Why do you assume every kid who comes to Ohio State does not understand the college process and s so self centered he comes in and thinks he is better than Sr's who are already here. I would not be happy with a Defensive Coordinator who simply played a kid who was unprepared and not ready to play because he might leave! WTF?
So Buckeye Bob: Your one of those “wait your turn” people. Sorry, but this isn’t politics. This is college football. The best guys need to be playing to give your team a chance to win. Just because you’ve been here 6 years, doesn’t make you a good football player
Ok then explain how in THIS situation it would make sense for him to sit behind 2 guys that will be leaving after this year, only to transfer when they do leave?
Well Bull, it’s called the spring transfer portal. He might not want to sit this entire year. That’s what I’m trying to say. This defense was shredded in the games that mattered the most. It’s time to turn loose these 5 star guys and see what they can do
Ok. Let’s play this game. I’m going to screen shot this so we can see who has the more productive career. CJ Hicks or Caden Curry. The fact that you just guaranteed Curry is better than Hicks just proves why people shouldn’t start drinking in the morning
Caden Curry was #123 overall on 247 and #92 overall on ESPN 300. He was a high 4 star and much closer to being a 5 star than he ever was a 3 star. On 247 the 3 star recruits don't even begin until around #400 overall. When you say 3 star, you might be talking more about some of the Offensive Lineman on our roster than DE/DT hybrid Caden Curry. He's a superstar waiting to happen.
This article is wrong claiming CJ Hicks never played any on Defense all season. He played some in mop up duty at various times mostly early in the season. When we could have used the likes of him, more of Styles, Curry, and Stokes down the stretch, they were MIA. Styles played a little in our two big games at the end but not nearly enough to be effective.
- Bobby Boucher is the best Foosball QB since Joe Mantegna -
We need more speed and athleticism on our Defense. I don't know which one needs to step aside, but one of them do. I'd lean more towards Chambers giving up his spot than Eichenberg, but either one is fine. We'll unfortunately do neither.
- Bobby Boucher is the best Foosball QB since Joe Mantegna -
I bet you if you go ask the coaches about this they will give you the same reply that I did, you earn playing time you don't get it because you are a Sr or because you were a 5 star you get PT because you are the best player, I just don't see Hicks at 6' 3" tall and 215 lbs being a starting LB at Ohio State right now!! I could see him overtaking a unproductive Cody Simon in time. You don't hand anyone playing time because you are afraid they might enter the portal. BTW who has told you he is getting the shaft by not playing are you at practice? Do you know how he has been performing?
Hey Dumbass, if you show favor to a kid because he is a 5 star recruit or try to force play him even though his team mates have out played him what kind of message does this send to the team? As I recall Hicks was very late in fall camp before he lost his stripe. Means he was not a stand out at that sector of practice.
I agree,if he doesn't start, he's gone. I'll bet my $500k condo he's better than Chambers. Chambers is a nice player but lest face, he wouldn't start at a school like Georgia, Alabama, penn State or Texas. He's just not big enough. He struggled against big backs and good OLs. Let's face it, our defense lostbthose games. Can't keep throwing the same guys out there and expect a different result.
So they’re either all Americans instantly or toss them out with the garbage? No development? No improvement with experience? Just microwave quick or nothing huh? Gotcha
So a year starting and not showing he deserves to start is what teams that win titles do? Throw him out there again and expect a different result? He's just not talented enough. That's the bottom line. Nothing against the kid but come on. He made too many mistakes. It's time to move on.
Steele is absolutely the right size to start at all of those places. He's actually the same height and about the same weight as starting LBs at Georgia and Alabama. Steele is 6'1" 232, Henry To'oto'o (Alabama) is 6'2" 225, and Jamon Dumas-Johnson (Georgia) is 6'1" 245.
Steele had an incredible year and having both starting linebackers back is great for the defense next season.
The Head Coach of the Football Team needs to lay down the law for the Head Coach of the Defense and ensure that guys like Hicks get plenty of reps in 2023. You can't have 3-4 recruiting classes worth of LBs watching 3 guys take 99% of the snaps and expect development in that position group.
