He's correct. The coaching philosophy clearly revolves around the fear of mistakes and it trickles down to the players in these big moments.
Oregon called third and long plays counter to their tendencies all year and torched us deep, knowing we'd safely play the middle based on the tape.
Oregon planned for an onside kick if they ended up in a situation with a short kickoff and they executed it.
Lanning clearly spent time planning for every possible advantage he could find for his team and Day coached like he hadn't spent a single second doing anything different than he'd been doing all season.
There never seems to be a gadget play to try to gain an advantage. There never seems to be a play call that strays from our tendencies to try to catch the team off guard. There's never an exotic blitz they haven't tried or a rearranging of personnel to try to catch the opposing defense off guard a la Ted Ginn at TE.
Doug Lesmerises was dead on the other day when he said Day is TOO trusting of his team to execute, to the point that he doesn't try to outthink the other staff or come up with crazy ideas that could give his team an edge in an otherwise even matchup.
I think Michigan's cheating ruined his mindset. The big plays in 2021 and 2022 have made him insanely skittish, especially with how he aggressive he wants the defense to be, and someone needs to sit him down and get it through his head that they beat him repeatedly because they were cheating. I'm sure there's something to the Knowles-Johnson issues but at the end of the day, I think prioritizing Contain over Pressure is a Day decision and it's costing us big game after big game.
Well I heard about this team up north completely selling their soul and initiating the most extensive off campus cheating scandal in the history of cfb. So there’s that….
I don't agree with Doug on this. It's just my opinion, but I just don't see it. In fact, a big criticism of the OSU QBs until Stroud were that Day's system was scheming people open all the time and they didn't have to read defenses. Either he is a master "scheme guys open" coach or he isn't.
Day was going for it on fourth down in his own territory on the opening drive against Oregon. He called a fake punt in his own territory against UGA in the 4th quarter that Kirby sniffed out. Called a deep over route to Olave on 4th and 1 against Clemson in the playoffs. Fake punt against Michigan 2022 would have gone for a TD by Harbaugh's own admission... everyone got the memo but the long snapper.
Josh Pate is the equvilent of believing the that National Equire is hard hitting journalism... Pate is a clown. Over the years I have had a few ex buckeye starters who were friends. I know them personal and they know me by face and name... you get a very different perspective to listen to these guys breaking down film... film doesn't lie. Thats why I watch podcasts that are doing film breakdown of the all 22 film which is what the coaches look at to do film breakdown.
They need to unleash the DL and live with the results but this bend but dont break crap doesnt work against ELITE college offenses... you simply can not give these incredible quarterback that are very athletic all day because your scared he is going to hurt you by evading the rush. You give him all day and he will pick your secondary apart. Burke was way too aggressive trying to jump the routes and they saw that on film and exploited that... they should have benched him the second time he tried to jump a route...
The defense is an easier fix by making some adjustments. The offensive line is a bigger more serious issue. Between moving Tsbola to LT and Sereveld to RG, then you are looking at Fitzpatick, Zen, and Montgomery one of them has to STEP up and worse cast become a trusted back up... you only move tsbola if none of those 3 is ready to step up...
Contain over pressure is a recipe for disaster in big games. We might as well have Heacock back there again. Looks great in stats, but blows the big game every time.
Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect - Woody Hayes
I had to LOL at the Heacock reference. His defenses shit the bed in big bowl games under Tressel. Post 2005 his defenses were stuck in a prevent defense the entire second halves of games and they got wrecked by Florida. LSU and Texas with Colt McCoy. Flashbacks are bad, man
When telling the truth becomes a revolutionary concept, it’s wise to join the revolution
Stop the nonsense of an onside kick, it was a lucky bounce on a squib kick, also I’m not 100% sure about college but I know in the NFL you have to declare ahead of time you are doing an onside kick.
I think Day needs to learn to keep his composure and not let the other team get back up when the Buckeyes have a multiple-score lead in the second half. If he learns that I think the team will have a ton of success for awhile, assuming he sticks around. Georgia ‘22 was a huge missed opportunity cause they dominated about 3 quarters of that game. But I think once he proves to himself that he can do it and win a title, then those performances will happen more often. Hopefully he gets over that hump, cause it seems like he’s doing just about everything else to keep the program elite.
Do you think it's his composure that failed to keep Oregon to a field goal when up 28-22? Or was it lack of DISCIPLINE from a senior DE (44), who failed his teammates, freelanced, failed to play assignment football, and let Gabriel break contain for a TD run?
What is on Ryan Day is to hold a certain, legendary coach accountable for his position group's play. THAT I put squarely on him. He fired Coombs after the last Oregon game, so I know he is wiling to make big changes.
If Coach Frye's OL would have performed equally to the DL in the last few big games, he would be long gone. The DL are playing with the same attitude as their leadership - impervious to performance and results. I'm glad they didn't, but 92 and 97 should be furious they stayed to get 10% of the snaps. Like any of us, the CEO's attitude and vision have much less impact on us than the direct supervisor. The players are no different.
He's not wrong. And it's damn frustrating because it feels like we're so close. And maybe we are, but part of me worries that Day just is this coach and it won't ever grow beyond this. I'll choose to be optimistic, but the rest of this season will go a long way towards determining Day's future at Ohio State.
Yep.. It's Day's 6th season and his best team was his first. Earle Bruce ran the table year one and came within a whisper of winning the title in the Rose Bowl against USC. After that, we had 7 straight seasons of 9-3 teams. What we have been seeing with Day is what we will continue to get, although I hope he proves me wrong.
One comment the other night by Jake Sawyer gave me pause.. He said the overall attitude and vibe within the team is very different than what it was in '21 when Coombs was the Coordinator. Well, Day was the coach then also and I wonder how DAY didn't pick up that there was a culture problem within the program? Yes, Day has shown he will make changes with his staff, but the overall culture and direction of the program comes from him and only him. I do believe the lack of physical practices (as compared to Urban and Tressel) is hurting this program. I always loved the talk that Saturday's were the day the team gets to let loose, for they beat the hell out of each other the rest of the week. I haven't heard that talk since Day took over.
I've tried really hard to be patient with him. I do like the man and want to see him do well, but this is truly a make-or-break season. He needs to win The Game, get back in the Big Ten Championship game and make a very strong showing in the playoffs. Anything less and it may be time for the school to consider it's options.
And it's damn frustrating because it feels like we're so close. And maybe we are, but part of me worries that Day just is this coach and it won't ever grow beyond this.
I posted this in another thread...
It's our Buckeye DNA. Look back over the years and how many times are we one game away from a national championship or playing for one? These include Woody, Bruce, Cooper, Tressel, Meyer and now Day. We cut Woody, Tress and UFM a break because they won national championships. As soon as Day wins one - and he will...this all goes away.
In the past 55 years, we have won 3 national championships (1968, 2002 and 2014).
In the past 55 years we have been one game away from a national championship 19 additional times.
Less than every three years we were in the hunt for a national championship with a 17 year period from 1980 to 1995 where we didn't sniff it.
We were one game away from a national championship or playing for one in 69, 70, 73, 75, 79, 96, 98, 05, 06, 07, 10, 12, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23.
Being a long time fan, this has been very frustrating but ... I am optimistic and think Day will win a national championship soon.
100%, been saying this for years. We are the most under achieving program in sports given the natural advantages we have enjoyed as the only consistent northern powerhouse program the last 30 or so years. We always let someone else step up and grab the top place at the mantle of the sport. That is what makes every incremental big game letdown hurt so much more.
We just lost on the road to the number 2 team in the country by a single point.
People can be fatalists if they want, but Ryan Day keeps putting us in a position to win top-5 matchups. At some point, our players have to execute at the end of games.
I mean that's usually what the census is all over this forum and social media in general before every one of these games. It never happens but it's consistent.
All over social media our fans mocked Autzen stadium as being small and didn't take the warnings about how loud it was there. Then we watched OSU football lose and had to walk back those comments. It's embarassing.
We just lost on the road to the number 2 team in the country by a single point.
We threw an interception on one drive that was egregiously not called. OSU never earned that TD. I think if this played out correctly on the field, we lost by worse than we did. We got lucky to only lose by 1 point and that speaks to how constantly unprepared this team is in top matchups.
Rewatching the game, one does get the feeling that Oregon should have one by at least two scores. The Ducks were the aggressors and more physical . The Ducks were better prepared. The Ducks were the better team. So instead of being down on Ryan Day and the Bucks in general, maybe we should celebrate that they made the game as close ad it was.
Too much time spent at the North Heidelberg rather than the classroom. SSD 68-72
Rewatching the game, one does get the feeling that Oregon should have one by at least two scores. The Ducks were the aggressors and more physical . The Ducks were better prepared. The Ducks were the better team. So instead of being down on Ryan Day and the Bucks in general, maybe we should celebrate that they made the game as close ad it was.
I have not rewatched the game but I certainly didn't feel like that live at all. I felt like OSU was better for 70% of the game, and crazy stuff happened.
The onside kick, our LT going out, the OPI, Howard dropping a perfect snap on a 3rd down and 4 which could have iced the game, Judkins giving up a fumble for really no good reason, and Howard going down .2 seconds too late to give OSU a chance to kick a field goal. Hell JT collapsing on a play where he had to know there was no over the top help in containing Gabriel was terrible too
I'm sure you can point out a few for Oregon like the interception that was not called, but to me it was not a game where OSU was getting a lot of the breaks outside of that. I just think it was a pretty good game where OSU and Oregon were right there the whole time.
I certainly don't think it was a physicality thing at all. Rushing yards were almost even, passing yards were almost even, and OSU had 1 turnover.
It seemed to me watching live that all of the breaks of the game went in Ohio State’s favor and yet we couldn’t build a lead and I think that’s because Oregon out-played and out-coached Ohio State. They were without their best defensive player to start. The INT didn’t get reviewed. They lost a stud WR early in the game (to his own fault but still, imagine OSU losing JJ and what that does to the team…. Or MHJR a few year ago, it’s a big deal). They also missed a chip-shot field goal. All of those thing favored Ohio State. It wasn’t until the very end when weird things went against OSU and even then the summation of them to me doesn’t outweigh the breaks that went against Oregon. Had Ohio State won it would’ve felt like a escaping with a W and that Lanning cowered at 4th and goal by kicking the field goal for a 1 point lead.
It seemed to me watching live that all of the breaks of the game went in Ohio State’s favor and yet we couldn’t build a lead and I think that’s because Oregon out-played and out-coached Ohio State.
I made a list of 5-6 breaks that went Oregon's way. I don't recall there being that many for OSU (the ones I do recall are the spitting, the INT of course, and Gabriel potentially missing a guy open in the end zone but I don't call that a "break")
Edit: I had to reread your whole post and you point out a few more.
I certainly don't think it was a physicality thing at all. Rushing yards were almost even, passing yards were almost even, and OSU had 1 turnover.
The total rushing yards doesn't really tell the actual story though. Oregon absolutely shut the run game down the entire second half and almost exclusively all of those yards were picked up in the first quarter. Of the rushing total half of that was done in 1 possession that Henderson ripped off a 53 yarder himself.
BUCK - I have not verified this, but scold me if I am wrong. You say the rushing yards were almost equal, but I read that the Bucs had 21 yards rushing in the second half. If that is actually true and we have (it's been claimed by some on this site) the two best running backs in the nation, then 21 yards seems pretty much a shutdown of our running attack And since the game is over, I don't feel the need to check the rushing stats, because I witnessed the final score!
Saying we threw an interception with no context is disingenuous. Howard put the ball in a perfect spot. Should have been an easy catch for Kacmarek. If they called it a pick, it wasn't a badly executed play it was just unlucky. The game also would have gone completely different from that point in time and assuming we would have lost worse instead of it being a completely different outcome altogether is just not how football works.
True post, CA. But realists now......over time will become fatalists if what we see continues. Sooner or later, and I am not saying that time is now, but Ryan Day's teams will need to learn to win big, spotlight games other than what they have shown vs. Notre Dame and Penn State. The clock is ticking and patience is growing thin. You are your record and Ryan Day has two. His over-all record is one to be respected and envied. His record in marquee matchups is now under some serious scrutiny and deservedly so. Time will tell as to whether Ryan Day gets over the hump and wins a national championship or goes down in history as one of the biggest squanderers of talent as an Ohio State football head coach.
Technically we lost to the #3 team, we were #2 and favored on the road, but lost. At some point Day needs to figure out how to not pucker up, let his team play loose, take risks, be less predictable, and find a way to leave no doubt.
I'm tired of all the talk and undeserved hype all offseason, just to come out in every game we play against a team of comparable talent and piss down our legs, especially in the 4th qtr.
Yeah, not to put it on one player, but Denzel Burke had one of the worst games for a DB in the history of football. Just...don't have repeated coverage busts like that (by one player or the entire secondary) and we don't lose that game.
Theres something to be said for always being in the mix and people really shouldnt take it for granted. We were incredibly fortunate to go from Tressel to Meyer. A new coach isnt a guarantee that they will keep the train going just because we are Ohio State.
People keep bringing up Cooper but he didnt have anywhere near the consistent success that Day has had. In his tenure, here’s how many games Cooper lost each season : 6, 4, 4, 3, 1, 4, 2, 1, 3, 1, 6, 4.
That doesnt mean Day cant be criticized of course. There are obviously things needing to be tweaked to get over the hump. But he has shown the ability to grow and fix problems: fired Coombs midseason then went and got the best DC on the market, gave up play calling, brought in Chip Kelly, improved the OL and run game, red zone efficiency is now fantastic etc.
While the loss naturally put some doubt in my head, this team still has all the pieces to get the job done and theres a lot of football left to play.
In fairness, Coop inherited a train wreck, Day was given a juggernaut. Once Coop go rolling he was as good as Day is now (Coop was 43-7 from 1995-1998 (two NC runner ups, 1-3 vs UM, 2-2 in bowls)), Day is 40-7 2020-2023 (one runner up, 0-3 vs UM, 2-3 in bowls). Then the wheels fell off for Coop following the 1998 season when everybody left. fortunately, Day has some talent at QB and WR next year, so that shouldn't happen.
Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect - Woody Hayes
Its a fair point on Coop inheriting a worse program. Although Day helped build the program as OC before he took over but yes, it wasnt the same situation.
So lets give Coop a pass for the first few years…..I dont know why you stopped counting the games after 1998. They certainly count in this discussion. The program massively dropped off on his watch and that hasnt happened under Day. Coop also had a weaker Big Ten and less games on the schedule each year.
(I’m only discussing regular season for the comparison since there was no playoff then)
Not sure if it was weaker, Michigan did win the National Championship in 1997,and the Big 10 won 7 of 10 rose bowls during that time period. I quit counting because Cooper went downhill. I don't think that will happen with Day. Day wasn't OC, he was the QB coach. Kevin Wilson was the OC.
Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect - Woody Hayes
There is something that is just off. What we can speculate what exactly as we all have various opinions and have discussed them repeatedly. In big games we do enough to be competitive but not enough to win and its different slightly each time. They appear to just get out coached and not prepared for changes from the norm. I often wonder if the program focus is come here to get drafted to the NFL attitude under Coach Day which has made the program more like a country club. I think former players have brought this up in interviews.
The one thing coaches like Saban and Meyer didn't give two shits about was if a player's feelings got hurt. They didn't hesitate to pull a starter if they weren't getting the job done, they let them know it on the sideline if they weren't happy with how they were playing as well as letting their top assistants know in game when they weren't happy with what was going on. Saban was the master at all of this.
I don't buy one goddam drop of gas in the state of Michigan!
Yeah but Meyer and Saban didn't have paid players that could walk off with NIL money being offered elsewhere. That changed the leverage to the players from the coaches.
