Silver Bullet Defense

The Sillver Bullet defense of Ohio State returns after having a incredible 2009 season. The OSU defense was 5th in the nation in turnover margin (+1.31), 5th in scoring defense (12.54 points/game), 5th in total defense (262.31 yards/game), 5th in pass efficiency defense (95.52), 7th in rushing defense (90.77 yards/game), and 13th in pass defense (171.54 yards/game). The defense had 24 interceptions which was tied for second most in the NCAA, behind Texas with 25. Even in the two losses by OSU (Purdue and USC) it held both teams under 300 yards of total offense. With most of the players returning, this should be another great year for the defense.

 

Below are the starters with some notes:

 

1. DE-Solomon Thomas-#98-Junior-although he was not as sharp as Nathan Williams in the preseason, he will be starting because Nathan Williams (#43) is out with a knee injury. It is not clear yet whether Williams will be available for Miami. This is the spot left by Thaddeus Gibson, who was drafted for the NFL.

2. DT-Dexter Larrimore-#72-Senior-returns after starting three games last year, although backup freshman Johnathan "Big Hank" Hankins (#52) is highly touted as a future NFL draft pick. Hankins has indicated he wants to play like LSU's Glenn Dorsey.

3. DT-John Simon-#54-Sophomore-returns after getting some significant playing time as a freshman. Simon has some incredible strength (can bench press 225 lbs 40 times) and speed (can run a 4.8 sec 40) and will be well known by the end of the season.

4. DE-Cameron Heyward-#97-Senior-skipped a potential 1st round pick in the NFL draft and says he wants to be better than Ndamukong Suh. He missed some of the scrimmage, but is expected to play. He will split time with Adam Bellamy (#93) a redshirt freshman who had three sacks in the scrimmage.

5. WLB-Ross Homan-#51-Senior-has earned his preseason high accolades, as he had five interceptions last season.

6. MLB-Brian Rolle-#36-Senior-although some experts say he is undersized for his position, he is quite capable and he started last season with a bang by intercepting and returning a 2-point conversion in the Navy game and also had three stops behind the line against Michigan.

7. SLB-Andrew Sweat-#42-Junior-he missed last season with knee surgery and has been very impressive in the preseason practices and scrimmage. He beat out Etienne Sabino (#6) for the spot, and Sabino is also capable of playing MLB. Sabino would also come in when the team runs a 3-4 with four linebackers.

8. CB-Chimdi Chekwa-#5-Senior-Returns as a starter although he was not in the preseason scrimmage due to a tender hamstring. He is expected to split time in the Marshall game with Travis Howard (#18).

9. FS-Jermale Hines-#7-Senior-started a lot of games last year in place of Anderson Russel.

10. SS-CJ Barnett-Sophomore-has big shoes to fill for Kurt Coleman. Backup Orhian Johnson (#19) will play as well.

11. Star-LB/Safety-Tyler Moeller-#26-Senior-what a great story, he returns after the head injury before last season. All indications are that he is 100% and will be back to his hard-hitting. He will come in with the nickel package in place of a linebacker, and OSU will play a lot of nickel against spread offense teams like Marshall. Jermale Hines (#7) is ready to jump in as a backup.

12. CB-Devon Torrence-#10-Senior-he was not in the scrimmage due to a hamstring injury, but he is expected to play most of the Marshall game. His backup Corey Brown (#3) is not the WR Corey "Philly" Brown.