Disclaimer - this will be a long post and it's not going to be a rah rah scarlet colored glasses rant either. Just an objective view on the state of the OSU program after Saturday.
First, the good!
1. 10-2 and likely going to one of the bigger name bowl games to play an above average opponent. 90% of the teams in the NCAAF would love to be able to say the same thing.
2. top 3 offense most of the year that provided many highlights and exciting plays to enjoy.
3. This team is young and gained a ton of experience. They learned how to rebound from a tough loss and right the ship.
4. appear to be loaded with talent at the skill positions on offense: QB, RB and WR.
5. Ryan Day is one of the top offensive minded coaches in the country and a very good recruiter.
Now, the bad.
1. Failed to accomplish any of our goals this season. Lost to TTUN. No Division Title. No Conference Title. No playoffs.
2. Bullied all over the field by Oregon, PSU, Nebraska and TTUN. Especially in the trenches.
3. Out coached in the same games vs Oregon, PSU, Nebraska and TTUN. Failed in prep and failed in making the correct adjustments during the game.
4. Become a finesse team relying mostly on our speed on offense and defense to win games.
5. No power run game. O-line cannot run block. The HC views the short passing game as an extension of the run game.
6. LB play has been inconsistent. One year it's good, then it's shit. This year we're so thin at LB, we converted a RB who eventually became a starting LB.
7. D-line play was average most of the year with a couple of good games but no elite pass rushers or space eaters to scare opposing offenses at all.
8. Safety play was a huge liability all season.
9. QB simply refused to run the ball when the defense welcomed him to do so most of the season.
10. Hired a good recruiter/DB coach as the DC with no actual DC experience. Promoted another guy to Co-DC after the Oregon loss with no DC experience.
Are these just surface level issues attributed to a young football team with inexperienced coaches in prominent roles? Should Day just double-down on his current course and see how it plays out next season? Or does he sound the alarm for change?
Like it not, Harbaugh has built a team capable of beating Day's version of The OSU Buckeyes. How do you beat a finesse pass happy offense built on speed?
Refer back to the 2010 OSU vs Oregon Rose bowl game pitting Jim Tressel vs Chip Kelly. OSU played keep away for the explosive Chip Kelly offense to the tune of 25 mins TOP to Oregon's 11 mins. Tressel's defense held them to 2-11 on 3rd down conversions and 260 total yards. OSU simply bullied the finesse Oregon team the entire game.
2014 OSU vs Oregon; Urban Meyer vs Mike Helfrich (Chip Kelly protege). OSU ran for nearly 300 yards with Zeke and held Oregon to 2-11 on 3rd down conversions. Oregon came into the game the #1 ranked offense but got bullied all game by the tougher, more physical Buckeyes.
2021 OSU vs Oregon. Oregon rushed for 269 yards and passed 236 yards while frustrating Ryan Day's offense keeping them behind schedule all game and 8-16 on 3rd down conversions.
2021 OSU vs TTUN. OSU was 8-18 on 3rd down conversions and only 64 yards rushing. TTUN rushed for 297 yards, 5 TDs and bullied OSU's D all game while again, frustrating Day's offense keeping it behind schedule.
I could list out OU's losses against more physical teams in the CFP, but you get the point. When the gap in talent is minimal between opponents, the tougher, more physical team usually wins in these matchups.
Someone else posted earlier today in another thread how Ryan Day was the NH QB when Chip Kelly was the OC and how Day is running the same Chip Kelly offense now here at OSU. Speedy finesse offense reliant to great skill players making big plays.
Rewind back to Jim Harbaugh's coach at TTUN during his QB days and it was none other than Bo Schembechler. As a head coach, what do his teams all seem to have in common from Stanford, 49ers and now TTUN? Tough run game and dominant defense.
Here's my meaningless suggestions.
1. Must move heaven and earth to acquire a known DC with experience and success at the upper P5 level. Hire them, let them run their scheme and recruit the players to fit said scheme. Might take 2-3 years to see the results but Ryan Day cannot determine the defensive scheme as a primarily offensive minded coach. We've seen that movie and know how it ends. Preferably find a DC with no desires to become a HC anytime soon. All for pursuing Chris Ash or Muschamp.
2. Find an O-line coach who can teach run blocking and can recruit their asses off.
3. Recruit and play O-lineman in their natural positions. No more play the 5 best guys regardless of position. This strategy is a failure.
4. Never say the short passing game is an extension of the run game ever again. It's not! It's just a giant billboard telling opposing DC's you cannot run the damn ball. The passing game is solid. No change required. But must adjust the offense to incorporate more of the power run game. If you cannot run the ball in the B1G, you lose to the better teams.
5. Get comfortable with running more methodical offensive drives. 2 yard run, 5 yard run, 3 yard run, 1st down, repeat. Mix in the potent passing game. Cannot just rely on the big play. Get more efficient in the RZ (hint: requires a good run game).
6. If you're going to run up tempo on offense, actually run up tempo. Enough with rushing up to the line to keep the defense off balance only to take 30 seconds to snap the ball. I'm no O-lineman but this cannot feel too good on the knees play after play holding that position for 20-30 seconds at a time. Snap the ball and go.
