Bill O'Brien to OSU as OC?
January 18th, 2024 at 8:11 PM ^
I'd say this is a positive development for Michigan as he's been less than impressive since showing up at PSU so many years ago.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:50 PM ^
I think he did a good job at PSU in keeping that program from falling off a cliff after the Sandusky scandal. But he hasn't done much since then.
January 18th, 2024 at 9:06 PM ^
I'd agree with that
January 18th, 2024 at 11:00 PM ^
Not exactly a very modern, forward-thinking offensive mind. I wouldn’t be thrilled if i were Ohio.
January 19th, 2024 at 4:36 AM ^
All you need to know is that of all the former Nick Saban assistants, Bill O'Brien was not rumored or seriously considered to be his replacement. Bama saw his work for two years under Saban and passed on him.
O'Brien's players tolerate him because he is in a position of authority but would not run through a brick wall for him.
O'Brien will turn as well as OSU for Doug Nussmeier & Josh Gattis did for Michigan.
January 19th, 2024 at 5:51 AM ^
I’m personally hoping more Nussmeier than Gattis; say what you will about the man, but he didn’t screw up 2021.
I also wouldn’t mind Ohio State falling into a pit for a decade or two, but that’s just me.
January 18th, 2024 at 9:12 PM ^
He did a decent job against Hoke-era Michigan. So, there's that measuring stick.
January 18th, 2024 at 9:38 PM ^
The 2013 game was almost as much Hoke losing it as it was PSU winning it, that game still pisses me off.
January 18th, 2024 at 10:41 PM ^
Very much in agreement. I don’t think I had ever been more pissed off after a game. Just the definition of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory— feat Michigan running backs getting a whopping 27 carries for 27 yards behind the Oline “coached” by Darrell Funk, the defense totally imploding at the end of regulation with Channing Stribbling getting Moss’ed by Allen Robinson, and Michigan having like 2 or 3 separate chances in OT to win it with would-have-been game winning field goals that all fucking missed… all at night on prime time TV.
January 19th, 2024 at 6:31 AM ^
I don’t think you can look at Darrell Funk as the primary culprit for the 2013 offensive line. In 2010 RichRod signed a recruiting class with one OL recruit in it. One. And in the 2011 recruiting class there were three recruited by RichRod, one of whom (a kid from Florida named Tony Posada) quit football altogether during fall camp in August 2011. So at the start of the 2011 season we had a total of three OL recruits from those two classes who should have been the core of the offensive line in 2013 and 2014. Instead we were forced to hope that Hoke’s 2012 and 2013 OL recruits would be ready early, and they weren’t. That hole in our recruiting was a ticking time bomb. All this isn’t to say Funk wasn’t part of the problem; I honestly have no opinion on that. But you have to go a little deeper than just pointing the finger at whoever happened to be the OL coach at the time.
January 19th, 2024 at 8:18 AM ^
I wasn’t singling out Darrell Funk as the only responsible party— there were obviously a lot more factors involved as you laid out and it wasn’t meant to be an in-depth critical analysis of that seasons Oline—I was mainly just pointing out that he wasn’t exactly doing stellar work with the unit.
January 19th, 2024 at 7:25 AM ^
That was the only game I can remember legit screaming at the TV until I just... stopped. My rage broke that night, and didn't really reignite until Shane Morris/Minnesota happened.
January 18th, 2024 at 11:40 PM ^
Well that seems meaningless
January 18th, 2024 at 9:57 PM ^
This seems to be a minority opinion but I actually don’t think this is bad hire. O’Brien sucks as an NFL OC, but has been pretty solid in college
January 18th, 2024 at 10:07 PM ^
Alabama fans hated him
January 19th, 2024 at 7:50 AM ^
That’s fair. Nick Baumgardner also made a good point on Twitter. Day is supposed to be this offensive guru as HC, so by hiring O’Brien, why is Day even still the HC? I’m not sure why OSU fans think that Day going into more of a CEO role will solve their issues
January 19th, 2024 at 8:53 AM ^
It was a good point from Nick. I wonder if Day's "we're tough now!" mantra is behind this. Just as we brought in McDonald to install a defense that could solve OSU, perhaps the thought is to bring in a new OC who, unlike Day, knows how to put a running game together that can score more than 23 points in The Game. .
January 18th, 2024 at 8:13 PM ^
3rd base is hiring his future replacement?
January 18th, 2024 at 8:31 PM ^
That would require hiring someone with better potential. Bill O'Brien ain't that.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:45 PM ^
3rd base, meet 2nd base.
January 18th, 2024 at 9:13 PM ^
At this point, I'd honestly be more afraid of what Schiano could do with OSU talent, than 3rd base. He just clearly doesn't have the mettle.
January 18th, 2024 at 9:28 PM ^
Not worried about Schiano but in C-Bus they are doing all they can to try to get the suicide squeeze to bring third base home. I don't think they will be able to handle it when we put the tag on Day.
