OSU Defensive Power Rankings: Linebacker Could be Strength of Defense

Yesterday we looked at the offensive side, and now it’s time to break down the defensive performance so far this season. This includes all games played (which obviously at this point is just one).

5. Defensive End (Previously: 4)

Triston Grant had the most solo tackles of any defensive end Thursday night, and he isn’t even on the depth chart.

The defensive ends got little pressure on Tulsa’s inexperienced quarterbacks and flushed them out of the pocket time after time, which, while it wasn’t exclusively their fault, led to a few conversions on third and long.

For a position where its proclamation was depth, the defensive ends’ strength in numbers looked took a while to take shape (and never really did in the pass rush).

4. Cornerback (Previously: 5)

No one is a bigger critic of the OSU cornerbacks than I am, but they did better than I thought they might.

Here is the play that summed up the corners’ play best from Thursday. Tulsa was clearly trying to get after A.J. Green early and often (see his targets below).

If other guys complete that ball, so be it. That would have to be a flawless toss, but 9-of-10 times, you will take that from an inexperienced corner in his first test as a starter. Improvement should be imminent.

3. Safety (Previously: 1)

This group is only so low because all of the others did particularly well.

The play OSU got from its safeties, particularly Ramon Richards in his first start at the position, was not bad at all. In fact, I’ve heard and seen nothing but positive reviews of Richards’ play, especially his eyes in surveying the field and checking his reads and the quarterback.

He looked solid, and as he said Monday, there wasn’t ever any grace period he needed to get acclimated.

“I was already settled in from the jump,” Richards said. “I’ve been settled in. I’m ready.”

2. Defensive Tackle (Previously: 3)

The FOX guys in the studio after the game took a few shots at the Cowboys’ defensive line, but their take only told half of the story. DeQuinton Osborne looked like Vincent Taylor at times Thursday, and Darrion Daniels played well, too.

One guy who caught my eye more than most others though was Enoch Smith Jr., a junior college transfer who was signed in the 2017 recruiting class. He played and performed better than I would venture to guess anyone expected.

PFF Week 1 Big 12 Team of the Week – Defense pic.twitter.com/kTIrAcrajN

— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 5, 2017

This group looked far more potent than its friends to the outside, and that might be a redeeming factor for the Cowboys’ front four.

1. Linebacker (Previously: 2)

The addition of Kenneth Edison-McGruder is such a game-changer. Calvin Bundage took a knock to the head and didn’t play for the second half, but through the first, they were flying around everywhere.

Defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer called a variety of fronts, including a 3-3-5 and 4-2, which allowed both guys to be on the field at once. Scary. Especially when Edison-McGruder picks up a fumble and rumbles home for an 82-yard score.

They weren’t all that was good at this spot. Chad Whitener, Justin Phillips and even some of the depth players looked nice at what could end up being the defense’s best position group.