Can the Ohio State Defensive Line Slow Down Clemson's Passing Attack?

2:55PM Dec 23, 2020

Speakers:

Tom Orr

Tony Gerdeman

Keywords:

ohio state

clemson

game

year

points

losing

ohio state fans

marcus

college football playoff

people

defense

defensive line

dabo

week

tweeted

usc

play

lawrence

win

jambalaya

Hello, everybody, welcome to the Buckeye weekly podcast. I am Tony Gerdeman. Here, as always with Tom or Tom, how's it going?

oni we could get in the car and drive to New Orleans in like, five days, I'm actually like, this is gonna sound sarcastic. I'm actually really looking forward to it. This is going to be super fun. I'm legitimately excited to get to go and cover a college football playoff semi final for the second time in 12 months.

Yeah,

we got the notice the other day that yes, you too have been approved for credentials. And I got the notice at like midnight, on Monday night and I was new knowing that I would be getting one hoping that we would get a photo credential for you. And or assuming I would get one hoping for you. And then we both got him and I was gonna text you. But like I said, it was like midnight, and I know you go to bed at like a 30. Because you got to get up at like six.

And then when I get up at six, I don't have to get up as kicks. I'm just blessed to get up at six because I have children in my home. And then when I get up at six, and I email you back all excited. Yay, we got credentials. I know, four hours or so from now Tony's gonna wake up and see this and go Yes, agreed. Hooray. Now, when you were hoping for me to get a photopass was that so you don't have to sit next to me in the press box? Or were you hoping that I'd be able to take photos what was behind your joy,

I like having you in the press box. Because then we can talk and I know who I'm going to be talking to because as you know, I do a lot of talking during the game. It's just like, I know, it's like, I bet just a field service here or I'll hand it off, you know. And if you're not there, but now we're like so spread out anyway, it's hard to like just, you know, talk back and forth. Because the big two championship game you are shoulder to shoulder in the press box. And this this past year, we were at least like six, eight feet between people and it's some nice elbow room. But the chatting is left to a bit of a minimum you have to kind of talk loudly, which again, is not an issue for people on the Ohio State beat.

No, some of them get yelled at in game in the press box. Yeah, no, this is this has been a very this has been a very weird because normally Yeah, we're up there and we're around people and obviously we're talking to each other. But we also know we're friends with a bunch of other people on the beat. So turn and talk to whoever's in the inside of us. And now it's like you turn and talk to someone and they've got earphones in because you're listening to something or they're just typing in this but what what it's like if you're talking to someone who's to sit down from you, it's like you probably need a megaphone so yeah, it's been a little different this year but that's okay. But maybe outside the football stadium who's to say

there you go and so at least we'll we'll be there will be you know, all kinds of coverage leading up to us and fun stuff on the way there certainly some fun stuff while we're there even content wise probably maybe maybe we might even do some work who's to say

Marcus it as soon as Mark listen says well know the markets listened to because we'll get a text. Hey, you guys are buckled down.

Yeah, exactly. You guys haven't turned out any content yet. The game has been over for three days. You guys okay? What game

But who?

But I hear it's it's pretty. Pretty muted in New Orleans right now on the Bourbon Street and all of that. And some of the bars are like 25% capacity and they close at 11. And so they're gonna fat more stark.

The universe is making your life choices for you. That's good. That's good. That's probably a good thing for is for you. For the listeners. Yes. So

yeah, keep that in mind. take that to heart and be like, You know what? I guess maybe I don't need to, you know, double fist all the way from one place to the other up and down the street. Maybe I should just go home and wake up in the morning.

Or you'll think I better get started early. Forget it's five o'clock somewhere. It's 230 man like what he's working for?

Yeah. Do we want to get to the the second part of our q&a that way? You know people have something to listen to today. And because we have to stop record stop talking so that we can finish start targeting.

