Linebackers. They’re kind of important.
If you don’t believe me, ask Urban Meyer. The Ohio State Buckeyes have been uncharacteristically sloppy on defense this year, and a lot of their struggles are the result of poor linebacker play.
“We’re not very good in certain areas and you’re exposed,” Meyer told Bill Rabinowitz of the Columbus Dispatch.
Ohio State’s depth at the position is razor-thin. Linebackers that Jim Tressel recruited like Dorian Bell, Jordan Whiting, Jonathan Newsome and Scott McVey are no longer with the team because of transfers or medical issues.
When you factor in the injury to Etienne Sabino that will keep the senior sidelined for at least two more weeks, Meyer is left with Ryan Shazier, Storm Klein, a struggling Curtis Grant and a bunch of unproven freshmen at linebacker.
That’s why Zach Boren, the team’s starting fullback, saw significant action at linebacker against Indiana Saturday night.
Despite not playing defense since his senior year of high school four years ago, Boren led the team with eight tackles against the Hoosiers.
Saturday night only affirmed Ohio State’s desperate situation at linebacker. Sticking Boren in the middle of the defense wasn’t even good patch work as the Buckeyes hemorrhaged 49 points to Indiana. While the Hoosiers are improved on offense, that’s the most points an Indiana team has ever scored against the Buckeyes.
Continue reading at Bleacher Report – Big Ten Football