Agreed. We went from the Coombs/Washington regime of musical chairs to Knowles' total lack of rotation. Where's the balance? You gotta wonder if the players are confused too.
If you have two people that agree on everything, that only means one of them is not thinking at all.
Good grief, you all whined all season in 2021 about all the over rotation in defense. Plenty of posts saying to just stick with the starters and not rotate so much. Well that’s exactly what they did this year and you complain about that too.
"Given the defense’s struggles in the final two games of 2022, though, Knowles should be looking for ways to get more playmakers on the field in 2023."
Agree. Hoping Hicks gets quality reps and develops a lot next season. I'm happy that Knowles oversees the LB unit.
“If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason.”
-Jack Handey
He will find a bigger role. He will make plays in some games and not be a part of the game plan in others. 2024 will be his time to truly shine then we’ll beg him to come back for another year.
I don't know that Hicks is necessarily limited to a rotation/situational role or special package as written above, just because the guys who were in front of him this year are back. There's some history of the opposite happening -- JSN passing JamesonW, Proctor going from starter to sub this year because others were playing better. We have eight months to see how it shakes out.
It's imperative that we fully develop CJ and Sonny and they see the field next season. Cannot afford to lose both. They are super-sized athletes that we need on defense, especially with the growing pains on offense we'll have with 3 new OL and new QB. Steele and Tommy are back which helps because they have experience, and they were very solid. I would like to see us have more 4-3 looks.
People also seem to forget the reclassification aspect for Hicks. He should’ve been a high school senior last year but he came to Ohio state early. That’s invaluable and even as likely the youngest scholarship player last year he still saw the field a bit. That’s impressive. Dude is a dog that’s for sure
The Excellence of Execution, the Best there is, the Best there was, the Best there ever will be!
I believe that was Styles who reclassified. But both seem to have some dog in them. We'll need them to play significant roles if we are to challenge the 'Dawgs next year.
Knowles did EXACTLY what a quality coach would do at a new program. He poured time and energy into all the defense, but especially his starters, who have tho know the mostest, the fastest. Next This Soring practice, the experienced starters will be pouring info into those who didn't play as much so the D can truly be 2-3 deep at every position. Also, as everyone masters the necesaary reads and skills to play this complex D, athleticism will play more and more of a role. I expect Hicks to challenge Eich for the middle by mid season due to superior athleticism and near equal knowledge of the system. The reason it takes 2-3 years to implement Knowles D is the first students become the teachers and after 3 years there is sufficient players up to speed both in skill and knowledge. Hicks, Styles and others are the future of Buckeye football and it's gonna be a real treat to watch.
This guy is a generational talent at LB. don’t expect him to sit behind Steel Chambers and “wait his turn” for another year. This defense was atrocious all season. It’s time to see what what these younger guys can do. CJ and Sonny better be playing significant roles in this 2023 defense. It couldn’t possibly get any worse!
This defense was not good enough, but not atrocious or terrible.
Hicks’ comments make him sound a lot more mature than most people are giving him credit for. When it’s his turn to play I expect some growing pains and a beast.
I'm with the general tenor of your post, but just to level-set:
Do you know who else has not won a title in ten years besides us?
126 other D1 FBS teams. ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX.
This includes Michigan, Penn State, Notre Dame, Florida State, Miami, Florida, Tennessee, Auburn, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Nebraska, USC, Oregon, Washington, and many other big names and bluebloods.
Do you know who has won in the last ten years? Alabama, Clemson, LSU, Georgia. That's it.
I appreciate your opinion, I just have mine, losing to scUM the last 2 years in particular stand out the most, in general we are too talented to not have more hardware over recent years, tired of hearing lesser teams brag about how they're better than us.
Please explain how it comes down to that when they play different positions? CJ is a true LB an Styles is a safety.
Now CJ...I am very excited to see him hit the field at LB. Captain Buckeye will be a beast. I think he might end up being one of it not the best LBers we have had in a long time. Styles at safety is equally exciting.