Right? Yeah, yeah, we have to start talking stop talking so we can start talking so then eventually we can stop talking again. Perfect. All right, first one from our buddy at Sun card 19. Is there any chance they line weight up at slot corner so he can Blitz Lawrence? Since the game won't be played on skates this year? Is there any chance Clemson can win and if you're I mean, if you don't remember last year's game, the footing on the field at the festival is not fantastic. The grass at the that is this is an artificial turf field. The Superdome in out in Glendale. It's grass cut super, super short. It's almost like a like a putting green, like that short. And then once you have a stadium full of people and it's relatively cheap Cool out. All those people breathing, get gets all this condensation on the grass and then you just slide your foot across the grass and it just, it's like ice. I mean, it was the craziest thing. Even before the game, it was kind of slippery. And then towards the end of the game, it was like, oh man, that was, I remember right before the game, ending interception. I think I tweeted a video of me sliding my foot on the grass like this is how slippery it is right now. And then crystal Ave broke one way and kind of slipped and Nolan Turner broke another way and then and then we get to go home and we didn't have to go to New Orleans. So So yeah, so that was a that was that's the that's the footing. I don't know if the footing is going to make a material difference, but i don't i don't think they're moving weight inside you.

And here's I don't because then the problem is Who do you put outside? But if they were like, you know in terms of the blitzing the quarter blitzing this year has been bad. It's been. It's been a waste. We know Shaun Wade is a pretty good Blitzer. We also know that Clemson's best receiver is Omari Rogers, their slot guy. He leaves them in catches, leaves them in yards, had a big week against North Notre Dame, and the acc championship game last week. So while I you know, I don't I don't think it's a terrible idea to match up your best corner with the best receiver. But I don't know what you do outside then do you put Marcus waves in outside? Do you bring in Tyreke Johnson who they are, you know, kind of don't want to play, certainly don't want to put it put a freshman out there. So it's almost like you, you just keep it as it is, and then give Williamson some help. Because I think that's an area where Clemson is going to be able to take advantage has not been a great year for Marcus Williamson. And now he's going against, I guess the best slot receiver he's seen this year, and certainly the best quarterback. So those two things may not go well together. But there would be time to just move some things around if they want to do I just don't I don't expect it. But I don't think it's out of this. I don't think it's a bad idea. I just don't think the options are available for them to do that.

Yeah, if cam Brown was still around, I think that's a viable option. But you've got Sevyn Banks outside right now. And then it's like, if you don't trust Marcus Williamson inside moving Marcus Williamson outside is not going to be good either. So yeah, they're just like they're just one spot short right now. Like they really need cam brown for this game and they don't have them and with the freshmen not having gotten the reps that they normally would have gotten and you know, legend Cavazos haven't been banged up a bunch this year anyway, and just a bunch of practice. I mean, he's not where he would have been for a couple different reasons during normal year. So yeah, there's just that I think, I mean, that goes right towards the top of my list of concerns for Ohio State in this game is, you know, who, who covers Omari Rogers because if the other team's best player, or one of the other opposing team's best players anyway, Trevor Lawrence is also pretty good. Travis etn also pretty good. But yeah, if if the opposing slot receiver is going to come to the slot corner who you're not suit, you have a super amount of faith in that's, that's like that's an issue waiting to happen. So they're gonna have to like Oh, hell, if it's gonna have to solve that one scheme wise, probably rather than moving personnel around kind of wise. Yep. Next one from our buddy, Marcus Hartman at Marcus Hartman of the Dayton Daily News. gumbo or jump Elia. I have a strong opinion here. But do you have Do you have a strong opinion? Well, I

have a strong opinion in that. gumbo is, while it's great, it's still just a soup. Mm hmm. And Jamila, Jamila, it is a meal. And so if you have an option between soup and a meal, you take the meal, and especially when it's got all kinds of stuff in it, you know, I i've, I honestly I assume I've had jambalaya at some point. You know, you've had every, every every nationality has their own version of it, whether it's like goulash or pi a, you know, and it's all good. And it's all just, you know, meat, rice, spices, sauce, you know, whatever. So, yeah, I'm totally I'm looking forward to July I have to figure out how much is coming out of our pockets for certain meals and how much is coming out of that like the any type of per diem because the bulls do provide food but this year, it's just going to be grabbing gal time. I don't think they're going to do grab and go jambalaya. Just really too

bad like this is this is absolutely one of those towns where it's like, man, I can't wait to go down there and just eat all the great foods. It's like, um, I'm not sure a cardboard box of gumbo is gonna work out great. I don't think I mean, I'm not like a material scientist, but that just doesn't seem like it's going to work out fantastic. So yeah, well, we'll probably eat a few mail. A few meals away from the away from the media center because yeah, I mean, everywhere. We've gone this year. The The media food has been like a lot of kind of sandwiches and that kind of stuff, which I'm sure I've said this before but I'll say it again like I am not going to complain about any kind of food any point this year because it's like everyone is like everyone's having some budget issues and you have some convenience factor issues and some limitations on what you can serve and the way you have to serve things so But yeah, I will probably be efforting Some will probably be some efforting some poboys and jambalaya while we were while we are down there for sure.