January 18th, 2024 at 10:25 PM ^
Imagine the meltdown if Sherrone Moore takes Alex Orji into Columbus and leaves with a win.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:13 PM ^
😂😂😂😂
OSU fans are losing their sh*t about this and it’s hilarious to read all the negative comments
January 18th, 2024 at 10:15 PM ^
Mixed reviews, but I am of the opinion that this is a pretty solid hire.
Ryan Day's top priority was to find an seasoned OC/QB coach that had play-calling experience, could take over the offense almost completely, and would have the time to mentor co-OC Brian Hartline.
I think last season's departure of OC Kevin Wilson to Tulsa was incredibly impactful, and very evident this year. Within the program, people had always referred to Wilson as the "architect" and Day as the "innovator" of the offensive game plan - meaning Day would be the one that came up with creative plays, but Wilson was the one that implement them and made sure they would fit well in the scheme. Wilson was also the primary game-script coach, which allowed Day to be a better game-day play-caller. These were not roles that a first-time OC in Brian Hartline could take over immediately in his first year in the role ever, which meant the bulk of that offensive work got shifted to Ryan Day this season.
Now with BoB, Day once again has a grizzled/seasoned vet that knows how to independently operate an offense and implement his own scheme/vision. Whether or not they'll have the same symbiotic working relationship as Day/Wilson remains to be seen, but overall not disappointed in this hire. It'll likely be Ryan Day's base offense with Bill O'Brien's twists/style added in.
January 19th, 2024 at 4:12 AM ^
I find it amusing that OSU essentially self immolated because of a six point road loss to the eventual National Champion. All they had to do was literally nothing different and with McCord returning, Michigan losing a lot of key players, and playing at home next year they would have almost assuredly won The Game. I think every Michigan fan is grateful that OSU decided to give Michigan a chance for four in a row.
January 19th, 2024 at 7:23 AM ^
Self-immolated in what way?
So far the big changes have been:
- Replacing QB coach Corey Dennis with OC/QB coach BoB. Dennis was a really decent recruiter, but the on-field QB coaching has always been Ryan Day - whether that is because of Dennis’s inexperience with the position, or Day’s insistence to be QB coach. This moves helps to off-load the QB coaching to someone that has a proven track record.
- McCord transferring because he only has 1 year to eligibility left and didn’t want to spend it at a program where he could potentially lose a starting role
- Firing STC Parker Fleming, who has had 3 years of aggressively average ST play. This year was particularly bad because there were a lot of technical and schematic gaffes on special teams that shouldn’t be the case with a full-time dedicated STC.
- Replacing S coach Perry Eliano with Matt Guerrieri (IU DC) - Admittedly, this was not my favorite move. Safety play was a strength of the defense the last couple of seasons, but Eliano by all accounts has been a very weak recruiter. He has missed on every major recruiting target the last two cycles and one of them was KJ Bolden, who is Eliano’s cousin’s son. Bolden said that playing for family was a huge advantage, but somehow Eliano still couldn’t seal the deal.
January 19th, 2024 at 7:56 AM ^
If you can’t admit that there is clearly a “do or die” sense of panic, in Columbus rn from Day then your scarlet glasses are blinding you. All of Day’s moves this offseason reek of desperation and “I need to change things up or else” but I’m also not actually sure if some of these moves are positives
January 19th, 2024 at 6:10 PM ^
Idk, staffing changes don’t really move the needle for me at this point.
One of the things I like about Ryan Day over Urban Meyer is Day’s ability to separate personal relationships with work relationships. Meyer held onto under-performing staff for way too long due to his nepotism practices [i.e. Zach Smith (grandson of Urban's mentor), Bill Davis (literal best man at Urban's wedding)].
Since taking over as HC, Day has made major staffing changes almost every offseason:
- 2019:
- Fires co-DCs Greg Schiano, Alex Grinch
- Brings in Co-DCs Jeff Hafley & Greg Mattison, Co-OC/QB coach Mike Yurcich
- 2020:
- Brings in co-DC Kerry Coombs to replace Jeff Hafley
- Fires Co-OC/QB coach Mike Yurcich
- 2021:
- Promotes Parker Fleming to STC
- Demotes Kerry Coombs midseason to co-DC, elevates Matt Barnes to Co-DC
- 2022:
- Fires Co-DCs Kerry Coombs, Matt Barnes, LB coach Al Washington, OL coach Greg Studwara
- Brings in DC Jim Knowles, OL coach Justin Frye, S coach Perry Eliano, CB coach Tim Walton
- 2024:
- Fires STC Parker Fleming, S coach Eliano, demote QB coach Corey Dennis
- Brings in lead OC/QB coach BoB, S coach Matt Guerrieri
Ryan Day's MO has been pretty consistent as a head coach, he gives you two full seasons to turn in results. If Day does not think you are carrying your weight by the end of your 2nd full season, then your time on his staff is up.
