GAME The Game: Michigan @ #2 The Ohio State | Noon EST on Fox

[Hu War Yu]

Or what? We're Ohio State, are you saying we're gonna struggle to find a new coach or something?

This mentality...

Yeah, you're Ohio State, and the best you could do seven years ago was Ryan Day -- the guy you now want to fire because he's basically Bo Pelini 2.0?

 

[Across The Field]

It's wild. It felt all year like OSU was underutilizing their wide receivers, but I wondered how much of that was keeping things under wraps for The Game. Guess not. Klatt was saying for a while that OSU needs to have a game (or even half/quarter) where they pretty much just throw to Smith and let him take over a game, and it never really felt like they tried to do that this year. I still find it very surprising how little they used Howard's legs, especially in a Kelly offense. But given Day's tendency to not use his QB's legs a whole lot, it really begs the question of whether it was Kelly or Day actually calling the plays.

I'm not sure what happened with Smith. They used him a ton early in the year, especially in the RZ, but backed off later in the year. He torched Oregon and had great games against Iowa, Nebraska, and had some other fantastic games up until Indiana. Then he has 69 receiving yards the final 2 games. It just made no sense. The blood was in the water Saturday with him starting with that long would-be TD where he was held and then he grabbed the TD in the late 2nd, but they didn't take advantage.

As far as utilizing the QBs legs, this is still a mystery. Fields was elite with his legs in Day's first two years, then Stroud came in and Day went away from it entirely, and of course McCord was never a threat. Then he gets an actually somewhat mobile QB in Howard and nothing changed.

 

[Across The Field]

This mentality...

Yeah, you're Ohio State, and the best you could do seven years ago was Ryan Day -- the guy you now want to fire because he's basically Bo Pelini 2.0?

It was hardly the best we could do, but it absolutely seemed like a great option. He came in and rejuvenated the offense in 17/18 and definitely looked explosive in 19/20. Hell, the Stroud years were amazing offenses as well. Last year was a dud but this year looked promising until Saturday when they coached themselves into a shithole for no good reason. We'll see what happens in the playoffs, but to think OSU is going to struggle to attract a top-end coach is just idiotic.

 

[Hu War Yu]

It was hardly the best we could do, but it absolutely seemed like a great option. He came in and rejuvenated the offense in 17/18 and definitely looked explosive in 19/20. Hell, the Stroud years were amazing offenses as well. Last year was a dud but this year looked promising until Saturday when they coached themselves into a shithole for no good reason. We'll see what happens in the playoffs, but to think OSU is going to struggle to attract a top-end coach is just idiotic.

Maybe you could get Jimbo Fisher

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

No question the PIs definitely took points off the board, but my god, that should mean keep throwing to JJ Smith with that matchup and keep getting 15 yards. Instead he got one target the entire 2nd half. Unfathomably stupid coaching.

It's baffling. Every person in my circle that I've spoken to since has been baffled. Like, to the point where Michigan fans are like "did Chip Kelly have money on Michigan?" We can't begin to understand why they chose to run directly at our defensive line like they did.

But honestly, if they fire Ryan Day who are they going to go get? There's no clear frontrunner at this point. Even Vrable is a bit of a crap shoot (having been fired for sucking and all). This could potentially be their Bo Pelini moment.

 

[navamind]

I'm not sure what happened with Smith. They used him a ton early in the year, especially in the RZ, but backed off later in the year. He torched Oregon and had great games against Iowa, Nebraska, and had some other fantastic games up until Indiana. Then he has 69 receiving yards the final 2 games. It just made no sense. The blood was in the water Saturday with him starting with that long would-be TD where he was held and then he grabbed the TD in the late 2nd, but they didn't take advantage.

As far as utilizing the QBs legs, this is still a mystery. Fields was elite with his legs in Day's first two years, then Stroud came in and Day went away from it entirely, and of course McCord was never a threat. Then he gets an actually somewhat mobile QB in Howard and nothing changed.

