Football
Defensive Line Living Up to Expectations for OSU Defense
By John PorentasOSU watchers continue to fret over the young OSU defense as young linebackers and defensive backs struggle to find their identities and round into effective units.
Nobody is doing that about the Buckeye defensive line.
The OSU defensive line was considered to be a strength heading into the season. Three games into it, that has definitely proven to be true.
OSU's defensive front has been all you could ask for thus far this season. The interior play has been stellar, headed by Quinn Pitcock and David Patterson, and the defensive end play has probably been better than expected, with at least five players contributing to a very effective group at defensive end. It's a combination that has left OSU defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Jim Heacock smiling because the effectiveness of that defensive line has not only led to plays, but has given the young back seven some time to develop. For Heacock, the key has been the play of his interior guys, Patterson and Pitcock.
Jim Heacock
Photo by Jim Davidson"I'm really high on Dave and Quinn," said Heacock.
"I think those guys are really doing a good job in there.
"A lot of times you feel like you have to cover up for inside guys. I think it's (their superior play) allowed us to not blitz as much, maybe not zone pressure as much, allow our front four to be the pressure and be the guys who are getting after it and hopefully keep seven guys back in coverage and run a little bit more change ups in the coverage area and not have to send five, six or seven to get pressure on the quarterback," Heacock said.
That has given that back seven a comfort zone as they gain experience this season, and Heacock gives Patterson and Pitcock much of the credit for that.
"If you have a couple of guys up front that can do that it really helps," Heacock said.
Quinn Pitcock
Photo by Jim DavidsonPitcock recently turned some heads with a dominating performance against Cincinnati in which he registered three sacks and simply blew up the Bearcat offense at the line of scrimmage. Some may have been surprised by Pitcock's effectiveness, but not Heacock.
"He's dominating. If you can dominate the line of scrimmage you have a chance in most games," said Heacock.
"If you watch the film, spend some time and watch the film of Quinn Pitcock playing you'll never ever see him not play well. You'll never ever see him not be dominant, physical, taking on two blockers.
"From my standpoint, he's as good as we've had around here," Heacock said.
"I don't know how many tackles he had last year and how many sacks and I don't care. I know he's a very valuable football player on our football team that can go down inside and take on three guys or four or five whatever it takes, and he's dominant, and he really helps the linebackers make plays," Heacock said.
Pitcock's interior linemate, David Patterson, is a big fan and was not at all surprised by Pitcock's big sack day against Cincinnati.
David Patterson
Photo by Jim Davidson"Quinn is an amazing player," said Patterson.
"People build you up to what they think you are. I see Quinn every day in one-on-one pass rush. I know he has moves. Quinn is a beast. People might slot you as a certain type of player, but I knew that Quinn is capable of those type of plays, that he's very capable of getting pressure on the passer, so when people say he's a run-stopper I kind of laugh sometimes because he's an all-around good player," Patterson said.
OSU offensive lineman Doug Datish, who goes against Pitcock on a regular basis in OSU practices, was also not surprised by his sack outburst.
"I'm glad he doesn't get stats for practice, because he's pretty good," Datish quipped.
Doug Datish
Photo by Jim Davidson"He was telling me all week that he was going to get single blocked (against Cincinnati). I told him that that guy (blocking him) was in for a world of hurt because Quinn's pretty good. That guy had a tough game. I'm sure he was trying as hard as he could. Quinn just had dominance," Datish said.
While Pitcock, Patterson and Joel Penton are holding down the middle of the defensive line of scrimmage, at least five players currently figure into Heacock's plans at defensive end. Veteran Jay Richardson has thus far had his best year as a Buckeye, while newcomer Vernon Gholston has come on this season and proved himself a force at the other end opposite Richardson. Gholston, a redshirt sophomore who sat out last year and did not begin his football career until midway through high school, is a diamond in the rough that is acquiring more polish every week.
"I think when he got here he was a little bit raw, there's no question about that and probably good to redshirt last year," said Heacock.
"It gave him a year to work with the scout team and he had an injury also, but he was raw fundamentally.
"I'm excited about the way he came on in the spring and thought he had a chance, then each game he's gotten a little bit better I think.
"He's still fundamentally got a long way to go but he goes hard and has good strength and good skills. He's got good arm strength and long arms and good acceleration to the ball. He's got tools and hopefully that's why he's improving each week. As he develops those fundamentals and develops some moves and techniques he's going to get better," Heacock said.
Backing up Richardson is sophomore Lawrence Wilson who has shown himself to be a playmaker, as has Gholston's backup Alex Barrow who also has flashed when on the field. The fifth member of the defensive end group is true freshman Robert Rose who, like Gholston, Heacock sees as a future star.
"We just think he's a potentially outstanding football player and fits in with those four and he gives us another dimension," said Heacock.
"He can play both sides and can play Leo so we actually have two ends and two Leos and he's a guy who can swing back and forth and he gives us another guy who can rush the quarterback that we can put in at the end of the game or put in in the second quarter and get some pressure. He's strong and very talented, and like Vern he's fundamentally got a ways to go, but he's a strong kid and a good kid and he's going to be a great football player."
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