Diego State - 6

on S.D. State's Home Field.

That is all you need to know!

Because Michigan sucks!

MWolverines15 wrote: Two years in a row of not playing anyone. Why is that?

---------------------------------------------
--- BuckMike wrote:

IMO defense will be fine.  From the '13 schedule which offense scares you? 


2013
Buffalo (Aug. 31)
San Diego State (9/7)
at California (9/14)
Florida A&M (9/21)
Wisconsin (9/28)
at Northwestern (10/5)
Open (10/12)
Iowa (10/19)
Penn State (10/26)
at Purdue (11/2)
Open (11/9)
at Illinois (11/16)
Indiana (11/23)
at Michigan (11/30)

---------------------------------------------

WRONG!

Vandy opened the 2012 season v. South Carolina at home. They said they would like to do that again, and are now opening the 2013 season at home v. Ole Miss.

I am sure the SEC would have worked the conference schedule to allow Vandy to play @ Ohio State IF Vandy wanted to do so.

But, Vandy wanted to open the season v. SEC opponent at home instead of at Ohio State.

Ohio State was replaced on their schedule with a home game v. Austin Peay.

Vandy also canceled a home and home for 2013 and 2014 with Northwestern.

Their 2013 non conference games are now Austin Peay, @ UMass, UAB, and Wake Forest.

ILoveCleveland wrote:

SurfOhio wrote:

MWolverines15 wrote: Two years in a row of not playing anyone. Why is that?

---------------------------------------------
--- BuckMike wrote:

IMO defense will be fine.  From the '13 schedule which offense scares you? 


2013
Buffalo (Aug. 31)
San Diego State (9/7)
at California (9/14)
Florida A&M (9/21)
Wisconsin (9/28)
at Northwestern (10/5)
Open (10/12)
Iowa (10/19)
Penn State (10/26)
at Purdue (11/2)
Open (11/9)
at Illinois (11/16)
Indiana (11/23)
at Michigan (11/30)

---------------------------------------------

san diego was going to be vanderbilt, and when vandy and cal were scheduled they were pretty good, vandy canceled out of fear at the last minute, luckily san diego was available as most schedules were solidified.

also your division is a cupcake, our third best team, blew out the winner on your side.

Vandy cancelled out due to scheduling conflicts with the SEC, not out of fear.

Remember, Vandy does play in the SEC. I'm pretty sure that they were not fearful of playing tOSU.

ILoveCleveland wrote:

SurfOhio wrote:

MWolverines15 wrote: Two years in a row of not playing anyone. Why is that?

---------------------------------------------
--- BuckMike wrote:

IMO defense will be fine.  From the '13 schedule which offense scares you? 


2013
Buffalo (Aug. 31)
San Diego State (9/7)
at California (9/14)
Florida A&M (9/21)
Wisconsin (9/28)
at Northwestern (10/5)
Open (10/12)
Iowa (10/19)
Penn State (10/26)
at Purdue (11/2)
Open (11/9)
at Illinois (11/16)
Indiana (11/23)
at Michigan (11/30)

---------------------------------------------

san diego was going to be vanderbilt, and when vandy and cal were scheduled they were pretty good, vandy canceled out of fear at the last minute, luckily san diego was available as most schedules were solidified.

also your division is a cupcake, our third best team, blew out the winner on your side.

Vandy cancelled out due to scheduling conflicts with the SEC, not out of fear.

Remember, Vandy does play in the SEC. I'm pretty sure that they were not fearful of playing tOSU.

Thank goodness we can get a ND fans opinion on this, I don't know what we would do without it.

I personally don't know why anyone would not be concerned about D for next year. I think this year's D was still weeding out the demons of the 2011 debacle, so time itself may help things improve. Regardless, this year's D was not very good and it is losing experience as it heads into next season.

There's talent to replace people - especially on the D line - but "talent" is to experience as an IOU is to a regular paycheck. I hope the new D-liners are good run stoppers and not just pass rushers. The concerns at LB were there this year - and next year will have no Sabino (or even a Boren, for that matter).

It should help that OSU's offense should be productive. It is also true that the schedule should help the new D get its act together. @Cal might be awkward, but they'll have a new coach. Wisky is an early test, but they also have regime change - and the game is in columbus. @NW might be tricky in the first half of the season, too, since they play an unusual style of offense and the game is on the road. Finally, it should help a lot that they'll have the first, transitional season under Meyer under their belts as they head into the off-season and preparations for next year.

One of the main questions for next season might be whether the D can become good enough for OSU to have a shot at top next season. The offense should be good, but if the D is not good enough they'll get exposed at some point - probably at a time when we would hope they would not.....

