Trying to get caught up with the events of the past couple of days would require a considerable amount of time navigating through all the threads. The following, though lengthy, will save time.
Backup QB Tate Martell’s name showed up in the transfer portal. Martell, who is expected to graduate in May, was expected to stay through spring practice and compete with Justin Fields for the starting job He would be free to follow the Joe Burrow if he chose to do. He doesn’t have to be in the transfer portal to that. If, and it is not even close to being official, he decides to move, three scholarship QBs are on the roster.
A couple of conclusions can be jumped to here. The staff must be certain that Fields will get his waiver and be immediately eligible. Fields must have gotten some “encouragement” to be a Buckeye.
The team has officially lost 5 players to the NFL draft (Bosa, Weber, Jones, Haskins, Jordan). Arnette and Sheffield haven't but are expected to. FWIW, they all made the right choice. From the team perspective, Jordan might be the most difficult man to replace. Graduation, early-entry and lower-than-desired recruit numbers makes the OL the rare position on the roster with depth issues.
Sheffield and Arnette were season-long abuse targets by the board. Unfairly, in most cases, IMO. They will be both have a shot in the NFL, albeit using different paths. Sheffield will blow up at the combine with his forty time and become a mid round pick. Arnette will go late or undrafted and hopefully find the right team match. As one poster put it, he could have a Tyvis Powell type impact if he stays healthy and patient.
K J Hill surprised most with his announced return. He catches everything, is great on punt returns and comes up big in big games. NFL-wise I was not sure how much he had to gain with another season. He would be great at a place like New England no matter when he leaves. I will enjoy watching him be a captain and put up monster numbers.
To the relief of almost everybody, LB coach Bill Davis will not return. Whenever the LBs screwed up, which seemed to be often, the finger was seldom pointed at Schiano, the scheme or even the players. Typically, Davis was blamed. The consensus seemed that the only reason he got the position was that he was UFM’s best man, ignoring the fact that Davis’ resume is filled with NFL coaching experience. He will return to the NFL in some role.
For four reasons, Al Washington agreeing to replace Davis was greeted with universal acceptance. Thievery from SCUM is not a sin or crime (it is a win), he is from the Columbus, is known as a good recruiter and is African-American (identified as a factor in several threads). However, the honeymoon will end the first time one of his backers misses a tackle or assignment.
Detroit radio host Mike Valenti’s commentary changed my view of Ryan Day’s hiring of 69 year old Greg Mattison as the Buck’s defensive co-coordinator. The story isn’t about Mattison’s age. It is about Day boldly poaching two of Michigan’s better assistants. It appears that Day is not only trying to hire the best staff possible, he is also trying to widen the gap between the Bucks and the school up north.
Mattison’s age does lead to questions. Can he maintain his reputation as a recruiter? Can he fix a defense that underperformed? Will he be a willing mentor for Hafley his co-coordinator, who is 30 years younger? Will he have position-coach duties? None of these questions can be answered yet. I don’t know how he will do but the short-term stress it created for Harbaugh makes it a win.
The co-coordinator is 39 year-old former 49er defensive back coach, Jeff Hafley. The name initially caught the insiders off guard. Eventually, it was learned he had a great reputation as a recruiter during his time at Rutgers and Pitt. DBs that played for him at San Francisco and Cleveland praised his preparation.
An omission from last week’s “summary”, Mike Yucich, offensive coordinator from Oklahoma State, filled UFM’s spot on staff. It will be interesting to see how labor is divided with three (Wilson, Day and Yucich) guys with successful play-calling experience in the kitchen. Too many chefs…?
In the middle of the coaching staff chaos, nevada gave the “====“ for 2020 five star receiver Rakim Jarrett. If he does commit, he will be the third receiver in next year’s class. Brain Hartline, Ryan Day’s offense and having potentially great QBs throw to them, has highly regarded receivers tripping over themselves to get to Columbus.
With UFM, Schiano and Grinch leaving, payroll decreased enough to allow Day to entice the guys he wanted with million dollar a year offers. We will learn the exact numbers later but all the new hires are richer because they are now Buckeyes.
