DT Luke Fickell (HC Wisconsin Badgers)

[Holy Buckeye!]

Luke is doing his best. To me it's simply a way to get the NCAA off our back and not drop the hammer. If we after Tressel resigned aka canned go after a big name coach then it wouldn't have sent the right message when trying to avoid the severity of the inevitable punishment that we will still receive from NCAA. Luke's hire is part of the save the whole program ploy. He will not be fired till the season is over along with all of Jim Tressl's former staff.

Fwiw.... Look at YSU's record the subsequent year after Jim Treasel departed with YSU basically employing all of Tressel's key assistant coaches to run the program. 2-9.

I hope Luke and the team play better and keep it classy but......"I got a bad feeling about this!"

John Gruden or Urban Meyer are the targets.


I want Chucky!


HB

 

[buckeyesin07]

I've seen the following issues with respect to the coaching this year and yesterday in particular:

1. Offensive playcalling. There is WAY too much talent on the OSU team for the offense to have 85 total yards halfway through the fourth quarter. At the beginning of the game, it was run up the middle for 1 yard, run up the middle for 1 yard, get sacked on third and long. Dantonio is way too smart of a defensive coach for this kind of playcalling to work against MSU--he stacked the box on 1st and 2nd down to shut down the run, and blitzed to give OSU's frosh QB no time to throw on 3rd and long. This was not putting OSU's players in a position to succeed, IMO. Which leads us to...

2. Substitutions/personnel decisions. Taking Miller out of the game and Fickell suggesting that the QB race is now completely open (I read this I believe on the ozone today) will do nothing to help Miller's development. He wasn't moving the offense yesterday, but, as I said above, I think that was more a product of the coaches not putting him in a position to succeed. Heck, Bauserman only played half a quarter, and he was sacked I think 5 times. The only time OSU moved the ball was when MSU went into total prevent at the end of the game and rushed 3 defensive linemen. Beyond disagreeing with the subsitution of Miller, I also disagree with the lack of substitution for players who were having a difficult time out there yesterday. Howard is a heck of a player, and he was good on several occasions in run support yesterday; however, he had a tough day. Why not give Clarke a few reps, especially since he played well at the beginning of the year? The LBs missed some tackles and were beaten to the corner on some plays, yet I am pretty sure that Shazier (who has shown great quickness and hitting ability) didn't play at all on defense (and if he did, it wasn't more than a few plays). I could go on, but the substitutions (or lack thereof) are puzzling.

3. Penalties/lack of discipline. 9 penalties, including two personal fouls and a few false starts. Analysts always point to number of penalties as a sign of focus and discipline of a team.

4. Captains and lack of leadership. I think failing to name permanent captains at the end of the season has helped to create a void of leadership. Naming permanent captains bestows leadership authority on certain players and gives them some cred when it comes to speaking out when things aren't going well. I wonder if OSU has that right now, given that the captains change every week. And the fact that reporters are saying that the team is coming apart at the seams doesn't speak well of the coaching staff's leadership, I don't think.

I honestly hope that the coaches can right the ship.

Go Bucks.

 

[buckeyesin07]

Just look at the Bama vs Gator game. Gator's QB goes down to injury and in comes highly touted Freshman QB Driskel.

Results - Bama is drubbing Florida. At least our D kept it close. This game is a total domination. Bama up 38-10

Driskel is making mistakes, throwing Pick Six, dropping the ball, forgetting who to hand it off too...the list goes on...Just to much to ask of a Freshman at this level.

I wonder if the Gator fans are calling for Muschamps head?

No offense, but your analogy is way off base, as it relies on the assumption that Bama and MSU are equally talented teams.

 

[Mac]

Luke is doing his best. To me it's simply a way to get the NCAA off our back and not drop the hammer. If we after Tressel resigned aka canned go after a big name coach then it wouldn't have sent the right message when trying to avoid the severity of the inevitable punishment that we will still receive from NCAA. Luke's hire is part of the save the whole program ploy. He will not be fired till the season is over along with all of Jim Tressl's former staff.

Fwiw.... Look at YSU's record the subsequent year after Jim Treasel departed with YSU basically employing all of Tressel's key assistant coaches to run the program. 2-9.

I hope Luke and the team play better and keep it classy but......"I got a bad feeling about this!"

John Gruden or Urban Meyer are the targets.

I want Chucky!

