OT: Ohio State parts way with OL coach Greg Studwara
After 6 seasons and Studwara was one of the remaining holdovers from Urban's coaching staff.
Article mentions that the leading candidate to replace Studwara is IU Hoosier alumnus, Justin Frye, who is currently Chip Kelly's OC/OL coach at UCLA.
This is the 2nd coach Ohio State that has lost this offseason, the other being STC/DB/interim DC Matt Barnes, who accepted a position to be Memphis's new DC.
January 6th, 2022 at 1:40 PM ^
I really do wonder if Hutchinson/Ojabo got him canned
January 6th, 2022 at 2:08 PM ^
It definitely played a role, but I think overall this season was very underwhelming for the O-line.
During the offseason, there was so much talk about this being the most athletic and talented O-line for Ohio State in a long time. So much so, that 3x All-B1G OT Thayer Munford voluntarily decided to move inside to LG in order to open up a spot for Jr. Dawand Jones at RT, and sliding NPF to LT. However, O-line as a whole wasn't bad this season, but it wasn't the dominant force expected/hyped.
A little context though, Studwara got back surgery this offseason, and rumored to have missed a lot of practices as a complication of the surgery. A lot of the O-line coaching happened via a grad assistant with remote instruction.
January 6th, 2022 at 2:35 PM ^
Sounds like OSU is overreacting to their loss to Michigan.
January 6th, 2022 at 2:43 PM ^
I was gonna say - starting Tackles at Guard is never an optimal decision, even if they're all 5 stars.
Looks like Justin Frye is a Ryan Day guy dating back to Temple and BC, so they're definitely doubling down with the pass balanced philosophy.
January 6th, 2022 at 3:26 PM ^
They've been doing this for a while in terms of playing 4 or 5 tackles out there. 2018 was the first time I think I really noticed it - I think that was the year they put Isiah Prince at center (at 6' 7" I think). Their run game suffered in 2018 probably partially because they had 5 tackles out there, and Dwayne Haskins didn't keep much. However, it also contributed to the destruction of the M defense because it was very difficult to get much quick pressure against those guys, and Haskins was very very good when he had time. Fields being a run threat overcame any deficiency to the run game the "4 tackles" (pretty sure this is when Harry Miller came in at C, who is C/G shaped) strategy caused.
This year, Wypler at C was definitely C/G shaped but everyone else was still basically a tackle, and you were back to minimal QB run threat. Combine that with not leaving in much help against two first round NFL DE talents, and it finally really bit them in The Game, where they couldn't protect very long and really couldn't open holes anywhere in the interior - recall that their most successful run plays were outside zone.
January 6th, 2022 at 6:19 PM ^
Can't argue with any of that, well said. Bottom line, with the talent OSU has, they should be able to run for 2-3 yards to get a first down, that was simply lacking this year. When you're throwing on 3rd or 4th and short on a regular basis, you have an offensive line problem. Add on the false starts, bad snaps, and getting blown off the ball consistently...some new eyes and guidance are needed. I don't know anything about the projected hire, fingers crossed he's an upgrade and not just being Day's friend that is getting him the job.
Losing to UM is rough, we knew heads were going to roll this offseason. Probably not done yet either.
January 7th, 2022 at 1:04 PM ^
Isaiah Prince never played center, he was the RT in 2018. He plays for the Dolphins.
January 6th, 2022 at 2:44 PM ^
Not entirely, a lot of people were kind of surprised when Day opt to keep Studwara post-Urban. Studwara is a decent O-Line coach, but definitely one of the weaker recruiters on the staff.
January 6th, 2022 at 4:37 PM ^
Seems they could slide by with a weak recruiter or two on that staff.
January 6th, 2022 at 4:41 PM ^
Ding ding ding.
January 6th, 2022 at 1:41 PM ^
Bet this really caught him on his heels.
January 6th, 2022 at 2:02 PM ^
He might have been laying down on the job.
January 6th, 2022 at 2:04 PM ^
Really bowled over by the news.
January 6th, 2022 at 3:23 PM ^
It seems like he got sacked
January 6th, 2022 at 4:33 PM ^
It was a defensive end.
January 6th, 2022 at 7:58 PM ^
January 6th, 2022 at 1:44 PM ^
They decided he wasn't the stud they wanted him to be?
January 6th, 2022 at 2:21 PM ^
/waves hand in front of guards
This is not the stud you are looking for
January 6th, 2022 at 1:47 PM ^
Ugh I hate when OSU does something entirely advisable. Someone teach Ryan Day some loyalty, dammit! Where is Urban Meyer and his ethics when you need them
January 6th, 2022 at 4:00 PM ^
Urban's loyalty was one of his biggest problems and what eventually got him into problems at OSU with dipshit Zach Smith.
January 6th, 2022 at 5:04 PM ^
My god that was the worst thing about him at OSU. He hired his fucking best man at his wedding to be LB coach which turned out to be horrid. Instead of telling Warriner to stay at OL coach after the national championship year, he let him be OC the next year and that cost us a natty. Say what you will about Smith, but he was an ace recruiter. His loyalty to his grandpa had a huge say in him being kept on staff. Shit coach and probably human, but an elite recruiter.
January 6th, 2022 at 6:14 PM ^
Pretty east when you’re handing out envelopes of cash.
January 6th, 2022 at 9:02 PM ^
"probably"
January 6th, 2022 at 1:48 PM ^
Coach Stud was always a really good dude (at least back in the day). His wife taught some classes I was in at BG and he was there with Urban when I was working as an ATC there. He was always one of the nicer, better coaches and to me always seemed like one of the smartest of the group.