I wonder the grab and go meals since you like New Orleans you can it's open carry in terms of alcohol Do they like to drink

kind of lunch? Or we haven't

you know, do they also like some drinks with you as well? Do you get a hurricane with your with your boy?

Oh, man, if they have those in the press box you are gonna be it's gonna be a feisty postgame show.

The arguments that some people can get into in the press box with with a gigantic, you know, plastic slash Beating Stick.

Audio sub tweets, the best kind, please fix it for at forthright fits. Well, the Ohio State defensive line create enough pressure to help the back end slow down Clemson's passing attack. I mean, it's gonna have to. I don't. I mean, we just we just went through the back end. And it's like, yeah, they're there at least at least one player short, and maybe two players short and Clemson. clemson. Clemson's coaches have probably watched the film demos when he said it did not take them very long to go through the film. Since they were only six games. I'm gonna guess that they have identified the defensive backfield as a potential source of weakness for Ohio State. I think you might see a bunch of four wide formations from Clemson to try and get as many defensive backs on the field. Because once things thinned out a little bit, it's like, oh, boy, so do you put a you know, do you try and put a linebacker on one of those wide receivers? Do you throw out one of the defensive back you don't really you're not real confident in like, what do it is going to be on that defensive line at Ohio State. And that's worth mentioning, when I had Matt Connelly on the morning scoop on Tuesday morning, he was a beat writer for the state newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina covered Clemson I asked him, you know, where are the areas where Clemson is better than last year where the areas and they're worse than last year offensive line was one of the areas where they're worse. So the you know, the recipe for a win for Ohio State is probably dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Because if they don't, if the pass rush can't get there, and the pat you know, and they're forcing those defensive backs to cover four seconds, that's, that's not gonna work. They're gonna they have to they have to generate a pass rush they have to get get, you know, Lawrence under pressure, they do not have the ability to bring six guys to do it. Because then you're, you know, pretty short handed in the defensive backfield. So, they're gonna they're gonna have they're gonna live and die with that defensive line, I think.

Yeah, and when you're talking about schematically helping Marcus Williamson, a lot of that starts up front with that's, that's where the pass rush or the past defense starts is with that defensive line, by you talking about spreading is dead out like four wides and then then you spread the defense out, and then you can you can run it with Travis Etienne, against a depleted box or attack. defensive backs at Ohio State's maybe not comfortable with having out there. And you mentioned that thing and it's like, well, you're right. I mean, Ohio State will have they'll take one of their better players off being a linebacker they'll be putting out Who knows. You'll have like, Marcus Walker, I see. We'll be back Josh Proctor, and then Marcus Williamson, along with the two corners and that's it. Yeah, that's that's a concern when you've got hooker and Williamson out there together and then knowing that they're still gonna be running the ball out of that. And if those guys are looking just peeking in the backfield a little bit too much, then they could be get beat deep. And also, if Ohio State is turning and running with a bunch of man coverage, Trevor Lawrence could take off. We know that he beat them almost single handedly last year so maybe there's more zone maybe they spent some time mixing in some zones and during the during the ramp up and maybe that's another way to help Marcus Williamson and in Marcus occur as well. I don't think you can just bit necessarily always Ohio State could just go with what they've been doing. You get to change up a little something so that Trevor Lawrence isn't just seeing what he's expecting to see.

Yeah, I mean, they're gonna have to do a bunch of stuff that they're just gonna have to throw a bunch of stuff at the wall and see what sticks because there is not a clean, easy answer. Like there was last year when it was Okay, why don't you have Jeff Okuda and Shaun Wade and Damon Arnett and Jordan fuller out there and they'll cover the wide receivers and it's like, Okay, well, they have one of those guys now. And then question mark. So, you know, to you know, last year Josh Proctor was the, you know, the backup plan B guy who they weren't really ready to trust and now he's six games later. It's like, all right, well, Josh Proctor is the surest bet they have out there outside of Shaun Wade like is not ideal. The best thing Ohio State can do. Looking at the defensive backfield, number one, get a real good pass rush get a lot of pressure on feel on Lawrence. Number two, score 45 points. That is my my recommendation. If Ryan Day calls me and says What should we do? I would say score 45 points and hope that's enough. Because I don't this does not seem like a game Ohio State's winning 3128

and when he tells you Okay, well, how do we how do we do that? What do you say?

