Under the Helmet – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 24, 2005
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Some people have called strong safety Donte Whitner the second coming of Mike Doss, who was a three-time All American who played for the Buckeyes from 1999-2002. One day though Whitner might be called the second coming of Ohio State head football coach Jim Tressel. Although Whitner’s body is not always on the football field his mind never leaves it.
Off the field, the junior from Cleveland Glenville High School loves to watch game film and break it down. The soft-spoken Whitner enjoys not just seeing a big play, but gaining an understanding what made that play happen.
“I love to see the tendencies of team, see what they like to do” Whitner said. “That way when I get on the field and I recognize a play call I can make a play for the team.”
Whitner got into watching film last season when then co-defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, who is now an assistant coach with the Cleveland Browns, told him great players do the little things other good players do not do.
“He told me, if you get into that film room and you see what they’re doing, know what they’re doing before they do it; it slows the game down so much,” Whitner told the Columbus Dispatch after the season opener against Miami (Ohio).
Whitner admits his passion for breaking down film may one day take him from his spot as a player to a spot on the sideline as a coach. First though, Whitner hopes he will get a chance to play in the National Football League.
When he is not in the film room watching tape to help make the Buckeyes better, he enjoys watching NFL Films and Inside the NFL to see how the professionals play. Whitner enjoys watching Inside the NFL because three former accomplished NFL players, Cris Collinsworth, Cris Carter and Dan Marino, work as co-hosts of the show and because Carter is a former Buckeye. Whitner enjoys the insight of the former players because of their experience.
“They have made the big plays and know what it takes to make or break the great plays,” Whitner said.
One of the things he enjoys most about Inside the NFL and similar shows, is not only how they break the down the game as a whole, but the way they break down pivotal play that change a game.
For Whitner, an interception or a big hit on a ball carrier is not simply an individual accomplishment, but instead, it is a team accomplishment. Whitner, who picked off Miami quarterback Josh Betts and returned it for a touchdown in the season opener, enjoys not only knowing everything about his position at strong safety but also where his teammates should be so he can work with and help out his teammates.
“You can’t do without your teammates,” Whitner said. “I like to know where everyone is supposed to be and what everyone is supposed to do before they do it.”
Whitner studies nothing but offense to find tendencies and holes to possibly exploit on the field.
“You need study an offense, especially their receivers, to see how they run their routes and how they come out of their breaks,” Whitner said. “This is one of the keys to stopping an opposing offense.”
According to Whitner, the toughest kinds of offenses to defend are offenses with a mobile quarterback such as Vince Young at Texas and Drew Tate at Iowa. A running quarterback makes the defensive backs have to stay with receivers longer because the mobility of the quarterback to get by the pass rush. He also has to worry about the quarterback making a play with his legs.
The 5-foot-11-inch, 205-pound Whitner knows no matter what the size of the opponent, with the help of his teammates and a little film study he can stop anyone.