There are ways to coach up athletes to get the best out of them other than treating them like shit. We have enough talent on the roster where its almost better to get out of the way and let them do their thing. For me, this current iteration of the offense - with Chip calling plays, is enough to win the Natty. Its the candy ass defense that drives me nuts. Since Halfley left, Day has not been able to pair the O with a dirt nasty D. I want to see old school attack and dominate defense. Not some cerebral scheme of putting stud pass rushers 8 yds off the line of scrimmage is some weird zone. Get pressure on the opposing offense and we will look better in all metrics.
It was also Hafley's Defense that folded like a cheap suit with the 2019 Clemson game on the line. We took a lead late in the 4th quarter and then Clemson scored a TD in less than 5 plays. This....against a Defense that sent a handful of players to the NFL, some of whom are still playing in it. The lack of closure to win big games and the Defense's inability to get key stops started in Ryan Day's first year as a Head Coach.
Urban and Coach Tressel always seem to have some tricks up their sleeves for the big game. Something that the opponents haven't seen until that point. Day, however, does not.
Not Ohio born; Not Ohio Bred; but through thy firm friendship; forever Ohio cred! Developed Here.
I would really really like to see this program with a new Strength & Co staff implemented. There is absolutely a level of strength + explosiveness missing in our players since 2019. I am not seeing the development physically of our players by their 3rd and 4th year that we should be seeing. Mick is old school and it might be time to go another direction
I think that the coaching staff has the mindset that because they have better or equal talent in every game, they just need to execute their basic schemes to win. Objectively, this is true, but so much talent should create confidence to embolden creativity rather than cling to base concepts. Seriously, if not now, when? Fortune favors the bold, man! What personnel and experience is required finally to relax and try some creative and unexpected schemes that potentially gain advantage against similar talent and coaching? It seems that, no matter the opponent or situation, OSU is always going to line up and play in the most vanilla and predictable sets on defense. Its ridiculous to believe that you can do what everyone knows you'll do and still succeed because of discipline. Big boy ball doesn't work that way; this approach is boring at best and disappointing, typically. I don't get it, and especially after this approach has (narrowly) failed so many times. It feels like they are coaching scared against the other top tier teams. It is self-sabotage! Give yourself a chance!
Day wanted a "softer and gentler" philosophical approach after Meyer left. I don't know if that works in big time college football. Seems like the coaches and players know they will not be held accountable. Day will just blame the weather, the flu, or the 12th man when we lose.
A football team ultimately takes on the personality of their coach. What I see is a passive team focused on executing it's assignments and having no perception of the big picture. There seems to be a mentality of if we just do X we will win. There's no focus on disrupting the other team, no risk taking in order to make a big play. One play in particular was Will Howard completely missing a wide-open Treveyon Henderson in the flat without a defender within 20 yards of him - but he never even looked towards that side of the field. I also suspect that may explain the alleged rift between Knowles and LJ. The defensive linemen may be shackled to predetermined zones and not allowed to freelance like Chase Young and Joey/Nick Bosa were allowed to do. A line of even average talent with 5th year seniors should be able to generate pressure but it looks to me like they're more concerned with maintaining gap integrity - which makes them predictable.
I agree with him but without calling specific players out all we can say is it's a mixed bag, some players on this roster have the fortitude but others don't. It's not about the weight room or training it's a DNA thing.
The loss on Saturday bothers me because it's the same way all his teams lose:
1 . A "bend but don't break" defense that allows dink and dunk offenses to slowly wear them down over a game. This eventually leads to major breakdowns
2. An offense that abandons the run game when it doesn't' come easy, because they're not good enough to get it done in the trenches
3. Special teams mishaps or game management
Ohio State brass made some miscalculations during the Meyer scandal. That Day would be good enough to quickly learn on the job and that college football was going to give favor to pass first teams, but neither are true. I believe that Day's time at Ohio State will be a cautionary tale not to try and change the formula for success. Ohio State will have success again when they hire a tough nosed coach that relies on defense and running the ball.
I think Ohio State did give up on the run to a large extent in the 2H. There were very few carries, and at least 4 of them came after the goal line stand when it made sense to run, at least the first two. My memory (and by that point I was having trouble catching my breath after hours of such intensity! :) ) says we ran twice, then threw for a 1st down twice. I know Egbuka - who was so money all night - had a 3rd down conversion catch there. And those series were working until Howard fumbled the shotgun snap.
I think the 1Q fumble also contributed to Ohio State abandoning the run, too, along with losing Simmons. With Henderson and Judkins, we should be able to run the ball successfully against almost anyone.
Day was handed an elite program full of weapons. Do you think Day could win at a lesser school. Do you think he could rebuild Florida? Could he win at Missouri or Indiana? Maybe he needs the experience of building a lesser program before taking over an elite program. I’m not sure what he needs to do but there is definitely a hump that he just can’t seem to get over.
He was here for two years being handed the ‘elite program’. So he’s been at OSU in positions of power for 8 years. He absolutely had a hand in building The elite program he was ‘handed’. Of all the nonsense said about this program, this is by far the most tiresome
How many elite coordinators fail at being head coaches. Sark failed. Tosh failed. They are now successful. Just because you were part of an elite program doesn’t mean you can run it.
GoFor - Your first sentence is absolutely correct! But, Don't bring up Missouri! They beat us last year and have the same record as us this year. So it's for sure there is someone that can win there. Do you think Drinkwitz could do better at OSU than Day at Missouri. I am beginning to think so in the big game area for sure. I certainly don't think Missouri has the talent that we have and they beat us. I know there will be many reasons (Actually Excuses) why we lost that game, the the reality is that we lost.
I am not in the fire day club but if OSU wants to win another championship, I think they will need a different coach to do it. Before getting the job at OSU, Day has never been a HC, he is learning on the job. Day has been out coached multiple times now. Day is a good coach, he has the program running at a high level but I don't believe he will win a championship. I would love to be wrong.
No the fuck he wasn’t. If that OPI isn’t called and we win the entire national media is again talking about how Lanning being too aggressive cost him critical points in a big game. Oregon’s defense, the thing Lanning hangs his hat on, gave up 1 less point and only 30 yard less than our defense did. They got shredded. Both coaches made mistakes. Both coaches had good game plans on offense. And it came down to the final play
No the fuck he wasn’t. If that OPI isn’t called and we win the entire national media is again talking about how Lanning being too aggressive cost him critical points in a big game
If the OPI isn't called? What if that interception was called an interception (as it was)? You are blatantly ignoring the fact that OSU was literally gifted 7 points and Oregon had to overcome this.
This doesn't change the fact that it was an interception, but Lanning definitely should have challenged. Likely didn't want to risk a challenge so early in the game.
Well if your stance is that Lanning outcoached Day, I’d argue a play central to your theme was a case of Day out coaching him and getting the offense up to the line.
I’d argue a play central to your theme was a case of Day out coaching him and getting the offense up to the line.
Pretty sure every single Ohio State fan, including myself, was screaming at the TV to hurry and snap the ball. This isn't some next level genius coaching work here lol
Yes, one thing happened... and it was an interception. Just because it wasn't called that way on the field doesn't make it not an interception. The attitude OSU fans take towards this versus the attitude they take towards Jordan Fuller's fumble return TD being reversed are drastically different. And I cannot begin to imagine why.
The crazy part is.. you KNOW it was an interception. But you love defending this no-call interception. LOVE to. You'll take it as far as you need to because this time it benefited OSU and kept it a close game. And I just can't respect that. It's hypocrisy of astronomical proportions.
No it was not an interception. He was laying on his back, ball was free, neither on had it. If OSU gets control of ball laying on his back it is a catch. Tie goes to offense. Riddle me this: if OSU did not have control why was the DB pulling so hard to get the ball out.
You might be the first person in all of college football fandom to claim that wasn't an interception. And that includes Ohio State fans. You might have reached a homer level of unheard of proportions.
Here's the huge difference about equating the INT on the 1st drive of the game, and the OPI on the last drive. We know for fairly certain if no OPI is called, OSU is going to run 1 or 2 more plays and center the ball for a 35-38 yd FG to win the game. So you can pretty much say, that call had the most impact on the game. Maybe we make the FG, maybe we don't, but from that range, I'd call it 75-80% it is going through the uprights.
The INT reversal in the 1st quarter, you can't simply just subtract 7 pts from OSU's final score and say that's what would've happened. It was the 1st drive of the game. It leads to a total butterfly effect for the rest of the game, field position of ensuing possessions change, coaching decisions based on time and score change. We just don't know how the game would have played out from there.
RB, the flaw in your argument is that the interception was ACTUALLY an interception and the OPI was ACTUALLY an OPI, so you can't just "remove" the OPI in your scenario. Michigan did the same exact thing to us last year and it SHOULD have been called an OPI. They got away with a major missed call. Like someone else said, it's just extremely unfortunate that both calls went to the detriment of OSU.
Yes, there would be a butterfly effect, but at the very least, we know we remove those 7 points and OSU never has that momentum at the start of the game.
the flaw in your argument is that the interception was ACTUALLY an interception and the OPI was ACTUALLY an OPI
This comment is oozing with irony. I hope I'm not the one one who caught it.
As for this one...
The crazy part is.. you KNOW it was an interception. But you love defending this no-call interception. LOVE to.
I don't know it was an interception. If I look at the stat line, Will Howard didn't have an INT in that game so I'm confused. Also, you are diverting and deflecting. Lanning outcoached Day but was a ticky tack OPI call away from Lanninging another game away with his decision to go for it on fourth and goal when Gabriel hit Simon on the backside with a pass. I've yet to hear what decision Day made that cost him the game, other than 'being outcoached'.
Now, we could argue that abandoning the run seemed like an odd choice but then I'd be making your argument for you. You LOVE being hung up on this completed pass to the OSU Tight End.
I don't know it was an interception. If I look at the stat line, Will Howard didn't have an INT in that game so I'm confused. Also, you are diverting and deflecting.
Idk how you can objectively even say this if you watch the replay where the ball was popping out on his way down he never had an ounce of possession going to the ground. Half the reason the ball didn't become incomplete is because the DB made a grab at the ball. Just take the colors off the teams and then make that assesment. I dare you to grow a pair and then admit what actually happened. Day made a wise decision to rush that play call.
It wasn't an INT. Wasn't challenged, wasn't reviewed, call on the field was going to stand.
Did I do it right? Also, I can objectively say it wasn't an INT because Howard had 0 INT's on his stat line. OBJECTIVELY it wasn't an INT. Subjectively is the word you are searching for.
Difference with the Clemson call, and while it sucked for OSU, is that it was called, challenged, reviewed and overturned. Like it or not, the results of that play, OBJECTIVELY, is that it wasn't a fumble.
When you put your argument eggs into one hypothetical basket, it all falls apart when I don't go the way you assume I would.
Like it or not, the results of that play, OBJECTIVELY, is that it wasn't a fumble.
This is not the general perception of OSU fans, at all.
It was still an interception because we all have two eyeballs and saw what happened. It was... a lucky break for OSU that it was not challenged and the replay officials didn't decide to go to the booth.
Thanks I just wanted to see if you had any ounce of integrity.
It wasn't an INT. Wasn't challenged, wasn't reviewed, call on the field was going to stand.
Do you share that same energy for the controversial call in last years TTUN game or no? I have a strong feeling the answer is no.
Say I suggest that the Oregon QB (Dillon) threw the same ball to his TE(Ferguson) and our DB/LB (Styles) makes the same play on the ball. Do you then still not call it an interception or are you correctly upset at the officials for botching it and awarding Oregon the ball that lead to 7 points? You see you can be a fan and also not a blind homer. You are an obnoxious blind homer that makes outsiders laugh at our fanbase. Be better.
It was an interception though. We all saw it. If we're being honest those types of plays really shouldn't be considered an INT for the QB in totality because of the other teammates inability to haul in the pass. That's unfair to the QB in that scenario.
What controversial calls would you like my opinion on? We can go down the list if you'd like but I am taking issue with this notion that people are so sure it was a pick, and going as far to say that I know it was a pick. When if you look at things like facts and stats, it would in fact not be a pick.
I'm not sure what you want me to say here. Do you want me to agree with you that it was a pick despite it not being called a pick, challenged as a pick, overturned as a pick, or registered as a pick.
You are arguing with me about a subjective thing - did the Oregon player intercept the ball or did he not. And you are mad that my subjective opinion is backed by objectivity.
You see you can be a fan and also not a blind homer. You are an obnoxious blind homer that makes outsiders laugh at our fanbase. Be better.
Obnoxious blind homer because I disagree with you. Maturity is chasing you but you are faster.
We can go down the list if you'd like but I am taking issue with this notion that people are so sure it was a pick, and going as far to say that I know it was a pick. When if you look at things like facts and stats, it would in fact not be a pick.
Because despite the fact Day correctly and smartly ran a play anyone that isn't a blind homer can see what actually happened and acknowledge it as a lucky break that went in our direction.
I'd like you to be a normal human being and admit it was a pick that we got away with because that is absolutely what happened. The only people who say otherwise are stubborn arrogant pricks. Like I said what you're doing is one of the things others find insufferable about this fanbase. We can be honest and say yes that should have been ruled an interception but we came away with some luck that ultimately kept us in a football game.
It's not really subjective. That would have absolutely been an interception if not for incompetence on the officials. You can't complain about the OPI call because it went against us and then act like the officials were doing a good job on the should be interception. That's how you create this false reality that the calls ALWAYS go against us and it doesn't.
No obnoxious blind homer because you will absolutely not admit what you know you saw and in your heart knows as well simply because that would mean you have to admit the refs aren't always out to get us. It's fine to admit we got lucky with one and that the refs are in fact not out to get us.
I highly suggest you look yourself in the mirror for a few hours and repeat that until you see the irony of your words.
Your entire argument is ‘I’m right you know I am’ and ‘you know it was pick’. I’ll look again but I’m 99.9 percent sure Will Howard had zero interceptions in that game.
*update* - I have confirmed that Will Howard threw 35 passes and none were intercepted. But this is only the case if you look at things like facts and stats. If you get in your feelings then maybe it was a pick.
If you stand up on a chair and declare loudly that it was an interception, maybe someone will believe you. For the record, as I’ve stated a few times, I know it wasn’t a pick. So you can keep telling me ‘I know in my heart’ it is, or you can dare me to grow a pair, but it doesn’t make reality any less real.
I don't see how you seem to be missing his point. A call went our way. A call didn't go our way. The point is we lost a big game. Again. There's always some excuse, and it's gotten so old.
So your argument the ball was popping out when falling down. Yes it was, so neither player had it. But guess what the play was NOT OVER!!!! No one has it ball moves forward to the TE you can see his right hand go up for it, ball stops and you see the DB take an extra dive up to get the ball. TE can have control for 1/2 a second it is a catch at that moment. Tie goes to offense. Again if DB clearly had it and TE had no control why did DB have to pull it away from the TE to get up?
TE can have control for 1/2 a second it is a catch at that moment. Tie goes to offense. Again if DB clearly had it and TE had no control why did DB have to pull it away from the TE to get up?
If you sincerely believe this then there is no way you can make an argument that the TTUN player didn't have full control of the ball before he crossed the goal line last year then? I don't think you actually believe the nonsense you just said but to cope you're just spewing shit out of your mouth. At no point did Will have any control of the ball or have possesion. The DB taking it away from Wills right arm as he's pulling it in isn't any form of possession. Also if the DB hadn't been there to grab the ball the ball simply would've rolled over Will and been incomplete.
I don't think he even had the chance to do the ball was snapped so quickly which was very strange.
Regardless of whether or not Lanning challenged it the replay shows it was clearly an interception that isn't even up for debate. Kacmarek never had the ball in his possesion. Literally had the DB not been there the ball pops out of his hands on the way to the ground and the refs call it incomplete. The DB didn't even rip it out of his hands it was literally falling out.
"I don't think he even had the chance to do the ball was snapped so quickly which was very strange."
Could this possibly just maybe be construed as positive credit towards Day and the coaching staff to know it was questionable and to run another play as quickly as humanly possible? Nah, we don't do that around here.
