Their playing to Rolles strengths. He's a go, go, downhill type guy. To have him sit back and read/reactive would take away a lot of his upside. He's basically wired like a Mike in a WIll body.

Duane - If not Spitler, who would you put at SLB?

written by Rolle @ mike, August 16, 2009
Their playing to Rolles strengths. He's a go, go, downhill type guy. To have him sit back and read/reactive would take away a lot of his upside. He's basically wired like a Mike in a WIll body.

Good post.

I know we have been hearing about how strong Spitler is and so on. But how athletic is he really? I am a big Lauranitis fan, but athletically I think he was a bit behind compared to the other nationally hyped guys. Haven't the last three linebacking classes been by far the most athletic the OSU has brought in in a long time? Maybe OSU might be seeing the end of the overachieving Linebacking prospects?

"Maybe OSU might be seeing the end of the overachieving Linebacking prospects?"

As opposed to underachieving or achieving the appropriate amount? I hope not.

Duane, what happened to the quote function?

Considering the talk about changing defensive schemes, and maintaing the same personnel on the field, are the traditional jobe of most of the positions still relevant. Also, how many teams are going to try to run it down our throat? As the game evolves, so our defensenses evolve also.

The Dispatch had a really nice article on Spitler today.
Up to the time Tyler was hurt I would have advocated more of a 3-4-4 base defense. But even with Tyler out, I can't see Spitler moved to OLB. He is a MIKE if there ever was one. I don't know that Rolle is one for coverage, but Spitler isn't neccessarily one either. Does Hines move up, does Bell get groomed quicker, does Homan play the Star?
I am with you on this one.

I don't see Rolle as a MIKE either, but the point of him being wired like a MIKE in a WILL body is a good one. The LB situation lends to something I started thinking about last year; being a "starter" at certain positions may not mean what it used to. Not just at OSU, but many teams might start using different starters for different teams. Case in point, I'm confident in Hines playing star against michigan or Illinois, but not against Wisconsin or Penn State.

It's pure bunk that Laurinaitis was not a super athlete. He was plenty fast for a LB and moved exceedingly well sideline to sideline and in coverage. His only weakness was lack of exceptional physicality at the point of attack, and sometimes didn't shed blockers on the inside runs fast enough. But, he also played last year when the DT play was subpar, to say the least. JL's performance improved during the course of they as the DT play improved. He was a great blitzer and play maker and dished out some very tough hits. He also had very good football instincts. He earned every distinction he received. Flat 40 speed is far from a good indicator of LB performance. Some OSU fans are very spoiled--they need a reality check. For me, it was great watching him play. No LB is exceptional in every area of his game. OSU fans were treated to an exceptional middle linebacker who had tons of athletic and play making ability.

1buckfaninmich-"It's pure bunk that Laurinaitis was not a super athlete...His only weakness was lack of exceptional physicality at the point of attack, and sometimes didn't shed blockers on the inside runs fast enough."

I wasn't saying that James was not a very good athlete. But He wasn't up the same athletic level the other elite LB's were. You are right about him not shedding blocks very well, and he didn't have any help in that matter. But he consistently stood runners in place when they had a head of steam and he never gave an inch. He was a great LB for the way the Big Ten Plays ball (as of the last few years), but he was overmatched athletically against LSU and USC. He just couldn't get to those sidelines like he could against some of the other big ten runners. If he wasn't the great student of the game and the workhorse of the team, he would have been a average collegiate LB. It will be more obvious when we have superior athletes on the field this year.

Crazy:

What other elite linebackers are you referring to who were on another athletic level than James? Sorry, I've watched a lot of college football over the last 3 years (when James played) and believe that athletically, he matches up well with any other elite linebacker during that period. I don't think he was overmatched athletically against LSU or USC, either. The DTs were terrible against SC, and allowed the center and guards to attack JL. The DTs did not play well against LSU, either, but James made 19 tackles that night. Could he have played better in those games if he had been able to shed blockers faster and be more physical? Yes, but that does not mean he was on a lower level athletically than other elite linebackers. Sideline to sideline and blitzing he was as good as anyone in the country. Some of the young pups at OSU may be a bit faster, but believe me, they have big shoes to fill in replacing Laurinaitis. Hopefully, the DTs will be better from the get-go this year. I think our current LB corps has great potential, but they will need to prove their worth on the field. JL has already done that in spades.

Patrick Willis, Lawrence Timmons, Paul Posluzny,Jon Beason, Ernie Sims, Jerod Mayo, Curtis Lofton, Keith Rivers, Xavier Adibi,Marcus Howard and the list goes on.... But, I don't think those guys knew the game the same that James did. He was as passionate about being a LB and being a Buckeye. The reason he was great, was the fact that he knew the game, he knew the opposing offenses, and he knew how to play the game.

I worry more about Spitler taking reps from true outside backers than Rolle in the midddle. Rolle does fit more of a need against modern offenses. Spitler can not play the game at the speed required with body control. I don't care what his straight ahead 40 time is. Just watch the spring game. Ray small's TD just before half, Spitler has Small pinned to the sideline and is coming across and Small jump, stops, and cuts back into the open field on him and moves up field for the score. Spitler caught nothing but air. It was apparent he can not operate while at full speed because it wasn't even close. Teams would/should walk backs and the TE out if he is at SAM. They WR or even backs catching designed screens in his area will have to eventually be curtailed by the saftey or even corner because he will be on ice skates. He would be a perfect fit 20+ years ago.

Crazy:

I can see that you are aptly named--I don't have time right now to go through your entire list (will do so if you'd like), but the fact that you would put Sims and Posluzny at another level athletically than Laurinaitis is an absolute joke. Sims was a hard hitter, but not much in coverage--although I have a lot of respect for him as a LB, I think Sims was quite limited athletically, and James is a better blitzer, sideline to sideline player, and much better in coverage. Posluzny made a lot of plays all over the field, but so did James. Laurinaitis was at least his equal athletically. As for Rivers, he was a good player, but overhyped by the SC publicity machine. In the games I watched him play, he was far from a dominating presence. When a team played OSU, they had to account for JL on every play--not so with Rivers. Need I go on? And, are you really a Buckeye fan, or someone with an axe to grind?

1buckfaninmich I am a true Buckeye Fan! I apologize for getting you so fired up about this, but it was just a point I thought needed to be made. Our affection for Lauranitis has some people blind. It is obvious you are well versed in Buckeye LB's, and you make great arguements. I am going to leave the arguement where it is. I don't see anymore progress in the things we can say.