QB Kyle McCord (transfer to Syracuse)

[RugbyBuck]

Here's my sense of Kyle and I don't mean it to be trashing a Buckeye. It seems like he's playing the part of a character for which he was the understudy and the role on this stage is just too big for him. That doesn't mean that he can't have some solid performances, he has, at different venues, but this was Carnegie Hall, the Met, whatever. He's just not THAT guy. He was able to make it this far which is farther than most and certainly farther than any of us, so I'm not trashing him. He doesn't have it, though, and I don't think it's only coaching and play calling that's holding him back. If that's what it was, we'd see it. The coaching and play calling we're seeing is because Day is who Day is, but it's also because Kyle is who Kyle is. A lot of this is in his head, but that's inextricably tied to athletic ability. You can get by with one side of that combo if that side is high enough and/or you're playing at a lower level of competition. His game intelligence isn't high enough to offset his level of athletic ability and it shows. There's a certain amount of swag that comes with KNOWING that you can do something. Kyle operates like he hopes he can. That's not what we need. We don't need a world beater, but we do need a boss. I don't know if Lincoln is the answer or maybe, eventually, Noland, but I know who isn't.

 

[Gunlife]

Here's my sense of Kyle and I don't mean it to be trashing a Buckeye. It seems like he's playing the part of a character for which he was the understudy and the role on this stage is just too big for him. That doesn't mean that he can't have some solid performances, he has, at different venues, but this was Carnegie Hall, the Met, whatever. He's just not THAT guy. He was able to make it this far which is farther than most and certainly farther than any of us, so I'm not trashing him. He doesn't have it, though, and I don't think it's only coaching and play calling that's holding him back. If that's what it was, we'd see it. The coaching and play calling we're seeing is because Day is who Day is, but it's also because Kyle is who Kyle is. A lot of this is in his head, but that's inextricably tied to athletic ability. You can get by with one side of that combo if that side is high enough and/or you're playing at a lower level of competition. His game intelligence isn't high enough to offset his level of athletic ability and it shows. There's a certain amount of swag that comes with KNOWING that you can do something. Kyle operates like he hopes he can. That's not what we need. We don't need a world beater, but we do need a boss. I don't know if Lincoln is the answer or maybe, eventually, Noland, but I know who isn't.

I think most on here agree with this. He would be a great starter for 120+ D1 schools. But this is OSU.

 

[RugbyBuck]

To that point, the bar for QB play has also been raised of late and we have to give Day credit for that. Of course, Stroud never beat scum, but there's no arguing that ten years ago we would've been pretty psyched about Kyle. Now that we've seen what a tier-1 QB1 looks like, it's hard to go back.

 

[GovTressel]

I think most on here agree with this. He would be a great starter for 120+ D1 schools. But this is OSU.

I respectfully disagree with this. Without MJH he would have been lost all year.

 

[BUCK3YE5]

If we're being honest with ourselves, McCord just isn't very good. He's comfortably the worst QB we've had in the last 20 years outside Bauserman.

This was a unique year that he may have been good enough to win it all with. Turn out he wasn't. Hell, he's not even the best QB in Ohio...

OSU needs to explore other options.

 

[Onebuckfan]

I may be over interpreting body language, but it never seemed like he had a command and a comfort with what he was being asked to do. Tippy tappy feet, fading on throws, hitching, etc.

Beyond just the “talent” - the last three guys did what they were going to do with command and force. Letting it rip.

It’s in all our best interest that this bowl prep season he takes that step forward. Day tends to let his guy be the guy, but only if he trusts them and I don’t think he got there with McCord. Never really expanded the game plan for him over the course of the season… and I have to say feels like there wasn’t much development post ND game.

He didn’t trust his OL . He looked at the rush too much..which made throws inaccurate many times especially early in games.

 

[scarletngray]

And he threw two interceptions which killed us...