Could this possibly just maybe be construed as positive credit towards Day and the coaching staff to know it was questionable and to run another play as quickly as humanly possible?
I actually thought it was quick thinking on their part and his part to hurry up the play call. But that is still an error on the officiating crew and the replay booth. Those types of things the refs should slow down when a potential turnover is in question.
You're allowed to think Day did something smart but also criticize the refs for doing a piss poor job even when it positively affects your team. You don't get to just pick and choose when you like or don't like the refs for doing or not doing their job.
What I think is missed here is that one can coach aggressively and not get called out by fans and media. They tend to take a "He pulled out all the stops" mentality. So even if Lanning would have lost, he would have been lauded for his approach.
Day continues to just line up good versus good, and run the same old offence and defence. Nothing especially aggressive, nothing new, nothing unexpected. Honestly, he brought back some of the sideline screen plays that were completely ineffective for years. We saw a glimpse of this level of aggressiveness against Georgia and Clemson. The results are one win against Clemson and a game against Georgia we still talk about positively even in a loss. He makes it very easy to blame for a loss running his vanilla game plan over and over. Everyone loves the gambler, even when he loses.
As I get closer to my 50's, I notice there is more gray and less scarlet.
My man, if OPI isnt called and we kick the field goal, Lanning is getting torched right now for not taking points near the goal line and for the extra point failures. And we’re hearing about “how could Oregon’s defense give up 470 yards at home?”
That doesnt mean Day/staff didnt have mistakes but it wasnt some big disparity
We haven't had that since Urban left.. Urban gave those guys a certain mental edge that those guys just wanted to tear you apart..not so much under Ryan Day..
Urban Meyer is 5-2 against top 5 teams, and he never lost to Michigan..and he has won a NC.. Ryan Day is 1-7, 3 losses to Michigan, and zero national titles..so yeah..
2-7 and frankly after the “wins” are vacated or forfeited by TCUN he’ll be 2-4 and then when you examine those losses you’ll see that he was shafted by the infamous scoop and score in ‘19. The COVID game in ‘20 where he had to essentially play a really good Bama team with both arms tied behind his back and a blindfold on. Then you also have the 1 point loss to UGA in ‘22 where the obvious targeting on MHJr would’ve most certainly win the game. I also give him credit for a win over TCUN in ‘20. They clearly used COVID as an excuse to avoid an epic beatdown.
Those were bad losses that screwed us then but now they would be brushed aside and we'd make the playoffs with a dumb loss and a bunch of big wins. For me at least, if it's a big game, I'd take Meyer over Day...though it doesn't matter because Day is our coach now and I don't think Meyer is coming back lol
Urban's tenure can be broken down into two distinct categories. Hunter and Hunted.
When he's the hunter, he's the best college football coach of all time. That period was from 2012-2014. Like his time in Florida, when he becomes the hunted, his teams aren't the same. I think a lot of people look back on the Meyer years and confuse the first era as his entire tenure. He's rightfully adored because of his accomplishments, but for all the talk of Ryan Day taking over some elite program, Meyer won exactly one title with that program. Yes its more than Day. But there isn't an OSU fan in the world that thinks that's all he should have won. Meyer made a LOT of bad personnel and in game decisions that stopped that train at one title.
No one is confusing Ryan Day (yet) for one of the three greatest coaches that has ever done it, but even one of the three best made COUNTLESS mistakes that cost him wins and titles he had the teams to achieve.
Yeah there was definitely a difference in Meyer before and after the title. Definitely appreciate what he did to get the natty in 2014 obviously but people have rose colored glasses when it comes to his tenure, particularly with 2015-2018.
People also need to recognize the B1G was weaker then. His typical end of season challenge was beating a bad or mediocre Michigan team and then a mediocre B1G West team in Indy. Day will have to play an elite Oregon team twice this year (hopefully) just to make it out of the B1G.
2015 - Meyer kinda overthought the whole QB situation Barrett or Cardale , and the offense was a ..mess? the TUN game , they finally looked dominant as we expected them to be. (just compare the OL and running game now to those 2014 or 15 teams, its night and day different). but it all came down to that one MSU game in the rainstorm.
False, on Urban. Go rewatch MOST games and get back to me.
Could you and this buckeyeguy0615 disclose what you did in life to get such massive brain damage? Your takes are just.....well they are takes there Dill.
I’m not blinded by the rose colored sun. I wouldn’t take him back. I wish they would’ve gotten rid of everyone that coached under him around here. He sucked after 2014. Probably the cyst, I’m sure.
Urban was a good coach for OSU, but he ran out of gas after the 2015 season. He was also out coached by MSU in Big 10 championship games, Clemson in the playoffs, Iowa, and Purdue. These are just a couple of examples. Urban’s failure to hire a competent OC in 2015 cost OSU a repeat title and the inability to pick a QB. Urban was better at the psychological part of winning big times and breaking tendencies, but he did not bring that edge to always hiring the best coaches, being innovative, etc.
Urban was better at the psychological part of winning big times and breaking tendencies, but he did not bring that edge to always hiring the best coaches, being innovative, etc.
Spot on. Now if we could just combine Urban and Day...
Urban was a great coach and people continue to build this myth that his teams were the hardest, toughest around that never got physically beat. Except they did against Michigan State & Clemson twice. 3 of those games had an NC berth riding it and they couldn't get stops or got blown out.
Fans love Meyer because he brought a perceived toughness and confidence with a run heavy offense and, with the exception of 2015-2016, beat up on bad Michigan teams. Between 2012-2014, Michigan was 20-18, and yet Meyer's far superior teams with a supposed mental edge, beat them by 6, 1, and 14. And in the 14 point win, it was a one possession game in the 4th.
If we're judging him as harshly as Day, his teams regularly came out flat, played down to their competition, and once he started replacing staff and managing the program for more than 3-4 years, the wheels came off just as they did at Florida. How many times do we need to go over his tenure here before fans accept that the main difference between Meyer and Day at OSU is that Meyer had one of his teams get red hot after adapting to injury. It was a fantastic coaching job, but doesn't eliminate the fact that 5 of his other seasons were varying levels of underachievement. The way people talk about him, I'd think he won 2-3 titles and regularly dominated CFP teams.
This is much simpler than we are making it. We used to dominate up front on both sides of the ball. We haven't in a few years due to recruiting and you can't dominate on a football field if you can't control the LOS.
What's the difference between a Carp and Jim Harbaugh? One's a scum-sucking bottom feeder and the other is a fish.
The lack of pressure/sacks, defensive stop rate in 4th quarters, and the win-loss column all appear to be directly correlated from my perspective.
There's been some other things in games that have gone wrong, but the defensive line being absent is the one that has been featured in every single one.
If you take everything I’ve accomplished in my life and condense it down to one day, it looks decent!
I don't buy that these teams lack toughness, at least physically, that is largely a bullshit narrative that started from the cheats up north. But the fact that it is a constant talking point is clearly taking a mental toll on everyone around the team and I do think Day is an insecure coach. Every time we play evenly matched competition he tries to nickle and dime games into a final drive to win and we get the same tired one play excuse when it inevitably fails to work out that way. Well I can think of at least 10 different "one plays" that could have flipped the Oregon game. I feel like he needs to exorcize some demons against the cheats this year or just needs to give a fuck and be willing to hurt feelings because 2019 and 2020 Day was a different animal.
I don’t think Day is any more insecure than any other coach. Kirby is insecure, Dabo is insecure, Urban is insecure……. Humans are insecure!! Name me one coach that doesn’t give a shit what media says about him….. you can’t. Some are better at deflecting but most people know there is a kernel of truth to some criticisms and are trying to overcome their own weaknesses. The key is blocking out the blowhards that are simply trying to tear down and not interested in stimulating growth. No ones perfect and its always a process.
You know Andy Reid had a reputation as a bad big game coach too til he found Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, now he’s a genius. In college you only get your Mahomes for a year or two. CFB is hard to sustain excellence. What Bama did was due to a huge network in a part of the country that is teeming with FB talent, kids that want to stay close to home and get to ‘the league’, boosters that have been doing NIL type deals for decades and most recently Saban started the whole outside analyst positions where former head coaches just basically scout and advance plan full time spending very little time with actual coaching of players. All these slight tweaks can make a difference on one or two big moments during a game, but they still lost games too!!
In talent equated games blowouts are rare. How often are NFL playoff games blowouts? Brady and Mahomes usually engineer 4th qtr drives fro FG or TD to win a close one. The separation between top teams is much less than even 3-4 yrs ago. Transfers fill holes for a year somewhere, a hot coach moves on after a real successful season as D or O coordinator. It is such a different game. It’s hard to sustain success and a little easier to catch lightning in a bottle. We have sustained success by almost any metric out there. Have we become a dynasty? No and we unlikely will, at least to the extent that many seem to expect (a Saban run). How long did it take Osborne in an era when he could have 100 scholarships to finally dodge the mantra that he couldn’t win The Big One? Day is the guy for here right now. Guys want to come play for him, he puts us in position and now the guys have to step up and make a play at crunch time. They will, it’s coming. I do think the rift between Knowles and Johnson, if it exists as stated by some on this board, needs to be tended to. There needs to be a coherent voice from the defensive side. I don’t know the veracity of claims being put out there but if there it needs closure ASAP. I happen to think that our D is less about guys not being good enough but more about modern offenses being equipped to make you pay for over aggressiveness. All the top offenses have the same tools and its just a different game now than 5 yrs ago. Yes you have to pick some times to be aggressive but be careful!!
Remember when people said expanding the playoff would hurt the regular season? Boy, you sure can’t tell! We are not taking a loss very well (me included.)
We have all heard the old saying, “act like you’ve been there before.” Well, we know now why Day acted the way he did last year after the Notre Dame win. I think he was even shocked that he could pull out a win in a close game.
I’ve been a huge Day supporter. But it’s getting harder and harder to defend him. I’m very curious how the team responds to this loss. Let’s hope for a ‘08 Florida type of response after they lost to Ole Miss.
Florida 08 had Tim Tebow as its leader ......inexplicably leading a group of thugs that would have made the current guys at UGA look like choir boys. But he was the alpha and willed his team. I don't see an alpha on this team. Will Howard is trying to become one, but it's getting late. And saying that Oregon didn't really beat them but the Buckeyes beat themselves does nothing to accept ownership of the loss with a promise not to let it happen again.
Ding ding ding my friend. Phsycial development of players in the trenches is flat out not happening. Our non senior D lineman still look undersized, lack strength, and are not explosive enough. Put Urbans natty winning O line v this current D line and they would make them look absolutely silly.
Mick has lost a step and been here 10 years. No matter how good you are that is a long time in one place and hard to replicate the fire you have the first 3 years into a job.
Cooper was a great coach until he got to the big games (mainly Michigan and the bowl games) and then he would become so tense and stressed on those game days and he coached that way. His teams were uptight. See some of that in Day.
Urban just knew how to get his team to play in those big showdowns. I think there is still hope for Day starting in 2 weeks at Penn State.
If there is an issue with your defensive staff then address it. This OSU team has more talent than anyone in the country and Day really cannot afford to let this opportunity slip away.
I saw a clip from a CFB podcast saying that Day is the Calipari of CFB. As a person that grew up watching Kentucky basketball with my dad, it does feel kind of the same. Now Calipari does have a Championship which Day does not. But the focus seems more on getting guys to the next level than to win at the college level. Puffing our chest because an alumni of the program is doing well at the professional level, yet we always lose in the biggest moments because of this or that. Idk who needs fired, but something has to change and someone has to reset the precedent at OSU.
Regarding killer Instinct, I would say the defense has definitely been lacking one at times this season. It's hard to define exactly what a killer Instinct is. It's not about stats and more about execution. It's one of those things where you know it when you see it. When we played Oregon for the Natty, our defense definitely displayed a killer instinct. They were out for blood. This past Saturday, the dominant instinct displayed by the Defense seemed to be self-preservation. The hunter-killer drive never showed up. They were playing not to lose rather than to win.
I don’t think “physicality” is the issue. For starters, I still believe the offense is 90% fine, but now has to deal with left tackle since Frye can’t recruit tackles. Defense is the issue, it’s scheme and Larry Johnson’s ineptitude with rotation, rigidness in playing seniors & keeping guys fresh. He is wasting Kayden MacDonald’s Soph year. It shows in the 4th quarter. The defense fails in the 4th quarter. Johnson is more than 50% the issue. I’ll be glad when he’s gone, hopefully next year.
Johnson is under contract through 2026. Something does need to be done. Either Johnson gets on board with the Jack position or he should retire. His DL can't get pressure on the QB (except maybe Williams).
So, NOW Josh Pate thinks Ohio State isn't the physical B1G bully it used to be? This guy has kissed Day's ass since 2019, but now, suddenly, he sees what anyone watching the games has seen since 2020... which was, coincidently, Ryan Day's FIRST team. 2019 was Meyer's team; Meyer recruited it, Meyer built it, Meyer developed it, it was Meyer's CULTURE and had Meyer's PERSONALITY.
Ryan Day has repeatedly failed at developing an o-line that mauls the opposition (altho this year it's noticeably better... thanks, Chip) and enables the offense to grind and eat clock. That has been missing since... 2019. Day has failed at finding a DC who can produce a "Silver Bullet" defense. After one-year Hafley, who had the distinct advantage of walking into a VETERAN defense that Meyer helped build and that had Meyer's culture, Day has had two DCs who are varying degrees of incapable. Coombs was WHOLLY incapable (and Day retained him anyway), while Knowles is more than capable as long as he's not in a talent-match game, but when he is playing a team with like talent, well, he folds like wet cardboard in the 4th quarter. Virtually ALWAYS.
This year, it's win or go home. Day has EVERY possible advantage at his disposal, including the highest paid staff in college football, but here we are - AGAIN - having the very same annual discussion about Day's program and its lack of 'dogs,' its lack of toughness, its lack of culture which CREATES that toughness and those dogs, and its lack of wins on the biggest stages, under the brightest lights. 10M per season entitles Ohio State to a LOT more than repeated losses in talent-match games, and embarrassing - HUMILIATING - Cotton Bowl shit shows vs the likes of frickin MISSOURI. IMO, if Day doesn't beat PSU, ttun, and win the B1G, then Ohio State should take a long, hard look at the list that "every AD has in his desk drawer," and start gauging interest.
So, NOW Josh Pate thinks Ohio State isn't the physical B1G bully it used to be? This guy has kissed Day's ass since 2019, but now, suddenly, he sees what anyone watching the games has seen since 2020
You're mad but this is why OSU fans loved Pate. He always kissed OSU's ass. We like when people tell us what we want to hear and we turn on anyone who starts being honest about OSU, and if they do, they're corporate shills or fake buckeyes.
What would this team look like if Johnson, Hartline and now Lauranaitis wasn't around bringing in top talent.
I don't think this is fair. A part of what makes a great HC is their ability to surround themselves with a strong staff. Day, for whatever reason, just can't seem to close no matter how strong his staff or roster is.
What would Kirby Smart's team look like if his staff couldn't recruit? How about Nick Saban? Urban Meyer did all the recruiting himself didn't send Hartline or Schiano we all know that.
Me and the basketball bros just escaped the clutches of the Chris Holtmann era where the national media shoved down our throats that Holtmann was an elite coach and that a breakthrough was on the horizon. Throughout the Oral Roberts disaster, the letdown that was the 2022 season with EJ and Malaki, to the two back to back rock bottom seasons, we had to deal with everyone saying that we were morons for doubting the great Christopher Holtmann.
I am not comparing Chris Holtmann to Ryan Day in the way that a generic HATER would. Unlike Holtmann, Day has actually accomplished things here...they happened a long time ago, but at least they happened.