7. Convince your QB to run the ball when the defense is giving it to him.
Just some fun thoughts here from my sofa.
First, the good!
1. 10-2 and likely going to one of the bigger name bowl games to play an above average opponent. 90% of the teams in the NCAAF would love to be able to say the same thing.
2. top 3 offense most of the year that provided many highlights and exciting plays to enjoy.
3. This team is young and gained a ton of experience. They learned how to rebound from a tough loss and right the ship.
4. appear to be loaded with talent at the skill positions on offense: QB, RB and WR.
5. Ryan Day is one of the top offensive minded coaches in the country and a very good recruiter.
Now, the bad.
1. Failed to accomplish any of our goals this season. Lost to TTUN. No Division Title. No Conference Title. No playoffs.
2. Bullied all over the field by Oregon, PSU, Nebraska and TTUN. Especially in the trenches.
3. Out coached in the same games vs Oregon, PSU, Nebraska and TTUN. Failed in prep and failed in making the correct adjustments during the game.
4. Become a finesse team relying mostly on our speed on offense and defense to win games.
5. No power run game. O-line cannot run block. The HC views the short passing game as an extension of the run game.
6. LB play has been inconsistent. One year it's good, then it's shit. This year we're so thin at LB, we converted a RB who eventually became a starting LB.
7. D-line play was average most of the year with a couple of good games but no elite pass rushers or space eaters to scare opposing offenses at all.
8. Safety play was a huge liability all season.
9. QB simply refused to run the ball when the defense welcomed him to do so most of the season.
10. Hired a good recruiter/DB coach as the DC with no actual DC experience. Promoted another guy to Co-DC after the Oregon loss with no DC experience.
Are these just surface level issues attributed to a young football team with inexperienced coaches in prominent roles? Should Day just double-down on his current course and see how it plays out next season? Or does he sound the alarm for change?
Like it not, Harbaugh has built a team capable of beating Day's version of The OSU Buckeyes. How do you beat a finesse pass happy offense built on speed?
Refer back to the 2010 OSU vs Oregon Rose bowl game pitting Jim Tressel vs Chip Kelly. OSU played keep away for the explosive Chip Kelly offense to the tune of 25 mins TOP to Oregon's 11 mins. Tressel's defense held them to 2-11 on 3rd down conversions and 260 total yards. OSU simply bullied the finesse Oregon team the entire game.
2014 OSU vs Oregon; Urban Meyer vs Mike Helfrich (Chip Kelly protege). OSU ran for nearly 300 yards with Zeke and held Oregon to 2-11 on 3rd down conversions. Oregon came into the game the #1 ranked offense but got bullied all game by the tougher, more physical Buckeyes.
2021 OSU vs Oregon. Oregon rushed for 269 yards and passed 236 yards while frustrating Ryan Day's offense keeping them behind schedule all game and 8-16 on 3rd down conversions.
2021 OSU vs TTUN. OSU was 8-18 on 3rd down conversions and only 64 yards rushing. TTUN rushed for 297 yards, 5 TDs and bullied OSU's D all game while again, frustrating Day's offense keeping it behind schedule.
I could list out OU's losses against more physical teams in the CFP, but you get the point. When the gap in talent is minimal between opponents, the tougher, more physical team usually wins in these matchups.
Someone else posted earlier today in another thread how Ryan Day was the NH QB when Chip Kelly was the OC and how Day is running the same Chip Kelly offense now here at OSU. Speedy finesse offense reliant to great skill players making big plays.
Rewind back to Jim Harbaugh's coach at TTUN during his QB days and it was none other than Bo Schembechler. As a head coach, what do his teams all seem to have in common from Stanford, 49ers and now TTUN? Tough run game and dominant defense.
Here's my meaningless suggestions.
1. Must move heaven and earth to acquire a known DC with experience and success at the upper P5 level. Hire them, let them run their scheme and recruit the players to fit said scheme. Might take 2-3 years to see the results but Ryan Day cannot determine the defensive scheme as a primarily offensive minded coach. We've seen that movie and know how it ends. Preferably find a DC with no desires to become a HC anytime soon. All for pursuing Chris Ash or Muschamp.
2. Find an O-line coach who can teach run blocking and can recruit their asses off.
3. Recruit and play O-lineman in their natural positions. No more play the 5 best guys regardless of position. This strategy is a failure.
4. Never say the short passing game is an extension of the run game ever again. It's not! It's just a giant billboard telling opposing DC's you cannot run the damn ball. The passing game is solid. No change required. But must adjust the offense to incorporate more of the power run game. If you cannot run the ball in the B1G, you lose to the better teams.
5. Get comfortable with running more methodical offensive drives. 2 yard run, 5 yard run, 3 yard run, 1st down, repeat. Mix in the potent passing game. Cannot just rely on the big play. Get more efficient in the RZ (hint: requires a good run game).
6. If you're going to run up tempo on offense, actually run up tempo. Enough with rushing up to the line to keep the defense off balance only to take 30 seconds to snap the ball. I'm no O-lineman but this cannot feel too good on the knees play after play holding that position for 20-30 seconds at a time. Snap the ball and go.
7. Convince your QB to run the ball when the defense is giving it to him.
Just some fun thoughts here from my sofa.
