If I can add to this D line question why do we never see our D line run any stunts? No twists no loops nothing. Just straight ahead bullrush that rarely gets home and never opens any lanes for our blitzers to get home. It seems our blitzers are always caught in the traffic and rarely get a free run to the QB.
We actually discussed your exact point in our Slack channel yesterday. Stunting would have really helped on Saturday IMO. Again, don't know if that is all on Jim Knowles, Larry Johnson, both, or something else, but it's still a little maddening.
My personal opinion is it's a bit of both. Looking at PFF analytics and re-watching the game the pressure actually wasn't as terrible as I initially thought it was watching it live (PFF gave OSU 17 pressures Saturday while Oregon only had 9).
But still, they weren't getting home, and a big goose egg in the sack column really stands out. J.T. actually had a solid game IMO, seven of those pressures were from him. Jack Sawyer couldn't get generate much pressure for whatever reason Saturday.
As for the scheme stuff, I still think it would really help if Knowles would throw in an odd look to generate pressure so the offense doesn't know where it's coming from, but it just hasn't happened. Can't speak on whether they believe it's a personnel issue or LJ isn't on board with it, but I think new wrinkles would help a lot.
Similar to Sarvish, we have all read the rumors and claims that Knowles wants to use the Jack position, but LJ doesn't want to use it, and LJ has been given personnel control over the DL and who comes on the field. Is this true, as opposed to just rumors? And if so, is there a reason that Ryan Day doesn't intervene and change the responsibilities?
I've heard it gossiped in circles like everybody else has, but haven't gotten any confirmation from someone who would 100 percent know the exact logistics to where I'd feel comfortable reporting it as fact. If it is true, though, it should be something Day takes a long look at both in season and after this season because the DL performance in big games hasn't been otherworldly and the utilization of the D-line sometimes feels a little outdated to me.
What is going on with Burke? Did Oregon find a weakness in his technique? Or did he just have a one off really bad game? Should we get Mathews involved ASAP?
I think benching him for a series and getting a breath would have been good for him. Allow him to refocus. Have to get him back on the field though, he's a Senior who will be drafted on Day 2 most likely...
Not that I know more than Jim Knowles or Tim Walton, who have forgotten more about football than I'll ever know, but yeah, I probably would have. I think halfway through the contest it was pretty clear it just wasn't his night and I felt the defense needed a spark, so I would have turned to Mathews and see if he fared any better. I also know Denzel is a very confident player and while nobody likes to get benched, I think he would have rebounded swiftly. I still think he will rebound this year, for what it's worth.
Burke's rough night shocked me too. My theory is he bit a ton on the short routes because Oregon lived off short and intermediate passes the first five games and broke tendency, leaving him exposed on the deep routes.
But still, allowing a catch on every target that comes your way is at least slight cause for concern. So far Burke has proven to be a great collegiate player in his career and deserves the benefit of the doubt, but I don't think there's any question Mathews should get his chance if this continues.
Quacky plays are a staple for Oregon...especially at Autzen. I feel like OSU handled them well, for the most part (onside kick not reflecting).
Personally I have always been of the mind that trickery is a low brow tactic used by teams desperately trying to win a game as opposed to out executing a standard game plan against an opponent.
Should OSU attempt to implement some it it into their system moving forward? I know CK has the plays in his pocket...heck he designed half of the trick plays ORE used...
I don't mind trickery personally. Especially since coaches are desperately trying to win games, that's why they make gobs of money haha.
I think Chip will use it if he thinks it can help OSU. If the Buckeyes run this awesome trick play to beat Penn State or Michigan, I doubt anyone is going to care much he resorted to using an unorthodox method to do it.
If you're referring to the OPI penalty, I think Day and Howard each thought the clock was going to stop after that call. It's not a bad question because six seconds went by after that before the ball was snapped (22 to 16) and Howard might have rushed his pass because of it.
More often than not refs usually end the announcement with those penalties with "the clock will start on my signal" or something like that so it's unfortunate that didn't happen, but it's hard to blame an official when the QB and coach should always be aware of the situation.
Garrick, straight up, Knowles came to OSU having very successfully utilized the Jack/Leo position to absolutely ravage offenses using players with much less star pedigree. Are we really sitting in a world where he’s not allowed to use it because LJ wants his four d-lineman on the field?
When Knowles first got here they experimented with it a little if you remember, mostly putting Jack Sawyer as the Jack. LJ was public in his displeasure of that decision and that experiment ended pretty quickly. I'm sure LJ still has plenty of input on that, but some of it could be they don't feel the personnel is right to use it, too.