I am comparing my fan experience right now. It's been 3 going on 4 straight years of having a great offense, a defense that implodes when the lights are the brightest, and non-functional special teams. And yet I keep hearing from the national media "Ryan Day is an elite coach" when the results just don't show it. I've seen this coaching staff mismanage so many situations, even in non-matchup games, that I'm not comfortable sitting here and saying that we 100% beat Michigan in 2021 and 2022 if they didn't have Stallions.
I mean Oregon didn't have their best player on defense, one of their best WR got kicked out for spitting on Ig, we were gifted a touchdown on the first drive, and we still couldn't get the job done.
The biggest problem is that two things are true at once right now...Ryan Day hasn't been nearly good enough as Ohio State's head coach, but there's not a candidate out there right now that would be an upgrade who's realistic. So we just have to hope that this works out I guess. I'm not giving up on the season because there's only like 1-2 other teams that could follow the Oregon blueprint to beat us, but....who knows.
You can never live a lie and die a legend - Cal Scruby
As you stated, from Oral Roberts on, the BB team underachieved mightily under Holtmann. But it wasn't like Holtmann was winning close to 90% of his games. His team was bottom dwellers his last 2 years and couldn't win after January 1 to save their lives.
Michigan (with 3 years of verified cheating), Missouri (we could go into all the reasons our offense was neutered before the game even started), Georgia, Clemson, Alabama, and Oregon have beaten Day at Ohio State. Day has never lost to an unranked opponent.
All I am saying, be careful what you wish for. Nebraska was irate with Solich and Pelini because 9-3 wasn't good enough. They made changes and it has taken close to 20 years to get back to decent again with Rhule. Not all change works out for the better.
I am not sure it is as simple as being "agressive". We were in cover zero on 3rd and 9 at the end of the half. Passive is cover 2 and don't give up the deep ball (which we did). We gambled with Burke on an island a couple times and lost.
I would prefer we were smart , rather than "aggressive" or "passive". Call the D for the situation and talent (great wide receivers) you are facing. Everyone here freaks when we do not get off the field on 3rd down....but from ancient times Bud Wilkerson "Don't depend on the big play and never give up the big play." Admittedly it is easier to be passive on D when you have a ball control run game....but we abandon that in close games as well.
Great game nonetheless, and interested to see what happens in Happy Valley. It has become a must win.
I am not very smart, but I recognize that I am not very smart.
This has been the narrative for 3+ years. The bottom line is this crop of seniors, who largely returned to win a championship will always have this hanging over their heads until they bear down, beat the guy across from them, and make plays to win big games. It simply hasn't happened yet.
Sawyer, JT, Tyliek, Hamilton, Burke, Ransom, Donnie Jackson (I'll leave Henderson and Egbuka out of it) all came back to win a ship and were no shows Saturday. If they want to win a championship they need to sack up and make the plays to do it. They weren't good enough Saturday, but they still have it all in front of them if they want it.
The proof is in the pudding. Been a long time since we rolled into Norman and smoke checked the Sooners. That was the last marquee matchup I can remember us destroying someone in.
Right, and it is a catch 22. On the cases where we beat a MSU by 50, it makes them out to be a "fraud", so that game does not count in the minds of many. Where if we play the same team closer, they look better, but now it is because we suck.
That MSU game is a bit of a reach…they didn’t have the horses outs de if Kenneth Walker. So ok, yes I forgot ONE game, Clemson 2021. Now let’s list the nail biters and losses... ND x2, Penn State x2, Utah, Michigan x3, Georgia, Clemson, Alabama, Oregon x2, Missouri. Not saying they should blast everyone, but they should absolutely be dominating and/or winning more games with teams of near or equal talent. Day recruits top 3 classes on average. No excuses. For the record, I am grateful for where Day has this program and we are blessed. Just stating the obvious here.
but they should absolutely be dominating and/or winning more games with teams of near or equal talent. Day recruits top 3 classes on average.
But that doesn't happen when teams have top 15 talent often.
MSU was ranked 7 going into that game. That is not a reach based on their ranking and how you want to dominate top 10 type teams.
In 2017, Bama won the national title but lost @Auburn by 2 possessions and only beat a top 20 Miss. St team by 1 possession. In 2016 they lost to a less talented Clemson team, in 2018 they lost by 4 possessions to Clemson (a less talented Clemson team), in 2019 they didn't make the playoffs and they lost to a less talented LSU team at home and lost to a less talented Auburn team. In 2020 they were incredible in a shortened season and won it all.
You are acting like OSU is the only team who has close games when the teams are more even. That's what makes the sport intriguing. If OSU won every game by 30 points forever only OSU fans would continue watching
We could play this game all day long, plenty of national title teams have “left no doubt”, too. But the fact of the matter is…we come up short in big games far too often. I think we’d be hard pressed to find any other team with as many high stakes, gut wrenching losses. It’s a gift and a curse to be near the top, that’s for sure. I don’t believe in luck, but if I did, I’d say we’ve had pretty bad luck in big games under Day.
We won't see a much more talented roster than we currently have. I don't think a 1 pt loss on the road is the end of the world, despite the recurring warts that have plagued this team popping up again. It's still all in front of us but the margin of error is 0.
I think the issues we continue to see in both games can be traced back to both lines. Regardless of how this season goes, I think it is time for a change on both lines even if it hurts us for some prospects in the short term.
Proof that Day is weak and will always be. With how bad the backups played, it wouldn't have mattered if you put peak Brady under center. Frye should've been the first to go, but they're from the same coaching tree. Old Chip, who is now our OC. He also should've told Johnson to eat any beef with how Knowles wants to run his offense or hit the retirement home.
This is where I'm at. The knee-jerk reactions have largely been over the top. OSU lost by 1 to a top 3 team on the road. They still have the chance to beat some really good teams, including another top 5 squad on the road.
Let's wait to see how some other games go before declaring this season to be over. There's a lot of football left to be played.
"In weightlifting, I don't think sudden, uncontrolled urination should automatically disqualify you."
-Jack Handey
What are wrong with 1st quarter play calling? They moved the ball really well minus the back to back false start drive.. that kind of stuff is going to happen in Auzten.
There’s a reason why he’s called soft and that narrative will stick to him until he starts beating top opponents. I think time is running out for him, because a lot people believe that he can’t get over the hump. The defense has been subpar for the past 3 years and offensive line recruiting has been terrible
I see a bunch of dudes who are nowhere near the physical level needed to be on a title winning team and a group that would not even sniff a top Bama or UGA team. S&C is the issue, flat out.
The biggest issue I see with expectations is that prior to the season, fans were placing too much emphasis on talent as the end-all and be-all of securing a Championship. To hoist the trophy, you really need to be hungry. The upper tiers of College football are extremely competitive and talent alone will never be enough to win-out in an expanded playoff against determined opponents. You don't demonstrate hunger by using catch-phrases like Natty or Bust. You demonstrate it with a no-compromise attitude and giving it all like they did on that last drive against Notre Dame.
There is some outstanding talent on the Bucks and a few players who look hungry. But as a team, I have not seen this kind of determination yet. To be honest, the only team I have seen that appears to currently display this kind of Mojo is Texas.
Have players come here because they are hungry for a Natty or because they are looking to boost their NIL prospects and have a better pathway to the NFL draft by showcasing their singular talents in primetime? Have we assembled a hungry team or a gathering of talent ? After watching the first half of the season, I am not really sure if I can answer that question.
True. But to me, the eye test doesn't yet indicate the team as a collective unit has the kind of hunger I described. Just saying Natty or Bust as your season goal doesn't display hunger. What team does not want to win a Natty ?
During the first half of the season, I have seen a team where either the offense or defense has come out playing flat in the first half. I have also seen a defense that put in a pedestrian and uninspiring performance when they walked onto the big stage. I haven't seen the team develop Mojo yet.
Or it isn't some horoscope / psychoanalytic problem and the oblong ball bounced the wrong way a couple times, Burke mis-read his opponent's route, and a ref decided to invent a new criteria for OPI. Can point to some coaching mistakes, but a lot of that is hindsight-driven based on what plays Oregon ran and the results. Also losing a first round LT after we scored 21 and only scoring 10 after might be significant.
I wasn't commenting on any specific player or performance. I was reflecting on the team as a whole. The talent is certainly there. But things appear a bit discombobulated at times. So far this season, either the offense or defense comes into the game lethargic and has a slow first half. We still haven't seen a game where everyone is playing all four quarters firing on all cylinders. This goes back to the hunger I was talking about. I haven't really seen it so far. I see it from some individual players. But something is always not working like it should coming into the game. The overall tone and rhythm is not what I expected to see from a very talented team whose stated objective is a Natty or Bust season that leaves no doubt.
Exactly, Gabriel couldn't put us away and blundered goal to go and 2 point conversion opportunities. Can point to a dozen things why we didn't win (OPI, turnovers, sim pressure calls that didn't work, Burke losing his guy deep 2 times), but it wasn't killer instinct.
2022 Michigan who knows how much Stalions's role affected the outcomebut we gave up too many chunk plays on defensive aggressive calls. 2022 Georgia and 2024 Oregon were coinflips where it is easy to argue we outplayed our opponent but got unlucky. That happens every week in the NFL on games where the betting line is 3 or less. We need to adjust our expectations in games like that and hopefully we can put some together. Obviously you can point to specific things where the coaches made mistakes and others where players made mistakes. But there are also 320 passing yards from Will Howard that didn't just fall out of the sky on a platter. Hopefully there are adjustments, particularly with defensive calls in passing situations (Gabriel was not phased by the sim pressures at all and we let guys run past deep) and late game management. But this team is still very good and could win it all this year.
This is as much of a Strength and Conditioning issue has anything and I along with others have been saying it for 3+ years. Mick has to go. Absolutely needs replaced and fresh blood in the program. When I look at JTT, nothing about him looks different vs his Sophmore year. D line is not explosive and strong enough. Offensive line is not physically getting strong enough while maintaining good agility
Oregon's OTs are rated just as highly in the NFL mocks as JTT for some context. Also we dropped JT into coverage a lot that game and it didn't do anything to confuse Gabriel who just sat back and nailed deep shots.
Yeah. This is actually one of the things that makes me confident against the rest of the teams on the schedule. Oregon has the best pair of OTs outside of LSU and Texas. Realize we'll likely have to get through one of Oregon or Texas at some point, but JT and Sawyer have definitely gotten pressure against teams that can't match them in talent and they won't face many better OTs the rest of the regular season. Between that and the WR core that Oregon has, they are one of the few teams that have the players in key places to cause matchup problems for OSU.
You can't be better at every position unless you are like 2021 Alabama. Just stating facts that those matchups are pretty equal on paper. Maybe next time JT will play like he does vs Penn State and win a few more reps. Or he won't be told to drop into coverage can can just rush the passer. (Or we can kick him inside in the rushmen package where he might be more effective)
I don't want our DEs rated as highly, I want them rated higher. They were top 10 prospects in their class getting paid good money to play for OSU. They have to figure it out.
Oregon OTs are 1st-2nd rounders. That is talent equated in those matchups. Sawyer and JT developed into very good players instead of top 5 picks like Bosas/Young. Putting that on Marotti is odd. Do you guys not give Marotti credit for developing Ty and Tyleik into highly rated NFL guys as 3-4 stars outside the top 100?
To be fair Sawyer and JT have very similar numbers as Zach Harrison in his OSU career and he was a 3rd round pick. So I don’t necessarily think that’s talent equated if you just look at draft projection.
We do have some players that are developing and some that aren’t so not sure that all lies on Marotti or the position coach. They could be weight room warriors but not developing on the field or the other way around.
Either way something isn’t right. Would be hard to believe that OSU whiffed on 3 high 5 star DEs.
Hopefully this team can find something in the bye week and come out on fire for the second half of the season.
I hate to break it to you, but strength and conditioning is lacking at a lot of places. The field doesn't exactly attract the most cerebral individuals. A lot of places under-emphasize exercises that good for injury prevention, while overemphasizing other exercises too much (e.g., bench press). Also, programs use machine-based weights too much when the free-weight variation is much better.
We never have a gamelan, every game we run the same plays on offense, we never try anything unusual, never a trick play, Urban ran a WR throw in the playoffs, Day won’t even try to block a punt. I mean it’s getting exhausting watching this team just think they can line up and win against teams of equal talent by doing the same plays and schemes from every other game, if he keeps this up the rest of the season they will lose atleast one more game, and if they don’t make the playoffs with this roster then Day needs to go, there is no way that would be acceptable!
I don't think physicality is the issue it was. That's mostly a trenches thing, imo. This is a coaching issue translating to weak, underdeveloped players. They certainly do NOT have a killer instinct because Day does not have one. I keep saying the army is being led by Santa when we need Patton.
I feel that since Day took over, they've lost passion during the game. They don't seem fired up.Not individually, but as a whole. It's like watching a group of men at work in a factory instead of watching guys play an exciting, fun game. I see it on the other side all the time. But not with Day's teams. I miss the "flare" Urban brought. Hell, Tress's teams seemed more excited. It's a culture Day has installed. It's a job. Work. Not a game.
Last night, either I needed the trip down memory lane, or I just wanted something to cry about... I watched the '14 Big Ten championship game (condensed version) on YouTube and also watched the Sugar Bowl against Alabama.
Gosh I miss those teams. Those defenses with Bosa, Washington, Bennett, Miller, Lee, Grant, that secondary of Apple, Bell, Powell, and Grant... Those guys flew around, made all the open field tackles, and when they put their foot on someone's neck they didn't let off until they were sure they had crushed their throat.
I miss those days, but that also could be a sign of the times as far as college football. You don't see many teams that play any portion of their season the way that Buckeye team closed out the final four games of that season.
The Excellence of Execution, the Best there is, the Best there was, the Best there ever will be!
Show All Comments
He's correct. The coaching philosophy clearly revolves around the fear of mistakes and it trickles down to the players in these big moments.
Oregon called third and long plays counter to their tendencies all year and torched us deep, knowing we'd safely play the middle based on the tape.
Oregon planned for an onside kick if they ended up in a situation with a short kickoff and they executed it.
Lanning clearly spent time planning for every possible advantage he could find for his team and Day coached like he hadn't spent a single second doing anything different than he'd been doing all season.
There never seems to be a gadget play to try to gain an advantage. There never seems to be a play call that strays from our tendencies to try to catch the team off guard. There's never an exotic blitz they haven't tried or a rearranging of personnel to try to catch the opposing defense off guard a la Ted Ginn at TE.
Doug Lesmerises was dead on the other day when he said Day is TOO trusting of his team to execute, to the point that he doesn't try to outthink the other staff or come up with crazy ideas that could give his team an edge in an otherwise even matchup.
I think Michigan's cheating ruined his mindset. The big plays in 2021 and 2022 have made him insanely skittish, especially with how he aggressive he wants the defense to be, and someone needs to sit him down and get it through his head that they beat him repeatedly because they were cheating. I'm sure there's something to the Knowles-Johnson issues but at the end of the day, I think prioritizing Contain over Pressure is a Day decision and it's costing us big game after big game.
Day coached like he hadn't spent a single second doing anything different than he'd been doing all season.
Maybe the plays he went over in his mind 8000 times should have been done before the game, not after.
When was the last time a team had to adjust to what WE are doing?
Well I heard about this team up north completely selling their soul and initiating the most extensive off campus cheating scandal in the history of cfb. So there’s that….
Yeah, Bull has a good point there
How firm thy friendship
I don't agree with Doug on this. It's just my opinion, but I just don't see it. In fact, a big criticism of the OSU QBs until Stroud were that Day's system was scheming people open all the time and they didn't have to read defenses. Either he is a master "scheme guys open" coach or he isn't.
Day was going for it on fourth down in his own territory on the opening drive against Oregon. He called a fake punt in his own territory against UGA in the 4th quarter that Kirby sniffed out. Called a deep over route to Olave on 4th and 1 against Clemson in the playoffs. Fake punt against Michigan 2022 would have gone for a TD by Harbaugh's own admission... everyone got the memo but the long snapper.