HB

Your first argument is one of the dumbest I've heard. If that's the thought process in the Athletic Department, they ALL need canned. This isn't a "woe-is-me" type deal.

I agree that Urban/Gruden are the targets and they won't make any changes until after the year is over.

 

[Gothmog8]

No, No, that's Siems. He sometimes puts up the wrong colored sign, but basically he is harmless.

 

[Holy Buckeye!]

Your first argument is one of the dumbest I've heard. If that's the thought process in the Athletic Department, they ALL need canned. This isn't a "woe-is-me" type deal.

I agree that Urban/Gruden are the targets and they won't make any changes until after the year is over.

It is not an argument it is what happened and is happening..... I don't disagree with the university making larger changes within the athletic department but I'll hold my judement till after the NCCA makes it announcement with our penalties. As far hiring Luke it was absolutely a "woe-is me" deal to avoid a huge hit from the NCAA. Do you believe they hired him because of his proven track record at 37 year old with running major college football programs successfully? He is a Patsy. This is a sacrificially year period sorry to say with a," hey if Luke pulls it off what a great story." Safe to say not happening.

Again I look forward to a overhaul and hope to see a new exciting regime after the year.

 

[Bucknut24]

it's just not worth it mac to argue with him

 

[Gothmog8]

Again, that the point? Shouldn't OSU ALWAYS have a seasoned coach who knows his shortcoming and makes adjustments? You don't come to OSU to get your seasoning.

In a perfect world, yes tOSU should have the best coach in existence. But Fickell didn't "come", he was already here and I am guessing that he was a quick, cheap alternative to fill a high-paying school position. If he fails, the school can say, "oh he is the interim coach and he will be gone soon". If he does well, he is still cheaper than Tressel or an Urban Meyer and people will still pay big money to come watch tOSU in the hope that the ship will be righted at some point. Either way, the school is saving/making money. Will it be used to get a "seasoned" coach, who knows?

I'm just saying that I'm cutting him some slack due to his lack of experience in dealing with the big picture. Simply being here as an assistant coach all those years does not mean you have a) the experience to captain the whole ship and b) the innate ability to be a captain in the first place. As far as I am concerned he is in Bauserman's shoes. Been around awhile, got little if any time to run the show, and is now expected to perform. Too bad we can pull him and put in Miller if the game goes south.

 

[Holy Buckeye!]

it's just not worth it mac to argue with him

Again not an argument with Mac or anyone.

 

[Mac]

It is not an argument it is what happened and is happening..... I don't disagree with the university making larger changes within the athletic department but I'll hold my judement till after the NCCA makes it announcement with our penalties. As far hiring Luke it was absolutely a "woe-is me" deal to avoid a huge hit from the NCAA. Do you believe they hired him because of his proven track record at 37 year old with running major college football programs successfully? He is a Patsy. This is a sacrificially year period sorry to say with a," hey if Luke pulls it off what a great story." Safe to say not happening.

Again I look forward to a overhaul and hope to see a new exciting regime after the year.

I really hope you don't own/run a business. OSU athletics is pretty much a business, and to say hey were goingto hire someone who we hope isn't going to do a good job so we don't look as bad when something is going wrong, is THE DUMBEST THING I'VE HEARD.

Do I agree Fickell was ready for this job no. He has coaching experience, but not to the degree of taking the regins at OSU. if he started at a smaller school, get some experience managing the game as a whole (instead of just defense) id be all for it. But who would want to come to a school with possible large sanctions coming? I don't blame OSU for giving him a shot, but to hire someone and hope they tank is ludacris. Maybe you should find something else to follow other than OSU football, because well, all of us true Ohio State fans like winning.

 

[sepia5]

I've seen the following issues with respect to the coaching this year and yesterday in particular:

1. Offensive playcalling. There is WAY too much talent on the OSU team for the offense to have 85 total yards halfway through the fourth quarter. At the beginning of the game, it was run up the middle for 1 yard, run up the middle for 1 yard, get sacked on third and long. Dantonio is way too smart of a defensive coach for this kind of playcalling to work against MSU--he stacked the box on 1st and 2nd down to shut down the run, and blitzed to give OSU's frosh QB no time to throw on 3rd and long. This was not putting OSU's players in a position to succeed, IMO. Which leads us to...