I thought that option play (2nd quarter?) was a sign OSU was about to commit to using his legs, but it turned out to be a one off.

I feel bad for Howard. I like watching him

 

[Across The Field]

It's baffling. Every person in my circle that I've spoken to since has been baffled. Like, to the point where Michigan fans are like "did Chip Kelly have money on Michigan?" We can't begin to understand why they chose to run directly at our defensive line like they did.

But honestly, if they fire Ryan Day who are they going to go get? There's no clear frontrunner at this point. Even Vrable is a bit of a crap shoot (having been fired for sucking and all). This could potentially be their Bo Pelini moment.

That has been the general consensus since Saturday. I'm sure Howard's injury played a small part in it, I think he was like 6/8 or something before that, but it still doesn't explain why their idea was run it up the gut, especially behind our Frankenstein OL. Running up the gut didn't work against most of the teams we faced this year, so of course they keep trying it against michigan's greatest strength. Outside of winning a title, I don't think Day can possibly get away with keeping Kelly after this year, and even then there will be some explaining to do.

 

[Hu War Yu]

But honestly, if they fire Ryan Day who are they going to go get? There's no clear frontrunner at this point. Even Vrable is a bit of a crap shoot (having been fired for sucking and all). This could potentially be their Bo Pelini moment.

Me and you, Bro.

I get how important it is to beat your biggest rival, believe me...but it's a new era. If you can win 10-11 games in the Big or SEC, you're going to the playoffs. Yeah it's going to sting but winning Natties is the goal.

 

[Across The Field]

I thought that option play (2nd quarter?) was a sign OSU was about to commit to using his legs, but it turned out to be a one off.

I feel bad for Howard. I like watching him

I loved Howard this year. He certainly was never the problem. Thing is, we never needed to use his legs Saturday really. We just needed to not try and pound the ball up the middle outside of maybe 2-3 times at most. Options, sweeps, screens with the RBs would have been fine, and those were the biggest chunk plays we got with Judkins and Trey, but those only happened a couple times. It reminds me so much of 2015 against MSU in the rain when Urban kept running JT up the gut and getting nothing, and then going right back to it again. It was so predictable my dad and I were calling it out before the snap. Just frustrating beyond imagination.

 

[Across The Field]

Me and you, Bro.

I get how important it is to beat your biggest rival, believe me...but it's a new era. If you can win 10-11 games in the Big or SEC, you're going to the playoffs. Yeah it's going to sting but winning Natties is the goal.

This is where most OSU fans are though. He has to win the Natty at this point. Winning against michigan matters, but so does going to the CCG and Day hasn't done that since 2020.

We're not getting Vrabel, he wants no part of being a CFB HC. He'll get another shot in the NFL at some point. A lot will shake out over the next 7 weeks.

 

[osubuckeye89]

You gonna fuck around and have your version of Clay Helton

At some point you have to take the risk. 10-2 and losing in the first round or 2nd round of a 12 team playoff just isn’t gonna cut it at the top programs. It’s not 30 years ago where you’d be good with 10 wins and a upper level bowl game that’s just not how it works anymore.

 

[osubuckeye89]

This is where most OSU fans are though. He has to win the Natty at this point. Winning against michigan matters, but so does going to the CCG and Day hasn't done that since 2020.

We're not getting Vrabel, he wants no part of being a CFB HC. He'll get another shot in the NFL at some point. A lot will shake out over the next 7 weeks.

I think he at least has to get to the national title game. It’s asking a lot for this team to get that far though The OL is a mess and our special teams are a complete disaster, this team isn’t good enough to comfortably beat anyone in the 12 team field so at some point we are gonna need a FG or something which is bad for us. Day doesn’t get any benefit of the doubt on any of that though because it’s all directly his fault in the end

 

[Illustrious Potentate]

At some point you have to take the risk. 10-2 and losing in the first round or 2nd round of a 12 team playoff just isn’t gonna cut it at the top programs. It’s not 30 years ago where you’d be good with 10 wins and an upper level bowl game that’s just not how it works anymore.

