Changing the subject: for all of OSU's keeps and portal pickups, did they find any "aliens" at defensive tackle?
There's a lot of energy around what OSU is retaining and bringing in for next year, but it seems the most important position on the field for determining National Championships the last couple years has been dominant defensive tackle play (see such "aliens" as Jalen Carter, Mason Graham, and Kenneth Grant). Will it really matter what offensive weapons they have if the line of scrimmage is still getting mutilated by Grant and Graham over and over again? Conversely, do they have anyone that can inflict that kind of damage when they don't have the ball?
Okay, did that get the subject changed? Thanks Coach Harbaugh for taking an extended sabbatical from your regular job as one of the best NFL coaches out there. You brought us back! Now go get you one! (And keep Sherrone well-supplied with the NFL DC internship program, thanks!).
January 23rd, 2024 at 10:25 PM ^
if the mercenary squad doesn’t gel an Ohio State could be going into M game with 2 losses. So could M to be fair.
Battle for a playoff berth
January 23rd, 2024 at 10:31 PM ^
That’s it though. They get Michigan at home and the rest of their schedule is trash compared to Michigan’s.
January 23rd, 2024 at 10:37 PM ^
eh, chuck, normally you are super level-headed, but while oregon isn't a gimmie, they will be greatly reduced and without bo nix. and as for PSU, they have been janklined by you guys, what, 7 out of the last 8 years, and you guys have way more stars than they do. you'll kill 'em.
January 23rd, 2024 at 11:16 PM ^
They have Dillon Gabriel and also have done well in the portal.
January 24th, 2024 at 6:32 AM ^
Just cant not be a buckeye can you Chuck? To compare your 24 schedule to ours is so eleven warriors it’s not even funny. I’ll give you our 23 schedule. I mean we didn’t have to slay the dragon that is ND, but we did make up for it the last 5 games. Thank god we cheated or lord only knows what could have happened our first 6 games.
January 24th, 2024 at 8:11 PM ^
I see you had trouble reading and comprehending what he actually wrote
January 24th, 2024 at 9:19 AM ^
That is laughable.
January 24th, 2024 at 10:55 AM ^
I usually agree with your takes Chuck, but this isn't your best work. By virtue of @OSU alone, Michigan has an appreciably tougher away schedule than does OSU (that's credit due to the buckeyes). OSU's OOC schedule features three group of five teams who combined for a 12-25 record last year. The only remotely challenging games on their schedule are the two you mentioned and the Michigan game. Michigan's top 6 opponents next year finished this year in the following rankings: 2, 3, 6(t), 10, 31, 34. Compare that to OSU: 1 (you're welcome :), 6(t), 13, 26, 31, 79.
OSU, by every measurable metric, has a favorable schedule and it isn't even close.
January 24th, 2024 at 8:13 PM ^
He literally wrote about 2 specific games only and what he wrote about them was correct.
Congrats on building up a straw man to replace what he actually wrote and burning it down.
It probably make you feel good inside.
January 23rd, 2024 at 10:18 PM ^
You'd think they would have some good OL/DL recruits in their last couple recruiting classes that maybe haven't been given the chance to start.
January 23rd, 2024 at 10:24 PM ^
One of my work buddies wants to take me to the Toilet Bowl for a game.Unfortunately not M v OSU. I am debating going.
He’s ~20 years my junior but is a good kid. Didn’t mooch on our bet for a bottle of tequila for M-OSU this year.
I can’t wait for M to win by 10 (31-21) over their $35 million mercenary squad and for heads to explode in Ohio afterwards.
January 24th, 2024 at 6:36 AM ^
After going in 06 I wouldn’t go back to that place if they gave me a winning powerball ticket.
January 24th, 2024 at 9:46 AM ^
When I was an undergrad at Michigan, I was fortunate to go to the Shoe twice - for both of Michigan's games there.
My son will be a senior at Michigan next year - and, I promised him we'd go to the Shoe for The Game. So, my plans for November 30th are already set.
Hopefully - your prediction will is accurate - nothing would be sweeter than a Michigan win in Columbus.
P.S. My son and I have been going to Michigan games since he was five years old. It will be his first visit to the Shoe. And, a few weeks ago - he asked me to join him and his crew - for the NC game against Washington. We watched it at Scorekeepers in Ann Arbor - and, I was easily the oldest fan there. Hopefully, we'll be as "pleased" leaving the Shoe as we were the evening of January 8th this year.
January 23rd, 2024 at 10:39 PM ^
Ryan Day spends the offseason in Mordor with his kind.
January 23rd, 2024 at 10:42 PM ^
after seeing the pre-game 'hype' video, i'm convinced he is a meth-addicted penguin.
