DEFENSE
Defensive line
2002 - Will Smith - 5.5 sacks
Tim Anderson - 3 sacks
Kenny Peterson - 4 sacks
Darrion Scott - 14.5 sacks over four years
Breakdown: This might very well have been the scariest defensive line at Ohio State since 1996 and maybe even more dominating than that group. Entering the game against Miami, Ken Dorsey had been sacked just nine times all year. This line rang up four sacks. All four of these guys played in the NFL. Smith played the game like a bully. He wanted a fight and would knock the snot out of you. Scott was a fierce hitter, and I’ll argue that Anderson might be the second-best DT in Ohio State history behind Dan Wilkinson.
2006 - Vernon Gholston - 8.5 sacks, 15 TFL, 49 tackles
David Patterson - 22 tackles, 3 TFL
Quinn Pitcock - 39 tackles, 12 TFL, 8 sacks
Jay Richardson - 25 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 4 sacks
Breakdown: Somehow, this d-line registered more sacks than the ballyhooed 2002 bunch. Pitcock came on strong as a senior and was virtually unblockable at times. Eight sacks for a DT is an impressive number. Patterson was a savvy veteran, who had played for four years. Richardson was a senior and finally lived up to his billing. He was big, rushed the passer and held up well against the run. Gholston was really just coming into his own. He was so versatile on the end, dropping back into coverage and using the speed rush. He became Ohio State’s newest Will Smith.
2007 - Vernon Gholston - 20 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 6 sacks (on pace for 9.5 sacks)
Dexter Larimore - 8 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 1 sack
Todd Denlinger - 10 tackles, 1.0 TFL
Dough Worthington - 16 tackles
Cameron Hayward - 18 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks (on pace for 4 sacks)
Breakdown: Except for Gholston, the numbers don’t exactly blow you away. It’s a blue collar group for the most part with a freak (Gholston) on one end and a superstar in the making (Heyward) on the other. The entire group has been nothing but rock solid and they’ve been without Lawrence Wilson, who might have been the best pass rusher. Gholston can do just about anything and you can’t put a price on that. If he can get to 10 sacks, he’ll be one of only five players in school history to hit double figures in a season (Jason Simmons, Will Smith, Matt Finkes, Mike Vrabel did it twice and Andy Katzenmoyer).
Linebackers
2002 - Cie Grant
Matt Wilhelm
Robert Reynolds
Breakdown: It was just too hard to track down the stats for all of these guys, but what we do know is that Wilhelm was a First Team All-American in 2002 and deservedly so. He was the center of the a solid defense and filled well against the run. He wasn’t a speedster, but we can all remember that it was his hit that sent Ken Dorsey to the sidelines late in the title game. Rob Reynolds is probably best known for choking out Jim Sorgi in 2003. Cie Grant was a linebacker, moved to corner in 2001 and then moved back to linebacker in 2002. Excellent speed and blitzed well off the edge (see final play of Illinois and Miami games).
2006 - James Laurinaitis - 115 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 5 INT, 3 FF
Marcus Freeman - 71 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INT
Curtis Terry - 17 tackles, 3.5 TFL
Breakdown: This was an interesting group of backers. James was a sophomore, Freeman was overcoming some injury plagued years and Curtis Terry was finally getting a chance to play after sitting behind Hawk and Co. Not a single one of these guys had ever started before but really provided a new dimension to the Ohio State defense. They turned the ball over, made some huge plays (James against Texas). James won the Nagurski as a first-year starter and was edged by Patrick Willis (darn good backer) for the Butkus. Throwin in Ross Homan, veteran John Kerr and Larry Grant, and this team was deep. The only thing they lacked was experience.