          Don't forget; these schedules aren't made the summer before the games are played.   When we scheduled Cal, they were a very good team with plenty of reason to assume they would continue to get better.   And they're in the Pac-12, which is great for the TV coverage dollars.   Following our home/away with them, we have Virginia Tech, Oklahoma, and perhaps North Carolina on the radar.   Other worthy adversaries are being scouted.

          I was impressed to see the wolverines finally step out of their comfort zone (where your best OOC game each year was the freaking Irish) to play Alabama.   But we've been doing that for years, having scheduled Texas, USC, and Miami (remember, the Hurricanes ended up being average, but we didn't have any reason to believe they would be when we scheduled the home/away).

          So don't you fret about TOSU.   We love the limelight of the games against high profile OOC opponents.   You'll see more of it...

MWolverines15 wrote: Two years in a row of not playing anyone. Why is that?

---------------------------------------------
--- BuckMike wrote:

IMO defense will be fine.  From the '13 schedule which offense scares you? 


2013
Buffalo (Aug. 31)
San Diego State (9/7)
at California (9/14)
Florida A&M (9/21)
Wisconsin (9/28)
at Northwestern (10/5)
Open (10/12)
Iowa (10/19)
Penn State (10/26)
at Purdue (11/2)
Open (11/9)
at Illinois (11/16)
Indiana (11/23)
at Michigan (11/30)

---------------------------------------------

ChiTownOSUnut wrote:

BuckMike wrote: IMO defense will be fine.  From the '13 schedule which offense scares you? 


2013
Buffalo (Aug. 31)
San Diego State (9/7)
at California (9/14)
Florida A&M (9/21)
Wisconsin (9/28)
at Northwestern (10/5)
Open (10/12)
Iowa (10/19)
Penn State (10/26)
at Purdue (11/2)
Open (11/9)
at Illinois (11/16)
Indiana (11/23)
at Michigan (11/30)

True, none have a scary Offense but that doesn't mean our D won't be a concern.

Who ever we get in the B1G CG and Bowl game will likely have a good offense.

We loose some great talent and leadership.

Luke and Co. will pull it together but to the OP. Yes, I am concerned at this moment.

maybe fans are more concerned with our bend but don't break schemes that sometimes make 2 star qb's look like top 5 nfl draft picks.

Bend don't break? Sorry....this is what OSU fans say when they don't know much about our team. Let me guess....soft zone coverages as well? Do you know how much we blitzed the 2nd half of the year? Are you going to play Cover 1 against teams that spread out 5 receivers with no back...wait don't answer that.

marlew45 wrote:

ChiTownOSUnut wrote:

BuckMike wrote: IMO defense will be fine.  From the '13 schedule which offense scares you? 


2013
Buffalo (Aug. 31)
San Diego State (9/7)
at California (9/14)
Florida A&M (9/21)
Wisconsin (9/28)
at Northwestern (10/5)
Open (10/12)
Iowa (10/19)
Penn State (10/26)
at Purdue (11/2)
Open (11/9)
at Illinois (11/16)
Indiana (11/23)
at Michigan (11/30)

True, none have a scary Offense but that doesn't mean our D won't be a concern.

Who ever we get in the B1G CG and Bowl game will likely have a good offense.

We loose some great talent and leadership.

Luke and Co. will pull it together but to the OP. Yes, I am concerned at this moment.

maybe fans are more concerned with our bend but don't break schemes that sometimes make 2 star qb's look like top 5 nfl draft picks.

naplesbuckeye2002 wrote: Bend don't break? Sorry....this is what OSU fans say when they don't know much about our team. Let me guess....soft zone coverages as well? Do you know how much we blitzed the 2nd half of the year? Are you going to play Cover 1 against teams that spread out 5 receivers with no back...wait don't answer that.

marlew45 wrote:

ChiTownOSUnut wrote:

BuckMike wrote: IMO defense will be fine.  From the '13 schedule which offense scares you? 


2013
Buffalo (Aug. 31)
San Diego State (9/7)
at California (9/14)
Florida A&M (9/21)
Wisconsin (9/28)
at Northwestern (10/5)
Open (10/12)
Iowa (10/19)
Penn State (10/26)
at Purdue (11/2)
Open (11/9)
at Illinois (11/16)
Indiana (11/23)
at Michigan (11/30)

True, none have a scary Offense but that doesn't mean our D won't be a concern.

Who ever we get in the B1G CG and Bowl game will likely have a good offense.

We loose some great talent and leadership.

