DT Luke Fickell (HC Wisconsin Badgers)

[woofermazing]

That Steve Miller zone blitz drop back into coverage was such a genius tactical call. A Jim Heacock staple. Reminiscent of many plays from the Heacock era but especially the 2010 Miami game when the Canes were driving in the red zone and Cam Heyward dropped back into coverage, never seen by Jacory Harris, and trucked the INT back 80 yards(didn't have quite enough gas to taste the end zone).

But talk about a coaching win on that play. 3rd down, Bama starting to get a decent drive going and we knew they were going to jam it in to Cooper. Made the call(Fick, Ash, who cares) and Sims never saw it coming.

Don't forget it here too...

 

[SEREbuckeye]

I think Fickell will be here a long time, but I don't think at all that the 2011 season means he can't be a head coach. Heck, Urban had a 5 loss Florida team with his program in full swing. To keep the boat steady and still recruit were bigger achievements than anyone at the time could realize. We didn't have a slew of transfers, we didn't have weak recruiting, etc. The fact that Fickell kept us afloat made sure that Urban's first years would be as good as they were, rather than the typical rinse everything out and start over approach (such as what Charlie Strong is dealing with in TX).

I see Fickell staying and becoming a great DC and likely the coach in waiting in years to come.

 

[cdiddy70]

"I see Fickell staying and becoming a great DC and likely the coach in waiting in years to come."
Please tell me this is a poor attempt at humor
or you should be banned.
Ohio State should never hire someone without HC experience, let alone one who hasn't proven he is a top shelf coordinator.

 

[BUCKYLE]

"I see Fickell staying and becoming a great DC and likely the coach in waiting in years to come."
Please tell me this is a poor attempt at humor
or you should be banned.
Ohio State should never hire someone without HC experience, let alone one who hasn't proven he is a top shelf coordinator.

Well, his whole point was that he would eventually prove, even to...people...like you, that he is, in fact, a top shelf coordinator. He has one year of HC experience, btw. Is HC at tOSU not enough bona-fides for you?

 

[Schust75]

I think the preferred route would be to leave and excel as a head coach elsewhere... i.e. Urban Meyer. That being said, the heat he has taken hasn't been warranted, he's done a great job with Ash this year.

 

[woofermazing]

Well, his whole point was that he would eventually prove, even to...people...like you, that he is, in fact, a top shelf coordinator. He has one year of HC experience, btw. Is HC at tOSU not enough bona-fides for you?

With a losing record and a staff he did not assemble, with the exception of Vrabel.

We see it all levels of football, being a great coordinator does always translate to being a great head coach. He needs to prove himself at that position if he wants to eventually come back to OSU.

I'm not comfortable with the whole Coach in Waiting concept. It was relatively smooth and pretty successful for Wisconsin and FSU (though does anyone honestly believe Bowden was actually doing any coaching at the end?). More often than not it does not work out that well. Danny Hope ran Purdue into the ground. Dana Holgersen has turned out to be a good coach at WVU, but that was a PR nightmare at the time. Texas probably would have been a disaster, though it's not like they are sitting pretty now anyways.

Other less prestigious schools may feel the need to use it to keep from losing a potential up and comer. I don't think we fall into that category.

 

[UpNorth_Buckeye]

Well, his whole point was that he would eventually prove, even to...people...like you, that he is, in fact, a top shelf coordinator. He has one year of HC experience, btw. Is HC at tOSU not enough bona-fides for you?

I don't necessarily agree with his attitude towards Fickell, but agree there would hopefully be better options for us. And I wouldn't exactly use that year as a positive example of HC experience. I think there'd be a better shot of Herman coming back with a successful run as being a HC than to promote Fickell from within without going out and getting successful HC experience.

 

[BUCKYLE]

Yeah I was just givin' ol' "bonafides" some shit. He's been one of Ficks loudest detractors.

 

[maximumblitz]

That Steve Miller zone blitz drop back into coverage was such a genius tactical call. A Jim Heacock staple. Reminiscent of many plays from the Heacock era but especially the 2010 Miami game when the Canes were driving in the red zone and Cam Heyward dropped back into coverage, never seen by Jacory Harris, and trucked the INT back 80 yards(didn't have quite enough gas to taste the end zone).

But talk about a coaching win on that play. 3rd down, Bama starting to get a decent drive going and we knew they were going to jam it in to Cooper. Made the call(Fick, Ash, who cares) and Sims never saw it coming.

 

[maximumblitz]

That Steve Miller zone blitz drop back into coverage was such a genius tactical call. A Jim Heacock staple.

If I remember, the way Heacock beat Oregon last time was to change things up and have a bunch of new formations and confuse Oregon about what the defense was going to do. I don't have the reference any more.

 

[Woody1968]

Last I heard, he was drowning in his own puke.

I have nothing against Fickell. I think he's talking about someone else. And I haven't puked in at least 3 New Years.

Correct, I was talking about SAWMAN:

worst defense state has ever had Fickel should be fired right on the spot bring a wino off the street to coach defense would be better

fickle pickle defense again

nothing easy till you get rid of the pickle defense

stupid fickel pickle defense again

we have never had a defense since the pickle was named DC

 

[SEREbuckeye]

"I see Fickell staying and becoming a great DC and likely the coach in waiting in years to come."
Please tell me this is a poor attempt at humor
or you should be banned.
Ohio State should never hire someone without HC experience, let alone one who hasn't proven he is a top shelf coordinator.

I should be banned for sharing my opinion? Really? GTFOH with that garbage. I have my opinion like everyone else, this isn't the Bucknuts boards. Like when I was confident Harbaugh was headed to TTUN and was told "no way would he pass up a job in the NFL".

Things change. Just as OSU's offensive style has evolved, I'm sure head coaching thoughts will too. I think he will become a great DC and eventually warrant a HC position somewhere.

If I remember, the way Heacock beat Oregon last time was to change things up and have a bunch of new formations and confuse Oregon about what the defense was going to do. I don't have the reference any more.

Fickell was the DC that year as well

 

[Bleed S & G]

.. oh, wait..

 

[Abenaki]

I never brought it here, but offline I've probably hurled more anger and frustration at Fickell than most (except maybe SAWMAN up there), specifically for 2013. I thought he did a great job in 2011 holding things together, but I thought I'd seen enough.

I was wrong. This is why I don't make the big bucks over at the WHAC

 

[JXC]

Can we get this man some sort of award? He deserves distinguished recognition on this staff. What a terrific job he did with this defense. And it's not just schemes or defensive play calling. It's that he is as much a Buckeye as anybody in the world. The players love him. He is a huge part of the family atmosphere. And he is so proud to be at Ohio State, that I wouldn't be surprised if he never leaves!

One of my favorite Buckeyes! Thank you coach for bringing back the silver bullets!