tOfficial B1G Thread

[ericd7633]

I think they should take another step forward this year. Probably not elite but good. Front 7 should be very good IMO but the backfield will again be the liability. There is potential there but between injuries and just some boneheaded play last season it looked awful when they had to step up

I think they'll be better too. Ton of talent as always, just a matter of executing. It's interesting as the two teams that could give them trouble are more of a run based offensive scheme in PSU and Michigan. Although, PSU may throw a little more with Allar, but their backfield is loaded.

 

[ericd7633]

Yeah we've made some questionable hires on that side of the ball. Leaving it to Coombs in 2020 and 2021 was pretty stupid. 2022 wasn't a surprise to see with Knowles implementing a dramatically different system from whatever the hell you'd call our 2021 defense. Like I said earlier, I think it's fair to see us take a step forward this year. It certainly isn't as if we don't have talent on that side of the ball.

Yeah, for sure talent is there. I do think Knowles is a good defensive coach. Probably not as good as Hafley was, but Hafley did have a loaded roster. If the secondary takes a step up, I except it to be a top 10 defense. But that remains to be seen.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Yeah, for sure talent is there. I do think Knowles is a good defensive coach. Probably not as good as Hafley was, but Hafley did have a loaded roster. If the secondary takes a step up, I except it to be a top 10 defense. But that remains to be seen.

Did someone say Knowles?


"First year at Ohio State. This is why he's here. They have to get a stop"

"He's got a lane"

"Touchdown, Michigan, the Don!"

 

[Kburjr]

I think they'll be better too. Ton of talent as always, just a matter of executing. It's interesting as the two teams that could give them trouble are more of a run based offensive scheme in PSU and Michigan. Although, PSU may throw a little more with Allar, but their backfield is loaded.

Hopefully, you can add Wisconsin to that list

 

[Across The Field]

Yeah, for sure talent is there. I do think Knowles is a good defensive coach. Probably not as good as Hafley was, but Hafley did have a loaded roster. If the secondary takes a step up, I except it to be a top 10 defense. But that remains to be seen.

Hafley was definitely a great coordinator, and he should have stayed and waited for a better opportunity. Knowles is also a very good coach, and yeah the secondary is going to be the deciding factor this year no question. I'm very happy with our front 7, as it should be a top 10 unit itself, but if the secondary doesn't improve we're gonna have a bumpy road.

 

[ericd7633]

Did someone say Knowles?


"First year at Ohio State. This is why he's here. They have to get a stop"

"He's got a lane"

"Touchdown, Michigan, the Don!"

His defenses at Oklahoma State improved year over year and by 2021 finished 3rd in defensive efficiency. By comparison, without him last year, Oklahoma State finished 32nd.

 

[ericd7633]

Hopefully, you can add Wisconsin to that list

Yeah, that's still up in the air for me. Given the game is later in the year, that will help some.

 

[Across The Field]

Yeah, for sure talent is there. I do think Knowles is a good defensive coach. Probably not as good as Hafley was, but Hafley did have a loaded roster. If the secondary takes a step up, I except it to be a top 10 defense. But that remains to be seen.

What are your thoughts on the OSU-ND game?

 

[ericd7633]

What are your thoughts on the OSU-ND game?

I'm not in love with this ND team. We are lacking severely at the WR position. We have talent at the position, but it's all FR and a SO. Like usual we should be very good at the O line, and that should help the RB's who I think have some limitations, but Estime is a good down hill RB, so if the hole is there he's very effective.

The defense is very old, which will help, but we don't have the individual studs we had in the past like JOK, Foskey, Hamilton etc. Morrison is a very good CB, but nobody is shutting down Harrison Jr. ND will have to ugly it up like we did last year to try and win it IMO. Being a home game should help some, but I'd expect us to be about a 7-10 point dog.

 

[ericd7633]

What are your thoughts @Across The Field? Obviously replacing Stroud is the huge question mark, but whoever it is will be really good IMO. How's OSU O line looking?

 

[Across The Field]

What are your thoughts @Across The Field? Obviously replacing Stroud is the huge question mark, but whoever it is will be really good IMO. How's OSU O line looking?

I'm not as worried about the OL as others are personally. The interior should be great, and Fryar/Simmons should be fine. They won't be Paris/Dawand, but they should be good enough. It's sounding like McCord is gonna get the nod at QB (Mark Wahlberg wouldn't give a Mercedes AMG to a backup, right?). He's not a dynamic athlete but he can make the throws and has good size. With the weapons we have available, he should be able to thrive. I'm really looking forward to the ND game, and definitely don't think it'll be a decisive win either way. A final score close to last year going either direction wouldn't shock me. That said, if OSU comes in and wins by 2+ TDs, what will the thoughts be on Freeman around South Bend?