Luke and Co. will pull it together but to the OP. Yes, I am concerned at this moment.

maybe fans are more concerned with our bend but don't break schemes that sometimes make 2 star qb's look like top 5 nfl draft picks.

sorry coach coombs,but against miami,uab,cal,ucf,ind,psu,neb,msu,and purdue,your db's were playing way off their man,sorta like a prevent,but hey we won!!!

marlew45 wrote:

naplesbuckeye2002 wrote: Bend don't break? Sorry....this is what OSU fans say when they don't know much about our team. Let me guess....soft zone coverages as well? Do you know how much we blitzed the 2nd half of the year? Are you going to play Cover 1 against teams that spread out 5 receivers with no back...wait don't answer that.

marlew45 wrote:

ChiTownOSUnut wrote:

BuckMike wrote: IMO defense will be fine.  From the '13 schedule which offense scares you? 


2013
Buffalo (Aug. 31)
San Diego State (9/7)
at California (9/14)
Florida A&M (9/21)
Wisconsin (9/28)
at Northwestern (10/5)
Open (10/12)
Iowa (10/19)
Penn State (10/26)
at Purdue (11/2)
Open (11/9)
at Illinois (11/16)
Indiana (11/23)
at Michigan (11/30)

True, none have a scary Offense but that doesn't mean our D won't be a concern.

Who ever we get in the B1G CG and Bowl game will likely have a good offense.

We loose some great talent and leadership.

Luke and Co. will pull it together but to the OP. Yes, I am concerned at this moment.

maybe fans are more concerned with our bend but don't break schemes that sometimes make 2 star qb's look like top 5 nfl draft picks.

sorry coach coombs,but against miami,uab,cal,ucf,ind,psu,neb,msu,and purdue,your db's were playing way off their man,sorta like a prevent,but hey we won!!!

forgot to ask naplesbuckeye2002,what years did you play at ohio-st??,and how many years did you play in the nfl??,and where are you coaching now??

It normally would be a BIG concern but With the easy schedule Ohio-ST has and your explosive offense returning, your defense should not hurt you guys that much (For the record I am not a fan of any team from your CONF)

Not concerned....Alot of freshman (D-line) mostly got good PT and got good experience.  We might not be as experienced as last year but faster.  LB position will be the biggest issue next year.  This past season the bar was lowered a bit so i'm hoping things can only get better and not worse.  We have the talent but not much experience like the DL freshman got.

Hey....just because you have no idea what coverage we were in doesn't mean that you won't be taken to task when you look foolish. You have no idea what you are talking about. Why would I have to be a coach or former player to understand defensive coverages. My god you're just not that bright.

marlew45 wrote:

marlew45 wrote:

naplesbuckeye2002 wrote: Bend don't break? Sorry....this is what OSU fans say when they don't know much about our team. Let me guess....soft zone coverages as well? Do you know how much we blitzed the 2nd half of the year? Are you going to play Cover 1 against teams that spread out 5 receivers with no back...wait don't answer that.

marlew45 wrote:

ChiTownOSUnut wrote:

BuckMike wrote: IMO defense will be fine.  From the '13 schedule which offense scares you? 


2013
Buffalo (Aug. 31)
San Diego State (9/7)
at California (9/14)
Florida A&M (9/21)
Wisconsin (9/28)
at Northwestern (10/5)
Open (10/12)
Iowa (10/19)
Penn State (10/26)
at Purdue (11/2)
Open (11/9)
at Illinois (11/16)
Indiana (11/23)
at Michigan (11/30)

True, none have a scary Offense but that doesn't mean our D won't be a concern.

Who ever we get in the B1G CG and Bowl game will likely have a good offense.

We loose some great talent and leadership.

Luke and Co. will pull it together but to the OP. Yes, I am concerned at this moment.

maybe fans are more concerned with our bend but don't break schemes that sometimes make 2 star qb's look like top 5 nfl draft picks.

sorry coach coombs,but against miami,uab,cal,ucf,ind,psu,neb,msu,and purdue,your db's were playing way off their man,sorta like a prevent,but hey we won!!!

forgot to ask naplesbuckeye2002,what years did you play at ohio-st??,and how many years did you play in the nfl??,and where are you coaching now??

I think the next load of dlineman will fall in place, but with the exception of shazier I am VERY concerned about the lb corps as are most others here.

Ohiost28 wrote: I think the next load of dlineman will fall in place, but with the exception of shazier I am VERY concerned about the lb corps as are most others here.

