Ohio Stephen Means, Nathan Baird, and Andrew talk about Ohio State football’s tight and defensive line positions in this edition of Buckeye Talk.
When talking about their position groups, they draw attention to the disparities in energy between the coaches of the tight ends and the defensive line. Ahead of a 2024 season in which OSU may play up to 17 games, one group appears secure in its possibilities, while the other is still attempting to figure out how to replace the output of a two-year starter who is leaving for the NFL.
Welcome to Buckeye Talk once more. This is Andrew Gillis, that’s Nathan Barrett, and I’m Stephen Means. This is your Wednesday Buckeye Talk. We spoke with Ohio State’s coach, Keenan Bailey, at the Titans’ sixth spring session on Tuesday when we were back in the Woody. We spoke with running backs coach Tony Alford, but he decided he didn’t want to live in Columbus any longer. We also spoke with defensive line coach Larry Johnson. He’d rather call Ann Arbor home. We had to cross that name off the list as a result. So it’s not the largest or most comprehensive list of folks to chat to.
Nathan and Andrew, although it goes without saying that a longer roster of players is expected on Thursday. However, we spoke with a number of organizations, and I believe that the way this has turned out is intriguing. Yes. Furthermore, there seemed to be a marked difference in the atmosphere while discussing the position group with Larry Johnson. Like, do you have any depth? He responds, “Yeah, I have a lot of depth.” But when it comes to Keenan Bailey, people ask, “Do you have a starter and depth?” He responds, “Well, we’ll see.” The way these two assistant coaches were speaking gave me the impression that’s what they were thinking.Nathan Is that the impression Keenan Bailey and Larry Johnson gave you on the manner in which they discussed their position groups?
01:08.262 Nathan Baird
On the one hand, there is a position group where 80 percent of players who were ready for the NFL chose to return. Conversely, all players who were ready for the NFL departed. Thus, things ought to be that way at this moment. They are located in disparate locations. Presumably, one is in a more transitional state. Additionally…
That is in no way intended as criticism on G Scott, who is unquestionably the hole in this situation. It’s not meant to be disparaging of Johnny Thurman’s current situation, but how does a group with Wilcas Marek and the impending move work out? How do those, how does that appear in autumnal games? What does it even look like in games, perhaps more so this year, based on what Chip Kelly and Ryan Day want to do? As if there are a lot of unknowns. On the other hand, while the ball is in defense,
This might be thought of as merely the continuation, or the basis, of the.
parallels, such as the consistency they maintained from the previous year to the current one. This defensive line group serves as an example of it.
Means, Stephen (02:22.784)
Now, Andrew, let’s begin by discussing the defensive line as a starting point. JT Twiemoloau topped all defensive lineman in snaps played last year, obviously. Ty Leake Williams came in second among inside men with 677, while he had 677. He had 645, Jack Sawyer had 610. These three men participated in at least 600 snaps throughout the previous campaign. Subsequently, it is evident that Ty Hamilton, 350, would have played fewer games than Michael Hall Jr., 413, had it not been worth it for some ailments. Jackson Kenyatta andCurry, Kaden, played 174 and 165. It’s evident that there has been a substantial reduction. Additionally, there were a few games early in the season, such as the Notre Dame game, when Jack and JT were the only edge rushers on the field the whole time. To give you an idea of some of these stats, I have included the total snaps for Joshua Mickens last year along with those of Kenyatta Jackson, Kaden Curry, Mitchell Melton, Namari Abor, who is, of course, no longer with us, and the edge rushers. That comes to 432. That’s still over 200 less, then.
This previous year, Jack Sawyer or JT Tori Malo played another game. However, based on Larry Johnson’s speech, it appears like they have that depth. Additionally, players appear prepared to be utilized a little bit more frequently than perhaps they won’t be such a major difference throughout
Andrew (03:39.538)
It’s not possible, you know. Does Ohio State have the depth to pull this off? Whether or not they have the depth to pull this off, it’s no Ohio State. Jack Sawyer and JT Tumaloa cannot be benched for 65 snaps in a game. Like, if you are just tossing them into the fire like that all the time, it’s not going to work because by the end of the season, they will be worn out. Thus, yes, I do believe that this depth development is really important. Yes. Additionally, as you are aware,
the season next year, considering how the calendar is expected to work out with perhaps 17 games.
