Hartline succeeding as OC isn't a guarantee.  Calling plays is just a different skillset.  

But the guy has infinite value to the program.  We need him to stay around.  And he'll be learning under the tutelage of one of the best to ever do it.  Plus, it's a lot easier to be an OC when you have 3 of the top 5 WRs every year -- as Hartline routinely does.  

There are no offensive sets and no strategy.

This is what jumps off the screen to me when watching OSU BB.  I'm not a basketball expert.  I didn't play it at a high level -- much less one remotely similar to the B1G.  So I know I don't have a trained eye when it comes to this stuff (the opposite is true for me when it comes to football).

But the OSU offense just seems so lethargic and random to me.  Really looks like a bunch of 40-something guys who get together to play at the Y every Tuesday.  Any off-ball motion is just extremely vanilla.  That's been a noticeable contrast to me against some of OSU's opponents this year -- I want to say it was the UNC game where just a simple pick and motion gave them like 20 uncontested points in the paint.  But then you see the advanced analytics guys (who are usually right) consistently put OSU's offensive figures way above what I'd expect.  Maybe someone with more knowledge can explain what's going on there.

As for Holtmann, I doubt he's going anywhere this year because of the recent extension and Gene's apparent love for the guy.  But, in my perfect world, he's coaching for his job the rest of the season.  I get that this year and next year are great recruiting classes.  But I'd really, really like to see some growth by the team down the stretch. 

We'll see...    

That just means we were playing Cover 2 tho , Tampa 2 cannot be run in the modern day of football because of its ease to take advantage of

I don't really know what this is supposed to mean in context.  But Tampa 2 is definitely run in the "modern day of football."  It can be taken advantage of -- like any defense, really.  Burrow saw a ton of it this season in the NFL -- especially early in the season.  I wouldn't be at all surprised to see both the Bengals and Bills run a lot this weekend.

Then again, who really cares.  Not sure what that has to do with Eichenberg coming back.  Don't think he's the kind of guy you'd want to drop into the middle-to-deep zone.  The times I've Knowles employ something akin to Tampa 2, it's been by bringing up one of the safeties to fill that role (a smart modification).

Just a lot of folks make blanket statements about this stuff that are flat-out wrong.  Some more than others.  

This is an underrated point.  When I lived in CBus, it was always the Browns game on CBS.  I'd have to go to a bar with the NFL package to watch the Bengals.  If the two teams were in different conferences, that wouldn't be a problem.

No longer a problem for me.  But it would offer some more choice to folks living in the middle area between the two team markets.

There's at least one federal statute I'm aware of pertaining to accessing computers, networks, etc. without authorization.  That said, I kind of doubt that's the type of thing that'd make national news in this situation.  My guess would be it's a euphemism for something pretty bad.

Short answer: it's never going to happen.  I agree with you that CBus is very much a Browns market -- at least when I lived there.  Don't think the NFL would want to split the Ohio market further.

And I doubt the city would sufficiently support a team, anyway.  OSU is king in CBus.  I would think most residents who would support an NFL team already have an allegiance.  And while CBus is certainly growing quickly, I do think (1) the population figures are misleading due to how gigantic CBus draws its metro area, and (2) think the younger population moving to CBus probably is less invested in the NFL than older population groups.

Yeah -- same.  I've never really hated the Browns.  For most of my life, the Bengals-Browns rivalry just seems like two epically downtrodden fanbases with misplaced hatred for each other that should be 100% focused on the real enemy (i.e., the Steelers).  It's just hard for me to hate a fanbase that, for much of my life, has been like looking into a mirror.  And the fanbase's trash talk is akin to the online incels who say "Suckeyes" and "Urban Liar" and think it's a real zinger (as is evidenced by the first comment in this thread).

And I've never really thought about how both teams are in the same Division.  But I guess it is pretty unique.  TBH, after years of watching the Steelers (and now the Ravens) try to actually kill Bengals players with complete impugnity from the NFL, I'd be perfectly fine with the Bengals migrating to...  say...  the NFC South.  Put the Titans in the AFC South and see what Vrabel does when the NFL doesn't call those hits on his players...

You can change their divisions all you want.  The chances that both of those teams have their shit together at the same time during any of our lifetimes is exceedingly unlikely.

Think I largely agree. 

I do think he's legitimately wanted to move to the NFL the last two offseasons.  But he hasn't had any takers.  Based on everything I've seen and heard the last couple of years, it seems openly accepted that he can be more than a bit awkward/jarring/off-putting if you don't already know him well.  I suspect that can be a hard sell when it's been several years since he was in the NFL and there are always several qualified candidates to be NFL HCs.  

