Matt Tamanini
Guest
Ryan Day is wrong, there is plenty to feel good about concerning this Ohio State team
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
I get where he’s coming from, I do, but this year’s team has so much going for it, I can’t buy into his new-found Saban perspective.
There is a segment of Buckeye Nation that has questioned whether Ryan Day has the mettle to ever take his always-talented roster to the next level of college football supremacy. His seeming reluctance to make cold, but necessary, personnel decisions with his roster and coaching staff was seen as weakness; his lack of trust in himself and his staff was viewed as a sign that he didn’t have the supreme self-confidence required at this level; his generally reserved, nice-guy persona did not comport with how elite college football coaches carried themselves.
However, between not retaining multiple coaches in the offseason; finally giving up play-calling duties; bringing in a five-star, true-freshman quarterback transfer when he already had a top-60 true-freshman QB on the roster; and the deployment of tens of millions of dollars in NIL money began to raise eyebrows in the unconvinced corners of OSU fandom.
The latest evidence in Day’s Saban-esque evolution came during his weekly press conference on Tuesday when he took a fairly surprising and cold-blooded approach to analyzing his team’s performance through three games.
“I don’t feel good about anything,” Day said. “That’s just my mindset ... That has to be everybody’s mindset. You start to feel good about something and complacency can sneak up on you fast. So, no, nobody feels good about anything.”
To be fair, I don’t think that this is a bad approach for a coach with as much pressure on him as Day has to take. He has tried being slightly more kind and cuddly in the past, but with all of the other changes heading into this season, it seems like he is adopting a more cut-throat approach to every aspect of the program.
Perhaps that is simply because he finally has the bandwidth to focus on the bigger picture now that Chip Kelly is handling play-calling duties, or maybe he has recognized that how he was doing things in the past just wasn’t working to the level expected at Ohio State.
I have been hard on Day over the years, but his public-facing demeanor has never been a major concern for me, since we have seen coaches with all types of personalities — from affable to asshole — succeed in their respective sports. Admittedly, football is a bit of a different story, even amongst other high-level sports, but my focus has often been more on his decision-making than his delivery.
Nonetheless, I know that Day going full Belichickian excited a lot of fans, but I have to tell you, his comment didn’t do much for me, mainly because I think he’s wrong. Now, again, whatever they have to do inside the Woody to get themselves mentally focused on the task at hand is their business, but I think there is a ton to feel good about with this year’s Ohio State football team through three games and I hope that secretly, tucked down in the hidden cockles of his performatively black heart, Day is supes proud of what his guys have accomplished so far this fall.
I’m going to run through some of this team’s early-season highlights from my perspective. This list is by no means exhaustive, so please feel free to add the other things that you feel good about in the comments below.
I know that there will be many people who read this and respond by saying that Ohio State’s numbers only look impressive because they have played the No. 132, No. 116, and No. 99 teams in the 134-team FBS according to SP+. And while that is not an unfair point of view, I feel much better about OSU dominating those games than I would have if they hadn’t, so we will sally forth.
Heading into their Big Ten slate, the Buckeyes rank 14th nationally with 241 yards rushing per game, second in yards per carry (7.02), and eighth in total rushing touchdowns (13), despite having only played three games thus far.
Quinshon Judkins is 13th nationally with 112 yards per game and ninth in ypc (9.33), despite being 83rd in carries per game. Of course, that is with his RB stablemate TreVeyon Henderson averaging a nice 69 yards per game on 8.63 ypc. You cannot convince me that there is a better running back duo in all of college football. Paired together, they are both getting what they have so desperately needed in their careers thus far, someone to help them shoulder the load.
In Judkins’ case, so he isn’t run into the ground, and in Henderson’s in order to minimize his injury potential. Being able to split the load should help both of them play their best football deep into the postseason, which would make me feel really good about things.
On the more analytical side of the equation, the Buckeyes are No. 5 in the country in terms of expected points added per rush and seventh in havoc rate — which basically means that defenses can’t do much to stop them.
Over the last three seasons, Ohio State hasn’t been in the top 30 of rushing yards per game, but it feels like with Chip Kelly’s scheme and two Heisman-level, dynamic runners, the Buckeye backfield is primed to be a dominating and devastating force in the Big Ten and the College Football Playoffs.
I mean, come on, look at these highlights. They both have speed, agility, power, and a nasty stiff arm. What more do you want out of a pair of backs? I know that I for one feel very good about these two being the cornerstones of OSU’s offense this season.
