Is this bad?

Bestbuck36 said:

Other than the Thad 5 we've never seen a class that ended up there. Holt had one really good class didn't he?

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His highest rated class was a pretty good one - they had Thornton, Sensabaugh, Gayle and Okpara.

buckeyemania11 said:

Bad portal decisions are definitely on the coach.

Stewart and Bradshaw (especially Bradshaw) definitely did not deliver. I hope we go after more proven production than perceived potential based on past recruiting rankings when it comes to the bigs in the portal this cycle.

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Bradshaw made sense if they were planning on Okpara coming back. Initially, he claimed he was returning, then they got Bradshaw, and a week or two later Okpara bolted. Bradshaw was kind of miscast on this team as a big man because they didn't really have one. He'd fit better as a PF able to block shots from the weak side and not be forced to hold his ground in the paint.

DaveyBoy said:

The problem is who in their right mind would choose Ohio State with Diebler over just about every BigTen program except possibly Minnesota, Northwstern, and possibly Nebraska. ?

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Certainly not you, it would appear.

I have to say, Fran McCaffery was about the best you could hope for as a rival fan. A man you could make fun of, and his teams generally gave an entertaining game for you to watch.

ochre said:

but I guess anything can happen if one is objectively tired.

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I believe Herbie truly is confident he is objective when he calls games, works extremely hard in game prep, and believes he delivers the best analysis since John Madden. I also believe he has the IQ of a turtle, has no idea what the word objective means, wouldn't know real analysis if it bit him in the ass, and has the thick skin of a snowflake.

but I guess anything can happen if one is objectively tired.

I'm pretty sure Mike Brewster was objectively not part of tatgate.

James Laurinaitis on the progress of Arvell Reese, what he expects leadership-wise from OSU's linebackers​

Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis went into great detail when describing what he expects from players in his room from a leadership standpoint. He also spoke at length about rising junior LB Arvell Reese who is going to step into a starting role this season.​

Linebackers coach James Laurinaitis knows a thing or two about leadership being a former two-time captain at Ohio State. Recently, Laurinaitis was asked what rising junior Arvell Reese needs to do this spring to seize the starting middle linebacker job – replacing Cody Simon who had an excellent 2024 season – and Laurinaitis answered the question. While answering the question, he also provided what can best be described as an awesome peek behind the curtain regarding his views on leadership.

"I think with Velly (Reese), a lot of it is just preparation," Laurinaitis said. "I think when you're a young player, there's so much to learn and sometimes it just goes back to habits. And we talked about it a lot last year, and he got way better as the season went on, but it's habits and then it's leadership, and I think what we've seen so far in the winter is him taking a more active leadership role. And obviously Sonny (Styles) is a great leader for us, but you kind of see the development of Arvell being a leader as well.

"Malcolm Jenkins talked to our guys last year and I thought he had a great message for everybody. He said everyone should want to be the leader, the captain of their class, and it's a mindset. So, I've kind of adopted that, and obviously Malcolm and I played together, but the whole idea of, if you're Payton Pierce or Garrett Stover, you guys should both be the leaders of your class, you know what I mean? And obviously that trickles down to TJ (Alford), Riley (Pettijohn), and Eli (Lee), but it's just a mindset.

"It's a mindset anyway – if you're a linebacker – you just naturally have to be a leader. You've got to communicate so much, so it's getting Velly to get out of the shell, which he did last year. And I on purpose roomed him with Cody Simon on the road for multiple reasons, to make sure that he was awake and coming to meetings on time, but just like there was a maturity that Cody had, having gone through it, and pairing him with Velly (seemed like a good idea). He's had a phenomenal winter so far and I'm excited to see him compete here once we get back."

Leadership seems to be an innate trait. You either have it or you don't. Laurinaitis won't go quite that far, but he did expound on his thoughts about being a leader at a place like Ohio State.

"I think a lot of times, leadership, it's hard," Laurinaitis said. "You can try to teach leadership for sure, but a lot of it's like, it's just 'caught,' you know what I mean? Like when you're around it, you just see it. And everybody has a different style. So, that's one of the things that I've stressed to Arvell. I even stressed it to Sonny, like, you guys don't have to be Cody Simon, just because Cody Simon was a great leader, he did it in his way. Like, if you try to be somebody else, and you're not authentic to yourself and your own personality, then the locker room will notice. If you're a guy who's pretty quiet, and all of a sudden you're trying to give all these uncomfortable, rah-rah speeches, and it's not who you are, that's not going to go over well. And you see, I've always seen people do that.

"And so, you have to get comfortable in who you are. A.J. Hawk was a great leader. A.J. barely said anything when we were at practice, but then when A.J. spoke, you're like, 'OK,' you know what I mean? Like, he was quiet, he did everything right, he worked his tail off.
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Yeah, that's it.

I bet my neighbor who doesn't clean up his dogs shits when they go for a walk probably thinks people hate him because he's TOO objective, too.