2007 - James Laurinaitis - 66 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 4.0 sacks, 2 INT (on pace for 94 tackles, 8 TFL, 6 sacks)
Marcus Freeman - 62 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks (90 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 2 sacks)
Larry Grant - 31 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 1 INT (45 tackles, 10.8 TFL, 4.5 sacks)
Breakdown: This might be sacrilegious, but I honestly believe this linebacker group is better than Hawk, Carpenter and Schlegel. That would mean it’s the best I’ve ever seen at Ohio State. Just look at the numbers. By season’s end, they’ll combine for 13 sacks, over 30 TFL’s and two guys will have close to 100 tackles. That’s putting up numbers like the did in the 70’s when every play was a dive up the middle. Freeman has the occasion lapse but the speed is overwhelming and the depth is there, too. They can sub in Austin Spitler, Ross Homan (when healthy), Thaddeus Gibson or Brian Rolle and not miss a beat.
Cornerbacks
2002 - Chris Gamble
Dustin Fox
Will Allen
Breakdown: Again, finding correct stats are an issue. We do know, that Gamble can make claim to being the greatest playmaker in OSU history. He made game-saving interceptions against Cincinnati, Wisconsin, Penn State (returned for the winning touchdown) and Purdue. Considering that he played over 100 plays a game three times that season on offense, defense and special teams, and it was his first season at corner, it’s pretty remarkable what he did. On the other side, Fox was a serious weak link. He made a pick in the title game, but was picked on because of the big cushion he gave wide receivers. Will Allen became an All-American safety in 2003 and always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. He had the clinching pick against Cincy and against Michigan. Also, Willis McGahee might know something about Mr. Allen. But knowing that he moved to safety the next season says it all. Not a great corner. Overall, a subpar yet opportunistic group of corners.
2006 - Antonio Smith - 71 tackles, 10 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 INT, 1 FF
Malcolm Jenkins - 55 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 4 INT
Donald Washington - 41 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 FF, 1 recovered
Breakdown: Smith was a great story, going from walk on to starter and he did an OK job opposite Jenkins, who will be a first round pick someday. They were both tremendous in run support, as evidence by the combined 15.5 tackles for loss. Both also returned picks for touchdowns (fourth quarter vs. Penn State). While Jenkins was a superstar, Smith was never confused with Shawn Springs or Antoine Winfield. You never want a corner ranking third on the team in tackles. But he certainly was more than adequate.
2007 - Malcolm Jenkins - 39 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 3 INT (on pace for 56 tackles, 6 TFL, 5 INT)
Donald Washington - 23 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT
Chimdi Chekwa - 24 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT
Breakdown: Again, Jenkins is a stud. They’ve moved him back to safety a couple times this year and he’s made plays from that spot. Washington is much improved and Chekwa has been a really pleasant surprise. The best thing about this group is their physicality and swagger. Jenkins will hit you in the mouth and then tell you how he did. You need that at corner.
Safeties
2002 - Mike Doss
Donnie Nickey
Breakdown: The heart and soul behind Ohio State championship run were the two safeties playing centerfield. Mike Doss was a rare three-time All-American (including an even more rare consensus selection in 2002). Despite being undersized, he packed a punch like no other and stuffed the run with reckless abandon. Nickey was a step slow but solid enough. Doss made him look really good at times. Nickey didn’t make a lot of mistakes, and that’s what this defense needed with weakness at cornerback.
2006 - Brandon Mitchell - 60 tackles. 4 TFL, 2 INT, 2 fumbles recovered
Jamario O’Neal - 30 tackles. 0.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT
Breakdown: Mitchell was the backup to Nate Salley for what seemed like six years. He definitely provided some leadership to a young defense. O’Neal wouldn’t have gotten on the field if Anderson Russell hadn’t blown out his knee against Iowa. The two were hardly playmakers and O’Neal took a lot of false steps. A pretty average group.