Someone not talked about, or at least not very much on here is Jermaine Mathews Jr. I would love to see what he can do at CB. I mean, how often do you have offensive guys telling the coaching staff to offer a kid during a camp? I have never heard of that happening but you had Stroud, JSN, Miyan and Henderson all screaming to offer the kid.
When I think about a defense with Hicks, Styles, Matthews, Curry and Sawyer...I think Silver Bullets.
Buckeyes need to find someone to start besides ransom and Chambers. They are decent players but not big tim football players. I don't recall chambers name being mentioned all game. These two guys just aren't big enough to play at any big time school.
Chambers needs to go, he’s not good enough, he is not big enough, he’s not fast enough? Lol some people kill me. Dude was a running back, he is plenty fast enough. This defense was garbage before e and Eich took the reins. Hicks will get his time, if somebody is an All American, you don’t just replace him with an unproven commodity 5 star. I want the Freshman to play more than anybody, but if they aren’t ready, they aren’t ready. Some positions you can play Freshman, some you can’t. NPF weighed 275 pounds, it took him a while to get his weight up. You think he would have been ready as an Freshman 5 star?
If the coaches truly believe what they tell the recruits " no guarantees of playing time, the best player plays ", then Chambers may see reduced PT. Hicks looks special, Chambers looks solid
CJ is a beast and fully expect him to get opportunities this upcoming season. We need more reps for our young talent to keep them engaged and growing. Go Bucks!
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We need an animal on D. Would love to see CJ be just that.
In Antoine Winfield I trust
Craig Zak
He needs to see the field next year somehow or I could see him leaving.
Why do you assume every kid who comes to Ohio State does not understand the college process and s so self centered he comes in and thinks he is better than Sr's who are already here. I would not be happy with a Defensive Coordinator who simply played a kid who was unprepared and not ready to play because he might leave! WTF?
So Buckeye Bob: Your one of those “wait your turn” people. Sorry, but this isn’t politics. This is college football. The best guys need to be playing to give your team a chance to win. Just because you’ve been here 6 years, doesn’t make you a good football player
Ok then explain how in THIS situation it would make sense for him to sit behind 2 guys that will be leaving after this year, only to transfer when they do leave?
I see how you got your name ! You are full of it! I didn't say sit him I said don't make a position for him and if he is that self centered See ya!
BOB, I’m talking to callan not you. I’m actually agreeing with you I’d say but thanks for the comments lol god I love fans
Well Bull, it’s called the spring transfer portal. He might not want to sit this entire year. That’s what I’m trying to say. This defense was shredded in the games that mattered the most. It’s time to turn loose these 5 star guys and see what they can do
5 Stars don't mean Shit! Caden Curry is a 3 Star guy I will guarantee he is better than CJ Hicks!! His playing time shows it!!
Did you wake up this Stupid?
Ok. Let’s play this game. I’m going to screen shot this so we can see who has the more productive career. CJ Hicks or Caden Curry. The fact that you just guaranteed Curry is better than Hicks just proves why people shouldn’t start drinking in the morning
Caden Curry was #123 overall on 247 and #92 overall on ESPN 300. He was a high 4 star and much closer to being a 5 star than he ever was a 3 star. On 247 the 3 star recruits don't even begin until around #400 overall. When you say 3 star, you might be talking more about some of the Offensive Lineman on our roster than DE/DT hybrid Caden Curry. He's a superstar waiting to happen.
This article is wrong claiming CJ Hicks never played any on Defense all season. He played some in mop up duty at various times mostly early in the season. When we could have used the likes of him, more of Styles, Curry, and Stokes down the stretch, they were MIA. Styles played a little in our two big games at the end but not nearly enough to be effective.
- Bobby Boucher is the best Foosball QB since Joe Mantegna -
OK well who does he replace Steele or Tommy?
We need more speed and athleticism on our Defense. I don't know which one needs to step aside, but one of them do. I'd lean more towards Chambers giving up his spot than Eichenberg, but either one is fine. We'll unfortunately do neither.