I also don't blame him: think being an NFL HC would be more appealing than college in this current environment.  And I think his strengths probably most closely align with an NFL HC role.  

Though I can't say I'd be too thrilled if I were Michigan about his public solicitation of job offers every offseason.  Think that's probably already gotten old for all involved.  

Completely unrelated note: I didn't know Ono was UM's Prez.  He used to be the head to Cincinnati.  Always seemed like a nice, capable guy.

Don't hate this at all.  In the transfer portal era, you need to make this kind of move to shore-up depth in the QB room.  Odds are, we'll have at least one less QB in the room shortly after a new starter wins the job.

Jay: Isn't Tampa 2 when you drop a linebacker (on purpose) into Cover 2 scheme?

I mean, that's exactly what Tampa 2 is.  Not sure why people are DVing and trying to correct you.  Basically just good-old Cover 2, with the MLB taking a deeper drop as the play progresses to cover the Cover 2 hole in the mid-to-deep middle of the field.

Seriously...  honestly can't tell whether people are being serious or sarcastic re Warren sometimes.  Warren leaving doesn't matter one iota to the Bucks.  The Bucks were the cream of the B1G before, and that'll continue.

I really wonder what your and others who post on here problem really is with Warren. If it’s still Covid you need to learn to move on.

Anybody being honest knows that's exactly what's going on.  By recognizing COVID's existence, 60-70% of 11Wers were going to hate him until the end of time.  That said, Warren absolutely could've handled the communication aspect of that decision much better.

It's tough to evaluate his tenure because a lot of the stuff happens behind the scenes.  But he added two huge brands to the conference in ice-cold manner.  And oversaw a period during which the B1G was nationally competitive (though I don't think that has much to do with him).

It'll be interesting to see who fills his shoes.  Overseeing the integration of USC/UCA/etc. into the conference sounds like an even harder task than adding them.  The next person will definitely have to learn on the fly. 

Right -- any prognostication is likely based on some combination of seniority, existing depth chart, and comments from coaches.  While those have some predictive value, it doesn't add much to the discussion.  

To the OP's point, it seems OL prospects are some of the most difficult to project college success.  There are elite prospects who deliver -- e.g., PJ.  But there are a bunch who are run-of-the-mill 3-4* players who turn out to be beasts.  We likely won't have any clue what we have until next summer.  Considering the seniority and recruiting profile of our OL players, however, I'm pretty confident we'll find some good guys to start.

Agreed; the Coaches Poll is a joke.  It has been for a longtime.  The only coaches who actually pay attention to their vote -- or, heck, even fill it out themselves -- are those with an ax to grind (e.g., Saban).  Nobody else cares.

Counterpoint would be, just 1 year and 2-3 weeks ago, UGA was a bunch of choke artists who couldn't win the big game and/or hold a lead to save their lives.  Then they beat 'Bama without their best (only?) offensive weapon.  Then went undefeated against a schedule that, if I'm being honest, I'd really like OSU's chances of sweeping.  Then they won a close game against OSU (similarly lacking several of its best offensive weapons).  

None of that is to disparage UGA.  Kudos to them for having two great seasons in a row.  I just think it's kind of ridiculous how quickly people elevate/count-out programs as elite based off of a handful of coin-flip outcomes in a short period of time.  Then again, Finebaum has to learn his paycheck somehow, I guess, so the knee-jerk crowd is very much in good company on ESPN platforms.

I'm torn on the subject.  The Buckeyes played well in the Peach Bowl.  But not well enough to overcome the refs and lapses by the defense. 

Full disclosure: I expected a performance similar to what we got based on watching both teams several times.  I think a lot of folks saw the score from The Game, saw UGA's undefeated record, and automatically assumed Bucks stood no chance.  I assume those folks are pleasantly surprised.

That said, I can't help but think this was the year.  OSU was the clear-cut best team in the country most of the season, IMO.  Even with most of our starters healthy, I think we'd smoke UGA then absolutely embarrass TCU.  This year just didn't have many elite-level teams.  Think it's unlikely that the upper echelon of teams is so lacking next year.

And after next year, can't help but think OSU's subpar NIL (compared to its peer teams) will start to have significant impacts.  It seems OSU has lost out on multiple high-impact guys the last 1-2 years.  And we're going to lose some studs to the Draft next year (e.g., JTT, Sawyer, Marv, Egbuka, T. Henderson, etc.)  If I'm being completely honest, I fear we won't be able to get some of those guys coming out of high school anymore because of how NIL has absolutely exploded.  We'll get a handful (mostly WRs), but not at the same level.

