From: CBSSports.com wire reports -
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Don’t expect the Ohio State defensive front to offer a whole lot of comfort to new Iowa starting quarterback James Vandenberg on Saturday.
“You’re definitely salivating to get to the quarterback,” Buckeyes defensive end Cameron Heyward said.
In a somewhat topsy-turvy season, the one constant for the 10th-ranked Buckeyes has been an aggressive, fast and furious rush from its defensive linemen. The Ohio State defense is third in the nation at stopping the run, sixth in pass-efficiency defense and total defense and 23rd in sacks.
With Vandenberg, a redshirt freshman, making his first start for the Hawkeyes in place of injured Ricky Stanzi, the Buckeyes will be relentless. On every play they likely will send four or more huge bodies after Vandenberg.
Ohio State swears it’s business as usual and it isn’t going out of its way to pick on the new guy.
“We go into every game with the primary objective of [making] sure we affect the quarterback, affect his decision-making, whether that be with disguise or looks or whatever it happens to be, affect his ability to throw the ball,” Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. “You want to get to the quarterback and you want to get after him. We won’t all of a sudden say, ‘Hey, this week let’s get after the quarterback more,’ because that’s what we do.”
Ohio State’s front wall has dominated several games this season, but none more than last week’s 24-7 victory at Penn State.
Thaddeus Gibson and Heyward, the son of the late former NFL running back Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, have been outstanding as rush ends. Todd Denlinger and Doug Worthington are the starting tackles, with substantial contributions from Nathan Williams, Lawrence Wilson, Dexter Larimore and others.
Asked how good the down linemen have been, safety Kurt….
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2 Comments, Comment or Ping
BuckeyeCountry.net
With Rose Bowl on line, Bucks D prepares for inexperienced Hawkeyes QB
http://bit.ly/4pjtHP
Nov 12th, 2009
Iowa Hawkeye Nerd
With Rose Bowl on line, Bucks D prepares for inexperienced Hawkeyes QB http://bit.ly/EJmcT
Nov 13th, 2009
Reply to “With Rose Bowl on line, Bucks D prepares for inexperienced Hawkeyes QB”