Josh Pate is the equvilent of believing the that National Equire is hard hitting journalism... Pate is a clown. Over the years I have had a few ex buckeye starters who were friends. I know them personal and they know me by face and name... you get a very different perspective to listen to these guys breaking down film... film doesn't lie. Thats why I watch podcasts that are doing film breakdown of the all 22 film which is what the coaches look at to do film breakdown.
They need to unleash the DL and live with the results but this bend but dont break crap doesnt work against ELITE college offenses... you simply can not give these incredible quarterback that are very athletic all day because your scared he is going to hurt you by evading the rush. You give him all day and he will pick your secondary apart. Burke was way too aggressive trying to jump the routes and they saw that on film and exploited that... they should have benched him the second time he tried to jump a route...
The defense is an easier fix by making some adjustments. The offensive line is a bigger more serious issue. Between moving Tsbola to LT and Sereveld to RG, then you are looking at Fitzpatick, Zen, and Montgomery one of them has to STEP up and worse cast become a trusted back up... you only move tsbola if none of those 3 is ready to step up...
You WIN with people.
WW Hayes
Contain over pressure is a recipe for disaster in big games. We might as well have Heacock back there again. Looks great in stats, but blows the big game every time.
Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect - Woody Hayes
I had to LOL at the Heacock reference. His defenses shit the bed in big bowl games under Tressel. Post 2005 his defenses were stuck in a prevent defense the entire second halves of games and they got wrecked by Florida. LSU and Texas with Colt McCoy. Flashbacks are bad, man
When telling the truth becomes a revolutionary concept, it’s wise to join the revolution
Stop the nonsense of an onside kick, it was a lucky bounce on a squib kick, also I’m not 100% sure about college but I know in the NFL you have to declare ahead of time you are doing an onside kick.
That’s because of the dynamic kickoff. This is the first year.
Now i become Boob Salsa, grifter of men.
I think Day needs to learn to keep his composure and not let the other team get back up when the Buckeyes have a multiple-score lead in the second half. If he learns that I think the team will have a ton of success for awhile, assuming he sticks around. Georgia ‘22 was a huge missed opportunity cause they dominated about 3 quarters of that game. But I think once he proves to himself that he can do it and win a title, then those performances will happen more often. Hopefully he gets over that hump, cause it seems like he’s doing just about everything else to keep the program elite.
Do you think it's his composure that failed to keep Oregon to a field goal when up 28-22? Or was it lack of DISCIPLINE from a senior DE (44), who failed his teammates, freelanced, failed to play assignment football, and let Gabriel break contain for a TD run?
What is on Ryan Day is to hold a certain, legendary coach accountable for his position group's play. THAT I put squarely on him. He fired Coombs after the last Oregon game, so I know he is wiling to make big changes.
If Coach Frye's OL would have performed equally to the DL in the last few big games, he would be long gone. The DL are playing with the same attitude as their leadership - impervious to performance and results. I'm glad they didn't, but 92 and 97 should be furious they stayed to get 10% of the snaps. Like any of us, the CEO's attitude and vision have much less impact on us than the direct supervisor. The players are no different.
Meh, get back to me after the season's over.
He's not wrong. And it's damn frustrating because it feels like we're so close. And maybe we are, but part of me worries that Day just is this coach and it won't ever grow beyond this. I'll choose to be optimistic, but the rest of this season will go a long way towards determining Day's future at Ohio State.
We can't stop here; this is bat country...
Same things were said after last season, and the one before, and the one before……..
I blame parents
“Save yourself and relax during every game. I recommend a fine bourbon.”
I blame the parents of dills
Yep.. It's Day's 6th season and his best team was his first. Earle Bruce ran the table year one and came within a whisper of winning the title in the Rose Bowl against USC. After that, we had 7 straight seasons of 9-3 teams. What we have been seeing with Day is what we will continue to get, although I hope he proves me wrong.
One comment the other night by Jake Sawyer gave me pause.. He said the overall attitude and vibe within the team is very different than what it was in '21 when Coombs was the Coordinator. Well, Day was the coach then also and I wonder how DAY didn't pick up that there was a culture problem within the program? Yes, Day has shown he will make changes with his staff, but the overall culture and direction of the program comes from him and only him. I do believe the lack of physical practices (as compared to Urban and Tressel) is hurting this program. I always loved the talk that Saturday's were the day the team gets to let loose, for they beat the hell out of each other the rest of the week. I haven't heard that talk since Day took over.
I've tried really hard to be patient with him. I do like the man and want to see him do well, but this is truly a make-or-break season. He needs to win The Game, get back in the Big Ten Championship game and make a very strong showing in the playoffs. Anything less and it may be time for the school to consider it's options.
I posted this in another thread...
It's our Buckeye DNA. Look back over the years and how many times are we one game away from a national championship or playing for one? These include Woody, Bruce, Cooper, Tressel, Meyer and now Day. We cut Woody, Tress and UFM a break because they won national championships. As soon as Day wins one - and he will...this all goes away.
In the past 55 years, we have won 3 national championships (1968, 2002 and 2014).
In the past 55 years we have been one game away from a national championship 19 additional times.
Less than every three years we were in the hunt for a national championship with a 17 year period from 1980 to 1995 where we didn't sniff it.
We were one game away from a national championship or playing for one in 69, 70, 73, 75, 79, 96, 98, 05, 06, 07, 10, 12, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23.
Being a long time fan, this has been very frustrating but ... I am optimistic and think Day will win a national championship soon.
100%, been saying this for years. We are the most under achieving program in sports given the natural advantages we have enjoyed as the only consistent northern powerhouse program the last 30 or so years. We always let someone else step up and grab the top place at the mantle of the sport. That is what makes every incremental big game letdown hurt so much more.
We just lost on the road to the number 2 team in the country by a single point.
People can be fatalists if they want, but Ryan Day keeps putting us in a position to win top-5 matchups. At some point, our players have to execute at the end of games.
But I was expecting “us” to go in and dominate them in a way where I could mock my coworkers who aren’t Buckeye fans and puff my chest all week.”
I mean that's usually what the census is all over this forum and social media in general before every one of these games. It never happens but it's consistent.
All over social media our fans mocked Autzen stadium as being small and didn't take the warnings about how loud it was there. Then we watched OSU football lose and had to walk back those comments. It's embarassing.
We?
We threw an interception on one drive that was egregiously not called. OSU never earned that TD. I think if this played out correctly on the field, we lost by worse than we did. We got lucky to only lose by 1 point and that speaks to how constantly unprepared this team is in top matchups.
Rewatching the game, one does get the feeling that Oregon should have one by at least two scores. The Ducks were the aggressors and more physical . The Ducks were better prepared. The Ducks were the better team. So instead of being down on Ryan Day and the Bucks in general, maybe we should celebrate that they made the game as close ad it was.
Too much time spent at the North Heidelberg rather than the classroom. SSD 68-72
I have not rewatched the game but I certainly didn't feel like that live at all. I felt like OSU was better for 70% of the game, and crazy stuff happened.
The onside kick, our LT going out, the OPI, Howard dropping a perfect snap on a 3rd down and 4 which could have iced the game, Judkins giving up a fumble for really no good reason, and Howard going down .2 seconds too late to give OSU a chance to kick a field goal. Hell JT collapsing on a play where he had to know there was no over the top help in containing Gabriel was terrible too
I'm sure you can point out a few for Oregon like the interception that was not called, but to me it was not a game where OSU was getting a lot of the breaks outside of that. I just think it was a pretty good game where OSU and Oregon were right there the whole time.
I certainly don't think it was a physicality thing at all. Rushing yards were almost even, passing yards were almost even, and OSU had 1 turnover.
It seemed to me watching live that all of the breaks of the game went in Ohio State’s favor and yet we couldn’t build a lead and I think that’s because Oregon out-played and out-coached Ohio State. They were without their best defensive player to start. The INT didn’t get reviewed. They lost a stud WR early in the game (to his own fault but still, imagine OSU losing JJ and what that does to the team…. Or MHJR a few year ago, it’s a big deal). They also missed a chip-shot field goal. All of those thing favored Ohio State. It wasn’t until the very end when weird things went against OSU and even then the summation of them to me doesn’t outweigh the breaks that went against Oregon. Had Ohio State won it would’ve felt like a escaping with a W and that Lanning cowered at 4th and goal by kicking the field goal for a 1 point lead.
I made a list of 5-6 breaks that went Oregon's way. I don't recall there being that many for OSU (the ones I do recall are the spitting, the INT of course, and Gabriel potentially missing a guy open in the end zone but I don't call that a "break")
Edit: I had to reread your whole post and you point out a few more.
The total rushing yards doesn't really tell the actual story though. Oregon absolutely shut the run game down the entire second half and almost exclusively all of those yards were picked up in the first quarter. Of the rushing total half of that was done in 1 possession that Henderson ripped off a 53 yarder himself.
BUCK - I have not verified this, but scold me if I am wrong. You say the rushing yards were almost equal, but I read that the Bucs had 21 yards rushing in the second half. If that is actually true and we have (it's been claimed by some on this site) the two best running backs in the nation, then 21 yards seems pretty much a shutdown of our running attack And since the game is over, I don't feel the need to check the rushing stats, because I witnessed the final score!
I love the game!
Saying we threw an interception with no context is disingenuous. Howard put the ball in a perfect spot. Should have been an easy catch for Kacmarek. If they called it a pick, it wasn't a badly executed play it was just unlucky. The game also would have gone completely different from that point in time and assuming we would have lost worse instead of it being a completely different outcome altogether is just not how football works.
and lose
Bobcat66
True post, CA. But realists now......over time will become fatalists if what we see continues. Sooner or later, and I am not saying that time is now, but Ryan Day's teams will need to learn to win big, spotlight games other than what they have shown vs. Notre Dame and Penn State. The clock is ticking and patience is growing thin. You are your record and Ryan Day has two. His over-all record is one to be respected and envied. His record in marquee matchups is now under some serious scrutiny and deservedly so. Time will tell as to whether Ryan Day gets over the hump and wins a national championship or goes down in history as one of the biggest squanderers of talent as an Ohio State football head coach.
Technically we lost to the #3 team, we were #2 and favored on the road, but lost. At some point Day needs to figure out how to not pucker up, let his team play loose, take risks, be less predictable, and find a way to leave no doubt.
I'm tired of all the talk and undeserved hype all offseason, just to come out in every game we play against a team of comparable talent and piss down our legs, especially in the 4th qtr.
Every year under Day it's the same BS
Beasy - Ditto
I love the game!
Yeah, not to put it on one player, but Denzel Burke had one of the worst games for a DB in the history of football. Just...don't have repeated coverage busts like that (by one player or the entire secondary) and we don't lose that game.
Class of 2010.
Theres something to be said for always being in the mix and people really shouldnt take it for granted. We were incredibly fortunate to go from Tressel to Meyer. A new coach isnt a guarantee that they will keep the train going just because we are Ohio State.
People keep bringing up Cooper but he didnt have anywhere near the consistent success that Day has had. In his tenure, here’s how many games Cooper lost each season : 6, 4, 4, 3, 1, 4, 2, 1, 3, 1, 6, 4.
That doesnt mean Day cant be criticized of course. There are obviously things needing to be tweaked to get over the hump. But he has shown the ability to grow and fix problems: fired Coombs midseason then went and got the best DC on the market, gave up play calling, brought in Chip Kelly, improved the OL and run game, red zone efficiency is now fantastic etc.
While the loss naturally put some doubt in my head, this team still has all the pieces to get the job done and theres a lot of football left to play.
In fairness, Coop inherited a train wreck, Day was given a juggernaut. Once Coop go rolling he was as good as Day is now (Coop was 43-7 from 1995-1998 (two NC runner ups, 1-3 vs UM, 2-2 in bowls)), Day is 40-7 2020-2023 (one runner up, 0-3 vs UM, 2-3 in bowls). Then the wheels fell off for Coop following the 1998 season when everybody left. fortunately, Day has some talent at QB and WR next year, so that shouldn't happen.
Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect - Woody Hayes
Its a fair point on Coop inheriting a worse program. Although Day helped build the program as OC before he took over but yes, it wasnt the same situation.
So lets give Coop a pass for the first few years…..I dont know why you stopped counting the games after 1998. They certainly count in this discussion. The program massively dropped off on his watch and that hasnt happened under Day. Coop also had a weaker Big Ten and less games on the schedule each year.
(I’m only discussing regular season for the comparison since there was no playoff then)
Not sure if it was weaker, Michigan did win the National Championship in 1997,and the Big 10 won 7 of 10 rose bowls during that time period. I quit counting because Cooper went downhill. I don't think that will happen with Day. Day wasn't OC, he was the QB coach. Kevin Wilson was the OC.
Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect - Woody Hayes
How about talent on the lines? How’s that looking?
There is something that is just off. What we can speculate what exactly as we all have various opinions and have discussed them repeatedly. In big games we do enough to be competitive but not enough to win and its different slightly each time. They appear to just get out coached and not prepared for changes from the norm. I often wonder if the program focus is come here to get drafted to the NFL attitude under Coach Day which has made the program more like a country club. I think former players have brought this up in interviews.
Nailed it. FUCK the NFL.
The one thing coaches like Saban and Meyer didn't give two shits about was if a player's feelings got hurt. They didn't hesitate to pull a starter if they weren't getting the job done, they let them know it on the sideline if they weren't happy with how they were playing as well as letting their top assistants know in game when they weren't happy with what was going on. Saban was the master at all of this.
I don't buy one goddam drop of gas in the state of Michigan!
Yeah but Meyer and Saban didn't have paid players that could walk off with NIL money being offered elsewhere. That changed the leverage to the players from the coaches.
Saban did. That’s why he retired
Boof Bonser says:
It was also Hafley's Defense that folded like a cheap suit with the 2019 Clemson game on the line. We took a lead late in the 4th quarter and then Clemson scored a TD in less than 5 plays. This....against a Defense that sent a handful of players to the NFL, some of whom are still playing in it. The lack of closure to win big games and the Defense's inability to get key stops started in Ryan Day's first year as a Head Coach.
Urban and Coach Tressel always seem to have some tricks up their sleeves for the big game. Something that the opponents haven't seen until that point. Day, however, does not.
Not Ohio born; Not Ohio Bred; but through thy firm friendship; forever Ohio cred! Developed Here.
I would really really like to see this program with a new Strength & Co staff implemented. There is absolutely a level of strength + explosiveness missing in our players since 2019. I am not seeing the development physically of our players by their 3rd and 4th year that we should be seeing. Mick is old school and it might be time to go another direction
All the old has-beens are just coasting.
I think that the coaching staff has the mindset that because they have better or equal talent in every game, they just need to execute their basic schemes to win. Objectively, this is true, but so much talent should create confidence to embolden creativity rather than cling to base concepts. Seriously, if not now, when? Fortune favors the bold, man! What personnel and experience is required finally to relax and try some creative and unexpected schemes that potentially gain advantage against similar talent and coaching? It seems that, no matter the opponent or situation, OSU is always going to line up and play in the most vanilla and predictable sets on defense. Its ridiculous to believe that you can do what everyone knows you'll do and still succeed because of discipline. Big boy ball doesn't work that way; this approach is boring at best and disappointing, typically. I don't get it, and especially after this approach has (narrowly) failed so many times. It feels like they are coaching scared against the other top tier teams. It is self-sabotage! Give yourself a chance!
Day wanted a "softer and gentler" philosophical approach after Meyer left. I don't know if that works in big time college football. Seems like the coaches and players know they will not be held accountable. Day will just blame the weather, the flu, or the 12th man when we lose.
