Next Year

[cdiddy70]

X was fantastic.
Hope he returns.
Just question the wisdom of asking him to be Deebo Samuel and cover kicks.

 

[inliner311]

It’s inarguable.

I mentioned Day in a different thread, but there absolutely needs to be a mentality of letting the starters dominate while they can, and let the depth get game reps. If it looks like running up the score, so be it. I’m tired of watching other teams put their backups in and continue to play competitive football while tOSU tends to go into a turtle shell and get out as quickly as possible. Literally, multiple times this year alone, I watched Kirby Smart and Nick Saban lose their fucking minds over special teams plays with backups in, while their teams were up 40+ points.

It’s how you get the depth behind starters game ready.

Whether we work them onto the field as subs or get them legit reps in blowouts, something needs to adapt.

Xavier Johnson legit went from our lead RB at time of Marvin’s concussion, to then taking his position at WR. I mean….I appreciate Xavier and his flexibility….but where is Ballard, Graves, etc.? It’s kind of strange…..

I also think it could help to rotate players or expand beyond 3 WR sets to allow other players to contribute. Even just as blockers you can get players rep then it could give different looks and we might not be so locked into 3 WR sets to produce offense.

If the backup WRs aren't able to contribute look at the RBs and TEs. Xavier Johnson should have gotten more reps all season as a WR and RB. Getting more 2 RB sets or 2 TE sets could also provide the necessary reps to get guys ready to step up when someone is injured.

Also getting more players involve can keep our main playmakers more fresh and have the energy to make plays when it counts. I think it's alot to put on our WRs to play basically the whole game without a bigger rotation and expect them to bet guys come the 4th quarter. Other teams use lesser players to run decoy routes and block to save their main playmakers to make plays.

 

[jwinslow]

One thing that needs addressed because Hartline is viewed as unassailable.

He needs to do a better job of getting more receivers in the game/prepared.

As I mentioned many times we basically had 3 wrs this year who merited snaps. Inexcusable given how that position has been recruited.

When Marv went out our rotations were fubar.
Some combination of X, Rossi, Royer to go with EE & Fleming.
Contrast to Georgia who had 10 different players with receptions.
We desperately needed another WR to step up when Marv went out.
Instead we are asking X a former walk-on and Jack of all trades to win v Ringo a projected top 10 pick in the critical moments of the game.
I cannot believe Ballard or none of the freshmen wr’s were not able to give us anything.

The depth is an issue but bringing up Georgia as a contrast is pretty absurd. Georgia did not have a Victor or Mack for most of the year, and still doesn't have a JSN, Marv, Emeka.

frankly their star wr in 2021 wasn't close to jsn, Marv, olave or Wilson.

 

[inliner311]

X was fantastic.
Hope he returns.
Just question the wisdom of asking him to be Deebo Samuel and cover kicks.

I hope he is back too. I hope they really define his role. Really he should be used in the hybrid role that Curtis Samuel, Jalin Marshall, Braxton, etc were used.

I think he can bring bigger elements to the offense if he is consistently used as a WR/RB instead of a 3rd WR. If they consistently use him as WR/RB throughout the season they should be able to build up a good amount of plays they can turn to if they need someone to step up to a bigger role.

 

[Buckeye doc]

One thing that needs addressed because Hartline is viewed as unassailable.

He needs to do a better job of getting more receivers in the game/prepared.

As I mentioned many times we basically had 3 wrs this year who merited snaps. Inexcusable given how that position has been recruited.

When Marv went out our rotations were fubar.
Some combination of X, Rossi, Royer to go with EE & Fleming.
Contrast to Georgia who had 10 different players with receptions.
We desperately needed another WR to step up when Marv went out.
Instead we are asking X a former walk-on and Jack of all trades to win v Ringo a projected top 10 pick in the critical moments of the game.
I cannot believe Ballard or none of the freshmen wr’s were not able to give us anything.
For a pass first team without healthy TB’s and an elite thrower that is borderline malfeasance.
It needs to change next year even with our top 3 wrs back.
We can’t have 10 4&5 star wrs who never play.

THIS

 

[billmac91]

I hope he is back too. I hope they really define his role. Really he should be used in the hybrid role that Curtis Samuel, Jalin Marshall, Braxton, etc were used.

I think he can bring bigger elements to the offense if he is consistently used as a WR/RB instead of a 3rd WR. If they consistently use him as WR/RB throughout the season they should be able to build up a good amount of plays they can turn to if they need someone to step up to a bigger role.

Xavier was really solid but I’d temper expectations on what he can be….dude is a Swiss Army knife but certainly doesn’t have the explosion of some of the guys being thrown in comparison to him.

Also keep in mind, in the Spring Game, we actually saw Evan Pryor take some handoffs coming in motion and kind of replicating that Curtis Samuel role. I don’t think Evan was ever going to factor into a WR-esque player like Samuel, but I think OSU had a very defined role for him using his skill set, and they abandoned it upon his injury….which sucks. I think we missed out on some really cool shit this year between Pryor’s torn knee and JSN hamstring….just snakebit it feels.

