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Ohio State Football: Linebackers will play like Silver Bullets once again

By Charlie Lockhart

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Malik Harrison #39 of the Ohio State Buckeyes tackles Sean McGrew #25 of the Washington Huskies during the first half in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Malik Harrison #39 of the Ohio State Buckeyes tackles Sean McGrew #25 of the Washington Huskies during the first half in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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Last year the Ohio State linebackers underperformed, to put it mildly. Expect them to play like Silver Bullets this season.

It was apparent to everybody the Ohio State linebacker unit didn’t perform as well last year as most expected it to. Fans often commented on how slow they were but that couldn’t have been the issue.

Urban Meyer never recruited a slow linebacker.

Last year the unit often looked confused which always makes linebackers play slow. That shouldn’t be a problem this year as it has been widely reported linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison want to simplify things for them.

That should allow the linebackers to fly around like Silver Bullets in the past. And the coaches have plenty of talent to work with. Just look how Urban stockpiled the unit before he stepped down.

I’ll begin with the returning starters and their key stats last year.

  • Tuf Borland No. 22 OLB (2016):  67 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles
  • Malik Harrison No. 48 ATH (2016):  81 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 1 interception
  • Pete Werner No. 14 ILB (2017):  58 tackles, 3 sacks, 7 passes defended and 1 forced fumble

How was Harrison ranked that low? Expect big things from him this season which will be his last. He would have been drafted in April but chose to come back to Ohio State for one more season.

Now a look at the talented backups breathing down the necks of the starters.

2015 recruiting class:  Justin Hilliard No. 3 OLB

2017:  Baron Browning No. 1 OLB

2018: Teradja Mitchell No. 2 ILB, K’Vaughan Pope No. 9 ILB and Dallas Gant No. 10 OLB

2019:  Cade Stover No. 7 OLB and Tommy Eichenberg No. 19 ILB

You can see the cupboard isn’t bare for coaches Washington and Mattison.

Everybody should know by now they are installing the Bullet position (S / LB) into the mix as well. I think they have the right guy for the position in Brendon White, and it has been reported he is the leading candidate.

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Many of you probably remember Luke Fickell envisioned White transitioning from defensive back to linebacker when he recruited him. At the end of last season when he finally saw significant playing time at safety White was quite impressive. And when ball carriers came his way they usually hit the ground.

I have been comparing units to ones prior to the 2014 season and this year’s and I looked at the linebackers from the championship season in a previous article. That unit had issues before the season began but turned out to be a terrific one. I think this year’s group could as well.

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Whether this unit can develop into one that can stand up against strong rushing attacks and help defend against the pass like the one in 2014 remains to be seen. But with the talented players coach Washington has to work with and his simpler approach, I have a feeling we will see linebackers flying around like Silver Bullets once again.

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