Robert M
A football team ultimately takes on the personality of their coach. What I see is a passive team focused on executing it's assignments and having no perception of the big picture. There seems to be a mentality of if we just do X we will win. There's no focus on disrupting the other team, no risk taking in order to make a big play. One play in particular was Will Howard completely missing a wide-open Treveyon Henderson in the flat without a defender within 20 yards of him - but he never even looked towards that side of the field. I also suspect that may explain the alleged rift between Knowles and LJ. The defensive linemen may be shackled to predetermined zones and not allowed to freelance like Chase Young and Joey/Nick Bosa were allowed to do. A line of even average talent with 5th year seniors should be able to generate pressure but it looks to me like they're more concerned with maintaining gap integrity - which makes them predictable.
Dillon Gabriel did the same exact thing on a potential TD. Does he have the Buckeye mindset?
I don’t think you understand how a defense works
Now i become Boob Salsa, grifter of men.
I agree with him but without calling specific players out all we can say is it's a mixed bag, some players on this roster have the fortitude but others don't. It's not about the weight room or training it's a DNA thing.
The loss on Saturday bothers me because it's the same way all his teams lose:
1 . A "bend but don't break" defense that allows dink and dunk offenses to slowly wear them down over a game. This eventually leads to major breakdowns
2. An offense that abandons the run game when it doesn't' come easy, because they're not good enough to get it done in the trenches
3. Special teams mishaps or game management
Ohio State brass made some miscalculations during the Meyer scandal. That Day would be good enough to quickly learn on the job and that college football was going to give favor to pass first teams, but neither are true. I believe that Day's time at Ohio State will be a cautionary tale not to try and change the formula for success. Ohio State will have success again when they hire a tough nosed coach that relies on defense and running the ball.
2. Simmons went down and he ABANDONED the run game as if saying, we have a man down, we can’t possibly run now. He didn’t even TRY.
12 carries for 19 yards in the second half. Wouldn't say he didn't even try.
I think Ohio State did give up on the run to a large extent in the 2H. There were very few carries, and at least 4 of them came after the goal line stand when it made sense to run, at least the first two. My memory (and by that point I was having trouble catching my breath after hours of such intensity! :) ) says we ran twice, then threw for a 1st down twice. I know Egbuka - who was so money all night - had a 3rd down conversion catch there. And those series were working until Howard fumbled the shotgun snap.
I think the 1Q fumble also contributed to Ohio State abandoning the run, too, along with losing Simmons. With Henderson and Judkins, we should be able to run the ball successfully against almost anyone.
Beat Michigan!
Coach Lock for Head Coach! We don't want that soft batch cookie shit.
Day was handed an elite program full of weapons. Do you think Day could win at a lesser school. Do you think he could rebuild Florida? Could he win at Missouri or Indiana? Maybe he needs the experience of building a lesser program before taking over an elite program. I’m not sure what he needs to do but there is definitely a hump that he just can’t seem to get over.
Go Buckeyes!
He was here for two years being handed the ‘elite program’. So he’s been at OSU in positions of power for 8 years. He absolutely had a hand in building The elite program he was ‘handed’. Of all the nonsense said about this program, this is by far the most tiresome
Michigan Cheated
We began getting elite QBs specifically because of Ryan day. That started with him.
How many elite coordinators fail at being head coaches. Sark failed. Tosh failed. They are now successful. Just because you were part of an elite program doesn’t mean you can run it.
Go Buckeyes!
GoFor - Your first sentence is absolutely correct! But, Don't bring up Missouri! They beat us last year and have the same record as us this year. So it's for sure there is someone that can win there. Do you think Drinkwitz could do better at OSU than Day at Missouri. I am beginning to think so in the big game area for sure. I certainly don't think Missouri has the talent that we have and they beat us. I know there will be many reasons (Actually Excuses) why we lost that game, the the reality is that we lost.
I love the game!
Ask Ray Perkins, Bill Callahan, Will Muschamp, Bob Davie, Willie Taggart, and Lane Kiffin what it's like to inherit an elite program.
I am not in the fire day club but if OSU wants to win another championship, I think they will need a different coach to do it. Before getting the job at OSU, Day has never been a HC, he is learning on the job. Day has been out coached multiple times now. Day is a good coach, he has the program running at a high level but I don't believe he will win a championship. I would love to be wrong.
Hell, he was just outcoached by Dan Lanning, who literally has half the head coaching experience he does.
No the fuck he wasn’t. If that OPI isn’t called and we win the entire national media is again talking about how Lanning being too aggressive cost him critical points in a big game. Oregon’s defense, the thing Lanning hangs his hat on, gave up 1 less point and only 30 yard less than our defense did. They got shredded. Both coaches made mistakes. Both coaches had good game plans on offense. And it came down to the final play
If the OPI isn't called? What if that interception was called an interception (as it was)? You are blatantly ignoring the fact that OSU was literally gifted 7 points and Oregon had to overcome this.
Yes, Day was outcoached.
Why didn’t Lanning call for a challenge then?
Michigan Cheated
This doesn't change the fact that it was an interception, but Lanning definitely should have challenged. Likely didn't want to risk a challenge so early in the game.
Well if your stance is that Lanning outcoached Day, I’d argue a play central to your theme was a case of Day out coaching him and getting the offense up to the line.
Michigan Cheated
Pretty sure every single Ohio State fan, including myself, was screaming at the TV to hurry and snap the ball. This isn't some next level genius coaching work here lol
Neither is throwing the challenge flag apparently except one thing happened and one didn’t….
Michigan Cheated
Yes, one thing happened... and it was an interception. Just because it wasn't called that way on the field doesn't make it not an interception. The attitude OSU fans take towards this versus the attitude they take towards Jordan Fuller's fumble return TD being reversed are drastically different. And I cannot begin to imagine why.
The crazy part is.. you KNOW it was an interception. But you love defending this no-call interception. LOVE to. You'll take it as far as you need to because this time it benefited OSU and kept it a close game. And I just can't respect that. It's hypocrisy of astronomical proportions.
No it was not an interception. He was laying on his back, ball was free, neither on had it. If OSU gets control of ball laying on his back it is a catch. Tie goes to offense. Riddle me this: if OSU did not have control why was the DB pulling so hard to get the ball out.
You might be the first person in all of college football fandom to claim that wasn't an interception. And that includes Ohio State fans. You might have reached a homer level of unheard of proportions.
But yet you don’t respond to the question I had
Here's the huge difference about equating the INT on the 1st drive of the game, and the OPI on the last drive. We know for fairly certain if no OPI is called, OSU is going to run 1 or 2 more plays and center the ball for a 35-38 yd FG to win the game. So you can pretty much say, that call had the most impact on the game. Maybe we make the FG, maybe we don't, but from that range, I'd call it 75-80% it is going through the uprights.
The INT reversal in the 1st quarter, you can't simply just subtract 7 pts from OSU's final score and say that's what would've happened. It was the 1st drive of the game. It leads to a total butterfly effect for the rest of the game, field position of ensuing possessions change, coaching decisions based on time and score change. We just don't know how the game would have played out from there.
RB, the flaw in your argument is that the interception was ACTUALLY an interception and the OPI was ACTUALLY an OPI, so you can't just "remove" the OPI in your scenario. Michigan did the same exact thing to us last year and it SHOULD have been called an OPI. They got away with a major missed call. Like someone else said, it's just extremely unfortunate that both calls went to the detriment of OSU.
Yes, there would be a butterfly effect, but at the very least, we know we remove those 7 points and OSU never has that momentum at the start of the game.
This comment is oozing with irony. I hope I'm not the one one who caught it.
As for this one...
I don't know it was an interception. If I look at the stat line, Will Howard didn't have an INT in that game so I'm confused. Also, you are diverting and deflecting. Lanning outcoached Day but was a ticky tack OPI call away from Lanninging another game away with his decision to go for it on fourth and goal when Gabriel hit Simon on the backside with a pass. I've yet to hear what decision Day made that cost him the game, other than 'being outcoached'.
Now, we could argue that abandoning the run seemed like an odd choice but then I'd be making your argument for you. You LOVE being hung up on this completed pass to the OSU Tight End.
Michigan Cheated
Idk how you can objectively even say this if you watch the replay where the ball was popping out on his way down he never had an ounce of possession going to the ground. Half the reason the ball didn't become incomplete is because the DB made a grab at the ball. Just take the colors off the teams and then make that assesment. I dare you to grow a pair and then admit what actually happened. Day made a wise decision to rush that play call.
K. I grew a pair. Since you dared me!
It wasn't an INT. Wasn't challenged, wasn't reviewed, call on the field was going to stand.
Did I do it right? Also, I can objectively say it wasn't an INT because Howard had 0 INT's on his stat line. OBJECTIVELY it wasn't an INT. Subjectively is the word you are searching for.
Michigan Cheated
This is a strong example of why the nation hates the super homer Ohio State fans who are real annoying on X. They exist on Eleven Warriors plenty.
OSU fans never talked about 2019 Clemson like this. Never.
You think you've landed a gotchya moment here.
Difference with the Clemson call, and while it sucked for OSU, is that it was called, challenged, reviewed and overturned. Like it or not, the results of that play, OBJECTIVELY, is that it wasn't a fumble.
When you put your argument eggs into one hypothetical basket, it all falls apart when I don't go the way you assume I would.
Michigan Cheated
This is not the general perception of OSU fans, at all.
It was still an interception because we all have two eyeballs and saw what happened. It was... a lucky break for OSU that it was not challenged and the replay officials didn't decide to go to the booth.
If so many eyeballs saw it why wasn't it challenged....
Michigan Cheated
No you're still losing this. Take the Scarlet glasses off for half a second. Fans like you give the rest of us a bad name.
The pick that was called a catch, wasn’t challenged, reviewed, or over turned was actually a pick?
And I’m losing? Just because you say it doesn’t mean it’s true. This works on a few levels.
Michigan Cheated
Real adults don’t even get on X.
Thanks I just wanted to see if you had any ounce of integrity.
Do you share that same energy for the controversial call in last years TTUN game or no? I have a strong feeling the answer is no.
Say I suggest that the Oregon QB (Dillon) threw the same ball to his TE(Ferguson) and our DB/LB (Styles) makes the same play on the ball. Do you then still not call it an interception or are you correctly upset at the officials for botching it and awarding Oregon the ball that lead to 7 points? You see you can be a fan and also not a blind homer. You are an obnoxious blind homer that makes outsiders laugh at our fanbase. Be better.
It was an interception though. We all saw it. If we're being honest those types of plays really shouldn't be considered an INT for the QB in totality because of the other teammates inability to haul in the pass. That's unfair to the QB in that scenario.
Sure.
What controversial calls would you like my opinion on? We can go down the list if you'd like but I am taking issue with this notion that people are so sure it was a pick, and going as far to say that I know it was a pick. When if you look at things like facts and stats, it would in fact not be a pick.
I'm not sure what you want me to say here. Do you want me to agree with you that it was a pick despite it not being called a pick, challenged as a pick, overturned as a pick, or registered as a pick.
You are arguing with me about a subjective thing - did the Oregon player intercept the ball or did he not. And you are mad that my subjective opinion is backed by objectivity.
Obnoxious blind homer because I disagree with you. Maturity is chasing you but you are faster.
Michigan Cheated
Because despite the fact Day correctly and smartly ran a play anyone that isn't a blind homer can see what actually happened and acknowledge it as a lucky break that went in our direction.
I'd like you to be a normal human being and admit it was a pick that we got away with because that is absolutely what happened. The only people who say otherwise are stubborn arrogant pricks. Like I said what you're doing is one of the things others find insufferable about this fanbase. We can be honest and say yes that should have been ruled an interception but we came away with some luck that ultimately kept us in a football game.
It's not really subjective. That would have absolutely been an interception if not for incompetence on the officials. You can't complain about the OPI call because it went against us and then act like the officials were doing a good job on the should be interception. That's how you create this false reality that the calls ALWAYS go against us and it doesn't.
No obnoxious blind homer because you will absolutely not admit what you know you saw and in your heart knows as well simply because that would mean you have to admit the refs aren't always out to get us. It's fine to admit we got lucky with one and that the refs are in fact not out to get us.
I highly suggest you look yourself in the mirror for a few hours and repeat that until you see the irony of your words.
Your entire argument is ‘I’m right you know I am’ and ‘you know it was pick’. I’ll look again but I’m 99.9 percent sure Will Howard had zero interceptions in that game.
*update* - I have confirmed that Will Howard threw 35 passes and none were intercepted. But this is only the case if you look at things like facts and stats. If you get in your feelings then maybe it was a pick.
If you stand up on a chair and declare loudly that it was an interception, maybe someone will believe you. For the record, as I’ve stated a few times, I know it wasn’t a pick. So you can keep telling me ‘I know in my heart’ it is, or you can dare me to grow a pair, but it doesn’t make reality any less real.
Michigan Cheated
I don't see how you seem to be missing his point. A call went our way. A call didn't go our way. The point is we lost a big game. Again. There's always some excuse, and it's gotten so old.
So your argument the ball was popping out when falling down. Yes it was, so neither player had it. But guess what the play was NOT OVER!!!! No one has it ball moves forward to the TE you can see his right hand go up for it, ball stops and you see the DB take an extra dive up to get the ball. TE can have control for 1/2 a second it is a catch at that moment. Tie goes to offense. Again if DB clearly had it and TE had no control why did DB have to pull it away from the TE to get up?
If you sincerely believe this then there is no way you can make an argument that the TTUN player didn't have full control of the ball before he crossed the goal line last year then? I don't think you actually believe the nonsense you just said but to cope you're just spewing shit out of your mouth. At no point did Will have any control of the ball or have possesion. The DB taking it away from Wills right arm as he's pulling it in isn't any form of possession. Also if the DB hadn't been there to grab the ball the ball simply would've rolled over Will and been incomplete.
I don't think he even had the chance to do the ball was snapped so quickly which was very strange.
Regardless of whether or not Lanning challenged it the replay shows it was clearly an interception that isn't even up for debate. Kacmarek never had the ball in his possesion. Literally had the DB not been there the ball pops out of his hands on the way to the ground and the refs call it incomplete. The DB didn't even rip it out of his hands it was literally falling out.
"I don't think he even had the chance to do the ball was snapped so quickly which was very strange."
Could this possibly just maybe be construed as positive credit towards Day and the coaching staff to know it was questionable and to run another play as quickly as humanly possible? Nah, we don't do that around here.
I actually thought it was quick thinking on their part and his part to hurry up the play call. But that is still an error on the officiating crew and the replay booth. Those types of things the refs should slow down when a potential turnover is in question.
You're allowed to think Day did something smart but also criticize the refs for doing a piss poor job even when it positively affects your team. You don't get to just pick and choose when you like or don't like the refs for doing or not doing their job.
Nevermind. Wrong play.
What I think is missed here is that one can coach aggressively and not get called out by fans and media. They tend to take a "He pulled out all the stops" mentality. So even if Lanning would have lost, he would have been lauded for his approach.
Day continues to just line up good versus good, and run the same old offence and defence. Nothing especially aggressive, nothing new, nothing unexpected. Honestly, he brought back some of the sideline screen plays that were completely ineffective for years. We saw a glimpse of this level of aggressiveness against Georgia and Clemson. The results are one win against Clemson and a game against Georgia we still talk about positively even in a loss. He makes it very easy to blame for a loss running his vanilla game plan over and over. Everyone loves the gambler, even when he loses.
As I get closer to my 50's, I notice there is more gray and less scarlet.
My man, if OPI isnt called and we kick the field goal, Lanning is getting torched right now for not taking points near the goal line and for the extra point failures. And we’re hearing about “how could Oregon’s defense give up 470 yards at home?”
That doesnt mean Day/staff didnt have mistakes but it wasnt some big disparity
We haven't had that since Urban left.. Urban gave those guys a certain mental edge that those guys just wanted to tear you apart..not so much under Ryan Day..
False, on Urban. Go rewatch MOST games and get back to me.
Urban Meyer is 5-2 against top 5 teams, and he never lost to Michigan..and he has won a NC.. Ryan Day is 1-7, 3 losses to Michigan, and zero national titles..so yeah..