2. Substitutions/personnel decisions. Taking Miller out of the game and Fickell suggesting that the QB race is now completely open (I read this I believe on the ozone today) will do nothing to help Miller's development. He wasn't moving the offense yesterday, but, as I said above, I think that was more a product of the coaches not putting him in a position to succeed. Heck, Bauserman only played half a quarter, and he was sacked I think 5 times. The only time OSU moved the ball was when MSU went into total prevent at the end of the game and rushed 3 defensive linemen. Beyond disagreeing with the subsitution of Miller, I also disagree with the lack of substitution for players who were having a difficult time out there yesterday. Howard is a heck of a player, and he was good on several occasions in run support yesterday; however, he had a tough day. Why not give Clarke a few reps, especially since he played well at the beginning of the year? The LBs missed some tackles and were beaten to the corner on some plays, yet I am pretty sure that Shazier (who has shown great quickness and hitting ability) didn't play at all on defense (and if he did, it wasn't more than a few plays). I could go on, but the substitutions (or lack thereof) are puzzling.

3. Penalties/lack of discipline. 9 penalties, including two personal fouls and a few false starts. Analysts always point to number of penalties as a sign of focus and discipline of a team.

4. Captains and lack of leadership. I think failing to name permanent captains at the end of the season has helped to create a void of leadership. Naming permanent captains bestows leadership authority on certain players and gives them some cred when it comes to speaking out when things aren't going well. I wonder if OSU has that right now, given that the captains change every week. And the fact that reporters are saying that the team is coming apart at the seams doesn't speak well of the coaching staff's leadership, I don't think.

I honestly hope that the coaches can right the ship.

Go Bucks.

Yup. That's all true.

 

[Holy Buckeye!]

I really hope you don't own/run a business. OSU athletics is pretty much a business, and to say hey were goingto hire someone who we hope isn't going to do a good job so we don't look as bad when something is going wrong, is THE DUMBEST THING I'VE HEARD.

Do I agree Fickell was ready for this job no. He has coaching experience, but not to the degree of taking the regins at OSU. if he started at a smaller school, get some experience managing the game as a whole (instead of just defense) id be all for it. But who would want to come to a school with possible large sanctions coming? I don't blame OSU for giving him a shot, but to hire someone and hope they tank is ludacris. Maybe you should find something else to follow other than OSU football, because well, all of us true Ohio State fans like winning.

Short sided thinking maybe dumb too. Just saying.

 

[sflbuck]

4. Captains and lack of leadership. I think failing to name permanent captains at the end of the season has helped to create a void of leadership. Naming permanent captains bestows leadership authority on certain players and gives them some cred when it comes to speaking out when things aren't going well. I wonder if OSU has that right now, given that the captains change every week. And the fact that reporters are saying that the team is coming apart at the seams doesn't speak well of the coaching staff's leadership, I don't think.

I wanted Luke to succeed and be hired full time. But this decision more then time management or maintaining a hands off attitude in regards to the offense has me questioning if he has the experience to be coach at OSU. This was going to be a young team without the suspensions. On top of that they had a rookie head coach. He needed a core group of seniors or juniors that the team could turn to aid in bringing these younger players along.

Instead he sent a message to those upperclassmen that did the right thing that their leadership was not needed.

 

[Buckeye86]

I wanted Luke to succeed and be hired full time. But this decision more then time management or maintaining a hands off attitude in regards to the offense has me questioning if he has the experience to be coach at OSU. This was going to be a young team without the suspensions. On top of that they had a rookie head coach. He needed a core group of seniors or juniors that the team could turn to aid in bringing these younger players along.

Instead he sent a message to those upperclassmen that did the right thing that their leadership was not needed.

Remember how hilariously stupid we all thought it was when Dick Rod named captains game by game up north? Yeah.

 

[DaveyBoy]

I wouldn't go that far. Any player that considers transferring from OSU in-season is not worth retaining anyway. Period.

OSU will get through this somehow. But I agree that Gene Smith had better be preparing for a fast track hiring process once the season is over. The goal should be to announce a hiring to make a huge splash around CFB and to use that as a springboard to bring a stud recruiting class in. I would say that the way Notre Dame did it in December 2004/January 2005. Charlie Weis' hiring was used as breaking news to cut in on bowl games while they were playing.

I don't trust that Gene Smith could find a diamond in the rough like Geiger did with Tressel. But I do know that Gene Smith couldn't whiff on a guy like Urban Meyer.

Yeah this isn't good. If it continues Smith needs to start interviewing candidates and let it be known LF won't be retained. We don't need a mass transfer fest because players have lost faith.