QB Kyle McCord (transfer to Syracuse)

[Zurp]

CJ was awful to start (witnessed it live in Minneapolis)

I disagree. 100% disagree. And maybe it's a matter of disagreement over what "awful" means, but I remember Joe Bauserman. And Steve Bellisari. Bellisari, by the way, had the Buckeyes within reach of a Big Ten championship when he got benched in 2001. I wouldn't consider the end of his career "awful".

But back to Stroud, he was 13-22 for 294 yards, 4 TD and 1 int. And I get it - it's more than just stats. Stats can be skewed very easily. A long pass and run to Treveyon Henderson, for example. But let's compare that game to Troy Smith's starts (https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/troy-smith-1/gamelog/). 59% completion rating for Stroud. Troy Smith started 28 games for Ohio State (Games 10-14 and 16-38 in the link). In 20 of 28 games, his completion percentage exceeded 59%, with more coming later in his career. (His sophomore year only 2 of 5 games exceeded 59%.) 4 touchdowns for Stroud. Smith got 4 passing touchdowns 4 times - all his senior year. And yards - 294 for Stroud. Smith hit 294 or more only 5 times in 28 starts.

Again, stats don't tell the whole story and they are usually skewed. But I think that based on the stats, and my on opinion of what "awful" is, Stroud was a long, long ways from "awful". I would say that Stroud was closer to Troy Smith in quality than he was to Joe Bauserman.

 

[Captain Buckeye]

He's also the guy who's going to pay the price for Studwara's inconsistent recruiting and be starting out behind a line a far step below what Stroud had in front of him.

A mediocre OL and a new QB is just lethal. I don't care how good the skill players are.

We can roll the helmets out and win 8 games. So we are really talking about the big games that we need to see.

I share your concerns with the OL if I'm being honest. I haven't been this concerned for a position group at OSU since probably the 2018 secondary?

I will say this as a knock on Kyle McCord. He's a year older than Devin, has a Start under his belt, has a year as a back up, has countless more reps than Devin and it's legit too close to call. CJ clearly took command 2 springs ago and Kyle failed to do so when really he should've.

That's why if Devin is the guy then so be it and there's probably more upside there. Kyle should've pulled away by now but hasn't which is no doubt a concern of mine too.

 

[Jaxbuck]

We can roll the helmets out and win 8 games. So we are really talking about the big games that we need to see.

I share your concerns with the OL if I'm being honest. I haven't been this concerned for a position group at OSU since probably the 2018 secondary?

I will say this as a knock on Kyle McCord. He's a year older than Devin, has a Start under his belt, has a year as a back up, has countless more reps than Devin and it's legit too close to call. CJ clearly took command 2 springs ago and Kyle failed to do so when really he should've.

That's why if Devin is the guy then so be it and there's probably more upside there. Kyle should've pulled away by now but hasn't which is no doubt a concern of mine too.

I agree on the separation with Brown.

I’d be careful with this schedule. It’s the sneakiest tough schedule we’ve had in years and it just so happens to coincide with the aforementioned questions at OL and QB.

Could be a lot like 2004

 

[Captain Buckeye]

I agree on the separation with Brown.

I’d be careful with this schedule. It’s the sneakiest tough schedule we’ve had in years and it just so happens to coincide with the aforementioned questions at OL and QB.

Could be a lot like 2004

ND loses too much from their defense, Wisconsin is not what it was, and Penn State is at home with a new QB. Really boils down to ttun game.

Personally I don't like our odds in that game but we should be underdogs for once and ttun is without a doubt going to be undefeated.

 

[Jaxbuck]

ND loses too much from their defense, Wisconsin is not what it was, and Penn State is at home with a new QB. Really boils down to ttun game.

Personally I don't like our odds in that game but we should be underdogs for once and ttun is without a doubt going to be undefeated.

We shall see. I think you are being way too dismissive of the first 11 games.

 

[Captain Buckeye]

We shall see. I think you are being way too dismissive of the first 11 games.

I mean who is a threat other than ND, Wisconsin, Penn State and ttun?

Indiana, Maryland, YSU, Sparty, Rutgers, Minnesota, Purdue, and WKU aren't threats.

It's a 4 game season. Wisconsin isnt what they were, Penn State is at home, and Notre Dame lost a lot. Ttun is the only scary team I see.

Can we lose a game before ttun? For sure.

I just don't think it's likely

 

[Jaxbuck]

I mean who is a threat other than ND, Wisconsin, Penn State and ttun?

Indiana, Maryland, YSU, Sparty, Rutgers, Minnesota, Purdue, and WKU aren't threats.

It's a 4 game season. Wisconsin isnt what they were, Penn State is at home, and Notre Dame lost a lot. Ttun is the only scary team I see.

Can we lose a game before ttun? For sure.

I just don't think it's likely

Set the over/under on season wins at 10.5 and let’s bet some real money. I’ll take the under for any amount you are comfortable risking.

 

[GovTressel]

ND loses too much from their defense, Wisconsin is not what it was, and Penn State is at home with a new QB. Really boils down to ttun game.

Personally I don't like our odds in that game but we should be underdogs for once and ttun is without a doubt going to be undefeated.

Without a doubt undefeated? I guess we never lost to a 6-7 Purdue team or a 6-6 MSU team. It's just like every year when the pundits are talking about having 6 undefeated teams come playoff time 7 weeks in.

 

[Abenaki]

Set the over/under on season wins at 10.5 and let’s bet some real money. I’ll take the under for any amount you are comfortable risking.

I have 3 kids and no money instead of no kids and 3 money, but I'll take the over. I'm also banking on the defense taking a leap and the running game carrying the offense. At least to begin the year. I just don't see Wisconsin or Notre Dame having the offense to put up enough points. Split the PSU and TTUN games and 11 wins seems right.

