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DC Jim Knowles (Official Thread)

2nd half Michigan dominance still stings but I’d actually like some continuity at some point. Feels like it’s been a revolving door at DC for the last decade.

12-13: Fickell/Withers
14-15: Fickell/Ash
16: Fickell/Schiano
17-18: Schiano
19: Hafley
20-21: Coombs
22-23: Knowles

7 DC combos in 12 seasons. Still some players/areas to improve but I like the way this unit is trending at least.

They actually won the Bucks games this year- at least held serve until the offense could untangle themselves. I haven’t trusted them to do that in a long time.
Yeah that’s what happens when all but one ends up being a head coach though
 
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Never hurts to talk....or keep interviewing skills sharp. If Day leaves, and Smith is gone July 1, could be new players in the Buckeye football hierarchy. Has Knowles proven himself? I believe so, and so do most of the talking heads. Good leverage to jump, but Knowles recruiting skills are still suspect. Unless LJjr is getting most/all of credit for DL recruiting, and the DB coaches credit for DBs. Don't see homeruns at LB, in fact seem to have missed on a couple. Certainly Duke would look to someone that knows 'the Duke way', although in football that doesn't seem so very important (as basketball)....Go Bucks! PS, believe we keep Knowles. PSS, agree, would like to know why the rift between LJjr and Knowles? This hybrid thingy? That cost us a year of Sawyer eligibility....Go Bucks!
 
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Unless Hafley was available Leonard will be first on my list as well.

I would say Hafley is safe at BC, for at least another year.

Leonard, I would imagine, will have a lot of suitors but I also think it's clear he wants to be a HC and OSU would make that launching pad more easily than Illinois or wherever else.

If we had to extend the list, here would be two others I'd be very interested in:

Phil Parker, Iowa DC - NE OH born and raised (Amherst) so I'd imagine he grew up a Buckeye fan. Plus, doesn't he have to eventually get tired of that dog shit offense!?

D'Anton Lynn, UCLA DC - Rising young star in the industry very, very similar to Jeff Hafley. 34 years old, NFL coaching experience, Texas roots. With Chip Kelly on shaky ground this would make for a natural stepping stone to the good guys.
 
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I would say Hafley is safe at BC, for at least another year.

Leonard, I would imagine, will have a lot of suitors but I also think it's clear he wants to be a HC and OSU would make that launching pad more easily than Illinois or wherever else.

If we had to extend the list, here would be two others I'd be very interested in:

Phil Parker, Iowa DC - NE OH born and raised (Amherst) so I'd imagine he grew up a Buckeye fan. Plus, doesn't he have to eventually get tired of that dog shit offense!?

D'Anton Lynn, UCLA DC - Rising young star in the industry very, very similar to Jeff Hafley. 34 years old, NFL coaching experience, Texas roots. With Chip Kelly on shaky ground this would make for a natural stepping stone to the good guys.
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Good choices. The UCLA DC has done a really good job and is a highly thought of young and rising DC. And under Parker Iowa's D has been strong and steadfast. Doubt that he leaves though.
 
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Welcome to 2023. EVERY defense struggles against high powered offenses. Did you forget that we scored 41 on UGA?

Anyone who wants Knowles gone has the IQ of a can of Campbell's Tomato Soup.
I didn't express myself correctly, unlike it has happened in the past I don't feel confident that this defense can be the deciding factor in those close games most of the times we play those big matchups. And yes I'd still change from Knowles, I just don't think his scheme is a good fit for us. Hopefully I'm wrong of course, I want the Buckeyes to win no matter who the DC is.
 
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I didn't express myself correctly, unlike it has happened in the past I don't feel confident that this defense can be the deciding factor in those close games most of the times we play those big matchups. And yes I'd still change from Knowles, I just don't think his scheme is a good fit for us. Hopefully I'm wrong of course, I want the Buckeyes to win no matter who the DC is.
This year the offense lost us the game. The 7 minute drive hurt, but the offense was inconsistent all year.
 
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This year the offense lost us the game. The 7 minute drive hurt, but the offense was inconsistent all year.
I’ve been trying to think how to word this since I’ve seen so many varying opinions about which side “lost” the game (fun exercise when we have 3 worthy candidates! Joy.). I think most eventually agree all 3 units played a part.