I agree, but was a gamble and everyone said it was a bad move when UGA fired Richt, and Richt was nowhere near as successful as Day. It worked out for us, but there was a chance that could have turned us into Tennessee post Fulmer.

All I’m saying is you better not miss with the next hire, but eventually you have to take the gamble if you want to get to the next level. I just think the time to do it was before the expanded playoff. Firing your coach in a season they make the playoffs might turn some good coaches away

 

[NinerSpartan]

As long as OSU is making the 12 team playoff every year, it’s gonna be tough to move on from Day. Just the optics would make the job less appealing for the next coach.

Probably gonna have to suffer through a 4 loss season before you can really move on from him. Sucks for y’all, but is what it is

Ohio State is one of the few schools that can get away with the bad optics

 

[osubuckeye89]

It's baffling. Every person in my circle that I've spoken to since has been baffled. Like, to the point where Michigan fans are like "did Chip Kelly have money on Michigan?" We can't begin to understand why they chose to run directly at our defensive line like they did.

But honestly, if they fire Ryan Day who are they going to go get? There's no clear frontrunner at this point. Even Vrable is a bit of a crap shoot (having been fired for sucking and all). This could potentially be their Bo Pelini moment.

Vrabel is not coming here and that’s a good thing anyway.

I’d take looks at Bob Chesney and Jon Sumrall if you can’t get any big established name to bite. Chesney especially has had success so far at every level.

Hiring a guy from a smaller school would get the idiot fans all rustled like it did when we hired Tressel but I’d much prefer that over a Vrabel who just doesn’t wanna deal with the roster management stuff.

 

[Hu War Yu]

This is where most OSU fans are though. He has to win the Natty at this point. Winning against michigan matters, but so does going to the CCG and Day hasn't done that since 2020.

If Shane Beamer won 3 or 4 nattys in a five year period, but lost to Clemson ever year, I'd take that right now.

Shoot, if Beamer won a SINGLE Natty in a five year period, but lost to Clemson 5 times, I'd build the statue myself

If he's not going to win any titles, then yeah, he'd better beat Dabo 8 times out of 10

 

[Illustrious Potentate]

Ohio State is one of the few schools that can get away with the bad optics

You’re probably right, but at the same time, there’s no sure thing. Anyone they get is gonna be a huge gamble. Would be funny if they stole DeBoer from Bama though

 

[Hu War Yu]

At some point you have to take the risk. 10-2 and losing in the first round or 2nd round of a 12 team playoff just isn’t gonna cut it at the top programs. It’s not 30 years ago where you’d be good with 10 wins and a upper level bowl game that’s just not how it works anymore.

This kinda feels like NFL expectations when you're dealing with 18-20 year olds and your entire roster can turn over in a year or three. If you keep getting to the playoffs, you can keep attracting the recruits and transfers that might make the difference next year. I think universities -- and fans -- need to modify their expectations, especially at the top schools.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

At some point you have to take the risk. 10-2 and losing in the first round or 2nd round of a 12 team playoff just isn’t gonna cut it at the top programs. It’s not 30 years ago where you’d be good with 10 wins and a upper level bowl game that’s just not how it works anymore.

The risk has pretty serious consequences at this point. Hell, look at Alabama post Saban. Last time they had a 3 loss season their coach was Mike Shula. Doesn't take much to turn that 10-2 season into a 8-4 season.

 

[osubuckeye89]

The risk has pretty serious consequences at this point. Hell, look at Alabama post Saban. Last time they had a 3 loss season their coach was Mike Shula. Doesn't take much to turn that 10-2 season into a 8-4 season.

3 losses misses the playoff in most years. I think we will lose 3 games next year with Day at the helm.