Former DC Kerry Coombs (Cincy Bearcats Interim Head Coach)

[RugbyBuck]

He should be able to handle both position coach and coordinator responsibilities, I agree. I'm not sure that he's able, though. Is there a reason that Meyer had him as special teams coordinator? There's no questioning his loyalty, passion, recruiting ability, motivational coaching... I do question his technique and schematic coaching. His secondary is not as soft as Withers' was (and what is?) nor is it as effective as Hafley's. We had problems under Schiano when Coombs was on staff. That doesn't all sit with Coombs, of course, but does some of it?

 

[pnuts34]

I get that Hafley did a great job last year. But would he have had the same success with 2 first year starters at CB, a returning starter at CB playing out of position, first year starters at S, and not having the nations best DE? Hafley may be getting too much praise for a defense that was one of OSU’s best in years. And on top of all of that, add to it the B1G season starting later due to an inept commissioner and a weekly worry of losing players due to COVID-19 (and games).
For all of the praise towards Hafley and knocks against Coombs, for any 1st year coordinator/coach, 2020 had to be the worst year to judge them. And on top of that, fans are getting mad at a coach who had his team in the NC. I can see being mad if we only got 3wins, but come on now. I’m sure the further away we get from Bama game our fan base will get more sensible. But the hate towards Coombs is getting to be crazy.

 

[Systems_id]

I get that Hafley did a great job last year. But would he have had the same success with 2 first year starters at CB, a returning starter at CB playing out of position, first year starters at S, and not having the nations best DE? Hafley may be getting too much praise for a defense that was one of OSU’s best in years. And on top of all of that, add to it the B1G season starting later due to an inept commissioner and a weekly worry of losing players due to COVID-19 (and games).
For all of the praise towards Hafley and knocks against Coombs, for any 1st year coordinator/coach, 2020 had to be the worst year to judge them. And on top of that, fans are getting mad at a coach who had his team in the NC. I can see being mad if we only got 3wins, but come on now. I’m sure the further away we get from Bama game our fan base will get more sensible. But the hate towards Coombs is getting to be crazy.

I’m really shocked at how much heat Combs is getting considering the circumstances. This isn’t like giving up 50 to Iowa, Purdue or a Maryland team with an offense ranked in the 90s. Maybe film studies will reveal more troubling issues but considering the personnel losses, COVID issues, and injuries, I just don’t know what people were expecting.

 

[RugbyBuck]

All valid points. I'm withholding judgment and (of course) it goes without saying that whatever I think has no bearing on the program. I think the questions are equally valid, though, and I hope they're being asked or at least considered inside the program.

 

[exhawg]

I get that Hafley did a great job last year. But would he have had the same success with 2 first year starters at CB, a returning starter at CB playing out of position, first year starters at S, and not having the nations best DE? Hafley may be getting too much praise for a defense that was one of OSU’s best in years. And on top of all of that, add to it the B1G season starting later due to an inept commissioner and a weekly worry of losing players due to COVID-19 (and games).
For all of the praise towards Hafley and knocks against Coombs, for any 1st year coordinator/coach, 2020 had to be the worst year to judge them. And on top of that, fans are getting mad at a coach who had his team in the NC. I can see being mad if we only got 3wins, but come on now. I’m sure the further away we get from Bama game our fan base will get more sensible. But the hate towards Coombs is getting to be crazy.

I would argue that last year was the best top 4 DB's in tOSU history. When Wade went out of the Clemson game production went down. That along with Chase Young makes any DC look good. This was a down year at DB and DE, which got exposed against teams like Indy and Bama.

 

[pnuts34]

I would argue that last year was the best top 4 DB's in tOSU history. When Wade went out of the Clemson game production went down. That along with Chase Young makes any DC look good. This was a down year at DB and DE, which got exposed against teams like Indy and Bama.

Fully agreed(though I disagree with them being the top 4 DBs in history, guys like Winfield,Doss, Hooker, Gamble and Lattimore would like a word). And also throw in Ped St(Dotson put on a clinic).

 

[Hstead]

The 2018 defense, which was putrid for OSU standards, had the same players for the most part that the 2019 defense had. Hafley took those players that looked like clowns in 2018 and made them exceptional. Yes they were talented, but look at how badly they were mismanaged in 2018. Coaching matters, a lot.

This year we may not have had a lot of talent, but the Covid excuse to me is an excuse. Every other team had to deal with the same stuff, especially in the B1G. Indiana didn't get way more practices than OSU did. Some teams in the south played more games, but we also got in a lot more practices while we were waiting to play than most programs, and most coaches will tell you they would rather have those practices than a prep week for a game.

None of these "issues", whether it be talent, covid, lack of reps, etc excuse having Tuf trying to cover Smith on a seam route. NONE! There were terrible schematic issues against Bama. Combs was out coached badly in that game. The D played better vs Clemson for certain. But there is no denying that the scheme against Bama was worse than terrible.