Dickhead.

Former Ohio State Buckeyes star struggling to find new team despite electric bounceback season in 2024​

The life of an NFL running back is incredibly difficult. Not only do ball-carriers take an absolute beating each week, but their professional careers are as fickle as any position in the league. The free agency experience J.K. Dobbins is dealing with right now is a good snapshot of the challenges stars at the position can face.

Dobbins is by far PFF's highest-rated running back still on the market, and the 26-year-old is coming off his best season yet. The former Ohio State playmaker logged his most carries and yards and tied his previous touchdown record. An ankle injury cost him four games in 2024, but Dobbins was otherwise recovered from a 2021 ACL tear and a 2023 Achilles tear.

For several reasons, the 2019 Heisman Trophy candidate is facing an uphill battle to land a multi-year deal. Since entering the NFL, his injury history is concerning enough to limit guaranteed dollars beyond 2025. The 2025 NFL Draft class is also as deep with running backs as it ever has been.

Recently, Rico Dowdle, Aaron Jones, and Najee Harris have taken short-term deals. But those names were expected to receive solid offers, and the money they earned was respectable. What wasn't expected was seeing less-talented role players find homes before Dobbins.

Guys like AJ Dillon, Miles Sanders, Raheem Mostert, and Alexander Mattison are getting situated in new situations. A few of those guys might not even make their team's final 53-man roster. While it's a bit apples to oranges because Dobbins is surely looking to be at least a high-end No. 2 back, it's a surprising development.

There are still some openings for Dobbins, though. The AFC North is especially intriguing, as Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati could use help. Denver, Houston, and Kansas City would be nice landing spots as well. Minnesota, Los Angeles Rams, and New Orleans are top NFC fits.
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Kirk Herbstreit finally addresses strained relationship with Buckeyes fans, 'I love Ohio State'​

There's no question that Ohio State fans have turned on former Buckeyes quarterback and long-time ESPN host Kirk Herbstreit in recent years. While Ohio State fans liked that Herbstreit showed slight favoritism toward his alma mater, they also appreciated that he never became a shameless shill to the program like Desmond Howard is for Michigan.

However, this past year or two brought a different tone amongst Ohio State fans. Herbstreit was more direct in his criticism of the fan base last year, calling them a "lunatic fringe" when calling for head coach Ryan Day's job after a fourth-straight loss to the Wolverines.

Herbstreit's plea for patience was proven correct, but the gap between the program's most passionate fans and the former team captain felt as wide as ever. The fact his son, Chase, walked onto the Michigan football team didn't help things.

On the “Built 4 More” podcast, Herbstreit was asked about calling games for the Buckeyes and his approach to covering the team in general. The host asked whether he's "dying" during Ohio State games and whether his heart pulls him one way or another.

“I’m not dying. It’s like I flip a switch during the game. When you put so much work into something with your prep, [it’s necessary]… If you’re just going to ask me ‘Am I a fan?’ Oh my God.

I love Ohio State. I was a captain there. My dad was a captain there. Just the way I grew up,” remarked Kirk Herbstreit. “But when I call their games they’re a team, and the other team’s a team. I’m there to give analytical viewpoints. Try to give the viewer at home kind of the ‘how’ and the ‘why’.

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When pressed about the tension between him and the Buckeyes' faithful, Herbstreit knows his objectivity and ability to take that perspective is causing frustration.

"I know Ohio State’s fan base is probably as loud as any fan base in the country on social media, and a lot of that fraction are not fans of mine. Because I am fair. Because I am, you know, objective.”
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Ohio State elite defender’s admission about his position change shows just the player he is for the Buckeyes​

Ohio State’s 2024 team was loaded with returning talent plus the players that they went out and got in the portal.

A transfer portal haul that consisted of Caleb Downs, Quinshon Judkins, Will Howard, and Seth McLaughlin was huge for the Buckeyes and accomplishing their big goal.

Downs coming in and being the team’s top safety paired with great unselfishness from LB Sonny Styles was huge for the defense. Styles made the switch from safety to linebacker and it paid off big time.

“My thing was where on the defense do I fit, where I can help the team win,” Styles said in a recent sitdown interview with The Podcast. “ [It is] where I can be at my best and I felt like it was no question that being a linebacker was going to help me and help the team. So, it was a double win, there was really no convincing.”

Bringing in Downs played a part in the switch, but so is the transformation of Styles himself. The Pickerington native came in as a 6-foot-4, 215-pound safety for the Buckeyes as a five-star player in the class of 2022. Now, Styles is up to 235 pounds and has filled out his frame.

“The season got over, I saw Caleb come in, I seen the defense we had. I was like, ‘Why would I not play WILL?’.”

Styles recorded 100 tackles, six sacks, and a forced fumble in 16 games in 2024. Styles made 53 tackles and two sacks the previous season as a safety.