2-7 and frankly after the “wins” are vacated or forfeited by TCUN he’ll be 2-4 and then when you examine those losses you’ll see that he was shafted by the infamous scoop and score in ‘19. The COVID game in ‘20 where he had to essentially play a really good Bama team with both arms tied behind his back and a blindfold on. Then you also have the 1 point loss to UGA in ‘22 where the obvious targeting on MHJr would’ve most certainly win the game. I also give him credit for a win over TCUN in ‘20. They clearly used COVID as an excuse to avoid an epic beatdown.
“Nothing that comes easy is worth a dime.” -Woody
Also did Urban bring that energy against Purdon’t in ‘18 or Iowa in ‘17?
“Nothing that comes easy is worth a dime.” -Woody
Those were bad losses that screwed us then but now they would be brushed aside and we'd make the playoffs with a dumb loss and a bunch of big wins. For me at least, if it's a big game, I'd take Meyer over Day...though it doesn't matter because Day is our coach now and I don't think Meyer is coming back lol
Day has been losing 2 games a season now..Meyer didn't do that..he won his big games, Ryan Day loses the big games..
And what about the embarrassing 31-0 loss to Clemsux?
“Nothing that comes easy is worth a dime.” -Woody
Still not countering my point. They played flat, emotionless and robotic in MOST games.
This comment shouldn't be grayed out.
Urban's tenure can be broken down into two distinct categories. Hunter and Hunted.
When he's the hunter, he's the best college football coach of all time. That period was from 2012-2014. Like his time in Florida, when he becomes the hunted, his teams aren't the same. I think a lot of people look back on the Meyer years and confuse the first era as his entire tenure. He's rightfully adored because of his accomplishments, but for all the talk of Ryan Day taking over some elite program, Meyer won exactly one title with that program. Yes its more than Day. But there isn't an OSU fan in the world that thinks that's all he should have won. Meyer made a LOT of bad personnel and in game decisions that stopped that train at one title.
No one is confusing Ryan Day (yet) for one of the three greatest coaches that has ever done it, but even one of the three best made COUNTLESS mistakes that cost him wins and titles he had the teams to achieve.
Michigan Cheated
Yeah there was definitely a difference in Meyer before and after the title. Definitely appreciate what he did to get the natty in 2014 obviously but people have rose colored glasses when it comes to his tenure, particularly with 2015-2018.
People also need to recognize the B1G was weaker then. His typical end of season challenge was beating a bad or mediocre Michigan team and then a mediocre B1G West team in Indy. Day will have to play an elite Oregon team twice this year (hopefully) just to make it out of the B1G.
2015 - Meyer kinda overthought the whole QB situation Barrett or Cardale , and the offense was a ..mess? the TUN game , they finally looked dominant as we expected them to be. (just compare the OL and running game now to those 2014 or 15 teams, its night and day different). but it all came down to that one MSU game in the rainstorm.
Could you and this buckeyeguy0615 disclose what you did in life to get such massive brain damage? Your takes are just.....well they are takes there Dill.
I’m not blinded by the rose colored sun. I wouldn’t take him back. I wish they would’ve gotten rid of everyone that coached under him around here. He sucked after 2014. Probably the cyst, I’m sure.
Urban was a good coach for OSU, but he ran out of gas after the 2015 season. He was also out coached by MSU in Big 10 championship games, Clemson in the playoffs, Iowa, and Purdue. These are just a couple of examples. Urban’s failure to hire a competent OC in 2015 cost OSU a repeat title and the inability to pick a QB. Urban was better at the psychological part of winning big times and breaking tendencies, but he did not bring that edge to always hiring the best coaches, being innovative, etc.
Spot on. Now if we could just combine Urban and Day...
Urban was a great coach and people continue to build this myth that his teams were the hardest, toughest around that never got physically beat. Except they did against Michigan State & Clemson twice. 3 of those games had an NC berth riding it and they couldn't get stops or got blown out.
Fans love Meyer because he brought a perceived toughness and confidence with a run heavy offense and, with the exception of 2015-2016, beat up on bad Michigan teams. Between 2012-2014, Michigan was 20-18, and yet Meyer's far superior teams with a supposed mental edge, beat them by 6, 1, and 14. And in the 14 point win, it was a one possession game in the 4th.
If we're judging him as harshly as Day, his teams regularly came out flat, played down to their competition, and once he started replacing staff and managing the program for more than 3-4 years, the wheels came off just as they did at Florida. How many times do we need to go over his tenure here before fans accept that the main difference between Meyer and Day at OSU is that Meyer had one of his teams get red hot after adapting to injury. It was a fantastic coaching job, but doesn't eliminate the fact that 5 of his other seasons were varying levels of underachievement. The way people talk about him, I'd think he won 2-3 titles and regularly dominated CFP teams.
This is much simpler than we are making it. We used to dominate up front on both sides of the ball. We haven't in a few years due to recruiting and you can't dominate on a football field if you can't control the LOS.
What's the difference between a Carp and Jim Harbaugh? One's a scum-sucking bottom feeder and the other is a fish.
We haven’t dominated a damned thing since the 2014-15 season ended.
The lack of pressure/sacks, defensive stop rate in 4th quarters, and the win-loss column all appear to be directly correlated from my perspective.
There's been some other things in games that have gone wrong, but the defensive line being absent is the one that has been featured in every single one.
If you take everything I’ve accomplished in my life and condense it down to one day, it looks decent!
I don't buy that these teams lack toughness, at least physically, that is largely a bullshit narrative that started from the cheats up north. But the fact that it is a constant talking point is clearly taking a mental toll on everyone around the team and I do think Day is an insecure coach. Every time we play evenly matched competition he tries to nickle and dime games into a final drive to win and we get the same tired one play excuse when it inevitably fails to work out that way. Well I can think of at least 10 different "one plays" that could have flipped the Oregon game. I feel like he needs to exorcize some demons against the cheats this year or just needs to give a fuck and be willing to hurt feelings because 2019 and 2020 Day was a different animal.
I don’t think Day is any more insecure than any other coach. Kirby is insecure, Dabo is insecure, Urban is insecure……. Humans are insecure!! Name me one coach that doesn’t give a shit what media says about him….. you can’t. Some are better at deflecting but most people know there is a kernel of truth to some criticisms and are trying to overcome their own weaknesses. The key is blocking out the blowhards that are simply trying to tear down and not interested in stimulating growth. No ones perfect and its always a process.
You know Andy Reid had a reputation as a bad big game coach too til he found Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, now he’s a genius. In college you only get your Mahomes for a year or two. CFB is hard to sustain excellence. What Bama did was due to a huge network in a part of the country that is teeming with FB talent, kids that want to stay close to home and get to ‘the league’, boosters that have been doing NIL type deals for decades and most recently Saban started the whole outside analyst positions where former head coaches just basically scout and advance plan full time spending very little time with actual coaching of players. All these slight tweaks can make a difference on one or two big moments during a game, but they still lost games too!!
In talent equated games blowouts are rare. How often are NFL playoff games blowouts? Brady and Mahomes usually engineer 4th qtr drives fro FG or TD to win a close one. The separation between top teams is much less than even 3-4 yrs ago. Transfers fill holes for a year somewhere, a hot coach moves on after a real successful season as D or O coordinator. It is such a different game. It’s hard to sustain success and a little easier to catch lightning in a bottle. We have sustained success by almost any metric out there. Have we become a dynasty? No and we unlikely will, at least to the extent that many seem to expect (a Saban run). How long did it take Osborne in an era when he could have 100 scholarships to finally dodge the mantra that he couldn’t win The Big One? Day is the guy for here right now. Guys want to come play for him, he puts us in position and now the guys have to step up and make a play at crunch time. They will, it’s coming. I do think the rift between Knowles and Johnson, if it exists as stated by some on this board, needs to be tended to. There needs to be a coherent voice from the defensive side. I don’t know the veracity of claims being put out there but if there it needs closure ASAP. I happen to think that our D is less about guys not being good enough but more about modern offenses being equipped to make you pay for over aggressiveness. All the top offenses have the same tools and its just a different game now than 5 yrs ago. Yes you have to pick some times to be aggressive but be careful!!
A couple of things….
Remember when people said expanding the playoff would hurt the regular season? Boy, you sure can’t tell! We are not taking a loss very well (me included.)
We have all heard the old saying, “act like you’ve been there before.” Well, we know now why Day acted the way he did last year after the Notre Dame win. I think he was even shocked that he could pull out a win in a close game.
I’ve been a huge Day supporter. But it’s getting harder and harder to defend him. I’m very curious how the team responds to this loss. Let’s hope for a ‘08 Florida type of response after they lost to Ole Miss.
Jesus Won
Florida 08 had Tim Tebow as its leader ......inexplicably leading a group of thugs that would have made the current guys at UGA look like choir boys. But he was the alpha and willed his team. I don't see an alpha on this team. Will Howard is trying to become one, but it's getting late. And saying that Oregon didn't really beat them but the Buckeyes beat themselves does nothing to accept ownership of the loss with a promise not to let it happen again.
I think we need a new S&C regime -- our guys don't seem to be as developed as the other teams we see.
Ding ding ding my friend. Phsycial development of players in the trenches is flat out not happening. Our non senior D lineman still look undersized, lack strength, and are not explosive enough. Put Urbans natty winning O line v this current D line and they would make them look absolutely silly.
Mick has lost a step and been here 10 years. No matter how good you are that is a long time in one place and hard to replicate the fire you have the first 3 years into a job.
Day is more John Cooper than he is Urban.
Cooper was a great coach until he got to the big games (mainly Michigan and the bowl games) and then he would become so tense and stressed on those game days and he coached that way. His teams were uptight. See some of that in Day.
Urban just knew how to get his team to play in those big showdowns. I think there is still hope for Day starting in 2 weeks at Penn State.
If there is an issue with your defensive staff then address it. This OSU team has more talent than anyone in the country and Day really cannot afford to let this opportunity slip away.
Stay gold, Ponyboy.
If Day doesn't win the national championship with that 2019 squad or this one.. he never will.
I saw a clip from a CFB podcast saying that Day is the Calipari of CFB. As a person that grew up watching Kentucky basketball with my dad, it does feel kind of the same. Now Calipari does have a Championship which Day does not. But the focus seems more on getting guys to the next level than to win at the college level. Puffing our chest because an alumni of the program is doing well at the professional level, yet we always lose in the biggest moments because of this or that. Idk who needs fired, but something has to change and someone has to reset the precedent at OSU.
How firm thy friendship
Regarding killer Instinct, I would say the defense has definitely been lacking one at times this season. It's hard to define exactly what a killer Instinct is. It's not about stats and more about execution. It's one of those things where you know it when you see it. When we played Oregon for the Natty, our defense definitely displayed a killer instinct. They were out for blood. This past Saturday, the dominant instinct displayed by the Defense seemed to be self-preservation. The hunter-killer drive never showed up. They were playing not to lose rather than to win.
BubbaGumps
I don’t think “physicality” is the issue. For starters, I still believe the offense is 90% fine, but now has to deal with left tackle since Frye can’t recruit tackles. Defense is the issue, it’s scheme and Larry Johnson’s ineptitude with rotation, rigidness in playing seniors & keeping guys fresh. He is wasting Kayden MacDonald’s Soph year. It shows in the 4th quarter. The defense fails in the 4th quarter. Johnson is more than 50% the issue. I’ll be glad when he’s gone, hopefully next year.
Agree on the DL rotation issue. MacDonald has flashed quite a bit when in there. Malone as well albeit to a lesser extent.
Much of my gripe is still with Day though. He the Head Coach (CEO). And he keeps letting this happen.
Johnson is under contract through 2026. Something does need to be done. Either Johnson gets on board with the Jack position or he should retire. His DL can't get pressure on the QB (except maybe Williams).
So, NOW Josh Pate thinks Ohio State isn't the physical B1G bully it used to be? This guy has kissed Day's ass since 2019, but now, suddenly, he sees what anyone watching the games has seen since 2020... which was, coincidently, Ryan Day's FIRST team. 2019 was Meyer's team; Meyer recruited it, Meyer built it, Meyer developed it, it was Meyer's CULTURE and had Meyer's PERSONALITY.
Ryan Day has repeatedly failed at developing an o-line that mauls the opposition (altho this year it's noticeably better... thanks, Chip) and enables the offense to grind and eat clock. That has been missing since... 2019. Day has failed at finding a DC who can produce a "Silver Bullet" defense. After one-year Hafley, who had the distinct advantage of walking into a VETERAN defense that Meyer helped build and that had Meyer's culture, Day has had two DCs who are varying degrees of incapable. Coombs was WHOLLY incapable (and Day retained him anyway), while Knowles is more than capable as long as he's not in a talent-match game, but when he is playing a team with like talent, well, he folds like wet cardboard in the 4th quarter. Virtually ALWAYS.
This year, it's win or go home. Day has EVERY possible advantage at his disposal, including the highest paid staff in college football, but here we are - AGAIN - having the very same annual discussion about Day's program and its lack of 'dogs,' its lack of toughness, its lack of culture which CREATES that toughness and those dogs, and its lack of wins on the biggest stages, under the brightest lights. 10M per season entitles Ohio State to a LOT more than repeated losses in talent-match games, and embarrassing - HUMILIATING - Cotton Bowl shit shows vs the likes of frickin MISSOURI. IMO, if Day doesn't beat PSU, ttun, and win the B1G, then Ohio State should take a long, hard look at the list that "every AD has in his desk drawer," and start gauging interest.
When I die, sprinkle my ashes over the 70's
You're mad but this is why OSU fans loved Pate. He always kissed OSU's ass. We like when people tell us what we want to hear and we turn on anyone who starts being honest about OSU, and if they do, they're corporate shills or fake buckeyes.
Mostly I agree with you but to a point.
I will take Pate and Klatt any day of the week over herbstreit and howard.
Not Ohio born; Not Ohio Bred; but through thy firm friendship; forever Ohio cred! Developed Here.
This is one of the more braid dead takes I've read on the site.
The Ohio State Defense was PHENOMENAL against Missouri, a team that had a top 5 offense in 2023.
The offense was a dumpster fire and couldn't stay on the field, which bore itself out in the 4th quarter.
We really do have the worst fan base in all of sports. We're worse than Tennessee.
Well.....you're presumably a member of our awful fan base, so welcome to the club!
Day is a recruiter of QBs and not sure he is the coach to take the Buckeyes all the way.
What would this team look like if Johnson, Hartline and now Lauranaitis wasn't around bringing in top talent.
I don't think this is fair. A part of what makes a great HC is their ability to surround themselves with a strong staff. Day, for whatever reason, just can't seem to close no matter how strong his staff or roster is.
If Johnson wasn't here, Knowles would be using the Jack position to pressure QBs and create some defensive havoc.
Great question!
What would Kirby Smart's team look like if his staff couldn't recruit? How about Nick Saban? Urban Meyer did all the recruiting himself didn't send Hartline or Schiano we all know that.
Me and the basketball bros just escaped the clutches of the Chris Holtmann era where the national media shoved down our throats that Holtmann was an elite coach and that a breakthrough was on the horizon. Throughout the Oral Roberts disaster, the letdown that was the 2022 season with EJ and Malaki, to the two back to back rock bottom seasons, we had to deal with everyone saying that we were morons for doubting the great Christopher Holtmann.
I am not comparing Chris Holtmann to Ryan Day in the way that a generic HATER would. Unlike Holtmann, Day has actually accomplished things here...they happened a long time ago, but at least they happened.
I am comparing my fan experience right now. It's been 3 going on 4 straight years of having a great offense, a defense that implodes when the lights are the brightest, and non-functional special teams. And yet I keep hearing from the national media "Ryan Day is an elite coach" when the results just don't show it. I've seen this coaching staff mismanage so many situations, even in non-matchup games, that I'm not comfortable sitting here and saying that we 100% beat Michigan in 2021 and 2022 if they didn't have Stallions.