January 19th, 2024 at 10:44 AM ^
Saw a podcast interview with McCord in which he said Day told him to go; leaving was not his initial plan. I'd say that might qualify as self-immolation-ish.
January 19th, 2024 at 6:20 PM ^
I'm assuming you meant this interview by "The QB Room"
If so, I don't think McCord ever explicitly said that he was told to transfer by Ryan Day. The direct quote was:
“You guys know it just as well as I do, at the end of the day, the top level of college football and then especially onto the pros, it’s a business. At the end of the day, Ohio State had to make a business decision that they felt was best for them, and I had to do the same thing, and unfortunately it just wasn’t meant to be for next year."
That as direct as McCord was willing to answer that question during the podcast. There was "insiders" that said McCord and his father (Derek McCord) met with Ryan Day the Saturday after the Michigan game, and asked for a guarantee that Kyle would be the starting QB for his senior year (2024-2025). Day was unwilling to commit to that guarantee, but did say that McCord would be the leading candidate in the competition for the following season. How true that conversation actually was, we will never know... but whatever the case, McCord was not willing to bet on himself staying the starter at Ohio State, and he only had 1 season of eligibility left, so he had to make a "business decision" to find that guarantee elsewhere.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:15 PM ^
This seems like Day trying to save his job.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:24 PM ^
This, it feels like the program is in full panic mode
January 18th, 2024 at 11:47 PM ^
Absolutely true.
January 18th, 2024 at 9:59 PM ^
This whole offseason has screamed panic mode. Huge NIL spending, bringing in a running QB, bringing in a top RB, convincing guys who should leave to come back. I think the clear panic all but confirms that OSU organized the whole Stalions investigation because that was their best attempt at stopping us and it failed
January 18th, 2024 at 10:01 PM ^
Considering the ohio state mouth breathers still have "You don't fire a coach that is 56-8" on indefinite repeat he could probably drop his drawers, take a dump on the block o in ohio stadium and they would probably give him a contract extension.
January 19th, 2024 at 6:17 AM ^
For sure, but you've got to give him credit for the many moves he has made thus far. I don't know what his day-to-day life is like right now in Columbus in regard to the pressure and criticism he faces, but it's probably heavy. These moves should quiet some of that I would think.
January 19th, 2024 at 8:42 AM ^
As much as I want OSU to take a nose dive, I don't see any signs of them getting significantly worse. The OSU staff didn't drive Marvin Harrison to declare for the draft. Losing McCord is a blow, but the flurry of declarations and portal entrants following their 0-2 end to the season didn't really happen. As much as I hate to admit it, Jim Knowles looks like a good hire. Adding an actual OC might be a good move.
These guys aren't playing around -- saddle up!
January 18th, 2024 at 8:15 PM ^
As long as Day stays in charge of pre-game rituals, we should be OK.
January 18th, 2024 at 9:05 PM ^
This year they need a skull session and a pre-game toot session. That'll do it for sure!
January 18th, 2024 at 9:41 PM ^
He had a pre-game toot session this past year too.
January 18th, 2024 at 9:39 PM ^
The dude can blow his whistle to a terrible beat though.
January 19th, 2024 at 6:10 AM ^
As I'm sure he would love to, he doesn't look like he's flexible enough to pull it off.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:16 PM ^
Better him (for us) than Joe Moorhead, whom I know there was talk of.
That aside, their goal seems to be a more balanced attack vs basketball on grass so maybe he can help there.
January 18th, 2024 at 9:17 PM ^
Day can dream all he wants. But, just like Sarkisian, some coaches can't help but resorting to passing when they should be running.
January 18th, 2024 at 9:22 PM ^
Whoever gave Day the thought that committing to a strong running game was a good idea?
January 18th, 2024 at 8:18 PM ^
I don't know why they even need an offensive coordinator. They have 11 rbs for all those pass plays they run on every down. Didn't you hear? They're stacked!
January 18th, 2024 at 8:22 PM ^
Speaking of new OSU personnel, there's local talk (https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/college/football/2024/01/18/caleb-downs-transfer-ohio-state-georgia-alabama-stats/72270144007/) that they might be positioned well for this guy:
https://247sports.com/Player/caleb-downs-46097147/high-school-245024/
I understand that the program has a high ceiling at baseline. Will it ever regress to more reasonable levels (say, Tressel) of recruiting?
January 18th, 2024 at 8:33 PM ^
Time to release the binders full of dirt on OSU
January 18th, 2024 at 8:34 PM ^
I’d have to guess they’re the favorite to win the national championship next year. If Day cannot beat Michigan and get to the title game (have it be at least close) I don’t know how he keeps a job next year. They are going to be pretty stacked next year but not totally sold on the qb.