I still think someone like Mitchell Melton might make for an interesting Jack type. But looking at it another way, Justin Hill was one hundred percent a perfect fit for the Jack and I think Knowles would have deployed him as such next year on if he committed to OSU, but it's hard to sell that to recruits when you rarely if ever use it in games.
Haha, I've been here long enough that I know what to expect after OSU loses a big game. Honestly if fans get a chance to vent and get frustration out of their system the first 24 hours or so I often find cooler heads prevail with a good chunk of them and they'll usually ask very thoughtful interim and big-picture questions once they take a 30,000-foot view of the loss.
I used to process sports the same way before I worked in the industry where I'd get very irrational for a short period when my favorite team lost a big game, so we've all been there.
Why doesn’t Day play Mathews more. This was the game we needed him it was so obvious he’s a shutdown corner. Burke and Iginbonson (sp) are too slow. Will this change going forward?
What happened to the run game after the first quarter, even before Simmons went out in the second quarter Oregon was stuffing the OSU run after Henderson's two long runs to end the first quarter.
Only watching the tv broadcast it seemed as Zen has not getting beat.
I think Oregon keyed on it well, which is partly why I think Will Howard had so much success passing the ball for the most part Saturday. But the second half especially, you're right that the run game could have been executed better.
Garrick, have you had a chance to be around the team since they've been back in Columbus? If so, have you had a chance to 'take the temperature' of the team? How's the attitude/mentality? What's your best sense of the demeanor of the team?
"College football cannot be explained by science or religion, which is why it remains perfect." ~ Ramzy Nasrallah
I have not, they're basically giving them the bye week off from media availabilities, which for players at least isn't uncommon from past off weeks even when things were going well.
On my way to the visiting post game presser and avoiding field stormers in the process I did end up walking with a small contingent of players in the exit tunnel making their way to the locker room and the mood was obviously pretty somber.
I'd expect they were bummed for a day or two but I'm sure Day and co. have told them a loss doesn't derail their season anymore and I'm sure they'll be just fine demeanor wise moving forward.
Unlike the ones above me^^^^^, I don’t bitch and cry after a loss but I do believe that things can be learned and changed. What 3 things do you think will be adjusted in a rematch game against Oregon?
3-4 comments about the perceived Knowles/LJ crap is whining and finger pointing in my book. Both offenses out up similar numbers. Neither defense got several sacks. 1 point game means figuring out what to tweak not let’s fire LJ and Knowles and change schemes while benching multiple players. So yea I call that bitching and whining.
2. Respect the deep ball more than they did, they didn't show many tendencies of that in their first five games on film but now you know they have it in their backpocket if needed.
3. Change up the blitz packages and also respect Gabriel's ability as a runner a tad more.
I'll also say having it in Indy would be a major help. Standing on the field all game Saturday, Autzen Stadium is chaotic and a warzone, much more than I expected it to be.
I think the most important problem coming from Saturday isn't the result (in a division-less B1G and 12-team CFP, the Bucks still completely control their own destiny), but the loss of Josh Simmons. So even though the Hodgepodge discussed that a bit, I'd like to ask a little more about that:
What did you think of Michalski's performance subbing in for Simmons? I don't recall any plays where he struggled or got clearly beat, but it also felt like he wasn't really tested that much in terms of Oregon blitzes or the Bucks running slow-developing offensive plays.
Do you think there's any chance that they try to shuffle other guys around during the bye week or is it pretty clearly Michalski's job at this point?
I think he did his best in dire circumstances. It's really tough to perform well when you don't get many first team reps or get to form cohesion with the players you'll be playing alongside. PFF's grades weren't entirely positive, but they still moved the ball effectively when he was in and didn't allow a sack until the final drive and only allowed nine pressures all game so it wasn't a complete disaster.
He did have one false start, but he was hardly the only one to do that. I would guess it'll be Michalski's job against Nebraska, but we'll see what Day has to say next Tuesday.
Can’t think of anything major going on in football these days so let’s talk basketball! Diebler said he’d get his rotation down to 9-10 guys, who do you think will be in the cut rotation and who gets left to mop up duty?
I passed on your question to Andy Anders, our bball reporter, since he'd have a better idea than me since basketball is not the top sport on my mind right now haha.
His response:
Bruce, Meechie, and Aaron I’d say are the only for sure starters. Devin, Evan, Micah Parrish, Sean Stewart, John Mobley and a sprinkle of Ques Glover is what I’d say.
