Taking Stock - Future of OSU Football: Defensive Line is as Important as Any Position

Our D linemen could not get off blocks, get pressure or even protect our linebackers. Oates is the only one that should remotely play next year. Is Armstrong and end or a down lineman?

Reportedly McPherson was at Colorado this weekend so who knows.

Robert,
What alignment are we going to run. A 4-2-5 or a 3-3-5? That could determine the amount of defensive linemen we need.

My guess is it depends on what a new D coordinator brings to the table! It is pretty obvious we.will see a new D Coordinator! Karl'veon Young probably ends up at D End and is a better athlete and quicker that McPherson so that scholly goes to him!

Not terrible? I don't understand that comment. The DE's we were told will have a major impact this season combined for 1.5 sacks so far. What exactly would qualify as terrible? Or was this awful player evaluation from camp?

In spite of my previous comment, I would not give up on any player after a couple years of college as long as they are working hard. It often takes 2-3 years before a player starts to produce and we have seen that from several great Pokes players in the past.

High school players will not cut it at this point we need a defense full of portal talent. Drastic change and yes several new defensive coaches. Total rebuilt like was done at Colorado.

The 2025 season requires getting the checkbook out and being very active. The back-ups listed are "walk-on prospects" which means without massive investment in the portal the down hill slide will continue during the most dangerous time in college football history for OSU. Be relevant or get ready to play South Dakota State as a conference game. Go BIG or go to the MVC! GO POKES!!!

Also what Arizona State has done gives me a some reason for optimism that it can be done quickly.

Hawkn86 said:

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Also what Arizona State has done gives me a some reason for optimism that it can be done quickly.

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and Indiana also....

Not just Arizona State (3-9 last year) but Cincinnati was 3-9 last year and will probably finish 7-5 or 6-6! And of course BYU was 5-7 last year and will probably win 10 to 11 games this year!

several teams turned it around, and several prominent teams tanked like never before....

OSU, Utah, Florida State... even Bama has fallen a notch or two. Michigan.

Indiana has a new coach and he brought in basically every good player from his old team. Basically merged two teams together to make one good team.

PokeRob said:

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Indiana has a new coach and he brought in basically every good player from his old team. Basically merged two teams together to make one good team.

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cute, but not really true. He brought in only 10 from JM and lost around 30. Regardless, if he could do it why can't others, why can't we? He brought in new everything. Coaches, schemes, alignments, everything.


Cignetti described his start as Indiana's new head coach as 20 days of 4th and 1, emphasizing the importance of reconstructing a roster that lost over two dozen players to the transfer portal and several staples to graduation.

Dec. 20 marked the early period for National Signing Day, with the Hoosiers bringing in 31 players then and seven others in the days thereafter. Some, like junior receiver Donaven McCulley and redshirt sophomore running back Trent Howland, withdrew from the portal, while 10 others followed Cignetti from James Madison.

Toss in a handful of transfers from other schools and 16 high school signees, and Cignetti's late nights and early mornings culminated in a filled-out Hoosiers roster.


(and BTW - Howland is on our roster)