So I’ll leave my thoughts in the Ryan Day thread, as he’s the top guy in charge who calls the shots. I needed a few days to calm down and walk away from the ledge. First off, Day ain’t going anywhere, so I won’t even engage in the nonsense calling for his job. As that’s the default fan reaction. Day has shown that he can compete against any coach/team. But I echo the sentiments from Zach Boren on THE Podcast with Austin Ward and Birm, there are some assistants that need to be shown the door. The top ones, IMO are LJsr, Dennis, Fleming and Frye’s seat is getting hot.
LJsr is a legend, but there comes a time when legends are no longer getting the results they once did. I did my best to defend the DL’s lack of sacks, as it seemed like they were focusing more on stopping the run and setting the edge than getting to the QB. Gone are the dominant days of the Bosa’s and Young, LJsr has turned former 5star DEs Harrison, Sawyer and JTT into above average DEs. Sawyer was supposed to be another in the line of future 1st round DEs, and the guy hasn’t had more than 1 move in 3 yrs in S&G(that damn bull rush). JT is living off of one phenomenal game against Ped St, and being pedestrian pretty much the rest of his career. OSU had their coaches in leis and Hawaiian shirts at the Columbus airport to get this kid, who has a career who most of us will forget in a year. OSU needs a younger, hungrier coach to replace him. I don’t want to hear about him being an analyst or consultant, he needs to go into full retirement. The next DL coach needs to be comfortable running a DL with the Jack as Knowles wants. A slimmer DE who has ability to get to the QB, no more of the big plodding DEs who are 1 dimensional.
Dennis needs to go, as McCord didn’t improve, Brown doesn’t even look ready. I don’t care about the Urban Meyer connections, because Urban isn’t the coach anymore. And whom ever replaces him should have another open competition. And honestly, I’d be happy with Kienholz winning and Brown moving into the Portal if need be. McCord is what he is, a young version of Todd Boeckman. He’ll win games he’s supposed to, but can be a liability to win the game himself. And the comments about The Game being just another game are beyond infuriating to any Buckeye fan. And I shouldn’t have to explain why, it’s the GAME!
Fleming has been talked about ad nauseum and I agree with all. And his replacement of JL as a full time assistant.
Frye was left with not much, I get it. We all do. But he’s still paid millions to get the best out of what he has. Sherrone Moore, tears and all has turned half the OSU talent into road graders who aren’t afraid to pummel DL. The last play on the season is watch Jackson and Hinzman on their stomachs, and Simmons hugging air as the 3 scUM DL get free and cause McCord into the game sealing INT. The OL inconsistency was frustrating all year long. Even if 4 of them return, the OC should be an open competition, I can see Fryar competing inside against Tshabola and Montgomery moving to RT. But honestly Day should hit the portal for another OT, and have him compete against Simmons if they don’t think Fitzpatrick is ready. The OL absolutely HAS to get fixed if this team can move forward.
Day needs to go into CEO mode like has been said all off season. Find an OC to work with Hartline to call plays, or just let Hartline call the plays. It can’t be any worse than the inconsistency that Day showed all season. Waiting to kick an f’in FG to close out the half is one of the most gut less calls I’ve ever seen. 4th and 1 in The Game, you ram it down their throats! And we all can attest that Hartline knows all about the Game and wouldn’t be afraid to call an aggressive game against our arch nemesis.
I don’t think that OSU is far off from winning an NC and beating scUM, but it seems like a sense of entitlement has creeped into the team. And coaches are needed to kick the complacency out of them.
1 more guy that needs to be shown the door at this time as well is Coach Mick. Gone are the days talking about his famous workouts, and being Meyer’s right hand man. His tactics are no longer working, and the players don’t seem to be buying in. The S&C coach is a guy who sets the tone of the team as well as the HC. And he’s now falling on deaf ears, regardless of all the IG posts and tweets or guys screaming and sweating.