 

[osubuckeye89]

I'm not as worried about the OL as others are personally. The interior should be great, and Fryar/Simmons should be fine. They won't be Paris/Dawand, but they should be good enough. It's sounding like McCord is gonna get the nod at QB (Mark Wahlberg wouldn't give a Mercedes AMG to a backup, right?). He's not a dynamic athlete but he can make the throws and has good size. With the weapons we have available, he should be able to thrive. I'm really looking forward to the ND game, and definitely don't think it'll be a decisive win either way. A final score close to last year going either direction wouldn't shock me. That said, if OSU comes in and wins by 2+ TDs, what will the thoughts be on Freeman around South Bend?

I'm just glad we don't play ND until game 4.

I suspect some initial struggles. much like Stroud had in early 2021. Remember that 1st game against Minnesota the fans were screaming for him to be benched at halftime. Hopefully after 3 games most of the jitters and kinks are worked out.

This is McCord's 3rd year in the system though. Stroud had only been in 1 year when he took over (and that year was the COVID year) so McCord SHOULD have a leg up to start when it comes to knowing the workings of everything.

 

[ericd7633]

I'm not as worried about the OL as others are personally. The interior should be great, and Fryar/Simmons should be fine. They won't be Paris/Dawand, but they should be good enough. It's sounding like McCord is gonna get the nod at QB (Mark Wahlberg wouldn't give a Mercedes AMG to a backup, right?). He's not a dynamic athlete but he can make the throws and has good size. With the weapons we have available, he should be able to thrive. I'm really looking forward to the ND game, and definitely don't think it'll be a decisive win either way. A final score close to last year going either direction wouldn't shock me. That said, if OSU comes in and wins by 2+ TDs, what will the thoughts be on Freeman around South Bend?

If OSU were to blow us out, that wouldn't be a great look for Freeman. The recruiting has seen a slight uptick, but not what we envisioned this time last year. Losing Bowen and Keeley really took away some of the momentum. I think the defenses will always be good as long as he's here, but I'm worried long-term about the offense. The OC hiring was pretty uninspiring, so we'll have to wait and see about that. But still not a great look. I think 9-3 is a must this year, even with losing to OSU, USC and Clemson. But we have to win out the rest and can't have a Marshall/Stanford type game. Those were embarrassing loses.

Long term we'll see happens, he's still young and inexperienced so you hope there is some growth with everything. If there's a 7-5 type season this year, he's definitely on the hot seat entering next season.

 

[Across The Field]

I'm just glad we don't play ND until game 4.

I suspect some initial struggles. much like Stroud had in early 2021. Remember that 1st game against Minnesota the fans were screaming for him to be benched at halftime. Hopefully after 3 games most of the jitters and kinks are worked out.

This is McCord's 3rd year in the system though. Stroud had only been in 1 year when he took over (and that year was the COVID year) so McCord SHOULD have a leg up to start when it comes to knowing the workings of everything.

I honestly liked what we saw from McCord against Akron. I know, it was Akron, but he still looked good. It's funny you mention the Minnesota game, I remember thinking he just looked a little rattled at first and my old neighbor was ready to basically rescind his scholarship at halftime. Then the second half happened and he quickly changed his tune. He actually played really well that game overall. If McCord comes out and does the same thing vs. Indiana, I'll be plenty happy.

 

[Across The Field]

If OSU were to blow us out, that wouldn't be a great look for Freeman. The recruiting has seen a slight uptick, but not what we envisioned this time last year. Losing Bowen and Keeley really took away some of the momentum. I think the defenses will always be good as long as he's here, but I'm worried long-term about the offense. The OC hiring was pretty uninspiring, so we'll have to wait and see about that. But still not a great look. I think 9-3 is a must this year, even with losing to OSU, USC and Clemson. But we have to win out the rest and can't have a Marshall/Stanford type game. Those were embarrassing loses.

Long term we'll see happens, he's still young and inexperienced so you hope there is some growth with everything. If there's a 7-5 type season this year, he's definitely on the hot seat entering next season.

Think Clemson is going to get revenge this year? I hope not. I loved watching ND just crush them last year.

I see what you mean on the recruiting side, though. The Keeley decommit was especially brutal. You do have a nice looking class coming along though, and Carr looks like he's the real deal. It's been a while since ND has had a real stud at the position. Like osubuckeye89 said, I'm glad we don't play you until week 4 so we can get an idea of what our DBs look like before they have to face Hartman. He might not be elite but he can definitely do damage and probably get the most out of your WRs. Having a solid OL like you do is also going to make a huge difference. If Hartman has the time to make his throws, it should be a really, really good game.

 

[osubuckeye89]

I honestly liked what we saw from McCord against Akron. I know, it was Akron, but he still looked good. It's funny you mention the Minnesota game, I remember thinking he just looked a little rattled at first and my old neighbor was ready to basically rescind his scholarship at halftime. Then the second half happened and he quickly changed his tune. He actually played really well that game overall. If McCord comes out and does the same thing vs. Indiana, I'll be plenty happy.