Fact, fiction, rumor lable each statement
1. LJ and Knowles are in conflict
2. Ryan Day can't win a top 5 match up
3. We get out coached in big games
4. Knowles was a good hire
5. Coach Day will be on the hit seat
1. Rumor, though it's fact that they've had disagreements before.
2. Fiction, I think he can, he just hasn't been on the right side of many. There's been a lot of heartbreakers in that track record, whereas if you performed like mid 2010s Notre Dame, I'd say you've proven to have no prayer when you get in those games. That said, no question the results need to be better moving forward. For what it's worth, OSU vs. Penn State is likely going to be a top-five matchup in three weeks, does that count?
3. I'd say somewhere between fact and fiction. There's definitely been some better coaching by the other side in some of those matchups. But some is also the luck of the draw, for example, I think Lanning made a ton of mistakes on Saturday and if OSU doesn't get an OPI penalty, we're talking about Lanning and the poor choices he made instead.
4. I'd say fact. Knowles took an OSU defense that was in disarray and turned it into a statistical top-10 defense in each of his years in Columbus. He hasn't had a standout performance in big games, but I think he was probably the best hire you could have made at the time. Also, if we're being honest, a lot of top-tier college games result in shootouts. OSU tore Georgia to shreds for the most part two years ago and scored 41 points, it's just the Bulldogs scored one more.
5. Fiction until the next regular season loss. If he loses again in the regular season, I think we can have that conversation. If he doesn't, I probably don't think we're discussing it.
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Why didn't we get more pressure on Oregon's offense by our D-line? Is it scheme issue or is it a player(s) issue?
I like Bourbon and the Buckeyes!
If I can add to this D line question why do we never see our D line run any stunts? No twists no loops nothing. Just straight ahead bullrush that rarely gets home and never opens any lanes for our blitzers to get home. It seems our blitzers are always caught in the traffic and rarely get a free run to the QB.
Tim Weaver
We actually discussed your exact point in our Slack channel yesterday. Stunting would have really helped on Saturday IMO. Again, don't know if that is all on Jim Knowles, Larry Johnson, both, or something else, but it's still a little maddening.
My personal opinion is it's a bit of both. Looking at PFF analytics and re-watching the game the pressure actually wasn't as terrible as I initially thought it was watching it live (PFF gave OSU 17 pressures Saturday while Oregon only had 9).
But still, they weren't getting home, and a big goose egg in the sack column really stands out. J.T. actually had a solid game IMO, seven of those pressures were from him. Jack Sawyer couldn't get generate much pressure for whatever reason Saturday.
As for the scheme stuff, I still think it would really help if Knowles would throw in an odd look to generate pressure so the offense doesn't know where it's coming from, but it just hasn't happened. Can't speak on whether they believe it's a personnel issue or LJ isn't on board with it, but I think new wrinkles would help a lot.
Similar to Sarvish, we have all read the rumors and claims that Knowles wants to use the Jack position, but LJ doesn't want to use it, and LJ has been given personnel control over the DL and who comes on the field. Is this true, as opposed to just rumors? And if so, is there a reason that Ryan Day doesn't intervene and change the responsibilities?
I've heard it gossiped in circles like everybody else has, but haven't gotten any confirmation from someone who would 100 percent know the exact logistics to where I'd feel comfortable reporting it as fact. If it is true, though, it should be something Day takes a long look at both in season and after this season because the DL performance in big games hasn't been otherworldly and the utilization of the D-line sometimes feels a little outdated to me.
What is going on with Burke? Did Oregon find a weakness in his technique? Or did he just have a one off really bad game? Should we get Mathews involved ASAP?
Buckeyes Rule!
Piggybacking this Q, would you have sat Burke during the game to allow him to regroup and give Matthews a chance to show his stuff?
I think benching him for a series and getting a breath would have been good for him. Allow him to refocus. Have to get him back on the field though, he's a Senior who will be drafted on Day 2 most likely...
Not that I know more than Jim Knowles or Tim Walton, who have forgotten more about football than I'll ever know, but yeah, I probably would have. I think halfway through the contest it was pretty clear it just wasn't his night and I felt the defense needed a spark, so I would have turned to Mathews and see if he fared any better. I also know Denzel is a very confident player and while nobody likes to get benched, I think he would have rebounded swiftly. I still think he will rebound this year, for what it's worth.