Listen, genius. You're the one getting paid 4 million bucks a year. Are you asking me for a

perfect answer, Tom.

Next one from our least favorite listener ever. landmannalaugar do you expect Master Teague to start against Clemson? No. What about you?

That was let's just say let's talk about this one. Okay,

this Okay, let's let's continue my conversation with Ryan Day. You remember the guy who ran for 331 yards, you should consider starting him and giving him the ball a decent amount until they hit Clemson proved they could that they will hold him to less than 331 yards substantially less than 331 yards.

counterpart CounterPoint. Trade means three master means master.

That a French word.

Langdon, thank you very much for that question. I would not be shocked if Master Teague still starts. I don't think it's a good decision. I'm saying i would i would be shocked to see it.

I mean, counter CounterPoint. We have seen Master Teague against Clemson.

Yes,

we have seen Trey Sermon against the last time Ohio State played.

So try means three Master Master.

So three might be how many guys would you give him? Before you switch to another running back? I think that might be where Trey comes from comes in. Like maybe maybe maybe give him three drives. And you know, you don't have to run the ball three times on each set of downs. But

maybe Master gets to start. Trey Sermon comes in on the third play. Because Tom, Trey meets three master means master.

Somehow I'm like Langdon auger even less now than

I did before.

Excellent.

Next one from at Rick 1960. in Palo Alto. Will Clemson be facing an angry Buckeye team? I think probably both teams are going to have a little bit of motivation. I think both both coaches have inadvertently perhaps with a little help from inside their locker room provided some some bulletin board material for the opposing team. And Ohio State's probably is a little more genuine than Clemson's you know, motivation there would be I mean, Ohio State cleansing the motivation is to get back to the national championship. And you know, Ryan Day said a bad word. Ohio State's motivation is a these guys ended the season for us last year. And also we would like to go to the national championship. And also there are a lot of people in that. I mean, they have not been super shy about the fact that they feel like they should have won that game and they gave that game away last year. That that has that has, you know sometimes you'll kind of get these like halfway answers this year. It's like no, they they feel pretty strongly they should have won that game. That is a that's been a big motivation. They have had Clemson kind of circled as a team they thought they were going to play that they wanted to play again this year. I don't think motivation is going to be in short supply in I mean, last year, Ohio State came out angry came up fired up and absolutely beat the brakes off a Clemson for the first quarter and a half night game. And really, I mean physically beat them up throughout the game. And that's something Clemson talked about even after the game like that was as physical a game as they had played like period. And they played Alabama a whole bunch. So I don't think motivation is going to be in short order for Ohio State. It's just you know, it's a matter of Do they have the horses to do it.

I'm not sure that they're good. Like I would see the team the Buckeyes more focused rather than angry. The motivation is there. Of course, I don't know how angry they are at this point. Because they've gone through so much this season. And this year to where Yeah, last year is still on their minds. But there has been they've gone through so much this year and overcome so much this year. That I I wonder how much anger is still there. Or just the Motivation is there. And the focus is there. I don't know, if it's a maybe we will talk to them to talk to the Buckeyes. Maybe on Wednesday, or maybe we have by the time you listen to this. But like, are you is this an angry team? Or is this a focus team? And if it's, if it's angry and stuff focused, I think they can be focused without being angry, just, you know, motivated?

Yeah, I mean, and and there's probably a little bit of a fine line there. I mean, there is, if you are focused in football, you are focused, and with it being as violent as sport is, as it as it is, there's a certain amount of anger that is just inherent in the task at hand. And if you are focused on the task at hand, well, that is some violence is going to come along with that, that is just that it's just part of part and parcel of this whole deal. You can like

run to the ball being like, I'm sorry, I'm doing this.

You can, that would really, that would really probably mess with the opponent. Sorry. Sorry about what's about to happen to you.

I apologize in advance.

At Vincent James, at how much was fields performance? As a result of his wrist slash thumb? How much was it missing a lot of a slash him playing badly? Well, the defense play more press next week against Clemson. Let's start with let's start with fields.

