2022 ttun Shenanigans, Arguments, Surrender Cobras, and Feckless Marmots

[buckeyemania11]

Finally, while Corum is a very good back, it was Haskins that did the real damage last year. But Haskins only did that damage because Ohio State's scheme was passive and predictable. It is neither this year. Again, last year's result rested at the nexus of Ohio State's issues and a TTUN asset that is no longer there.
​

I think a lot of people sleep on this point. Corum is a nice back but they don't have a grinder like Haskins this year to plow and wear down the defense and pick up the dirty tough yardage. Him and Edwards are both more finesse backs. IMO Haskins is a bigger loss than a lot of people give credit. scUM is built more for a power downhill run game than a purely finesse one.​

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

I recall CJ saying there was a 4th factor, the flu or something (not covid) went thru the locker room as well.

 

[buckeyemania11]

One thing for sure. The first 3 games are going to be hilarious. They are probably going to be crowning this team one of the greatest of all time after.

Colorado State - terrible last year, new coach

Hawaii - Total mess after the Todd Graham Fiasco

Uconn - Program in total shambles, would be lucky to finish .500 with a FCS schedule

Corum - September Heisman

Defense - "definitely better than last year"

It's all so predictable.

 

[Thump]

This millenium, OSU has the following win percentage against these teams:

64% - 09-5 Pur
76% - 13-4 Wisc
77% - 17-5 PSU
77% - 7-02 Iowa
81% - 17-4 UM
83% - 15-3 MSU

This was the first year in a long time that they weren't the 6th least likely B1G team to upset OSU. Last year's outcomes bumped them all the way to 5th in a 3 team league (one of which is OSU, and ironically is usually the biggest threat for those upsets)

OSU does not deserve any assumptions about whether they found their big boy pants as it pertains to the running game in B1G play. They have to earn that respect.

That said, the year they didn't have them was the only time in 18 years that Michigan won a title.

And that includes years where OSU completed single passes to win games, OSU & PSU were ineligible, OSU lost both starting QBs, and OSU's only chance of scoring for half of The Game was through the arm of the QB wearing wings.


OSU's need to prove it is mutually exclusive. Michigan is very far from earning the benefit of the doubt, particularly when the surprise run last year was anchored by a defense led by two blue chippers in Hutchinson and Hill.

GPA!

 

[Thump]

I recall CJ saying there was a 4th factor, the flu or something (not covid) went thru the locker room as well.

Correct.

Over 30 guys had it including Stroud.

 

[NFBuck]

Perhaps at one point last year begged explanation, but the explanations were obvious to many of us and they have been posted on, both briefly and at length, by many BP members for the past 9 months. I guess the question is, are those explanations reasonable? The short version is, that there was a negative confluence of events for the Buckeyes AND a positive confluence of events for TTUN. So this breaks the question into two: 1) Is it reasonable to believe that the negative events that contributed to Ohio State's performance have been addressed, and 2) Is it reasonable to believe that the positive events that contributed to TTUN's performance are no longer in play? Let's look at both.

As has been repeated nearly ad nauseum for the past 9 months, Ohio State had 3 issues in last year's game: defensive scheme and coaching, offensive line run blocking, and motivation.

Is it reasonable to believe that the defensive scheme and the teaching of that scheme have been addressed? I would contend that, at this point, it is unreasonable to believe otherwise.

Is it reasonable to believe that the offensive line has been addressed? It seems to me that this is the biggest question on the team, but as a new coach was hired who has a scheme that seems tailor-made to address the issue, it is perhaps reasonable to expect that this issue has been addressed. Add to that the fact that the guard position at Ohio State is now filled by actual guards rather than by tackles out of position. It seems to me that expecting this issue to be no better than last year isn't really reasonable.

Is it reasonable to believe that the motivation issue has been addressed? In my opinion there were multiple motivational issues in play: 1) the off-season conditioning program before last season was, according to some, changed to be more of a self-driven program. Based on what the players have said about this past off-season's workouts, that changed in a hurry. In fact, it seems to me from just looking at videos of practice that the team seems to be in much better shape this year. 2) Ryan Day's mantra about weather all year was just that "you only have to handle it better than the other guy does". Well, the truth is you also need to be built to succeed in B1G weather, and the hiring of the new OL coach seemed to have that in mind. We will see if Day stick to the "...better than the other guy..." mantra. 3) Finally, it seems clear that Ohio State took TTUN lightly last year. Up until that game, it seemed that some of the run defense issues had been at least partially addressed. They had faced teams that were arguably as good as TTUN on the ground and had held their own. Some of what we saw then, was probably the approach to The Game itself. Based on what the team has been saying for the past 9 months, motivation will not be a problem this year.
​

Now let's address the more important point, as it seems to be your primary point: Is it reasonable to expect that the things in TTUN's favor are no longer in effect?