Burke's rough night shocked me too. My theory is he bit a ton on the short routes because Oregon lived off short and intermediate passes the first five games and broke tendency, leaving him exposed on the deep routes.
But still, allowing a catch on every target that comes your way is at least slight cause for concern. So far Burke has proven to be a great collegiate player in his career and deserves the benefit of the doubt, but I don't think there's any question Mathews should get his chance if this continues.
Quacky plays are a staple for Oregon...especially at Autzen. I feel like OSU handled them well, for the most part (onside kick not reflecting).
Personally I have always been of the mind that trickery is a low brow tactic used by teams desperately trying to win a game as opposed to out executing a standard game plan against an opponent.
Should OSU attempt to implement some it it into their system moving forward? I know CK has the plays in his pocket...heck he designed half of the trick plays ORE used...
Csr
I see what you did there, love the pun.
I don't mind trickery personally. Especially since coaches are desperately trying to win games, that's why they make gobs of money haha.
I think Chip will use it if he thinks it can help OSU. If the Buckeyes run this awesome trick play to beat Penn State or Michigan, I doubt anyone is going to care much he resorted to using an unorthodox method to do it.
Did anyone ask Ryan day why he didn’t call time out after the penalty do you think he choked the game away
Big ed
If you're referring to the OPI penalty, I think Day and Howard each thought the clock was going to stop after that call. It's not a bad question because six seconds went by after that before the ball was snapped (22 to 16) and Howard might have rushed his pass because of it.
More often than not refs usually end the announcement with those penalties with "the clock will start on my signal" or something like that so it's unfortunate that didn't happen, but it's hard to blame an official when the QB and coach should always be aware of the situation.
Garrick, straight up, Knowles came to OSU having very successfully utilized the Jack/Leo position to absolutely ravage offenses using players with much less star pedigree. Are we really sitting in a world where he’s not allowed to use it because LJ wants his four d-lineman on the field?
The real question is why was this not addressed in the off season
dawgpound428
When Knowles first got here they experimented with it a little if you remember, mostly putting Jack Sawyer as the Jack. LJ was public in his displeasure of that decision and that experiment ended pretty quickly. I'm sure LJ still has plenty of input on that, but some of it could be they don't feel the personnel is right to use it, too.
I still think someone like Mitchell Melton might make for an interesting Jack type. But looking at it another way, Justin Hill was one hundred percent a perfect fit for the Jack and I think Knowles would have deployed him as such next year on if he committed to OSU, but it's hard to sell that to recruits when you rarely if ever use it in games.
Just want to say you are a brave dude.
Haha, I've been here long enough that I know what to expect after OSU loses a big game. Honestly if fans get a chance to vent and get frustration out of their system the first 24 hours or so I often find cooler heads prevail with a good chunk of them and they'll usually ask very thoughtful interim and big-picture questions once they take a 30,000-foot view of the loss.
I used to process sports the same way before I worked in the industry where I'd get very irrational for a short period when my favorite team lost a big game, so we've all been there.
Why doesn’t Day play Mathews more. This was the game we needed him it was so obvious he’s a shutdown corner. Burke and Iginbonson (sp) are too slow. Will this change going forward?
dawgpound428
Just want to preface that I like Igbiniosun and Burke a lot still.
But if there are still struggles in the secondary going forward, I'd be surprised if Mathews doesn't get his chance.
Is it time for Day to tell LJ that Knowles is the DC and that Knowles sets the defensive line not split it up between Knowles, LJ?
What happened to the run game after the first quarter, even before Simmons went out in the second quarter Oregon was stuffing the OSU run after Henderson's two long runs to end the first quarter.
Only watching the tv broadcast it seemed as Zen has not getting beat.
I think Oregon keyed on it well, which is partly why I think Will Howard had so much success passing the ball for the most part Saturday. But the second half especially, you're right that the run game could have been executed better.
Garrick, have you had a chance to be around the team since they've been back in Columbus? If so, have you had a chance to 'take the temperature' of the team? How's the attitude/mentality? What's your best sense of the demeanor of the team?
"College football cannot be explained by science or religion, which is why it remains perfect." ~ Ramzy Nasrallah
I have not, they're basically giving them the bye week off from media availabilities, which for players at least isn't uncommon from past off weeks even when things were going well.
On my way to the visiting post game presser and avoiding field stormers in the process I did end up walking with a small contingent of players in the exit tunnel making their way to the locker room and the mood was obviously pretty somber.
I'd expect they were bummed for a day or two but I'm sure Day and co. have told them a loss doesn't derail their season anymore and I'm sure they'll be just fine demeanor wise moving forward.