Through the first two games of the year, many onlookers thought that the Ohio State defense had the ability to be a near-perfect unit this season — especially when you discount the awkward, emotional first half of the season opener. However, thanks to two extended scoring drives from Marshall on Saturday, some of those same fans suddenly have substantive concerns about the unit’s ability to stand up against stiffer competition.
Poppycock, I say. Pure poppycock!
Sure, I don’t want to see anyone — especially a team the likes of Marshall (no offense Thundering Herd fans) go 75 yards on 13 plays, eat up 6:46 on the clock, and score a touchdown on the very first drive of the game. But on Saturday, the Buckeyes only gave up four drives of more than six plays, and they all occurred in the first half.
While I am no defensive savant, it seemed to me that OSU struggled a bit without its most consistently productive defensive lineman, Tyleik Williams, and coordinator Jim Knowles was slow to respond to what the Marshall offense was throwing at them. Eventually, they made adjustments and only allowed four first downs after halftime; admittedly, they were aided by the injury to Herd quarterback Stone Earle whose running ability did give OSU some problems at times.
Opponents notwithstanding, Ohio State ranks second nationally in total defense (180 yards per game), fourth in scoring defense (6.7 points per game), fifth in passing defense (113.3 ypg), and seventh in rushing D (66.67 ypg) — they are the only team in the top seven of both of the latter two categories. They are also second in yards per play nationally, allowing just 3.49.
If the raw counting stats don’t do it for you, Knowles’ unit is currently ranked fourth nationally in adjusted expected points added per play and rank first nationally in defensive SP+.
I know that they aren’t perfect and there are things that they still need to work on (I would personally love it if Knowles and Larry Johnson could figure out how to make their respective philosophies coexist), but with that talent and its production through three games, I feel very good about the potential for the Silver Bullets to be the most dominant defense in college football this season.
Ohio State has seen its fair share of special wide receivers during the Brian Hartline Era, but Jeremiah Smith just might be the specialest of them all. The true freshman has already become a focal point of the Buckeye in just three collegiate games, putting his otherworldly speed, route running, and work ethic on display.
While he has yet to face the unique challenge of a Big Ten football game, J.J. appears to be well on his way to etching his name in the Ohio State history books.
Hall of Famer Cris Carter holds all of Ohio State’s major receiving records (at least for another week few weeks). Forty years ago in 1984, he went for 648 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 41 catches.
Smith currently has 281 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 14 receptions. If he continues at that pace, by the end of the regular season, he will have 1,124 yards, 16 TDs, and 56 receptions in 12 games; the same number that Carter played as a freshman. However, with a Big Ten title game and up to four CFP games, Smith is on pace for as many as 1,592 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 79 receptions.
In addition to his borderline bonkers on-field abilities, Smith also seems to have the same humility, focus, and perspective that helped make Marvin Harrison Jr. one of the all-time greats. While I have zero problem with elite athletes being cocky and having an oversized ego (LeBron would never have become LeBron if he hadn’t had an inordinate amount of confidence), when you see an athlete who is not only one of the best at what they do, but they also recognize how fortunate they are to do it, it just makes you want to root for them even more.
And then, of course, there’s silly stuff like this. If you don’t feel good about this as an Ohio State fan, then there’s something wrong with you.
I could go on, but then I would rob you of the ability to share your own ideas in the comments at the bottom of the page. Either way, it should be clear by now that I am feeling really, really good about this year’s Ohio State football team!
This song is my current mantra when it comes to the Buckeyes, so don’t let the cynical, contrarian bug rob you of the chance to feel like me and Nina. Little known fact, this song is from a Broadway musical “The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd” written by the guys who wrote the score to “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
I get where he’s coming from, I do, but this year’s team has so much going for it, I can’t buy into his new-found Saban perspective.
There is a segment of Buckeye Nation that has questioned whether Ryan Day has the mettle to ever take his always-talented roster to the next level of college football supremacy. His seeming reluctance to make cold, but necessary, personnel decisions with his roster and coaching staff was seen as weakness; his lack of trust in himself and his staff was viewed as a sign that he didn’t have the supreme self-confidence required at this level; his generally reserved, nice-guy persona did not comport with how elite college football coaches carried themselves.
However, between not retaining multiple coaches in the offseason; finally giving up play-calling duties; bringing in a five-star, true-freshman quarterback transfer when he already had a top-60 true-freshman QB on the roster; and the deployment of tens of millions of dollars in NIL money began to raise eyebrows in the unconvinced corners of OSU fandom.