First of all, their first round edge players are gone. Is it reasonable to expect that the players taking over for them this year will not play at the same level? In my opinion it would be ridiculous to expect otherwise. The edge players on their depth chart this year have given us no reason to expect performances on the level of last year's.

Secondly, their coordinators on both sides of the ball are gone. Is it reasonable to expect that the new coordinator will not be able to produce the same results? An objective view of the new coordinators resume would suggest pretty strongly that expecting otherwise begs explanation. And bear in mind that it was the confluence of last year's coordinator for TTUN and Ohio State's running-game woes (already addressed) that presented the problem Since both of those things were necessary to produce last year's result, and since it is not reasonable to assume that either is still in play, perhaps we aren't just being naive.

Finally, while Corum is a very good back, it was Haskins that did the real damage last year. But Haskins only did that damage because Ohio State's scheme was passive and predictable. It is neither this year. Again, last year's result rested at the nexus of Ohio State's issues and a TTUN asset that is no longer there.
​

To me, when you look at it objectively, you come away with the unmistakable conclusion that TTUN is likely to be a very good football team this year. If they are lucky, and their new coordinators perform better than their resumes says we should expect, they might even be top 10. But there are very good, objective reasons to believe that a very good, top-10 football team that Ohio State is very motivated to beat is going to get absolutely brutalized by the Buckeyes this year.

An excellent summation of what has been discussed since this thread started. To me, the biggest difference between last year and this will be the loss of Hutch/Ojabo. I think almost all of us downplayed how good Hutch could be going into last season because, frankly, he hadn't shown much. Same with Ojabo. However, Hutch had the attention of NFL draftniks (even if we laughed at them) and he put together a whale of a season. Now, one thing the guys tasked with replacing as an EDGE him lack are the recruiting accolades he came in with. He was a top-100 recruit with an NFL pedigree. These guys don't have that. He also had what turned out to be an excellent DC calling the D for him. That DC bailed after one year and was replaced with a guy whose resume is, to put it politely, underwhelming. Is it an impossibility that they find a way to replicate that success? No, but given their track record over the previous few years going into last year, it certainly seems unlikely. Next, how will their D perform without their 2 first round DE's causing havoc in the backfield? Well, UGA gave a preview when they basically neutralized them both and it was not pretty. There were a lot of flaws on that D masked by how many plays Hutch/Ojabo blew up. On top of losing Hutch/Ojabo, they lost their best LB, and both Safeties. People seem to be talking about how "talented" they are and how well they've recruited, but have they? Who were the other standouts on that defense last year? Their CB play was okay, certainly a step up from 2020, but it wasn't anywhere approaching elite. I suspect we see a pretty large step back. Maybe not to the depths of 2020, but far enough that it causes some issues.

It's funny how 1 good season has erased all of the attitude towards the program by their fans and the press that were pervasive going into 2021. They were seen as a program in a spiral and Simple Jim was roundly seen as massively underachieving...and even losing control. They can spout off all the "culture" platitudes they want, but the erosion of a "culture" isn't reversed after 1 year. Especially when the HC nearly took a sledge hammer to it by spreading his legs for the NFL for a month right after the season leading to his Broyles winning OC to trash the program on the way out the door to a lateral move.

 

[buckeyemania11]

Their CB play was okay, certainly a step up from 2020, but it wasn't anywhere approaching elite. I suspect we see a pretty large step back. Maybe not to the depths of 2020, but far enough that it causes some issues.

Gemon Green is still a starter, that's all you need to know about their CBs. He was terrible in 2020 and average last year at best, the pass rush masked him but you could still see glimpses of the bad at times.

I'm sure DFBIA would use him of a example of the "CULTURE" of players wanting to play for scUM rather than bolting for the NFL. He's a super senior though who didnt bolt because he'd be lucky to get drafted.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Reminds me of that cocksucker who announced he was going to come back for his senior season and we were all... who? Tight end. Can't remember the name.

 

[jwinslow]

Will they be solid on defense. Likely. Will they be extremely good to great? Let's look at what they've lost + added behind it.

I see a semi good DL (but miles behind last year), some talent at LB and a woeful DB corps that isn't likely to get fixed by one true frosh.

Since 2018, the 5-stars signed by year:

2018 - 0. Hutchinson was the best (#112), and just left
2019 - 2, Hinton, Hill. Both declared this offseason.
2020 - 0.
2021 - 1, 0 on D. QB McCarthy
2022 - 1. CB Johnson.

Can true freshman Will Johnson make up for the loss of Hutchinson and 2 5 star defenders?

Just for the sake of simplicity for ranking compilation, I'm going to use USA today's depth chart power rankings (which is not the most well rounded breakdown I've seen)

DL

Departed: 5* #37 Hinton, 4* #112 Hutchinson, 4* #314 Ojabo

3* #396 DE Morris ... oft-injured 4* #123 DE McGregor
4* #105 DT Mazi Smith ... 3* 645 DE Welschof (from Germany)
3* #513 DT Jenkins ...
3* #561 DE Upshaw ...