Obviously, it depends on what happens next season leading up to The Game.  But I tend to agree with MS.  Past results don't dictate predictions of the future.  Heck, if OSU and Michigan played a consolation game last weekend, OSU probably would've been favored by a couple of points -- despite having lost to Michigan just a few weeks prior.

I'd say your reply and everyone's scarlet (rosy) retrospection of Cardale's QB abilities is more glib because there's this patently false narrative that his arm strength "opened up the offense" which just isn't true.

Think that's far more debatable than you're portraying it to be -- at least not "patently" false.  The YPC numbers you provide for Smith are interesting.  I'd be interested to know what portion of those per-catch figures are YAC v. through the air, several mid-length completions v. some disproportionately long ones, etc.

I was at both the B1GCG and Sugar Bowl.  Not sure I've ever seen a QB launch a ball that far on a rope in person.  When Cardale was at QB, you had to account for the fact he could easily throw it 50-60 yards with some velocity.  With a deep threat like Smith, that creates a pretty obvious stress on the defense.  If the defense crowds the 10-20 yard zone, it risks giving up a 50-60 yard pass -- through the air.  The combo of Zeke pounding the ball behind an excellent OL, more-than-capable guys catching short-to-mid passes, and the threat of the QB throwing a 50-60 yard rope is just tough to defend.  His stat line wasn't exactly other worldly in the Playoffs, but, IMO, 'Bama would beat every other team on OSU's schedule that year (including Oregon) by at least 2-3 TDs.    

Note: I think JT was the better QB.  But he had an obvious limitation.  To be fair, 'Dale did, too, but his strength put different stressors on the defense.  

Same.  That's my only point of disagreement with this very well done list.  And I'm just ranking them by best QB (i.e., not most talented, and not any specific quality alone).  

Also, pretty wild to think about the run of QBs OSU has had lately.  Not going to lie: when Pryor left, I didn't think we'd have another guy on his level for quite some time.  

OSU was not in a cover 0 when Ransome fell down they were in a man free or cover 1 there was a free safety Macalister back to help out he just failed to identify the mismatch of Ransome on a speedy slot.

Think fans often see a WR streaking down the field and just assume it's Cover 0.  Even with respect to the Tuf-Devonta Smith disaster, IIRC, my initial thought was it looked like Tuf was sitting in a zone, then kept following Smith because the guy on the back end failed to recognize Smith coming over into his zone.  

Point being, it's easy to misdiagnose the defensive play call based on what is actually a player mistake.  Here's a good example: I can't count how many times I've seen Eli Apple get blamed for getting "roasted" on a deep route when it appears he's actually sitting in the flat zone a la Cover 2.  

Hate to say it, but I agree.  As the season progressively gets longer, it probably makes sense to treat some of those cupcake OOC games like NFL teams treat the preseason.  Also would make sense to push one of those cupcake games to late in the season (if nobody's going to call BS on the SEC's practice, might as well join them).

I agree with your general point that somebody doesn't need to be contacted in the head to get a concussion.  But having played and watched football for a long time, I can't say I've ever seen or heard of someone being concussed from falling forward onto his facemask -- like what happened to Marv.  So think the high, high, high likelihood is he was concussed from the shoulder/helmet-to-helmet contact.   

Same.  Though if we're talking all teams I root for, I'd have to throw-in the Bengals' 2015 WC Game.  

For whatever reason, the refs are almost always against OSU in the Playoffs nowadays.  Just between the two games you reference, there had to be 5-6 calls changed on replay (a rarity) in key situations.  

Like some other posters, I was mostly over the Georgia loss.  Then I saw a replay of the targeting call at a snack bar.  Saw 5-6 angles of the replay on an 80-90" TV.  There's a decent argument that the replay confirms the call on the field.  At the very least, on no planet do any of those replays provide conclusive evidence that the call was wrong.

It was 7-3 in the first quarter.

Yep -- with the Bengals driving at will.  And that was the Bengals' opportunity to win the #2 seed.  Now, if the Bengals and Bills play each other again, it will be in Buffalo with the score reset.  I'd prefer at home up 14-3 over 0-0 in Buffalo.  

Meanwhile, the NFL gives Buffalo much of the advantage of winning a game they were losing on the road, without any downside.  On the other hand, the Bengals are effectively treated as though they lost that game -- in which they were winning, driving, and playing at home -- for purposes of this coming weekend (given the strong likelihood the Bengals would face the Ravens first round of the Playoffs).  In fact, it's even worse than that: the Bengals would still keep the downside of the lower draft pick and first-place schedule next year, without any guarantee of homefield advantage.  

They...  got...  screwed.  Hard.  The NFL literally rewrote the rulebook just to screw the Bengals.