The latest evidence in Day’s Saban-esque evolution came during his weekly press conference on Tuesday when he took a fairly surprising and cold-blooded approach to analyzing his team’s performance through three games.
“I don’t feel good about anything,” Day said. “That’s just my mindset ... That has to be everybody’s mindset. You start to feel good about something and complacency can sneak up on you fast. So, no, nobody feels good about anything.”
To be fair, I don’t think that this is a bad approach for a coach with as much pressure on him as Day has to take. He has tried being slightly more kind and cuddly in the past, but with all of the other changes heading into this season, it seems like he is adopting a more cut-throat approach to every aspect of the program.
Perhaps that is simply because he finally has the bandwidth to focus on the bigger picture now that Chip Kelly is handling play-calling duties, or maybe he has recognized that how he was doing things in the past just wasn’t working to the level expected at Ohio State.
I have been hard on Day over the years, but his public-facing demeanor has never been a major concern for me, since we have seen coaches with all types of personalities — from affable to asshole — succeed in their respective sports. Admittedly, football is a bit of a different story, even amongst other high-level sports, but my focus has often been more on his decision-making than his delivery.
Nonetheless, I know that Day going full Belichickian excited a lot of fans, but I have to tell you, his comment didn’t do much for me, mainly because I think he’s wrong. Now, again, whatever they have to do inside the Woody to get themselves mentally focused on the task at hand is their business, but I think there is a ton to feel good about with this year’s Ohio State football team through three games and I hope that secretly, tucked down in the hidden cockles of his performatively black heart, Day is supes proud of what his guys have accomplished so far this fall.
I’m going to run through some of this team’s early-season highlights from my perspective. This list is by no means exhaustive, so please feel free to add the other things that you feel good about in the comments below.
I know that there will be many people who read this and respond by saying that Ohio State’s numbers only look impressive because they have played the No. 132, No. 116, and No. 99 teams in the 134-team FBS according to SP+. And while that is not an unfair point of view, I feel much better about OSU dominating those games than I would have if they hadn’t, so we will sally forth.
Ohio State’s running backs are the best in the business.
Heading into their Big Ten slate, the Buckeyes rank 14th nationally with 241 yards rushing per game, second in yards per carry (7.02), and eighth in total rushing touchdowns (13), despite having only played three games thus far.
Quinshon Judkins is 13th nationally with 112 yards per game and ninth in ypc (9.33), despite being 83rd in carries per game. Of course, that is with his RB stablemate TreVeyon Henderson averaging a nice 69 yards per game on 8.63 ypc. You cannot convince me that there is a better running back duo in all of college football. Paired together, they are both getting what they have so desperately needed in their careers thus far, someone to help them shoulder the load.
In Judkins’ case, so he isn’t run into the ground, and in Henderson’s in order to minimize his injury potential. Being able to split the load should help both of them play their best football deep into the postseason, which would make me feel really good about things.
On the more analytical side of the equation, the Buckeyes are No. 5 in the country in terms of expected points added per rush and seventh in havoc rate — which basically means that defenses can’t do much to stop them.
Over the last three seasons, Ohio State hasn’t been in the top 30 of rushing yards per game, but it feels like with Chip Kelly’s scheme and two Heisman-level, dynamic runners, the Buckeye backfield is primed to be a dominating and devastating force in the Big Ten and the College Football Playoffs.
I mean, come on, look at these highlights. They both have speed, agility, power, and a nasty stiff arm. What more do you want out of a pair of backs? I know that I for one feel very good about these two being the cornerstones of OSU’s offense this season.
Quinshon Judkins
TreVeyon Henderson
We decided to stack the @OhioStateFB stars' highlight-reel stiff arms #B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/Y3gyOJrxDJ
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 21, 2024
Silver Bullets still shine
Through the first two games of the year, many onlookers thought that the Ohio State defense had the ability to be a near-perfect unit this season — especially when you discount the awkward, emotional first half of the season opener. However, thanks to two extended scoring drives from Marshall on Saturday, some of those same fans suddenly have substantive concerns about the unit’s ability to stand up against stiffer competition.
Poppycock, I say. Pure poppycock!
Sure, I don’t want to see anyone — especially a team the likes of Marshall (no offense Thundering Herd fans) go 75 yards on 13 plays, eat up 6:46 on the clock, and score a touchdown on the very first drive of the game. But on Saturday, the Buckeyes only gave up four drives of more than six plays, and they all occurred in the first half.
