Why Tommy Eichenberg may be the platypus Ohio State football needs at linebacker

COLUMBUS, Ohio — We realized two issues about Ohio State soccer linebacker Tommy Eichenberg this week — he can not take a praise, and he could also be a platypus.

Gonna soar to that second merchandise straight away. Steele Chambers in contrast his fellow linebacker to the duck-billed, egg-laying mammal in an effort to seize Eichenberg’s sophisticated, enigmatic and at occasions misunderstood persona.

“He’s a robotic, however I imply, he’s actually caring,” Chambers stated. “He reads quite a bit. He’s an anomaly. He’s like a platypus, however like as an individual.”

Possibly platypuses are unaccustomed to compliments. Eichenberg pushed again on defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Jim Knowles’ assertion that the St. Ignatius grad not often makes errors.

Knowles merely tried to convey why Eichenberg so shortly earned his belief in the midst of his protection. The platypus swam in one other route.

“I believe errors are vital for studying too, so I don’t go on the market to not make make errors,” Eichenbergh stated. “I am going on the market to play as quick as I can, as exhausting as I can. I do know these errors are gonna come and I’m taking errors as a studying expertise, moderately than making an attempt to keep away from them.”

Eichenberg took just about each first-string snap at Mike linebacker throughout Thursday’s open practic. Knowles stated he and returning starter Steele Chambers are “solidifying” linebacker. To not parse the linguistics however that looks like a step ahead from final season, when stability was at occasions a stretch for that unit.

In fact Eichenberg was a part of that unit, ending 4 snaps behind Cody Simon for the positional lead per the Eleven Warriors tracker.

Whereas his spirit animal identification was a revelation, we already know a number of unquestioned truths about Eichenberg:

• He appears to be like like he was assembled within the linebacker model of a Construct-A-Bear workshop. Tightly buzzed haircut and beard. Water tower for a neck. Muscular 6-2, 236-pound body.

Aesthetically, Eichenberg checks all of the linebacker containers. Typically he checks them with authority, comparable to in Thursday’s follow, when he burst via the road throughout an offense vs. protection interval and took down Miyan Williams for a loss.

Eichenberg shunned voting for any of his place mates because the strongest in a cleveland.com survey of the group’s superlatives. But he obtained Palaie Gaoteote IV’s affirmation as “tremendous sturdy.”

• The Buckeyes respect Eichenberg. Allergic to self-promotion, he doesn’t waste his vocal moments on cameras and tape recorders.

But right here comes that platypus once more, as a result of whereas Chambers calls him “in all probability probably the most vocal man,” Knowles considers him “the quiet chief of the protection.”

No matter quantity, it’s apparent why a Mike linebacker recognized for his consideration to element and toughness appeals to a coordinator putting in a brand new protection.

“He research and he exhibits up like he is aware of what to do,” Knowles stated. “He not often makes errors. I imply, he’s human. Every so often he’ll.”

• All of this stuff have been kind of true when Eichenberg began on opening evening at Minnesota final season. Then he misplaced his job. For many of final season, OSU’s coaches thought-about Cody Simon the workforce’s higher possibility at Mike linebacker.

Simon gained that job whereas enjoying via a shoulder that required surgical procedure. He had that process previous to the Rose Bowl, which opened the door for Eichenberg’s 17-tackle Defensive MVP efficiency.

Simon missed the spring, which prevented him from making an early impression on Knowles, each the defensive coordinator and his new place coach. Whereas he’s practising now, he spent a lot of Thursday’s follow with the third string.

Ohio State allowed 5.33 yards per play final season, which ranked solely eighth amongst Huge Ten groups. It allowed 3.68 yards per carry – its third-worst efficiency of the previous decade.

Knowles likes Eichenberg’s reliability, soccer intelligence and steadiness. Is he additionally a greater linebacker than he was a 12 months in the past, able to elevating the extent of play on the place?

“I really feel assured,” Eichenberg stated. “Not solely assured in myself, however my confidence comes from the D line and the DBs, the offseason of labor and spring ball – every little thing. It’s understanding that I’m going to do my job and so they’re gonna do their job.”

Eichenberg’s work over the previous eight months instilled that confidence in Knowles, as nicely. Platypus or not, he’s on monitor to function the guts of this protection on opening evening.

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