 

[cdiddy70]

Prediction based on no inside sources.

Lorenzo Styles Jr will transfer here as a DB.
I would certainly welcome it.
He disappeared this year as a WR (though part of it maybe sub-par QB play).
Doesn’t seem like he is a natural at the position.
I posit he will realize his future is on defense and we have an opportunity/home town/brother/legacy in our corner.

 

[inliner311]

Xavier was really solid but I’d temper expectations on what he can be….dude is a Swiss Army knife but certainly doesn’t have the explosion of some of the guys being thrown in comparison to him.

Also keep in mind, in the Spring Game, we actually saw Evan Pryor take some handoffs coming in motion and kind of replicating that Curtis Samuel role. I don’t think Evan was ever going to factor into a WR-esque player like Samuel, but I think OSU had a very defined role for him using his skill set, and they abandoned it upon his injury….which sucks. I think we missed out on some really cool shit this year between Pryor’s torn knee and JSN hamstring….just snakebit it feels.

Samuel was the peak of that role and went on to being one of the focal points of the offense. I don't think Xavier has that kind of ceiling but I do think he has the big play ability to take on the lesser role we saw from the hybrid during the Urban years. I think his role should be expanded and I suspect he wants Day to commit to that before he commits to coming back. My guess if he goes into the portal, other coaches will pitch him on a bigger role than he had this season.

Again I don't think he can be a focal point of the offense like Samuel but somewhere along the lines of Marshall or Dontre Wilson. 400-500 scrimmage yards in the season.

 

[pnuts34]

I agree to a degree…

My only concern with that, is even in Spring games or limited reps, you could see the elite level that CJ could spin the ball. You could just tell his arm talent was elite.

In McCord’s limited reps we just haven’t seen that. He looked OK in the start against Akron last year but didn’t show anything resembling the arm talent of Stroud.

We’ll see…..this is the biggest question at QB we’ve had in a pretty long time IMO….Not necessarily in terms of who will start, but what that talent level looks like.

Your memory is awfully hazy. After the Oregon game, the pitchforks were out in full by OSU fans. And many were clamoring for McCord to start. Matter of fact, until the Maryland game, many OSU fans didn’t think Stroud should be starting. But McCord didn’t set the world on fire as a true frosh(shocking), but fans wanted him in there over Stroud, and now he’s being questioned because of the shiney new toy in Brown.

Imo every new QB is the biggest question. And it’s funny how every new unknown QB was an up and coming former 4 or 5star who every fan thought would be next great OSU QB. They are being shouted to be put in when the starter has an incomplete pass, yet when it’s their turn to start, everyone has questions all of the sudden. For example: JT Barrett was complained incessantly by the fan base, and most wanted him benched for Haskins. When Haskins because the starter, many questioned him being chosen over Burrow, and some even wanted Martell over Haskins. Haskins leaves, Fields comes in, and he has a back up worry free 1st year, but many couldn’t wait for Stroud to take over fresh off his Elite 11 MVP. Stroud takes over after sitting behind Fields for year, and many even said that Stroud had the better arm and was a better overall QB. When he gets his chance, fans want him benched by game 2 for the true frosh, Kyle McCord. I think Day will make the right choice, like usual, and he can’t go wrong with either choice. Both are very talented and can take OSU all the way

 

[pnuts34]

Prediction based on no inside sources.

Lorenzo Styles Jr will transfer here as a DB.
I would certainly welcome it.
He disappeared this year as a WR (though part of it maybe sub-par QB play).
Doesn’t seem like he is a natural at the position.
I posit he will realize his future is on defense and we have an opportunity/home town/brother/legacy in our corner.

Styles would be no improvement in this DB room. He’s been a WR for the 2(?)yrs that he’s been in college. DB in this defense isn’t easy to just pickup, not like Chip Trayanum going from LB to RB. Styles is on the bench in this defense, and wouldn’t even be considered on offense.

 

[cdiddy70]

I dissent.
At worst he would be a body in a room that needs depth.
At best he would develop into a major contributor.
I believe we offered him out of Picktown as a DB.
He was considered a top 100 recruit.
I would agree with concern that we haven’t exactly been a db development factory the last few years.

 

[billmac91]

Samuel was the peak of that role and went on to being one of the focal points of the offense. I don't think Xavier has that kind of ceiling but I do think he has the big play ability to take on the lesser role we saw from the hybrid during the Urban years. I think his role should be expanded and I suspect he wants Day to commit to that before he commits to coming back. My guess if he goes into the portal, other coaches will pitch him on a bigger role than he had this season.

Again I don't think he can be a focal point of the offense like Samuel but somewhere along the lines of Marshall or Dontre Wilson. 400-500 scrimmage yards in the season.

I don’t see Xavier in the portal at all….it’s whether he wants to take his amazing “can do” attitude to the NFL as a special teams ace and emergency depth player or stick at tOSU for another year.