 

[GovTressel]

Set the over/under on season wins at 10.5 and let’s bet some real money. I’ll take the under for any amount you are comfortable risking.

My ND buddy and I went to the opener last year together...his first time in the shoe. Halfway through the first quarter he asked "is this what your fans are like?" I said "this is exactly what they are like." Doom and gloom, pouting, unable to accept anything but perfect. Cooper was over 20 years ago guys. It's ok now. Everything will be OK.

 

[Jaxbuck]

I have 3 kids and no money instead of no kids and 3 money, but I'll take the over. I'm also banking on the defense taking a leap and the running game carrying the offense. At least to begin the year. I just don't see Wisconsin or Notre Dame having the offense to put up enough points. Split the PSU and TTUN games and 11 wins seems right.

Maybe we could get the elitist pricks to set up a vbet so no one is out any real money.

-I see 2 of the 50/50 games (ND, Wisky) on the road and don't think we are taking both of them.
-I definitely have no faith in Day against tsun at this point
-Penn State is always a war no matter where it's played
-I also see the "@" symbol in front of Purdue so I don't see how anyone just chalks that up as a W no matter how bad Purdue is.
-Wisconsin may not be what they used to be or whatever that means (neither will OSU be) but they are also in the annual post PSU let down spot
-IU is awful but they are also a B1G opponent on the road for a season opener when we are breaking in the new OL and QB. It will be harder than we want it to be for longer than is comfortable.
-I'll believe Knowles and the defense carry us to anything against an average to good offense when I see it.


Everyone will have their own opinions. These are the reasons for mine. That's why I suggest a bet to head off the endless debate. Put money (or something you don't want to lose) up if people believe in what they are saying. If this was a sports book and I could get the under (a 2 loss season or worse) at even money or better I'd take it in a heartbeat if I'm just playing to win.

All of this relates back to McCord in that I see a big step back at QB and OL at this point and that( if true) is going to put an OSU team on the field that really isn't like what people are used to seeing and, therefore, is at risk of losing to teams that you normally wouldn't think they are at risk of losing to. See 2004. Sometimes you just lose too much and the schedule doesn't allow an easy break in period.

 

[GovTressel]

Maybe we could get the elitist pricks to set up a vbet so no one is out any real money.

-I see 2 of the 50/50 games (ND, Wisky) on the road and don't think we are taking both of them.
-I definitely have no faith in Day against tsun at this point
-Penn State is always a war no matter where it's played
-I also see the "@" symbol in front of Purdue so I don't see how anyone just chalks that up as a W no matter how bad Purdue is.
-Wisconsin may not be what they used to be or whatever that means (neither will OSU be) but they are also in the annual post PSU let down spot
-IU is awful but they are also a B1G opponent on the road for a season opener when we are breaking in the new OL and QB. It will be harder than we want it to be for longer than is comfortable.
-I'll believe Knowles and the defense carry us to anything against an average to good offense when I see it.


Everyone will have their own opinions. These are the reasons for mine. That's why I suggest a bet to head off the endless debate. Put money (or something you don't want to lose) up if people believe in what they are saying. If this was a sports book and I could get the under (a 2 loss season or worse) at even money or better I'd take it in a heartbeat if I'm just playing to win.

All of this relates back to McCord in that I see a big step back at QB and OL at this point and that( if true) is going to put an OSU team on the field that really isn't like what people are used to seeing and, therefore, is at risk of losing to teams that you normally wouldn't think they are at risk of losing to. See 2004. Sometimes you just lose too much and the schedule doesn't allow an easy break in period.

Why don't you go ahead and place the bet at a sports book and show us the ticket?

 

[Jaxbuck]

Why don't you go ahead and place the bet at a sports book and show us the ticket?

I guess I could ask the same of you but I don't really feel entitled to know what you are doing nor care enough about your opinion to worry about it.

Obviously you do feel entitled to know what I am doing and have a burning desire to give/withhold your approval of my opinions.

To each their own.

 

[Abenaki]

-I see 2 of the 50/50 games (ND, Wisky) on the road and don't think we are taking both of them.

I guess you and I see these differently. I don't think they're 50/50 games. I could be wrong, I guess we'll see.

-I definitely have no faith in Day against tsun at this point

We're definitely different here. I know you've already written off Day as Coop 2.0. There's a danger of that, but we're not there yet. Not being Tress or Urban out the gate doesn't mean he's Coop.

-Penn State is always a war no matter where it's played

True. That's why I had it on the 50/50 list.

-I also see the "@" symbol in front of Purdue so I don't see how anyone just chalks that up as a W no matter how bad Purdue is.

Eh. I mean, yeah. But they're breaking in a new coach and a new QB. And, say what you want about Day, he doesn't have the meltdown losses to clearly inferior teams that plagued Urban.

-Wisconsin may not be what they used to be or whatever that means (neither will OSU be) but they are also in the annual post PSU let down spot

Fair, I didn't consider this factor and it could certainly change things.

-IU is awful but they are also a B1G opponent on the road for a season opener when we are breaking in the new OL and QB. It will be harder than we want it to be for longer than is comfortable.

It might be tough for a half. Indiana is really bad.

-I'll believe Knowles and the defense carry us to anything against an average to good offense when I see it.

Fair, but this situation won't come up until week 7, at best.

Sometimes you just lose too much and the schedule doesn't allow an easy break in period.

There's 29 camp practices, 3 games, and 4 full game weeks of practice before a game they can realistically lose. That's a lot of time to work things out.

 

[BB73]

Maybe we could get the elitist pricks to set up a vbet so no one is out any real money.

We will create a bet on how many regular season wins tOSU gets once we’re closer to the season.