While I am no defensive savant, it seemed to me that OSU struggled a bit without its most consistently productive defensive lineman, Tyleik Williams, and coordinator Jim Knowles was slow to respond to what the Marshall offense was throwing at them. Eventually, they made adjustments and only allowed four first downs after halftime; admittedly, they were aided by the injury to Herd quarterback Stone Earle whose running ability did give OSU some problems at times.
Opponents notwithstanding, Ohio State ranks second nationally in total defense (180 yards per game), fourth in scoring defense (6.7 points per game), fifth in passing defense (113.3 ypg), and seventh in rushing D (66.67 ypg) — they are the only team in the top seven of both of the latter two categories. They are also second in yards per play nationally, allowing just 3.49.
If the raw counting stats don’t do it for you, Knowles’ unit is currently ranked fourth nationally in adjusted expected points added per play and rank first nationally in defensive SP+.
I know that they aren’t perfect and there are things that they still need to work on (I would personally love it if Knowles and Larry Johnson could figure out how to make their respective philosophies coexist), but with that talent and its production through three games, I feel very good about the potential for the Silver Bullets to be the most dominant defense in college football this season.
Jeremiah Smith... do I really need to say more?
Ohio State has seen its fair share of special wide receivers during the Brian Hartline Era, but Jeremiah Smith just might be the specialest of them all. The true freshman has already become a focal point of the Buckeye in just three collegiate games, putting his otherworldly speed, route running, and work ethic on display.
While he has yet to face the unique challenge of a Big Ten football game, J.J. appears to be well on his way to etching his name in the Ohio State history books.
Hall of Famer Cris Carter holds all of Ohio State’s major receiving records (at least for another week few weeks). Forty years ago in 1984, he went for 648 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 41 catches.
Smith currently has 281 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 14 receptions. If he continues at that pace, by the end of the regular season, he will have 1,124 yards, 16 TDs, and 56 receptions in 12 games; the same number that Carter played as a freshman. However, with a Big Ten title game and up to four CFP games, Smith is on pace for as many as 1,592 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 79 receptions.
In addition to his borderline bonkers on-field abilities, Smith also seems to have the same humility, focus, and perspective that helped make Marvin Harrison Jr. one of the all-time greats. While I have zero problem with elite athletes being cocky and having an oversized ego (LeBron would never have become LeBron if he hadn’t had an inordinate amount of confidence), when you see an athlete who is not only one of the best at what they do, but they also recognize how fortunate they are to do it, it just makes you want to root for them even more.
And then, of course, there’s silly stuff like this. If you don’t feel good about this as an Ohio State fan, then there’s something wrong with you.
JEREMIAH SMITH HIT THE JETS FOR THE TD️@ohiostatefb pic.twitter.com/TQ73HEfor6
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 8, 2024
Rapid-fire things to feel good about
- Will Howard has already begun to show a mastery of the Ohio State offense, thriving in Chip Kelly’s new RPO-heavy scheme. Not to mention that the transfer quarterback hasn’t even started employing his running ability yet; something that he said this week that he was excited to do.
- Oh, and while we’re on the topic, you’ve got to feel good about Chip’s multi-faceted, RPO offense that has allowed the Buckeyes to have an impressively balanced 311 yards passing per game and 24 yards rushing.
- This year’s Ohio State has been abnormally fun to watch so far this season, and I think I can speak for everyone when I say that I feel very good about that.
- For the first time in Woody-knows-how-long, young players are getting the opportunity to play on both sides of the ball while still running something that approaches the team’s standard offensive and defensive schemes. I feel great about young guys getting experience before they are actually called upon to lead in high-leverage situations.
- I feel really good about Ohio State’s chances to not only win The Game in late November but to do so in convincing — and embarrassing — fashion.
- The Buckeyes are top five in both defense and run-defense grades according to Pro Football Focus (I know, tablespoons of salt required). But, they are also fourth nationally in terms of stop rate (the percentage of a defense’s drives that end in punts, turnovers, or a turnover on downs) according to Game on Paper.
- OSU’s offense is third nationally in adjusted EPA per play and second in non-adjusted (the adjusted stat controls for the strength of competition).
I could go on, but then I would rob you of the ability to share your own ideas in the comments at the bottom of the page. Either way, it should be clear by now that I am feeling really, really good about this year’s Ohio State football team!
This song is my current mantra when it comes to the Buckeyes, so don’t let the cynical, contrarian bug rob you of the chance to feel like me and Nina. Little known fact, this song is from a Broadway musical “The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd” written by the guys who wrote the score to “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”
Continue reading...