I mean Oregon didn't have their best player on defense, one of their best WR got kicked out for spitting on Ig, we were gifted a touchdown on the first drive, and we still couldn't get the job done.
The biggest problem is that two things are true at once right now...Ryan Day hasn't been nearly good enough as Ohio State's head coach, but there's not a candidate out there right now that would be an upgrade who's realistic. So we just have to hope that this works out I guess. I'm not giving up on the season because there's only like 1-2 other teams that could follow the Oregon blueprint to beat us, but....who knows.
You can never live a lie and die a legend - Cal Scruby
Comparing Day to Holtmann is a pretty bold take.
As you stated, from Oral Roberts on, the BB team underachieved mightily under Holtmann. But it wasn't like Holtmann was winning close to 90% of his games. His team was bottom dwellers his last 2 years and couldn't win after January 1 to save their lives.
Michigan (with 3 years of verified cheating), Missouri (we could go into all the reasons our offense was neutered before the game even started), Georgia, Clemson, Alabama, and Oregon have beaten Day at Ohio State. Day has never lost to an unranked opponent.
All I am saying, be careful what you wish for. Nebraska was irate with Solich and Pelini because 9-3 wasn't good enough. They made changes and it has taken close to 20 years to get back to decent again with Rhule. Not all change works out for the better.
Its the DC. The offense is great, the Defense is reactive and passive in big games. Has been since Hafley left.
I am not sure it is as simple as being "agressive". We were in cover zero on 3rd and 9 at the end of the half. Passive is cover 2 and don't give up the deep ball (which we did). We gambled with Burke on an island a couple times and lost.
I would prefer we were smart , rather than "aggressive" or "passive". Call the D for the situation and talent (great wide receivers) you are facing. Everyone here freaks when we do not get off the field on 3rd down....but from ancient times Bud Wilkerson "Don't depend on the big play and never give up the big play." Admittedly it is easier to be passive on D when you have a ball control run game....but we abandon that in close games as well.
Great game nonetheless, and interested to see what happens in Happy Valley. It has become a must win.
I am not very smart, but I recognize that I am not very smart.
This has been the narrative for 3+ years. The bottom line is this crop of seniors, who largely returned to win a championship will always have this hanging over their heads until they bear down, beat the guy across from them, and make plays to win big games. It simply hasn't happened yet.
Sawyer, JT, Tyliek, Hamilton, Burke, Ransom, Donnie Jackson (I'll leave Henderson and Egbuka out of it) all came back to win a ship and were no shows Saturday. If they want to win a championship they need to sack up and make the plays to do it. They weren't good enough Saturday, but they still have it all in front of them if they want it.
It really is as simple as this
How firm thy friendship
This is exactly right.
The proof is in the pudding. Been a long time since we rolled into Norman and smoke checked the Sooners. That was the last marquee matchup I can remember us destroying someone in.
You don't recall OSU destroying Clemson in 2020? Or a top 10 ranked Michigan state by 50 in 2021?
I get it. People want OSU to go in and blast everyone. Against teams who are good they likely won't do that often.
But Day has done it before and will do it again.
Right, and it is a catch 22. On the cases where we beat a MSU by 50, it makes them out to be a "fraud", so that game does not count in the minds of many. Where if we play the same team closer, they look better, but now it is because we suck.
That MSU game is a bit of a reach…they didn’t have the horses outs de if Kenneth Walker. So ok, yes I forgot ONE game, Clemson 2021. Now let’s list the nail biters and losses... ND x2, Penn State x2, Utah, Michigan x3, Georgia, Clemson, Alabama, Oregon x2, Missouri. Not saying they should blast everyone, but they should absolutely be dominating and/or winning more games with teams of near or equal talent. Day recruits top 3 classes on average. No excuses. For the record, I am grateful for where Day has this program and we are blessed. Just stating the obvious here.
But that doesn't happen when teams have top 15 talent often.
MSU was ranked 7 going into that game. That is not a reach based on their ranking and how you want to dominate top 10 type teams.
In 2017, Bama won the national title but lost @Auburn by 2 possessions and only beat a top 20 Miss. St team by 1 possession. In 2016 they lost to a less talented Clemson team, in 2018 they lost by 4 possessions to Clemson (a less talented Clemson team), in 2019 they didn't make the playoffs and they lost to a less talented LSU team at home and lost to a less talented Auburn team. In 2020 they were incredible in a shortened season and won it all.
You are acting like OSU is the only team who has close games when the teams are more even. That's what makes the sport intriguing. If OSU won every game by 30 points forever only OSU fans would continue watching
We could play this game all day long, plenty of national title teams have “left no doubt”, too. But the fact of the matter is…we come up short in big games far too often. I think we’d be hard pressed to find any other team with as many high stakes, gut wrenching losses. It’s a gift and a curse to be near the top, that’s for sure. I don’t believe in luck, but if I did, I’d say we’ve had pretty bad luck in big games under Day.
We won't see a much more talented roster than we currently have. I don't think a 1 pt loss on the road is the end of the world, despite the recurring warts that have plagued this team popping up again. It's still all in front of us but the margin of error is 0.
I think the issues we continue to see in both games can be traced back to both lines. Regardless of how this season goes, I think it is time for a change on both lines even if it hurts us for some prospects in the short term.
Proof that Day is weak and will always be. With how bad the backups played, it wouldn't have mattered if you put peak Brady under center. Frye should've been the first to go, but they're from the same coaching tree. Old Chip, who is now our OC. He also should've told Johnson to eat any beef with how Knowles wants to run his offense or hit the retirement home.
This is getting old- wait until late November and then we can get an honest assessment of this coaching staff.
This is where I'm at. The knee-jerk reactions have largely been over the top. OSU lost by 1 to a top 3 team on the road. They still have the chance to beat some really good teams, including another top 5 squad on the road.
Let's wait to see how some other games go before declaring this season to be over. There's a lot of football left to be played.
"In weightlifting, I don't think sudden, uncontrolled urination should automatically disqualify you."
-Jack Handey
Play calling left a lot to be desired...primarily the 1st quarter. Day didn't seem to have it...I'd agree. But it seems not many did Saturday.
A real man makes his own luck.
-Billy Zane in Titanic
Day isn't the primary playcaller anymore.
Correct. Hence the rest of the post....
A real man makes his own luck.
-Billy Zane in Titanic
You know is? His own mentor. The mentor thay probably cultivated his weak-mind.
What are wrong with 1st quarter play calling? They moved the ball really well minus the back to back false start drive.. that kind of stuff is going to happen in Auzten.
We were gifted that first drive.
There’s a reason why he’s called soft and that narrative will stick to him until he starts beating top opponents. I think time is running out for him, because a lot people believe that he can’t get over the hump. The defense has been subpar for the past 3 years and offensive line recruiting has been terrible
This is where I won't let him off the hook: Oline recruiting hasn't been terrible that's an excuse.
Tshabola, Fitzpatrick, Montgomery.. these are guys everyone wanted, including our opponents that just beat us.
Josh Padilla: offered by Oregon, Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee, Notre Dame
George Fitzpatrick: offered by Texas, Oregon, Michigan + everyone
Carson Hinzman: Alabama, Michigan, Oregon
Luke Montgomery: Alabama, Oregon, Georgia
There's four dudes, that Oregon offered and recruited, that didn't touch the field Saturday night despite us losing 2 OL to injury.
I see a bunch of dudes who are nowhere near the physical level needed to be on a title winning team and a group that would not even sniff a top Bama or UGA team. S&C is the issue, flat out.
It's been bad. We're not getting the really great Southerners that win titles. We have to bash the South with their own weapons.
I will offer no praise for unranked wins, as I haven't been this season. He ran out of excuses a year ago.
The defense doesn't show up in big games it is really that simple.
Just a thought here
Who has the history and mindset of Chris Speilman to lead the back seven of our defense?
“Save yourself and relax during every game. I recommend a fine bourbon.”
The biggest issue I see with expectations is that prior to the season, fans were placing too much emphasis on talent as the end-all and be-all of securing a Championship. To hoist the trophy, you really need to be hungry. The upper tiers of College football are extremely competitive and talent alone will never be enough to win-out in an expanded playoff against determined opponents. You don't demonstrate hunger by using catch-phrases like Natty or Bust. You demonstrate it with a no-compromise attitude and giving it all like they did on that last drive against Notre Dame.
There is some outstanding talent on the Bucks and a few players who look hungry. But as a team, I have not seen this kind of determination yet. To be honest, the only team I have seen that appears to currently display this kind of Mojo is Texas.
Have players come here because they are hungry for a Natty or because they are looking to boost their NIL prospects and have a better pathway to the NFL draft by showcasing their singular talents in primetime? Have we assembled a hungry team or a gathering of talent ? After watching the first half of the season, I am not really sure if I can answer that question.
BubbaGumps
The players should have been hungry having been close and not getting there.
hunger should be the least of this teams worries. Key word being should
True. But to me, the eye test doesn't yet indicate the team as a collective unit has the kind of hunger I described. Just saying Natty or Bust as your season goal doesn't display hunger. What team does not want to win a Natty ?
During the first half of the season, I have seen a team where either the offense or defense has come out playing flat in the first half. I have also seen a defense that put in a pedestrian and uninspiring performance when they walked onto the big stage. I haven't seen the team develop Mojo yet.
BubbaGumps
Or it isn't some horoscope / psychoanalytic problem and the oblong ball bounced the wrong way a couple times, Burke mis-read his opponent's route, and a ref decided to invent a new criteria for OPI. Can point to some coaching mistakes, but a lot of that is hindsight-driven based on what plays Oregon ran and the results. Also losing a first round LT after we scored 21 and only scoring 10 after might be significant.
I wasn't commenting on any specific player or performance. I was reflecting on the team as a whole. The talent is certainly there. But things appear a bit discombobulated at times. So far this season, either the offense or defense comes into the game lethargic and has a slow first half. We still haven't seen a game where everyone is playing all four quarters firing on all cylinders. This goes back to the hunger I was talking about. I haven't really seen it so far. I see it from some individual players. But something is always not working like it should coming into the game. The overall tone and rhythm is not what I expected to see from a very talented team whose stated objective is a Natty or Bust season that leaves no doubt.
BubbaGumps
Oregon lacks a killer instict they only beat us by 1 point.
Thefirstcaveman
Exactly, Gabriel couldn't put us away and blundered goal to go and 2 point conversion opportunities. Can point to a dozen things why we didn't win (OPI, turnovers, sim pressure calls that didn't work, Burke losing his guy deep 2 times), but it wasn't killer instinct.
Well played….
2022 Michigan who knows how much Stalions's role affected the outcomebut we gave up too many chunk plays on defensive aggressive calls. 2022 Georgia and 2024 Oregon were coinflips where it is easy to argue we outplayed our opponent but got unlucky. That happens every week in the NFL on games where the betting line is 3 or less. We need to adjust our expectations in games like that and hopefully we can put some together. Obviously you can point to specific things where the coaches made mistakes and others where players made mistakes. But there are also 320 passing yards from Will Howard that didn't just fall out of the sky on a platter. Hopefully there are adjustments, particularly with defensive calls in passing situations (Gabriel was not phased by the sim pressures at all and we let guys run past deep) and late game management. But this team is still very good and could win it all this year.
This is as much of a Strength and Conditioning issue has anything and I along with others have been saying it for 3+ years. Mick has to go. Absolutely needs replaced and fresh blood in the program. When I look at JTT, nothing about him looks different vs his Sophmore year. D line is not explosive and strong enough. Offensive line is not physically getting strong enough while maintaining good agility
Oregon's OTs are rated just as highly in the NFL mocks as JTT for some context. Also we dropped JT into coverage a lot that game and it didn't do anything to confuse Gabriel who just sat back and nailed deep shots.
Yeah. This is actually one of the things that makes me confident against the rest of the teams on the schedule. Oregon has the best pair of OTs outside of LSU and Texas. Realize we'll likely have to get through one of Oregon or Texas at some point, but JT and Sawyer have definitely gotten pressure against teams that can't match them in talent and they won't face many better OTs the rest of the regular season. Between that and the WR core that Oregon has, they are one of the few teams that have the players in key places to cause matchup problems for OSU.
It makes you feel good our best is not better than their best. You cannot win titles like that and beat the top 1-3 teams if that is the case
You can't be better at every position unless you are like 2021 Alabama. Just stating facts that those matchups are pretty equal on paper. Maybe next time JT will play like he does vs Penn State and win a few more reps. Or he won't be told to drop into coverage can can just rush the passer. (Or we can kick him inside in the rushmen package where he might be more effective)
If your takeaway after Saturday is this....
I don't want our DEs rated as highly, I want them rated higher. They were top 10 prospects in their class getting paid good money to play for OSU. They have to figure it out.
How firm thy friendship
Oregon OTs are 1st-2nd rounders. That is talent equated in those matchups. Sawyer and JT developed into very good players instead of top 5 picks like Bosas/Young. Putting that on Marotti is odd. Do you guys not give Marotti credit for developing Ty and Tyleik into highly rated NFL guys as 3-4 stars outside the top 100?
To be fair Sawyer and JT have very similar numbers as Zach Harrison in his OSU career and he was a 3rd round pick. So I don’t necessarily think that’s talent equated if you just look at draft projection.
We do have some players that are developing and some that aren’t so not sure that all lies on Marotti or the position coach. They could be weight room warriors but not developing on the field or the other way around.
Either way something isn’t right. Would be hard to believe that OSU whiffed on 3 high 5 star DEs.
Hopefully this team can find something in the bye week and come out on fire for the second half of the season.
TBDBFIT
I hate to break it to you, but strength and conditioning is lacking at a lot of places. The field doesn't exactly attract the most cerebral individuals. A lot of places under-emphasize exercises that good for injury prevention, while overemphasizing other exercises too much (e.g., bench press). Also, programs use machine-based weights too much when the free-weight variation is much better.
We never have a gamelan, every game we run the same plays on offense, we never try anything unusual, never a trick play, Urban ran a WR throw in the playoffs, Day won’t even try to block a punt. I mean it’s getting exhausting watching this team just think they can line up and win against teams of equal talent by doing the same plays and schemes from every other game, if he keeps this up the rest of the season they will lose atleast one more game, and if they don’t make the playoffs with this roster then Day needs to go, there is no way that would be acceptable!
Couldn’t be more wrong
Now i become Boob Salsa, grifter of men.
Josh Pate is also one of those that believe knowing the other teams plays is no clear advantage
I don't think physicality is the issue it was. That's mostly a trenches thing, imo. This is a coaching issue translating to weak, underdeveloped players. They certainly do NOT have a killer instinct because Day does not have one. I keep saying the army is being led by Santa when we need Patton.
I feel that since Day took over, they've lost passion during the game. They don't seem fired up.Not individually, but as a whole. It's like watching a group of men at work in a factory instead of watching guys play an exciting, fun game. I see it on the other side all the time. But not with Day's teams. I miss the "flare" Urban brought. Hell, Tress's teams seemed more excited. It's a culture Day has installed. It's a job. Work. Not a game.
Dominating elite teams is incredibly hard to do, nearly impossible
Pate is a nicer Colin Cowherd and I still don't listen.
It's so funny this topic comes up.
Last night, either I needed the trip down memory lane, or I just wanted something to cry about... I watched the '14 Big Ten championship game (condensed version) on YouTube and also watched the Sugar Bowl against Alabama.
Gosh I miss those teams. Those defenses with Bosa, Washington, Bennett, Miller, Lee, Grant, that secondary of Apple, Bell, Powell, and Grant... Those guys flew around, made all the open field tackles, and when they put their foot on someone's neck they didn't let off until they were sure they had crushed their throat.
I miss those days, but that also could be a sign of the times as far as college football. You don't see many teams that play any portion of their season the way that Buckeye team closed out the final four games of that season.
The Excellence of Execution, the Best there is, the Best there was, the Best there ever will be!