The Front Row

No, you're fine. Your offering a different perspective that may influence me to review the integrity of my judgement. What you said was valid, indeed. I don't expect everyone to agree with me--that's just not realistic, is it? What's the point of a forum if there is a lack of debate and/or conversation? We're all pitching in our views on a topic to help us make a better verdict on that said topic. I'm easy to get along with, and I'm sure most of you are too.

But, like it always is in recruiting, both of us could be wrong. There's always a chance a player doesn't pan out(Curtis Grant).

I like Johnson's instincts and sideline to sideline ability read the play and to tackle the ball carrier. We didn't have that this year at MLB until Boren moved over to LBer. He is a sure tackler too.

We land these outstanding LB's and then all we hear from Fickell is that "they don't get it or they don't understand the position" as to why we don't see out on the field. For years all we heard about Sabino was that he did not understand the position , same now with Curtis Grant who BTW was the number 1 or 2 ranked LB in the country, same with all the young LB's from the 2012 class. It would be nice to land Mitchell and Johnson, as we have always been able to bring in talented players, but the linebacker COACH is the one that still concerns me.

Yes,sir.

"Reading and reacting" is the first thing thats impressive about his video. He blows the play up, forcing the offense to work around him. He makes others on the defense look like they play better. Awesome ILB......IMO.

Once in a decade or 2, we'll get the rare LB that is both an instinctive, pure football player AND an incredible combine athlete (see Andy Katzenmoyer). These individuals are rare. IMO, Sabino and Curtis Grant were attempts to hit that home run, even though they did not show instinctive LB skills in HS. You have to take those guys from time to time in the Midwest, if you want to be a NC contender every year.

Historically, OSU's greatest linebackers have not been those guys. They have been good athletes with incredible LB instincts (Cousineau, Marek, Spielman, P. Johnson, Tovar, Wilhelm, Hawk). You can see it on film the first time you see them. Some can work their way into the next strata of athleticism and become NFL players, but even if they don't, they are the anchor of very good OSU defenses.

IMO, there is nothing more important than read and react instincts for a college LB. Spielman and Boren are 2 extremes that prove this point. Recruit instincts and good athletes at LB and good things happen. Trey Johnson fits this mold. I couldn't care less about 4.4 vs 4.7 at LB. Give me Trey Johnsons and the occasional Mike Mitchell, and we will contend for the NC year in and year out.

Go Bucks!

I don't recall Spielman being all that fast. Johnson's coach pretty much said he can read the play as it starts. We have fast LBs on the roster right now that can't read and react - what good is their speed? An LB's instinct is his most important attribute, more than any other position.