The Wolverines don’t have a ton of obvious defensive ends, but given that we saw some late-game situations for Guy last season, our guess is he could be the player ready to step up. If not him, perhaps Kechaun Bennett.

Well that's not a glowing paragraph.
Of course, there's a whole lot of this, despite a pretty favorable set of assumptions overall

Harrell was Ojabo’s backup in 2021, and he should be poised for an increased role in 2022. How much, of course, is up to him.

LB

Departed: 4* #211 Ross

4* #294 DE/LB Jaylen Harrell or 3* #751 OLB Michael Barrett
4* #90 LB Junior Colson ... 4* #152 LB Mullings
3* 393 LB Nikhai Hill-Green

DB

Departed: 5* #14 Dax Hill, 4* #235 Hawkins, 3* #725 Gray

3* #400 - CB DJ Turner
3* #382 - CB Gemon Green
3* #595 - CB Mike Sanristil
5* #015 - CB Will Johnson
3* #1000- CB German Green
4* #200 - DB Jalen Perry

The only returning 4* guy on that list was described this way

Jalen Perry has yet to really make waves, so it will be interesting to see what he does, now that it’s his senior year.

Ask Utah how it went when they had one DB that OSU wanted (Clark Phillips, vs in this case, a younger Will Johnson)

 

[NFBuck]

Will they be solid on defense. Likely. Will they be extremely good to great? Let's look at what they've lost + added behind it.

I see a semi good DL (but miles behind last year), some talent at LB and a woeful DB corps that isn't likely to get fixed by one true frosh.

Since 2018, the 5-stars signed by year:

2018 - 0. Hutchinson was the best (#112), and just left
2019 - 2, Hinton, Hill. Both declared this offseason.
2020 - 0.
2021 - 1, 0 on D. QB McCarthy
2022 - 1. CB Johnson.

Can true freshman Will Johnson make up for the loss of Hutchinson and 2 5 star defenders?

Just for the sake of simplicity for ranking compilation, I'm going to use USA today's depth chart power rankings (which is not the most well rounded breakdown I've seen)

DL

Departed: 5* #37 Hinton, 4* #112 Hutchinson, 4* #314 Ojabo

3* #396 DE Morris ... oft-injured 4* #123 DE McGregor
4* #105 DT Mazi Smith ... 3* 645 DE Welschof (from Germany)
3* #513 DT Jenkins ...
3* #561 DE Upshaw ...
Well that's not a glowing paragraph.
Of course, there's a whole lot of this, despite a pretty favorable set of assumptions overall
LB

Departed: 4* #211 Ross

4* #294 DE/LB Jaylen Harrell or 3* #751 OLB Michael Barrett
4* #90 LB Junior Colson ... 4* #152 LB Mullings
3* 393 LB Nikhai Hill-Green

DB

Departed: 5* #14 Dax Hill, 4* #235 Hawkins, 3* #725 Gray

3* #400 - CB DJ Turner
3* #382 - CB Gemon Green
3* #595 - CB Mike Sanristil
5* #015 - CB Will Johnson
3* #1000- CB German Green
4* #200 - DB Jalen Perry

The only returning 4* guy on that list was described this way

Ask Utah how it went when they had one DB that OSU wanted (Clark Phillips, vs in this case, a younger Will Johnson)

This is what makes me giggle. I see all these people (fans/media) going on about how talented they are. Compared to whom?

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Texas El Paso?

 

[Zurp]

Reminds me of that cocksucker who announced he was going to come back for his senior season and we were all... who? Tight end. Can't remember the name.

Tyler Ecker?


Go to 34:30 into the video. If he cuts outside and steps out of bounds, they get one more play - a hail mary attempt. But he cuts in, tries fighting for yards, fumbles, and Ohio State wins.


He gets the ball at about 0:36. Nebraska has pretty much given up, except for 1 guy. Maybe 2. 2 guys left to tackle him. *ichigan has a guy trailing Ecker. (Not counting the offensive lineman.) If he pitches it, they win. He doesn't. They lose.

He came back in 2006 and scored a touchdown in The Game.

The only other tight end I can think of is Jake Butt.

 

[buckeyemania11]

This is what makes me giggle. I see all these people (fans/media) going on about how talented they are. Compared to whom?

They confuse "we have lots of players/options" with "lots of talent"

 

[buckeyemania11]

It's hilarious claiming "loaded with talent" and then bringing up guys like TJ Guy (#937 OVR #51 Edge as a recruit) as examples of whos going to step in and replicate Hutchinson/Ojabo.

Of course 3*s sometimes turn out to be great players, but expecting them to step in right away and play like top NFL draft picks is idiocy

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

I remember who it was. Some kind named Eubanks