2007 - Anderson Russell - 41 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 4 passes defense (on pace for 59 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks)
Kurt Coleman - 42 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack (61 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks)
Breakdown: Neither one of these guys has made an interception but it doesn’t seem to matter. No one is throwing the ball over their heads, either. Russell is a do-it-all safety and impresses me more every time he’s on the field. He’s not quite Mike Doss caliber, but he’s as good as Damon Moore and Gary Berry of the late 90’s teams. Coleman has a chance to be really good. I’ve liked him since his first trip as a gunner on special teams in 2006. He plays so hard and is much faster than any other safety in recent years.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker
2002 - Mike Nugent
Breakdown: All I need to say is “NOOOOOG!” A legend in Ohio State history and for that matter, in college football history. No kicker has ever made the amount of clutch kicks that he did. He never missed. Never missed. He made nine field goals of more than 50 yards in his career. His 55-yard game winner against Marshall tied the longest ever hit in Ohio Stadium. He also was a human touchback on kickoffs. Could have been named MVP on the 2002 team.
2006 - Aaron Pettrey - 8-11, 2-3 from 50+
Breakdown: With such a potent offense, he didn’t have much of a chance to showcase his field goal kicking skills. But we now know that he lost his job the following year to Pretorious and that should tell you all you need to know.
2007 - Ryan Pretorious - 16-19, 6-8 from 30-39 yards, 5-6 from 40-49 and 1-1 from 50-99
Breakdown: He’s already doubled Pettrey’s field goal total from last year and has missed the same amount (3). He doesn’t have a huge leg on field goals and hasn’t been asked to hit any when it really mattered. At some point, he’s going to have to make a big kick, and since he’s older than most students, I think he’ll have the maturity to hold back the nerves.
Punter
2002 - Andy Groom
Breakdown: Nugent would have been named MVP if it had not been for this guy. Rarely can you say this, but Groom single-handedly won a couple of those defensive struggles (Wisconsin and Penn State) games for the Bucks with his 60 and 70 yard punts that drastically changed field position. And because of him, “Tresselball” came into existence.
2006 - AJ Trapasso - 49 punts, 40.6 avg, 60 long, 17 inside the 20
Breakdown: AJ was solid, did not have one blocked and placed 17 inside the 20 compared to just four touchbacks. His long on the year was 60. Not a great average, but good enough for an offense who’s trademark was lengthy drives.
2007 - AJ Trapasso - 30 punts, 41.9 avg, 63 long, 3 TB, 15 inside the 20, eight of 50 or more
Breakdown: Trapasso is having a great year punting the ball. Not many punters average almost one 50-yard punt per game. His accuracy has been impressive, as well, keeping the ball out of the end zone but still out of play for the return men.
Punt Return
2002 - Chris Gamble
Breakdown: Gamble may have been a dynamic playmaker on defense but wasn’t all that explosive on special teams. Solid, but not like the guy on the next line.
2006 - Ted Ginn - 24 returns, 266 yards, 11.1 avg., 1 TD
Breakdown: His production in 2006 was not up his freshman and sophomore year standards, but that’s because no one would kick to him. Ginn was a total game-changer.
2007 - Brian Hartline - 13 returns, 199 yards, 15.3 average, 1 TD, long of 90
Breakdown: His average is seriously boosted by the 90 yarder. I’m still not convinced he’s the guy. Small looked OK at points but lacked decisiveness. Hartline doesn’t have the quick change of direction needed to be a great punt returner, but his results have been positive so far.
Kick Return
2002 - Maurice Hall
Breakdown: Yeah, yeah. Hall is Ohio State’s all-time leader in kickoff return yards. But can you name which game he had a return for a touchdown? You can’t because he never had one! Again, great speed but zero agility. He gets credit for not fumbling.
2006 - Ted Ginn - 18 returns, 440 yards, 24.4 average, 1 TD
Breakdown: Ginn’s one TD came in the title game and any average over 20 is pretty good. More than anything, he scared the daylights out of opposing teams.
2007 - Ray Small - 9 returns, 142 yards, 15.8 average, 22 long
Breakdown: One of the most disappointing things about the 2007 team has been its lack of big kick returns. Small was supposed to be Ted Ginn, but he hasn’t been very good at all. An average under 16 per return is shoddy and a long of 22 for a supposed big-play threat is rather disappointing.
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