Thanks for all of the great replies, Garrick! I'll see if I can remember to follow-up on this with next week's Beat Writer!
"College football cannot be explained by science or religion, which is why it remains perfect." ~ Ramzy Nasrallah
Unlike the ones above me^^^^^, I don’t bitch and cry after a loss but I do believe that things can be learned and changed. What 3 things do you think will be adjusted in a rematch game against Oregon?
Who is bitching and crying in the questions above? I think the questions are solid and legitimate and not whiny at all.
3-4 comments about the perceived Knowles/LJ crap is whining and finger pointing in my book. Both offenses out up similar numbers. Neither defense got several sacks. 1 point game means figuring out what to tweak not let’s fire LJ and Knowles and change schemes while benching multiple players. So yea I call that bitching and whining.
1. Stunting the DL (you'd hope)
2. Respect the deep ball more than they did, they didn't show many tendencies of that in their first five games on film but now you know they have it in their backpocket if needed.
3. Change up the blitz packages and also respect Gabriel's ability as a runner a tad more.
I'll also say having it in Indy would be a major help. Standing on the field all game Saturday, Autzen Stadium is chaotic and a warzone, much more than I expected it to be.
I think the most important problem coming from Saturday isn't the result (in a division-less B1G and 12-team CFP, the Bucks still completely control their own destiny), but the loss of Josh Simmons. So even though the Hodgepodge discussed that a bit, I'd like to ask a little more about that:
What did you think of Michalski's performance subbing in for Simmons? I don't recall any plays where he struggled or got clearly beat, but it also felt like he wasn't really tested that much in terms of Oregon blitzes or the Bucks running slow-developing offensive plays.
Do you think there's any chance that they try to shuffle other guys around during the bye week or is it pretty clearly Michalski's job at this point?
I think he did his best in dire circumstances. It's really tough to perform well when you don't get many first team reps or get to form cohesion with the players you'll be playing alongside. PFF's grades weren't entirely positive, but they still moved the ball effectively when he was in and didn't allow a sack until the final drive and only allowed nine pressures all game so it wasn't a complete disaster.
He did have one false start, but he was hardly the only one to do that. I would guess it'll be Michalski's job against Nebraska, but we'll see what Day has to say next Tuesday.
Can’t think of anything major going on in football these days so let’s talk basketball! Diebler said he’d get his rotation down to 9-10 guys, who do you think will be in the cut rotation and who gets left to mop up duty?
I passed on your question to Andy Anders, our bball reporter, since he'd have a better idea than me since basketball is not the top sport on my mind right now haha.
His response:
Bruce, Meechie, and Aaron I’d say are the only for sure starters. Devin, Evan, Micah Parrish, Sean Stewart, John Mobley and a sprinkle of Ques Glover is what I’d say.
Fact, fiction, rumor lable each statement
1. LJ and Knowles are in conflict
2. Ryan Day can't win a top 5 match up
3. We get out coached in big games
4. Knowles was a good hire
5. Coach Day will be on the hit seat
1. Rumor, though it's fact that they've had disagreements before.
2. Fiction, I think he can, he just hasn't been on the right side of many. There's been a lot of heartbreakers in that track record, whereas if you performed like mid 2010s Notre Dame, I'd say you've proven to have no prayer when you get in those games. That said, no question the results need to be better moving forward. For what it's worth, OSU vs. Penn State is likely going to be a top-five matchup in three weeks, does that count?
3. I'd say somewhere between fact and fiction. There's definitely been some better coaching by the other side in some of those matchups. But some is also the luck of the draw, for example, I think Lanning made a ton of mistakes on Saturday and if OSU doesn't get an OPI penalty, we're talking about Lanning and the poor choices he made instead.
4. I'd say fact. Knowles took an OSU defense that was in disarray and turned it into a statistical top-10 defense in each of his years in Columbus. He hasn't had a standout performance in big games, but I think he was probably the best hire you could have made at the time. Also, if we're being honest, a lot of top-tier college games result in shootouts. OSU tore Georgia to shreds for the most part two years ago and scored 41 points, it's just the Bulldogs scored one more.
5. Fiction until the next regular season loss. If he loses again in the regular season, I think we can have that conversation. If he doesn't, I probably don't think we're discussing it.
status of the QB room?
who is QB 2 / 3
who leaves / transfers in anyone?
what is the future progression given TSC is incoming as well?
Die Living // PT*42