I can't remember urbans strength coach but he was a royal asshole. Not like a normal strength coach "tough guy" but a genuine jerkoff.
Nothing bad to say about Coach Stud or his wife thought they were good people
January 6th, 2022 at 1:57 PM ^
I don't question your experience with them. I struggle with anyone who spent any time with Urban Liar and isn't repulsed by him ethically. Leads me to believe they are somehow depraved.
January 6th, 2022 at 3:08 PM ^
That's actually fair, I think in this case you have to remember (well I don't think most people would know) he played at Bowling Green so he just has a huge heart for BG. He was there under Meyer but also stayed after under the new coach (I think Greg Brandon but recall I left after the new coaches first year). He then went from bowling green to I believe LSU. But in his younger years at BG he seemed like one of the "good guys".
I only say that because Urban was a douche bag then but he was your typical cocky 30 something coach douche and not someone I would have called completely immoral or unethical. I think his slide of ethics was more aggressive the bigger he got.
Certainly I wouldn't be able to comment on Stud's time with Meyer at osu and/or why he came and if it because of his draw to meyer. Really I couldn't comment about him as a person now either since I've had no contact since my time at BG almost 17 years ago now.
January 6th, 2022 at 4:32 PM ^
Are you a life coach ?
January 6th, 2022 at 5:09 PM ^
Working as a college athletic trainer I often felt like it! But no i work in the athletic training/sports med realm. I've not been directly working at/in the college or pro setting for some time and merged over to the medical device world. My job now still brings me into to many schools around the country though so that parts still fun.
January 6th, 2022 at 1:55 PM ^
Wasn't he also the dictator of Indonesia in the 1960s? I think he went by just one name back then...
January 6th, 2022 at 2:09 PM ^
Sukarno was the first Indonesian strongman, but he was ousted in a bloody coup by General Suharto, who was much more autocratic than Sukarno was.
January 6th, 2022 at 2:12 PM ^
"The Year of Living Dangerously" was a great flick.
January 6th, 2022 at 2:32 PM ^
Never heard of that film - thanks!
January 6th, 2022 at 2:34 PM ^
Thanks, but FYI, I didn't actually think OSU had a 120-year-old Indonesian d-line coach... :-D
January 6th, 2022 at 8:14 PM ^
He was the best man and Urban's great grandfather's wedding. Loyalty.
January 6th, 2022 at 2:13 PM ^
The Ohio running game this year was pretty mediocre, especially in big games. Plus the pass blocking got badly exposed by UM. Not sure if Frye would leave a job as OC at UCLA for a lower job at Ohio.
Clearly this team was pass heavy and had trouble inside the 20 and had to settle for a lot of FGs UM fixed that problem late in the season).
January 6th, 2022 at 2:23 PM ^
Justin Frye is also born and raised in Indiana, so it could be enticing to come back to the Midwest. Additionally, Frye has worked with Day at two different coaching stops.
January 6th, 2022 at 2:46 PM ^
That is Chip Kelly's offense just as this would be Ryan Day's offense, and while there would be maybe a drop in title (though they might make him "run-game coordinator" or something) I assume it would be an increase in pay. UCLA is notoriously cheap when it comes to athletics.
January 6th, 2022 at 5:57 PM ^
If you listen to OSU followers, a huge part of their running attack - or lack of it - was due to Studwara using his 4 best lineman - all OTs - as starters. And it just wasn't our game as rumors about him being gone have been circulating for the last 1 to 2 years.
But probably the biggest problem group for OSU over the last 2 to 3 years are their LBs coached by Washington - the former DL coach at Michigan. OSU was laughing when they "stole" him away but how did that work out? He's probably the next to go
January 6th, 2022 at 2:18 PM ^
I personally enjoy OSU very clearly making two coaching changes as a direct result of losing to us
January 6th, 2022 at 2:59 PM ^
TBF, they were hiring a new DC regardless of outcome on 11/27. They would have gotten rocked by UGA or Bama just like UM did. That D was a mess for most of the year when playing competent, physical offenses.
January 6th, 2022 at 6:12 PM ^
Actually, that defense has been a mess for 2 years now. Think back to 2020. A few teams drilled them including Indiana who damn near came back to beat them when Penix went nuts on them. Day's biggest mistake was making Coombs the DC - a position he had no previous experince at.
So yes, we were probably partly responsible for the OSU coaching changes but so were many others. Many OSU followers thought these changes should have been made last year
January 6th, 2022 at 3:00 PM ^
On the other hand, them calling it a fluke and doing nothing would be even better lol
January 6th, 2022 at 2:29 PM ^
January 6th, 2022 at 2:43 PM ^
They don't care enough about football in California, so I doubt its an epic meltdown.
January 6th, 2022 at 3:02 PM ^
The fans who like Chip Kelly are putting a LOT of faith in Frye to help right Kelly's ship. So the meltdown might be small scale epic, but it will be epic.
and, Oh good, Provincial negative stereotyping of a kind that is never, ever, boring or predictable!
January 6th, 2022 at 3:17 PM ^
IDK about self scout, but Frye and Day go back together at both Temple and BC
January 6th, 2022 at 3:26 PM ^
All 27 UCLA fans are incensed!
January 6th, 2022 at 3:37 PM ^
given that petit frere got destroyed - i kinda wish he went to msu instead...
January 6th, 2022 at 3:40 PM ^
My boss is an IU grad and four year starter on their football team. He knows Justin and told me this was happening. I came here to collaborate the story.
Also heard Ryan Day is playing footsies with the Chicago Bears so he can get a salary increase at Ohio. We’ll see!
January 6th, 2022 at 4:47 PM ^
Corroborate.