I agree with the LB corp.  I have a hunch that, by September, at least one youngster or 2nd-shot guy is going to suddenly step up.  I don't know why I have the hunch, but I just think someone is going to.  What OSU is going to need next year is leadership from whatever defensive vets they have.  A lot of young guys with some PT this year will be playing, but Simon and Williams won't be there to lead by example.  Maybe Shazier?

naplesbuckeye2002 wrote: Hey....just because you have no idea what coverage we were in doesn't mean that you won't be taken to task when you look foolish. You have no idea what you are talking about. Why would I have to be a coach or former player to understand defensive coverages. My god you're just not that bright.

marlew45 wrote:

marlew45 wrote:

naplesbuckeye2002 wrote: Bend don't break? Sorry....this is what OSU fans say when they don't know much about our team. Let me guess....soft zone coverages as well? Do you know how much we blitzed the 2nd half of the year? Are you going to play Cover 1 against teams that spread out 5 receivers with no back...wait don't answer that.

marlew45 wrote:

ChiTownOSUnut wrote:

BuckMike wrote: IMO defense will be fine.  From the '13 schedule which offense scares you? 


2013
Buffalo (Aug. 31)
San Diego State (9/7)
at California (9/14)
Florida A&M (9/21)
Wisconsin (9/28)
at Northwestern (10/5)
Open (10/12)
Iowa (10/19)
Penn State (10/26)
at Purdue (11/2)
Open (11/9)
at Illinois (11/16)
Indiana (11/23)
at Michigan (11/30)

True, none have a scary Offense but that doesn't mean our D won't be a concern.

Who ever we get in the B1G CG and Bowl game will likely have a good offense.

We loose some great talent and leadership.

Luke and Co. will pull it together but to the OP. Yes, I am concerned at this moment.

maybe fans are more concerned with our bend but don't break schemes that sometimes make 2 star qb's look like top 5 nfl draft picks.

sorry coach coombs,but against miami,uab,cal,ucf,ind,psu,neb,msu,and purdue,your db's were playing way off their man,sorta like a prevent,but hey we won!!!

forgot to ask naplesbuckeye2002,what years did you play at ohio-st??,and how many years did you play in the nfl??,and where are you coaching now??

that's what I thought,just another monday morning qb who knows everything,that put buckeye fans DOWN who has a different view point than yours,sorry you didn't get enough hugs as a CHILD!!!

Yes, the defensive line was quite good and will be really young next year. There is a good chance we don't make the championship game for 2-3 years. This was our year, but Gene Smith blew it.

Stellar wrote: Anybody whose not at least somewhat concerned about the defense next year isn't paying attention.  We return just 4 starters, provided Roby comes back, and only have 2 seniors on the whole defense.  We have a lot of holes to fill.  There is talent in place to fill those holes, but which ones and how soon they will be ready, as well as how they will play together, remains to be seen.

We lose our entire starting DL, and while the young talent is in place to replace them it's just that - young all across the board. Guys who were all role players last year have to step up and be the feature guys.  

We've got some serious holes at LB with Shazier the only guy whose proven he can be counted on up to this point.  Somebody needs to step up there in a big way.

We do have some good veteran talent in the secondary, particularly at safety, but if Roby were to go pro then we would be seriously green at CB as well.

As I said before, the good thing is we do have a lot of young talent in place.  But talent and production are not necessarily the same thing.  Our Defensive coaches have their work cut out for them putting all the pieces together and getting these guys ready for prime time.

Yeah there seems to be a lot of delusion going around in this thread.

Nobody said we won't win games.  I think it's safe to assume the offense will explode. . .more than enough to compensate for an iffy defense but. . .

I don't care how good. ..how talented. ..how highly rated a HS kid is, at a school like Ohio State, he won't be better than a multi-year starter.  We do have kids that have been in the rotation who are returning on the DL, but at LB, it's a different story.  We saw 5-star LBs COMPLETELY fall off the radar from spring through the season.  As Stellar said, If you aren't concerned. . .then you aren't paying attention.

No don't correlate concern with panic.  In 2006, we returned 9 starters on defense and did more than fine till the championship game. . .where as they say. . .defense wins championship. . .and ours had no answer for Florida (or Michigan for that matter).  In 2013 we won't have THAT much turnover, and we should have an even better offense, so. . .I most certainly have hope.  No reason not to.

Will Michigan's defense be any better next year, or can we put that one in the win column, rivalry game notwithstanding?

Concerns about the D in 2013. Absolutely. They are minor though. Hankins and Simon are a huge loss but I see the DL being just as tough. Our OOC schedule is very weak and will allow the defense to develop. Amazed at how Boren switched from FB to MLB this year. I trust Urban and I see a much faster DL and attacking LBer's. You do not have to have the greatest players playing as long as they know the assignments they are issued. I see a much more attacking team on defense. The defense will be just fine next year and will be able to play with anyone.
 Urban Meyer will play each and every player to keep them fresh.
 
  My concern is we score to quickly in every game and put the defense on the field to long.