I think it's both now his he started out poorly and was healthy. And there's that. But also, he started out and was missing. Alavi from the outset. So I, I think it's it's both certainly, when he says after the game, I told the coaches that I can't throw the ball anymore. That's going to affect you. And yet, you know, you still have to try to throw, and there was just some really, really ugly stuff there. But you can't be down crystal Levin think everything is like, it certainly affected I thought, you know, he would be I didn't think it would affect him as much as it did. And it clearly did affect him. And he was a completely different quarterback after the game hearing that he was injured you like, Oh, well, that's, you know, at least that's the answer. And then he talked to me after the game is like, Well, yeah, he wasn't injured early on, and then he was still off. And so I think both of those factors were key. I don't know, is it 6040 5050? I think it's probably, you know, at 515. Once you assert that, you know, it's, it's the thumb.

Yeah, I mean, he was off early enough, like noticeably off right away, and it was just kind of like, Huh, and that is all love, I think or, you know, all of a slash what Northwestern was doing, and just not him not being comfortable with with what Northwestern was doing. And then at some point that turns from, you know, 100%, those two things to, you know, 5050 or more of the injury, but we don't know yet where he's going to be physically and let me just spoil the surprise for you. He's going to tell us like, I'll be ready to play, I'll be able to play out and I'll be good to go. Will that be true? I don't know, he will be telling us that while before he has picked up a football, you know, because I am quite confident they're not going to have him throw in this week. Like they are going to have him resting it and icing it and treating it and not, you know, not trying to get started too soon, like take a week and try and get it better. Right. You know, Adam Stewart, I'm sure the trainer is going to be working with him a whole heck of a lot this week on everything he can do to make that heal up as quickly as possible. And then you know, if you see where you are next week and be do as best as you can with wherever it is at that point, but you know, we will get we will get told right up until the game kicks off. No, no, he'll be good to go. He's fine. We believe in Justin. It'll be fine, though. whether that's true or not, I guess we'll find out on January 1.

The the last part there? Will the defense play more press coverage next week against Clemson. I'm going to get my mind like, do you tell them? Do you tell Marcus Williamson and those guys? Would it be a bad idea to play zone because then they'd be looking in the backfield. And that's when bad things happen to mark a sucker and Marcus wave said or do you do you leave it man coverage that way they are more focused on receivers. But then when you do that, again that leaves them not seeing the quarterback and Trevor Lawrence able to take off and he could be running right behind them and they wouldn't know it. So that's why I think time it makes it all up and as you said, see what works.

Yeah, there is nothing there's not going to be one thing that works they're just going to kind of do a little bit of everything and a bunch of it's not going to work and clumps is going to record a bunch of points and just sort of make your peace with the fact that this is you know, this is gonna be a little bit like a basketball game where like sometimes the other team is going to make a three and that's just gonna have to you're gonna have to deal with that. Make your make your peace with it in advance that this is not going to be Ohio State winning by the shutout and move on because they're going to give him points. Bunsen is a pretty good football team and, you know from Ohio State's point of view They just have to outscore them, you know, the more, this is an incredibly stupid thing to say, but I'm gonna say it anyway, the more points Ohio State scores, the better chance they have to win. Like, that's just, um, you know, they can't, if Ohio State score is less than 30 points, there's probably virtually zero chance they win the game. If they score more than 40. It's like, okay, they probably are better than 5050 chance to win at that point, it's just, it's a matter of where from 30 to 45, they are in the top 50, you know, get a feel pretty darn good about it, but they are not going to hold they're not going to hold clubs at 21 points.

So. So the more points, the better the chance of winning this. I just I do not like the analytics being brought into the show. You know how I feel about it? I don't I don't understand it. I can't grasp it. I don't want to, I don't know is 1.78 good, because I don't know what the metric is. So you're saying more points leads to I? Tom? I quit High School, so I would not have to take math classes. So let's please let's just talk sports, please.

This is Tony's about ready to rip another statistics textbook and half It's uh, ya know, it. I mean, again, like this is this is incredibly stupid. But if you if you tell me Ohio State scored 40 points. I think there's a decent chance Ohio State wins that game. If you tell me Ohio State scores 35. I'm like, Huh. And if you tell me Ohio State scores 28. It's like nope. Then Then they lost by two touchdowns. Yeah,

we do know Ohio State's record against Clemson when they score 30 or more points, and it's not all that great.