January 23rd, 2024 at 11:45 PM ^
Michigan doesn’t have a QB and needs help at the WR position. Moore really needs to hit on his coordinator hires. Find an up and comer excellent recruiter for OC and Jim Leonhard for DC.
January 23rd, 2024 at 11:50 PM ^
Steve Clinkscale come on down.
January 24th, 2024 at 5:44 AM ^
First time DC to go along with a first time HC with an offensive background seems less than ideal. Moore would benefit from an experienced DC by his side.
January 24th, 2024 at 9:24 AM ^
I’d be all in on Jim Leonhard for DC, especially if Minter’s dad was kept on as assistant DC. You gotta think Minter’s dad picked up a bunch of stuff about the amoeba defense from his son, and Leonhard put some decent defenses out there without the kind of star power Michigan has returning. Keep the rest of the assistants in place including Jay H at safeties and you’d have to believe Michigan’s defense would be really good again.
For offense I’d like to see Hart handed the OC reigns. Move Newsome up to OL coach, put Campbell in charge of the passing game and qb’s and you have the makings of some good continuity for the offense.
That’s all assuming that minter goes with Harbaugh of course.
January 24th, 2024 at 6:17 AM ^
Winning is good. No, it's not just good, like Tony the Tiger would say, it's great. But while everyone is showing off their National Championship merch, let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. For all of that mauling and mutilation of that defensive line, Michigan still gave up 378 yards to those guys who play south of Ann Arbor. In that yardage total, Ohio State averaged 3.8 yards a pop running the ball. To put that in perspective, Michigan had 338 yards of offense and averaged 4.0 yards a pop.
Making the trip next season will be a brand new starting QB, taking over for a guy who had one of the top winning percentages for a starting QB ever. That new starting QB will be working behind an offensive line which is returning one starter. That new starting QB, will not be handing off to one of the greatest RB's in Michigan history and he will not be throwing to a pair of veteran WR's. Last time I checked, there were a couple of veteran players on the defensive side of the ball, who came up with huge plays who will also not be making the trip next season.
Finally, those guys who play south of Ann Arbor, may not have any aliens but unless he is injured, they will have Tyliek Williams, a 6-2, 290-pound guy playing at DT next season who will not only probably be a 1st team Big Ten DT but a 1st All American as well. He will be lining up with some teammates who will form one of the best defensive lines in the Big Ten next season. So yeah, they do have someone who can inflict that kind of damage.
When the boys from Ohio were rolling over Michigan, their fan base couldn't comprehend how that domination could end because they kept watching the previous year's game. They forgot that all the stuff which happened the year before, doesn't count for the next season. They forgot that college football, except for perhaps a Nick Saban Alabama team, it's not always a plug and play system when veterans leave. I do think that Michigan has a strong foundation in place for 2024 but I also feel too many fans are drinking the Kool Aid because the 2023 team won a National Championship.
January 24th, 2024 at 8:30 AM ^
Will we have aliens like Zinter and Keegan and Olu/Nugent to obliterate their DTs? TBD.
January 24th, 2024 at 9:04 AM ^
I'm wondering what other coaches / fans will feel about the team the Buckeyes will field this season. Will it be the best team the Buckeyes - or CFB - can buy?
January 24th, 2024 at 9:20 AM ^
Can’t think of a worse thing to start a thread about than the state of OSU football
January 24th, 2024 at 9:26 AM ^
The obvious is the over reactions to everything they do now. There is a team culture. They tell themselves they are tough. They barely scored a winning td against a nd defense with 10 men on the field and the gap the 11th player should have been is where they ran.. not only did they have numbers, the gap was completely empty and the rb barely crossed the los. Idk what's happening there but it's a team cultural thing.
They talk toughness and have a circle dance on the field before the game. Like Roman Wilson said, they didn't want it like we do. The walk back up the tunnel two years ago when you could hear and feel the fight and energy from our players ready to go was telling. It's been telling! They can bring in anyone they want. I'm looking forward to the fight again next year!
January 24th, 2024 at 11:39 AM ^
And culture is built with familararity. Half of our team including the 23 recruiting class is going to be new. OSU's roster will be similar to ours in 2023. I wouldn't discount their defense against a new OL. Tyliek Williams is a pro prospect and the OL and DL have some 22/23 prospects that are rated pretty high. Our DL didn't exactly blow up their OL last year. Let's not get over our ski's. It's going to be a battle in C-Bus.
January 24th, 2024 at 2:46 PM ^
Offensive line seems to be their biggest hurdle. Whether that is coaching, or whether that is the talent pool I am not sure. They stink against better teams though.