Q&A: Patrick Lavine, OSU linebacker

The DB position. The coaches did a good job of going out and recruiting players. We felt that was one of our weak points last year. This year I think it's going to be a strength.

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Which players in the secondary have impressed you?

Lucien (Antoine) is really good. When I first saw him he's a pretty big guy. I thought he might be a linebacker. He has good speed. And he will bring it. He'll hit you. Markelle Martin has made some good plays. Maurice Gray is a solid corner. I think coaches will have a lot of confidence in all three of them.

And your early impressions of Swanson Miller, the mobile, 310-pound defensive tackle?

He's looked good. Swanson has a very big body in the middle. I think he'll do a good job down there. He's strong, has a big body and he moves pretty good. He kind of reminds me of Larry Brown, who we used to have here my freshman year.

This year defensive coordinator Tim Beckman is the linebackers coach. How is that going so far?

What more would you want to have than to have the defensive coordinator as your position coach. You're getting direct instructions from the man. You can't go wrong with him.

But isn't coach Beckman really intense?

Yeah, he is intense. But that's just the type of person he is. He's going to be like that Monday through Sunday. I like that. It's good. You definitely stay on top of things.