“I’m excited I made the move. I feel much more comfortable at linebacker than I did at safety,” Styles explained. “It’s like my abilities can flourish more at the position.”

Making the switch to James Laurinaitis’ unit has helped Styles blossom into a terrific player. He is a prime candidate to wear the “Block O” in 2025, as well as being a team captain.

Skull Session: Evan Turner Buried Michigan 15 Years Ago, Greg Oden and Mike Conley Almost Went to Wake Forest and Bryce Underwood Tells LeBron James “It’s Over for Ohio State”​

On choosing Ohio State over Wake Forest​

“If Chris Paul was gonna say at Wake Forest, I probably would have went with Mike to Wake Forest. I would say that. But Chris Paul left for the league. Mike wanted to go there and play with Chris Paul, but Chris Paul leaves. … It wasn’t etched in stone (that I would go where Mike went), but we had a good visit down there at Wake Forest. I’ll put it like that. It was a good time. Nah, I will say this, though. When we went to the Texas-Ohio State football game, just seeing that atmosphere on that visit and seeing what that city was, I think we all kind of were like, ‘Alright, this is it. This is where we want to be at.’ But I think Wake Forest was definitely a very, very close second.”

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On Ohio State’s loss to Florida in the national title game​

“Going up against Florida, as you all know, Taurean Green, Corey Brewer, (Lee) Humphrey, Al (Horford), Joakim (Noah), Chris Richard coming off the bench, Marreese Speights a freshman. … They’re arguably one of the best college basketball teams in history. Actually, they have to be top five because there are only three or four of them that actually went back-to-back. If we hit a couple more threes, I would like to say I hope we had a better chance. But f— everybody that does the Gator Chomp. That s— hurts my soul to this day. I’m a grown a— man, but when I see the Gator Chomp, I see a tear. I’m like, ‘You know what? This some bull—.”

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On leaving Ohio State for the NBA​

“The week before I went to school, it was nothing. After the championship on Monday, going to class on Wednesday, I couldn’t make it a block without people getting out of their cars, asking for autographs, stopping to take pictures. Literally, I couldn’t make it to class. I went back to my dorm, called Coach (Matta) and I’m like, ‘I literally can’t make it to class. I’m overwhelmed.’ That’s when I knew it was about to happen.
“(But) I wanted to stay. We were that close. You think about all the times (Conley and I) won in high school, in AAU, in eighth grade. You think about our high school years, we barely lost 10 games. We probably lost three in AAU. It’s less than 15 games from sixth grade, seventh grade, up to college. I wanted to win. But I went and talked about that to Coach, and he was like, ‘Ha. Get the f— out of here.’ It was like a soft laugh. ‘He was like, ‘You can’t do that, brother. I can’t do that to your family. I can’t do that to you.’ When you’re put in this position, you have to take advantage of that. I am thankful for the people around me. My life changed after that.”

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dragurd said:

What next the fire Ferentz? Madness

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And Fran's teams could actually score!

His CFP miss wasn’t just from 50, it was from 56 yards in about 20-degree weather. It hooked and was well short, and was only tried because it was the last play of the first half, but that would have been pure bonus points from a college kicker.

The 2 misses in The Game, of course, were unacceptable. Gotta hit over 80% of kicks like those.

Since the prize money is exactly fuck all, I can live with whatever.

Commissioner’s prerogative.

And thanks for taking this on. I missed it.

Zurp said:

So... you bring up good points. But, the original point was "what he did in the CFP". And the point that he did the "minimum" is valid, but I also think he did the "maximum" (minus the FG attempt against Tennessee) in the CFP.
But you have good points. He missed a field goal against Nebraska. But, it never should have come to the field goals against Nebraska. Same with the cheaters - it never should have come to field goals. It did, and he didn't do his job in those games. So, both he and the offense failed in those games.

I was at the Marshall game, and that was weird. On one hand, it was just against Marshall. So it didn't hurt. But on the other hand, that really shouldn't happen... in the national championship game or against the shlubs. Or any other game.

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Fair enough. After reading your posts, I agree that min/max may not be the right metric. What I meant was that what he did in the CFP was simply what he's supposed to do. Five for 5 with one of them being from 50 would be better, but 4 for 5 and missing a 50 should be what's at least expected at tOSU. The fucking skunkweasels went out and found a boomer. There's no reason that we shouldn't have a kicker like that. Maybe there's some reticence that they won't get as many FG attempts with us? That seems like kind of a reach, but who knows? I think it's just been neglected. When you need a kicker, you really need him. That alone should warrant recruiting emphasis both HS and portal.

NFBuck said:

Looks like Fran McCaffery is toast.

Iowa dismisses coach McCaffery after 15 seasons

Iowa's men's basketball program dismissed McCaffery after 15 seasons as coach of the Hawkeyes, the school announced Friday.

www.espn.com

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What next the fire Ferentz? Madness