Not not fantastic. Yes. The only team that Ohio State has lost to win scoring 35 or more points is Thompson. So and Ohio State is not found tremendous success against Clemson scoring less than 35 points either. So that's not sure there's a long track record of success in either either place. Next one from at Riverfront 76. And I'll let you take this one is Dabo the most punchable coach the Buckeyes have ever faced, uh, you know, as media where we are impartial in terms of

punchable faces. We did the last show speak for about 15 minutes on Bret Bielema. So I don't know if that would matter. But no, I, I would never fall for any violence against any coach or player. The top sports information departments, what do you think they're

certainly none that we've interacted with.

Yeah,

it was funny. I had met calmly from the state newspaper on Tuesdays morning scoop and afterwards he tweeted he had been on to Ohio State podcast and his takeaway from the conversation with the two hostess that Ohio State fans don't particularly care for, for Dabo Swinney so that's good. That was paying attention to in our podcast, yes. Because yes, that is that has been the consistent message is Ohio State fans do not seem to care for demos. And there was a there was a there was a poll that he tweeted out that Ohio State fans had voted that they hated Dabo more than Jim Harbaugh, which is probably somewhat a function of its this week and somewhat a function of they haven't beaten Dabo and they haven't lost a hard ball. But if you're if you're in that conversation with Ohio State fans, you're if you're in the neighborhood of Jim Harbaugh, that is a your IQ score is not super high.

When you're asking Ohio State fans who do you hate more Santa's are Krampus. So

buck number 2020. Race john Davis possibilities race, john Davis, the 2021 linebacker from Monterey Bay High School in California, not Mater de Monterrey a, he is a top 50 player like not a five star but a borderline five star prospect. He is our Bill Greene and some other guys on our on the Buckeyes. Kip staff has been have been telling people for months. He's not signing with LSU. He's not going to you know, he's not signing with LSU on early Sunday, and he's going to decommit from LSU. He did both of those things. And then now it's a matter of will he come to Ohio State or will he stay out west? Go to USC, possibly Arizona State? You know, I mean, if the relationships went out, it sounds like it's going to be Ohio State and if staying close to home wins out it's going to be USC but you know, for Washington have them in this spot at this point in the recruiting cycle during the year when people could not visit and you know, California is a long way from Ohio. So that is not an easy, you know, that's not an easy trip to make. They couldn't have official visits this year. That's a real strong testament to our Washington's ability to sell the Ohio State program and, you know, make make it make that in Columbus an attractive place to be.

I wrote on the message board the other night, I think Monday night that if raison Davis was smart enough to come to a census and leave the LSU decommit from LSU that you would think You would choose Ohio State over USC but of course being a local product, although now time since nobody has been able to go anywhere. You wonder if more kids are like, I need to get out of state. I just need to go somewhere. And maybe that that would help Ohio State as well. But I think right now 5149 USC

mean, somewhere somewhere in that 5050 range. Yeah. Next one from adds a Daya Sir

fairpoint I'm not gonna argue with that. It's a little aggressive. And I don't I don't like being attacked by the listeners. But you know what? They, they are the byproduct of this show, basically. And so, I would agree, what do you think, chief?

I think I think it's pretty insulting because listening is the byproduct of the show. I think the listeners and the central focus of this show. I'm not I'm not doing this to talk to you. I mean, so yes, we are here for you. So even if your question is just sir, yes. Good question. Chief. Next from at Baba underscore pocket. Why is the defense regressing under carry combs? I mean, I think the defense is regressing under Kerry Coombs to a certain degree because they don't have the players they had last year. I mean, you don't have a chase young up front. You don't have Jeff Okuda as a corner. Shaun Wade has not been quite as good as Jeff Okuda was last year. You don't have a Jordan fuller at the back end. You don't have a gym in our net as the second corner. I mean, there's this years the Ohio State defense is just slightly not as talented as last year's Ohio State defense. They've been doing. I mean, the defense has been i don't i don't think has regressed throughout the year. I think the defense is pretty darn good against Northwestern. I think the defense was pretty darn good against Michigan State now we'll find out how much of that was a result of opponents but they were pretty darn good for the first half against Indiana. They had one bad half against Indiana. They have had, you know, they had a couple drive. You know, some of the some of the Penn State touchdowns. Were just kind of like, yep, tip your hat. Like, if john Dodson wants to turn into Superman, there's not a whole heck of a heck of a lot you can do about that. But you know, they've been fine. They're not fantastic. They're not as good as last year's defense, but they're okay. And I don't think I would put a ton of that on Kerry Coombs shoulders,