I feel like Xavier is the kinda guy who will be on a Bill Belichek team for 12 years.

 

[billmac91]

Your memory is awfully hazy. After the Oregon game, the pitchforks were out in full by OSU fans. And many were clamoring for McCord to start. Matter of fact, until the Maryland game, many OSU fans didn’t think Stroud should be starting. But McCord didn’t set the world on fire as a true frosh(shocking), but fans wanted him in there over Stroud, and now he’s being questioned because of the shiney new toy in Brown.

Imo every new QB is the biggest question. And it’s funny how every new unknown QB was an up and coming former 4 or 5star who every fan thought would be next great OSU QB. They are being shouted to be put in when the starter has an incomplete pass, yet when it’s their turn to start, everyone has questions all of the sudden. For example: JT Barrett was complained incessantly by the fan base, and most wanted him benched for Haskins. When Haskins because the starter, many questioned him being chosen over Burrow, and some even wanted Martell over Haskins. Haskins leaves, Fields comes in, and he has a back up worry free 1st year, but many couldn’t wait for Stroud to take over fresh off his Elite 11 MVP. Stroud takes over after sitting behind Fields for year, and many even said that Stroud had the better arm and was a better overall QB. When he gets his chance, fans want him benched by game 2 for the true frosh, Kyle McCord. I think Day will make the right choice, like usual, and he can’t go wrong with either choice. Both are very talented and can take OSU all the way

Im not really talking about fans specifically…..Stroud had the reputation as a kid with elite QB talent from the Elite 11 camp on top of the verbal praise from the usual QB camp coaches talking about his ability.

I think it’s why Day never flinched when it came to CJ not performing great initially (he had seen it in practice) and why most “in the know” knew CJ would be a stud. I guess I recall players continuously raving about CJ in practice during Justin Fields junior year as well. Fields was tearing it up but I feel like there were constantly reports out of practice about CJ looking really sharp.

I really haven’t gotten that vibe throughout this year….maybe it just hasn’t been focused on as much or McCord and Devin Brown are just more under radar than CJ was as prospects. I’m really interested to see how the Devin Brown and McCord QB race takes shape….

 

[pnuts34]

I dissent.
At worst he would be a body in a room that needs depth.
At best he would develop into a major contributor.
I believe we offered him out of Picktown as a DB.
He was considered a top 100 recruit.
I would agree with concern that we haven’t exactly been a db development factory the last few years.

That HS ranking no longer matters with 2 years in college. Cam Martinez was rated higher than him in HS and has looked below average in college so far. Idk, maybe they pursue him, but I don’t see him being of much value. We need guys that can produce, not projects at DB.

 

[pnuts34]

Im not really talking about fans specifically…..Stroud had the reputation as a kid with elite QB talent from the Elite 11 camp on top of the verbal praise from the usual QB camp coaches talking about his ability.

I think it’s why Day never flinched when it came to CJ not performing great initially (he had seen it in practice) and why most “in the know” knew CJ would be a stud. I guess I recall players continuously raving about CJ in practice during Justin Fields junior year as well. Fields was tearing it up but I feel like there were constantly reports out of practice about CJ looking really sharp.

I really haven’t gotten that vibe throughout this year….maybe it just hasn’t been focused on as much or McCord and Devin Brown are just more under radar than CJ was as prospects. I’m really interested to see how the Devin Brown and McCord QB race takes shape….

Recruiting cycles move so fast, that we tend to forget how good some of these guys were in HS. These are from McCord at his Elite 11(which also had Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and JJ McCarthy):
https://www.landgrantholyland.com/2...d-won-misses-out-mvp-jack-nickel-emeka-egbuka

Kyle McCord scored a 45 during his pro day. That was the highest mark out of the 20 attendees. The Philadelphia (Pa.) St. Joseph’s product also held his own during the accuracy gauntlet as he was precise and confident with his decisions. The ball in a way just seems to jump out of McCord’s hands which is a trait that we like, a lot. We also how it never feels like he’s forcing anything. The No. 3 ranked pro-style passer is set to spend the next couple years in Columbus with Ryan Day.”

McCord went into the competition ranked No. 8 by the Elite 11 coaching staff, and No. 3 pro-style QBby 247Sports’ Composite rankings. After a rocky start on the first day (Monday), he bounced back and earned himself a score of 45 on Tuesday— just five points short of the all-time Elite 11 Pro Day record holder, Ohio State freshman quarterback CJ Stroud.

After his performance on Day 2, another observer told 247Sports that “his deep balls...were over his receiver’s shoulder and hit them in stride. There is very little chance the defender can make a play on those passes. In general, after the first three or four throws, he was as sharp as just about anybody who went through the drill.”

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...kyle-mccord-wins-elite-11-pro-day-competition



Those are some elite throws he made. The ball shoots out of his arm. I’m not saying I think he wins the job, just that the competition between he and Brown will be great and the winner will have a ton of weapons to work with. And both are more than capable to find as much success if not more than Stroud