Backup QB Tate Martell’s name showed up in the transfer portal. Martell, who is expected to graduate in May, was expected to stay through spring practice and compete with Justin Fields for the starting job He would be free to follow the Joe Burrow if he chose to do. He doesn’t have to be in the transfer portal to that. If, and it is not even close to being official, he decides to move, three scholarship QBs are on the roster.
A couple of conclusions can be jumped to here. The staff must be certain that Fields will get his waiver and be immediately eligible. Fields must have gotten some “encouragement” to be a Buckeye.
The team has officially lost 5 players to the NFL draft (Bosa, Weber, Jones, Haskins, Jordan). Arnette and Sheffield haven't but are expected to. FWIW, they all made the right choice. From the team perspective, Jordan might be the most difficult man to replace. Graduation, early-entry and lower-than-desired recruit numbers makes the OL the rare position on the roster with depth issues.
Sheffield and Arnette were season-long abuse targets by the board. Unfairly, in most cases, IMO. They will be both have a shot in the NFL, albeit using different paths. Sheffield will blow up at the combine with his forty time and become a mid round pick. Arnette will go late or undrafted and hopefully find the right team match. As one poster put it, he could have a Tyvis Powell type impact if he stays healthy and patient.
K J Hill surprised most with his announced return. He catches everything, is great on punt returns and comes up big in big games. NFL-wise I was not sure how much he had to gain with another season. He would be great at a place like New England no matter when he leaves. I will enjoy watching him be a captain and put up monster numbers.
To the relief of almost everybody, LB coach Bill Davis will not return. Whenever the LBs screwed up, which seemed to be often, the finger was seldom pointed at Schiano, the scheme or even the players. Typically, Davis was blamed. The consensus seemed that the only reason he got the position was that he was UFM’s best man, ignoring the fact that Davis’ resume is filled with NFL coaching experience. He will return to the NFL in some role.
For four reasons, Al Washington agreeing to replace Davis was greeted with universal acceptance. Thievery from SCUM is not a sin or crime (it is a win), he is from the Columbus, is known as a good recruiter and is African-American (identified as a factor in several threads). However, the honeymoon will end the first time one of his backers misses a tackle or assignment.
Detroit radio host Mike Valenti’s commentary changed my view of Ryan Day’s hiring of 69 year old Greg Mattison as the Buck’s defensive co-coordinator. The story isn’t about Mattison’s age. It is about Day boldly poaching two of Michigan’s better assistants. It appears that Day is not only trying to hire the best staff possible, he is also trying to widen the gap between the Bucks and the school up north.
Mattison’s age does lead to questions. Can he maintain his reputation as a recruiter? Can he fix a defense that underperformed? Will he be a willing mentor for Hafley his co-coordinator, who is 30 years younger? Will he have position-coach duties? None of these questions can be answered yet. I don’t know how he will do but the short-term stress it created for Harbaugh makes it a win.
The co-coordinator is 39 year-old former 49er defensive back coach, Jeff Hafley. The name initially caught the insiders off guard. Eventually, it was learned he had a great reputation as a recruiter during his time at Rutgers and Pitt. DBs that played for him at San Francisco and Cleveland praised his preparation.
An omission from last week’s “summary”, Mike Yucich, offensive coordinator from Oklahoma State, filled UFM’s spot on staff. It will be interesting to see how labor is divided with three (Wilson, Day and Yucich) guys with successful play-calling experience in the kitchen. Too many chefs…?
In the middle of the coaching staff chaos, nevada gave the “====“ for 2020 five star receiver Rakim Jarrett. If he does commit, he will be the third receiver in next year’s class. Brain Hartline, Ryan Day’s offense and having potentially great QBs throw to them, has highly regarded receivers tripping over themselves to get to Columbus.
With UFM, Schiano and Grinch leaving, payroll decreased enough to allow Day to entice the guys he wanted with million dollar a year offers. We will learn the exact numbers later but all the new hires are richer because they are now Buckeyes.
