Football
Defensive Line Group a Bright Spot for Buckeyes
By John PorentasOSU defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Jim Heacock is not exactly a newcomer to Ohio State football. Heacock has been around the OSU program since 1996, and during that time he has seen some lean years on the defensive line and some very good years on the defensive line. After taking stock of his group in spring practice this year, Heacock thinks the Buckeyes may be poised to have one of those up seasons next fall.
"We've got some experience coming back so it should be," said Heacock.
"The last couple of years they've been out there battling around and they were a little bit on the young side.
"Now they're a little bit more mature group and a little more experienced group and we've got some juniors and seniors now. The last couple of years we haven't been real senior laden," Heacock said.
All the returning talent has allowed Heacock to spend this spring honing skills rather than getting to know his players.
"Usually going into spring you go into it wanting to know who your best eight are, you two deep," Heacock said.
"We have a pretty good idea about the talent and what they're capable of doing so I think with this group we want to see a group that can dominate."
Yes, Heacock used the D-word, Dominate, in describing the potential of this group. He thinks they have the stuff to do just that. He also thinks that because of some youth at other positions on the defense, they are going to have to do a little dominating up front.
"I think for us to be a good defense the front is going to have to become dominant. I think they're going to have to be disruptive, all the things that when you watch good defensive linemen, that's what they do."
Heacock is a soft-spoken guy who is not given to hyperbole, especially when talking about his players in the spring, but he was willing to compare the current group with some of the better defensive line groups he has had in his tenure at OSU.
"I think the 2002 defensive line was good, we had Tim Anderson, Darrion Scott, Will Smith, Kenny Peterson, that was a pretty good group and a lot of those guys went on to play in the NFL.
"I think '96, my first year here, was a great group. We had Luke (Fickell) and Vrabel and Finkes, Winfield Garnett, that was a good group. '98 we had a good defense and good defensive line I think. In 2003, most the guys from 2002 were back.
"I think this group potentially could end being a pretty good group," said Heacock.
Heacock's group has the aspect of maturity that seems to mark all strong defensive lines, but also has a sprinkling of young talent that should help to smooth out the curve so to speak and help maintain a high level of defensive line in seasons going forward.
The Veterans: Seniors tackles Doug Worthington (6-6, 280) and Todd Denlinger (6-2, 292)and senior defensive ends Rob Rose (6-5, 285)and Lawrence Wilson (6-4, 275) bring experience and maturity to the group. Worthington is currently penciled in as a starter while Rose and Denlinger are listed as backups. Wilson is coming back from a broken leg last season, his second-consecutive season-ending injury. He earned a starting position in 2007 and 2008 before tearing his ACL in the first game in 2007 and breaking his leg in the third game of 2008.
"I feel like I have to prove myself again. I'm not doing too much at practice. I'm not doing any contact," said Wilson of his second comeback from injury.
"When it comes time for summer I have to prove what I can do again. I'll definitely be 100 percent by summer.
"I know what I can do, I know I can come back to be strong again."
Denlinger has started during his career but was severely hampered by injury last season. He suffered a broken hand, an ankle injury, and had trouble with his knee. He says he is past all that now and ready for a big senior year.
"My ankle is coming along, my knee is fine. I'm just trying to be the best player I can be," he said.
Denlinger is also working as a short yardage tight end this year at the request of OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel.
"Playing an offensive position is new for me and it's going to take a lot of learning. It's been fun and exciting and something new that I look forward to," said Denlinger.
Rose came back from a shoulder injury last season and improved as the season progressed. He is listed as a defensive end, but has the size to play inside as well to give the Buckeyes matchup advantages on the interior.
The Battle Tested: A group of experienced, talented, battle-tested juniors is also on hand in camp this spring. They include defensive tackle Dexter Larimore (6-2, 305)and defensive ends Thaddeus Gibson (6-2, 240)and Cameron Heyward (6-6, 287).
Larimore is currently listed as the number one at defensive tackle ahead of former starter Denlinger. Heacock says the big junior has impressed him.
"Dex' had probably had the most consistent spring, very consistent," said Heacock.
"He never has a bad play, never has a bad day.
"He's about 305 right now and he does a good job holding up in the middle. He's a good force for us inside and gives us a guy down in there that can take on a couple of guys."
Like Rose, Heyward is listed as an end but also has the size to be able to move down inside and play on the interior of the defensive line. He is currently listed as a starter at defensive end. Heacock says that his physical skills are matched by his desire to always get better.
"When I asked Cameron at the end of the day today he said it was the worst practice he ever had. If you know Cameron, he's never satisfied," chuckled Heacock.
"He's having a terrible year, a terrible play, terrible practice. He can get three sacks and it's the worst drill he's ever been in. He's never satisfied and that's probably what makes him what he is," Heacock said.
Gibson is a pass-rush specialist who proved last season that he is very, very difficult to block. His shortcoming is his ability to play run defense, something that he is working on this spring.
"He's a good pass rusher and he's got to become a great run defender and he knows that. That's what he's working on. He's trying to become and every down player," said Heacock.
Gibson stood out in the Texas game as a pass rusher but was hampered by injury in the second half of the regular season. Heacock now wants to help him become more effective as a run stopper without impacting his ability to rush the passer. That involves walking a fine line between being less aggressive and remaining a devastating pass rusher.
"It's hard for us that we don't reign it (his aggression) in too much," said Heacock.
"The last thing you want to do is slow him down too much.
"He's got a gift and some ability so we want to allow him to do that. He can't do it at the risk of hurting the team, so there's a fine line there.
"We've tried to put him in a position where we're going to try to free him up a little bit more and it doesn't have quote the problem for the run defense if he does fly upfield."
Gibson, who came to OSU as a linebacker, says he has found a home as a pass rushing defensive end.
"The position I'm playing, I love it. I wouldn't want to play another position. There's just something about it, it's just me. Pass rushing and playing over the tight end is just something I love to do," he said.
A Sprinkling of Youth: The juniors and seniors will dominate the two-deep, but there is a youth movement taking place at the same time.
Redshirt freshman Willie Mobley (6-3, 265) and Garrett Goebel (6-5, 280) are both working at tackle while sophomore Nathan Williams (6-3, 245) returns for his second season after seeing a surprising amount of playing time last year.
Goebel has impressed Heacock with is effort and attitude and seems to figure in OSU's plans this season.
"He's in the two-deep for sure and getting better every day," said Heacock
"He did a good job redshirting.
"You can redshirt and get better, you can redshirt and stay the same or you can redshirt and get worse. He got better.
"He worked hard in the weight room and when he was on scout team he really worked hard against our offensive line. That translates into getting better."
"He (Goebel) has had a great spring," added Denlinger.
"I know the coaches think highly of him because he works hard and he's always doing the right thing.
"This spring he's made a lot of plays and he's going to be exciting to watch."
Williams burst onto the scene last season as a pass rush specialists who was very effective. Like Gibson, he came to OSU as a big linebacker but was extremely effective as a defensive end last year. He has sat out the early portions of spring drills with an injury, but is due back soon.
"He's a really good football player. We get him back next Monday. That should help our edge rush. I think he'll give us another guy that can give us some pressure," said Heacock.
Other defensive line candidates include redshirt freshman Solomon Thomas (6-5, 240) and sophomore Keith Wells (6-5, 210) at defensive end as well 5th-year senior Tom Ingram (6-1, 243) at defensive tackle. All three are currently listed as third team players. Wells is injured and not taking part in contact drills this spring.
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