though, and you look at the guys they lost because you throw in chase shown to that pass defense, and he's gonna be a pro bowler, he's starting in the NFL. Jordan fuller is an NFL starter. Damon Arnett as an NFL starter until he was injured and but he started six games this year, Jeff Okuda before he got injured started six games this year. So they lost four and you know, for guys to the NFL, who are all starting in the NFL. And that's not just something that you can be, you can just ignore also, Tom, I don't know how much improvement there is, anywhere this year. I like that, so much is just, you know, treading water and just trying to stay afloat, let alone coming back better and being better. And so it's the defense is worse, because the talent is worse. But, you know, just, I mean, we're talking before the show how much better is just the fields of last year, you know, it's, you can't fault anybody, I don't think for not being better this year than they were last year or struggling this year in terms of just, I mean, guys have been in and out of the program. They've been just the ups and downs emotionally. So I don't think you can just point fingers and blame Kerry Coombs for a defense being worth and that's why it's also I try to be somewhat fair to like Jim Harbaugh and stuff this year, because it's, you know, it's 2020. And how much do you want to blame somebody for? For something that goes awry this year, although with him, it's been going awry for a while it's and we've established that, but I do sense regressing, you lose talent. And they're the pandemic has just thrown a wrench in everything in terms of player development.

I mean, everyone sort of gets an incomplete for this year. Yeah, for grading people. It just, there's been so many different things that have happened and everyone sort of on these different, you know, it's like Clemson's gotten to do things a certain way. And Ohio State has gotten to do things a slightly different way. And teams, the PAC 12 have gotten even less stuff. And then the SEC has been up more kind of where Clemson is in terms of when they could play. how, you know, consistently they got to play throughout the course the season, that they had a semi normal camp in a semi normal season versus the really disjointed mess in the Big 10 was, I mean, this is this is a year when I think everyone kind of gets a little bit of a mulligan to some degree and plus, you're both leaving, unless you're well. But both Fellini had a fairly normal season and it was so extremely bad for so extremely many different reasons. And yeah, I mean, I think I think during Normally, your volpone probably has been a little bit better because you would not have had as many guys, you know, opting out and all that. But you know, bocalee, even if you curve bocalee, knees great up, it's still about an F minus on the year. So that's still that's still probably gets you fired. But you know, from Ohio State's perspective,

let's, let's

see where it is next year. I mean, it's going to be a very different year again next year, you're losing pretty much your whole linebacking core. You're probably losing Shaun Wade, you're losing probably a couple of those key names along the defensive line. Like it's going to be another kind of rebuilding job on the defense next year, but you're going to have a bunch of starters back to you're going to have cambron back, you're gonna have Sevyn Banks back, you're gonna have Josh Proctor back, you'd have Marcus hooker back. Zach Harrison, maybe one of the guys in the inside, if they're real lucky. Maybe you get Togiai back or Haskell Garrett back if they're real lucky. But you know, I mean, there's there's plenty of talent on that team, and they'll figure it out. And if next year, it looks like a disaster then. Okay, then you can have the Harry comms conversation then. But it's it's probably very, very early to have that conversation right now.

What's the disaster next year record wise for Ohio State knighted for?

Yeah, I mean, I think next year is going to be a step back. I would not expect Ohio State to be in the college football playoff next year, just with first time starting quarterback, redshirt freshman or true freshman starting quarterback and a rebuild defense. And you're losing one of your tackles and one of your guards and your center and you're losing. I mean, three starters on the offensive line is a lot. You're losing, you know, probably Trey Sermon, you're losing, you know, at least one of your tight, you know, two of your top three tight ends, at least. I mean, there's, there's a lot that's going to get rebuilt next year, in addition to all the defensive guys I mentioned earlier, so yeah, I think I mean, a disaster next year is an eight and four regular season. I mean, without going through the schedule, line by line, you know, we've