Of course he did. He is part (only part) of the reason we lost. However, I do remember CJ Stroud and other QBs throwing interceptions as well. I also remember people criticizing him and thinking he wasn't the answer. I also remember him losing some games that we should have won.
You've been around long enough to know that after every loss people call for coaches to be fired and players to be replaced. Every loss. Without exception.
I remember before the season started people were predicting a three loss season. New QB. Worse OL in well over a decade, etc. For some, Kyle exceeded expectations. He is 12-1 as a starter and will get better next season. IIRC if Day repeats his record in the next five years as he has the past five years he will have the highest winning percentage of any coach in CFB history. Btw, Kirby Smart did not win a Natty until his sixth year of coaching.

 

[brodybuck21]

how is Kyle viewed if the ND safety doesnt drop that int on the winning drive in that game?

 

[scarletngray]

how is Kyle viewed if the ND safety doesnt drop that int on the winning drive in that game?

How is Kyle viewed if the ref called the McCarthy TD pass an interception in The Game like it really was? If, if's and buts were candy and nuts....Kyle would be a legend instead of a chump.

 

[dragurd]

How is Kyle viewed if the ref called the McCarthy TD pass an interception in The Game like it really was? If, if's and buts were candy and nuts....

Or if McCarthy throws a pick on that across his body late the to middle of the field throw etc etc etc

There is blame to go around we lost by 6 so any single play could have turned the tide banging on one while ignoring the others is not helpful

 

[brodybuck21]

How is Kyle viewed if the ref called the McCarthy TD pass an interception in The Game like it really was? If, if's and buts were candy and nuts....Kyle would be a legend instead of a chump.

uhh mccord had nothing to do with that play. mccord did have something to do with the ND play bc it was the exact same situation as the ttun game and the ttun DB didnt drop it. just illustrates that Kyle just maybe aint the man for the job and got a little lucky earlier in the year. would Day have been more apt to give Brown or even Kienholz a longer look if there was already an L on the ledger

 

[brodybuck21]

Or if McCarthy throws a pick on that across his body late the to middle of the field throw etc etc etc

There is blame to go around we lost by 6 so any single play could have turned the tide banging on one while ignoring the others is not helpful

you are missing the point. im strictly talking about Kyle and how he is was was viewed.

 

[Gunlife]

Of course he did. He is part (only part) of the reason we lost. However, I do remember CJ Stroud and other QBs throwing interceptions as well. I also remember people criticizing him and thinking he wasn't the answer. I also remember him losing some games that we should have won.
You've been around long enough to know that after every loss people call for coaches to be fired and players to be replaced. Every loss. Without exception.
I remember before the season started people were predicting a three loss season. New QB. Worse OL in well over a decade, etc. For some, Kyle exceeded expectations. He is 12-1 as a starter and will get better next season. IIRC if Day repeats his record in the next five years as he has the past five years he will have the highest winning percentage of any coach in CFB history. Btw, Kirby Smart did not win a Natty until his sixth year of coaching.

This is a great post. I was one of those people that thought OSU was looking at a 3 loss season. That's why I haven't said anything bad about the coaching staff. I think they pretty much maximized the talent they had. Obviously hindsight is 20-20 and you can question some calls looking back, but to go 11-1 with that schedule was tough. And I thought they fought their asses off last weekend. That said Mccord seemed to not be able to do anything until the 2nd half most of the year, and I also think you need a somewhat mobile QB for the games where the talent is similar or your at a disadvantage.

As far as Kyle exceeding expectations?
As far as the most important stat, Wins? Yes. But that has more to do with having the defense being fantastic all year. Down 10-0 at maryland? No Problem-Pick 6. Down at Rutger in the 3rd quarter- pick 6. The defense was special all year. Oh and Mccord also had the best WR group in the country. IMHO you must open the up the competition at QB 100%.

 

[sg86]

McCord is obviously viewed differently if that ball gets picked. But he also gets viewed differently if we don't barely sneak into the endzone with ND down a man. It is what it is.

 

[scarletngray]

uhh mccord had nothing to do with that play. mccord did have something to do with the ND play bc it was the exact same situation as the ttun game and the ttun DB didnt drop it. just illustrates that Kyle just maybe aint the man for the job and got a little lucky earlier in the year. would Day have been more apt to give Brown or even Kienholz a longer look if there was already an L on the ledger

Bro, you are using a hypothetical as an argument. My hypothetical is that if JJs pass is called correctly as an INT we win the game and Kyle is viewed differently.