That said…we definitely see the world with scarlet glasses. Whatever happens during a game- it was Ohio State doing it, good or bad. We pay no attention to the other team trying to win.

So with that 7 minute drive where our defense couldn’t get off the field, I hate to say it but Michigan went out and WON the game. More than I think the defense “lost” it. There was no monumental error or gaffe (maybe the WR getting away with an aggressive push off vs a flat footed defender). That was a damn good #2 team in the country, with seniors, a GREAT Oline and a running back that kept falling forward just enough to make everything positive and manageable. That was their moment, 3 years built to run out the clock in this Game, fueled by emotion and they did it. We’re really not used to them being good/great.

I really don’t know what Knowles was supposed to do from his skybox at that point. Blitz all 11?

I know, I know. It all ends the same - whether we say Ohio State lost it or *gasp* give credit to that team up north for winning it.

That doesn’t make me okay with it or happy. I hate losing to these guys. It was an awful day for my dad and I. We can’t take this anymore.

I just see a deeper issue than Jim Knowles. We all want instant gratification but my eyes and the stats say we’re on the right track.

(Now…the offense I think *lost* the Game vs Michigan’s defense with bad execution and playcalls - oline, McCord and Day’s 4th and short wuss outs. Oh and Special Teams, that’s obvious)
 
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I’ve been trying to think how to word this since I’ve seen so many varying opinions about which side “lost” the game (fun exercise when we have 3 worthy candidates! Joy.). I think most eventually agree all 3 units played a part.

That said…we definitely see the world with scarlet glasses. Whatever happens during a game- it was Ohio State doing it, good or bad. We pay no attention to the other team trying to win.

So with that 7 minute drive where our defense couldn’t get off the field, I hate to say it but Michigan went out and WON the game. More than I think the defense “lost” it. There was no monumental error or gaffe (maybe the WR getting away with an aggressive push off vs a flat footed defender). That was a damn good #2 team in the country, with seniors, a GREAT Oline and a running back that kept falling forward just enough to make everything positive and manageable. That was their moment, 3 years built to run out the clock in this Game, fueled by emotion and they did it. We’re really not used to them being good/great.

I really don’t know what Knowles was supposed to do from his skybox at that point. Blitz all 11?

I know, I know. It all ends the same - whether we say Ohio State lost it or *gasp* give credit to that team up north for winning it.

That doesn’t make me okay with it or happy. I hate losing to these guys. It was an awful day for my dad and I. We can’t take this anymore.

I just see a deeper issue than Jim Knowles. We all want instant gratification but my eyes and the stats say we’re on the right track.

(Now…the offense I think *lost* the Game vs Michigan’s defense with bad execution and playcalls - oline, McCord and Day’s 4th and short wuss outs. Oh and Special Teams, that’s obvious)
I think the D was exhausted on that drive. The O could not sustain a couple drives to give them a rest.
 
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Agree with the first part. Disagree with the second.

You are either getting better or you are getting worse.

What is the trend line since 2019?
That should be specifically the defensive trend. Which had a baseline of “zoo sewage” and is now serviceable.

Overall program?…probably even and unable to get over the hump. Which, is sadly about historical for OSU in my Buckeye lifetime (30+ years). I’m ready to get into the UGA/Bama territory of multiple titles but doubtful it happens and it only gets more random with expanded playoffs.
 
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Agree with the first part. Disagree with the second.

You are either getting better or you are getting worse.

What is the trend line since 2019?
It seems better. Not as good as the Tressel years and some of the Meyer years, but I think it is obviously moving in the right direction than it was a couple years ago where it was going remarkably backwards.
 
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That should be specifically the defensive trend. Which had a baseline of “zoo sewage” and is now serviceable.

Overall program?…probably even and unable to get over the hump. Which, is sadly about historical for OSU in my Buckeye lifetime (30+ years). I’m ready to get into the UGA/Bama territory of multiple titles but doubtful it happens and it only gets more random with expanded playoffs.
That is where I am at...defense is better the last two years overall. But we have fallen on our faces against Tcun and against UGA. The sample size is pretty small considering Knowles was the DC for only 3 of those games and outside those games he was very successful. But the pattern of doing well outside the games that matter cannot continue. Knowles did a great job with turning the defense around, but he is acutely aware that we cannot have that happen against Tcun again.
 
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