got to do that. Yeah,

maybe they lose the Oregon game in two Big 10 games, you know, nine in three regular season like I could, I could see that nine and 310 and two, somewhere in there, probably, you know, if they're 11. And one next year, in the regular season, either the Big 10 is atrocious, or, like Ryan Day is really really got this thing rolling. And either could be the case. And again, like this is this is a reason why everyone's going to spend the next, what 10 days or nine days, whatever it is now stressed about, you know, houses match up and go against clumps. And what's going to happen like just Ohio State is back in the playoff. Please enjoy this like with as much crap as it happened this season. And as you know, there was a decent chunk, there is a month period where it was like there there is not going to be an Ohio State football season. And a whole bunch of deficit stuff has happened and nothing has gone quite according to plan. But there was an Ohio State football season, they won the big 10. And now they're in the college football playoff. Do not be the person who's like they don't win the national championship. There's seasons of failure, like just shm awareness of the world around you. Enjoy the fact that Ohio State isn't the college football playoff. enjoy that. And if they lose to Clemson by 17 points, like that's fine. It's okay. Like it has been a year it has been a year for all of us, it has been a year for everyone in that program more so than you. Like, just it's gonna be fine. Like, if they win. Wonderful, that's terrific. We'll all enjoy going to the national championship game won the national championship game like that's fine. But this is this is this is a year to just take a step back have a little perspective on everything that has gone into getting to this point. And you know, appreciate the effort that all the players and coaches from Ohio State and a whole lot of other programs put into making this season. get to this point, despite the best efforts of some folks who were in charge of running the sport well

i'm also say Ohio State loses to Clemson I you can already see the tweets from the the national writers or the Chicago Tribune writers say this is what you fought to come back to this is this is why you wanted to come back just to lose the clumps. And again, you can already those, those miserable people are going to be out there. So yeah, that's uh, maybe if that should give you an incentive to for Ohio State. That's all I'm saying?

Well, it's just like, let's, let's think about the company you want to keep in terms of your online presence. You want to be in the company of those people and be the look at look at these losers or do you want to just say, you know what, they did not win the national championship and that's okay. You know, how many teams do not win the national championship every year? All but on. So during the normal year 129 teams do not win the national championship this year, or didn't play so it's 126 didn't win the national championship like yeah, it's okay to just watch football and enjoy it. That's, that's okay. That is an okay thing to do. Especially given all of the you know, Yep, this is me gesturing vaguely to everything else in the world. All of that stuff. Yep.

It's okay. Yep. And that'll do it time. We've done it we that's two shows in a row. But questions and answers. I always enjoyed these because top it one, it's easy. But for two and you know, let's know what we know. What's the talk what's what do people think and what are they concerned about? And then it gives us a chance to talk about it. And so that's, that's why I like it. So Tom, do you have anything to say who's on the morning scoop tomorrow?

So tomorrow is being Thursday morning is Ross Fulton. came on to just to break down his his story about the OSU Northwestern game, what Ohio State did why they had so much access to the running game. Just a little bit of a peek ahead to Clemson but we're gonna have him back on again next week as well to talk about more looking forward to the Clemson game. So that's your, that is my Christmas Eve present to you. That'll be that'll drop Thursday morning. Usually now probably drop at Wednesday night, we usually drop Wednesday night. So you'll have that to look forward to great conversation with Ross as always, you will learn a lot and we'll play boy, we were getting close to getting in the car and driving to know hopefully getting into an SUV and not a car. That's going to be a long this can be one try. If we're in a subcompact though,

but geo Metro is ready and ready and ready to go. Yeah, I I forgot that you had planned out this week in terms of the morning show. So I was hoping to catch you off guard But no, you are ready and you are prepared. And so kudos to you. that's a that's a first

I'm prepared or that you're giving me kudos. Maybe both this and and then later tonight, later this afternoon, I get to cover a basketball game go sheets, photos of the basketball team playing records tonight. So that'll be fun. So lots and lots of fun stuff to look forward to. And then hey, Fridays Christmas, and you have that to look forward to like this is gonna be a fun, fun couple weeks. And you know, we always plug Buckeye scoop. But now if you would have thought about pool member, and you haven't asked and you've been the idiot who has not thought to ask someone for Christmas, well this would be a great time to give it a try for a month because guess what that month is going to include Christmas. All the excitement of bowl week, Tony and I are gonna be down in New Orleans for a number of days trying it out a ton of content. That'll be all at the Buckeyes. group.com and we also have you know, in that first month, if they beat Clemson national championship, so you get both college football playoff games potentially in that first month of membership, give it a try. Brand new site just launched about a week ago I think and really, really fantastic site, great interaction, tons of fun interaction with the staff, all of our members. It is a It has been a blast to be a part of it. And if you have thought about becoming a member, this would be a great time to do it.

Absolutely. Well

said Tom, that will do it. Thank you all for tuning in and we will talk to you guys later.