Minnesota had a pretty decent defense in 2021. Indiana's defense looks like it should be pretty bad, relying on a bunch of lower level transfers and RS Fresh/Sophomores, especially in the secondary. There SHOULDNT be that bad of a struggle but I guess you never know. I expect there to be sloppy moments but I'd be surprised if there's anything like that 1st half against Minnesota.

Thing is even if we struggle passing out of the gate, we should be able to run the ball all over these Indiana/Mid-Lower B1G level types. I think our OL is built pretty well for run blocking as it currently stands. That and a HEALTHY Henderson and Williams.

 

[Across The Field]

Minnesota had a pretty decent defense in 2021. Indiana's defense looks like it should be pretty bad, relying on a bunch of lower level transfers and RS Fresh/Sophomores, especially in the secondary. There SHOULDNT be that bad of a struggle but I guess you never know. I expect there to be sloppy moments but I'd be surprised if there's anything like that 1st half against Minnesota.

Thing is even if we struggle passing out of the gate, we should be able to run the ball all over these Indiana/Mid-Lower B1G level types. I think our OL is built pretty well for run blocking as it currently stands. That and a HEALTHY Henderson and Williams.

I mean, Stroud's INT vs Minnesota wasn't even his fault. The people that were only looking at 0 TD/1 INT and freaking out definitely were overreacting. It wouldn't shock me if McCord threw a few picks in the first month, can't expect him to instantly be Stroud vs. Georgia out of the gates. The idea of Henderson being fully healthy makes me extremely excited, though. That RB room is insanely good and very deep, so I'd guess we'll see a heavy dose of the running game before the ND game. The thing I'm much more interested in, especially against a volume passing team like WKU, is how good the secondary looks. That should give us at least a decent idea going into ND.

 

[osubuckeye89]

I mean, Stroud's INT vs Minnesota wasn't even his fault. The people that were only looking at 0 TD/1 INT and freaking out definitely were overreacting. It wouldn't shock me if McCord threw a few picks in the first month, can't expect him to instantly be Stroud vs. Georgia out of the gates. The idea of Henderson being fully healthy makes me extremely excited, though. That RB room is insanely good and very deep, so I'd guess we'll see a heavy dose of the running game before the ND game. The thing I'm much more interested in, especially against a volume passing team like WKU, is how good the secondary looks. That should give us at least a decent idea going into ND.

I think McCord is more of a "gunslinger" than Stroud was. In that Brett Favre kind of way, A guy who takes more risks so because of that we will see some more INTs.

It cracks me up I see people on other message boards being "worried" about that Western Kentucky game. Their defense is going to be absolutely horrible, they only have 4 returning starters from a team that gave up 41 points to a shit tier Auburn offense. Even if they get us for a few passes they aren't going to be able to keep up all game. I won't really take much from that game even if they move the ball some on us. ND isn't going to pass at that volume (or likely as well).

 

[Across The Field]

I think McCord is more of a "gunslinger" than Stroud was. In that Brett Favre kind of way, A guy who takes more risks so because of that we will see some more INTs.

It cracks me up I see people on other message boards being "worried" about that Western Kentucky game. Their defense is going to be absolutely horrible, they only have 4 returning starters from a team that gave up 41 points to a shit tier Auburn offense. Even if they get us for a few passes they aren't going to be able to keep up all game. I won't really take much from that game even if they move the ball some on us. ND isn't going to pass at that volume (or likely as well).

There are people actually worried about WKU? Like that we might lose? Good lord people, get it together. I know they were a solid G5 team last year but like you said, their defense is horrendous. They will likely get us for a few big plays, but I'm hoping it's not until later in the game and we've already put it away.

I'm actually OK with McCord being a gunslinger. We have the weapons to make up for the mistakes, but he's going to put up a shitload of yards if that's the case and it should be fun to watch.

 

[osubuckeye89]

There are people actually worried about WKU? Like that we might lose? Good lord people, get it together. I know they were a solid G5 team last year but like you said, their defense is horrendous. They will likely get us for a few big plays, but I'm hoping it's not until later in the game and we've already put it away.

I'm actually OK with McCord being a gunslinger. We have the weapons to make up for the mistakes, but he's going to put up a shitload of yards if that's the case and it should be fun to watch.

Yes lol. Like I know our secondary struggled against Michigan and Georgia but they managed against about everyone else, even with how not good they were. WKU isn't really a big play passing offense though, they throw a ton but it's more of a nickel and dime dink and dunk game than a chuck it down the field every play game. Tackling in space will be a lot more important in that game than down field coverage. That game will probably be like a 63-21 type game, and of course the sky will be falling because we gave up 21 points.