 

[Systems_id]

The 2018 defense, which was putrid for OSU standards, had the same players for the most part that the 2019 defense had. Hafley took those players that looked like clowns in 2018 and made them exceptional. Yes they were talented, but look at how badly they were mismanaged in 2018. Coaching matters, a lot.

This year we may not have had a lot of talent, but the Covid excuse to me is an excuse. Every other team had to deal with the same stuff, especially in the B1G. Indiana didn't get way more practices than OSU did. Some teams in the south played more games, but we also got in a lot more practices while we were waiting to play than most programs, and most coaches will tell you they would rather have those practices than a prep week for a game.

None of these "issues", whether it be talent, covid, lack of reps, etc excuse having Tuf trying to cover Smith on a seam route. NONE! There were terrible schematic issues against Bama. Combs was out coached badly in that game. The D played better vs Clemson for certain. But there is no denying that the scheme against Bama was worse than terrible.

Again I ask, who lost the amount of talent and experience we did, replaced coaches, had no spring practice, and looked good?

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

The 2018 defense, which was putrid for OSU standards, had the same players for the most part that the 2019 defense had. Hafley took those players that looked like clowns in 2018 and made them exceptional. Yes they were talented, but look at how badly they were mismanaged in 2018. Coaching matters, a lot.

A bit unfair. Coombs has already proven his worth. Bill Davis he is not.

 

[Hstead]

Again I ask, who lost the amount of talent and experience we did, replaced coaches, had no spring practice, and looked good?

I am just saying that I think there are ZERO excuses to have Tuf covering Smith on a seam route. End of story. That was embarrassing, among other obvious fails vs Bama. That was all schematics and Sark took advantage of it. Sark obviously was prepared to exploit certain match ups that should never have been available to him, I do not care if we have a 100 year pandemic or if it was our first game.

 

[exhawg]

Fully agreed(though I disagree with them being the top 4 DBs in history, guys like Winfield,Doss, Hooker, Gamble and Lattimore would like a word). And also throw in Ped St(Dotson put on a clinic).

Maybe I didn't word it correctly. IMO those 4 DB's together are the best defensive backfield in tOSU history not individually the best DB's to every play at tOSU. Individually I don't think any of them make it in the top 10, but as a unit they were steller.


Also not taking anything away from Hafley as a DC. He did great. I just think Coombs gets another season before he can be judged on DC ability. If they underwhelm again next year I think he'll be sharing the job or "deciding" to jump back to the NFL. 2018 was similar to 2020 where Ward had a great year and went pro before they were probably ready to replace him and Bosa got hurt early leaving Chase Young on the DL. He played great, but he was so much more dominate in 2019.

 

[mendensa]

I get that Hafley did a great job last year. But would he have had the same success with 2 first year starters at CB, a returning starter at CB playing out of position, first year starters at S, and not having the nations best DE? Hafley may be getting too much praise for a defense that was one of OSU’s best in years. And on top of all of that, add to it the B1G season starting later due to an inept commissioner and a weekly worry of losing players due to COVID-19 (and games).
For all of the praise towards Hafley and knocks against Coombs, for any 1st year coordinator/coach, 2020 had to be the worst year to judge them. And on top of that, fans are getting mad at a coach who had his team in the NC. I can see being mad if we only got 3wins, but come on now. I’m sure the further away we get from Bama game our fan base will get more sensible. But the hate towards Coombs is getting to be crazy.

It isn't so much getting to the NCG and losing for me, but it's what we saw schematically, game planning, lack of in-game adjustments, and what he is teaching throughout the entire year, which translated to a suspect pass defense on Saturday's. Sure, you can say this group of DB's isn't as talented as the group that just left, but they are doing things technique-wise with their head and hands that we saw from past bad pass defenses that worry me going forward. The technique, false steps, where their eyes are, tackling, ball separation skills, high pointing the ball, forcing TO's, support angles, ect.... were all over the place this year leading to big plays. That's a direct result of coaching. I think you are under-selling Hafley despite having more talent to work with.

 

[bukIpower]

I think also something to consider is this was year 2 of our defense. At the end of 2019 teams started to have more success and then this year teams really had success.

I think some was talent, some was coaching and a lot was scheme.

Teams know how to beat our defense and unless there's multiple first rounders starting it's hard to make up for that.

So we need to become more diverse in what we do. That said it's certainly coaching having our slowest back 7 player lined up on one of the fastest in college football.

 

[Herb Kirkstreit]

Don't worry Coach Coombs. They turn on you quick around here.

 

[brodybuck21]

I am just saying that I think there are ZERO excuses to have Tuf covering Smith on a seam route. End of story. That was embarrassing, among other obvious fails vs Bama. That was all schematics and Sark took advantage of it. Sark obviously was prepared to exploit certain match ups that should never have been available to him, I do not care if we have a 100 year pandemic or if it was our first game.

Please watch the replay again. Tuf was the underneath guy in a zone and Williamson was over the top. Williamson INEXPLICABLY went the opposite direction. Now that doesn't mean the call still sucked but it wasn't tuf in man to man press coverage with Smith