- Bobby Boucher is the best Foosball QB since Joe Mantegna -
I bet you if you go ask the coaches about this they will give you the same reply that I did, you earn playing time you don't get it because you are a Sr or because you were a 5 star you get PT because you are the best player, I just don't see Hicks at 6' 3" tall and 215 lbs being a starting LB at Ohio State right now!! I could see him overtaking a unproductive Cody Simon in time. You don't hand anyone playing time because you are afraid they might enter the portal. BTW who has told you he is getting the shaft by not playing are you at practice? Do you know how he has been performing?
Bob you just put ALOT of words into my mouth that I never said. Go back to watching TV. The Price is Right is on. Enjoy
Hey Dumbass, if you show favor to a kid because he is a 5 star recruit or try to force play him even though his team mates have out played him what kind of message does this send to the team? As I recall Hicks was very late in fall camp before he lost his stripe. Means he was not a stand out at that sector of practice.
I agree,if he doesn't start, he's gone. I'll bet my $500k condo he's better than Chambers. Chambers is a nice player but lest face, he wouldn't start at a school like Georgia, Alabama, penn State or Texas. He's just not big enough. He struggled against big backs and good OLs. Let's face it, our defense lostbthose games. Can't keep throwing the same guys out there and expect a different result.
Hector m Rivera
So they’re either all Americans instantly or toss them out with the garbage? No development? No improvement with experience? Just microwave quick or nothing huh? Gotcha
So a year starting and not showing he deserves to start is what teams that win titles do? Throw him out there again and expect a different result? He's just not talented enough. That's the bottom line. Nothing against the kid but come on. He made too many mistakes. It's time to move on.
Hector m Rivera
Steele is absolutely the right size to start at all of those places. He's actually the same height and about the same weight as starting LBs at Georgia and Alabama. Steele is 6'1" 232, Henry To'oto'o (Alabama) is 6'2" 225, and Jamon Dumas-Johnson (Georgia) is 6'1" 245.
Steele had an incredible year and having both starting linebackers back is great for the defense next season.
"going to hang 100 on them." -Ryan Day
The Head Coach of the Football Team needs to lay down the law for the Head Coach of the Defense and ensure that guys like Hicks get plenty of reps in 2023. You can't have 3-4 recruiting classes worth of LBs watching 3 guys take 99% of the snaps and expect development in that position group.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Tailgate Fare Historical Archive
Agreed. We went from the Coombs/Washington regime of musical chairs to Knowles' total lack of rotation. Where's the balance? You gotta wonder if the players are confused too.
If you have two people that agree on everything, that only means one of them is not thinking at all.
Good grief, you all whined all season in 2021 about all the over rotation in defense. Plenty of posts saying to just stick with the starters and not rotate so much. Well that’s exactly what they did this year and you complain about that too.
Hence, my use of the word "balance", 6 beers.
If you have two people that agree on everything, that only means one of them is not thinking at all.
"Given the defense’s struggles in the final two games of 2022, though, Knowles should be looking for ways to get more playmakers on the field in 2023."
Agree. Hoping Hicks gets quality reps and develops a lot next season. I'm happy that Knowles oversees the LB unit.
“If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason.”
-Jack Handey
He will find a bigger role. He will make plays in some games and not be a part of the game plan in others. 2024 will be his time to truly shine then we’ll beg him to come back for another year.
I don't know that Hicks is necessarily limited to a rotation/situational role or special package as written above, just because the guys who were in front of him this year are back. There's some history of the opposite happening -- JSN passing JamesonW, Proctor going from starter to sub this year because others were playing better. We have eight months to see how it shakes out.
Really excited to see Hicks and Styles make plays next year. I think the d takes another huge step forward next year.
Hicks: "Hey, buddy, What's going on, what's happening? ". Eichenberg: "Grunt".
I'm at the age where food has taken the place of sex in my life. In fact, I've just had a mirror put over my kitchen table. - Rodney Dangerfield
It's imperative that we fully develop CJ and Sonny and they see the field next season. Cannot afford to lose both. They are super-sized athletes that we need on defense, especially with the growing pains on offense we'll have with 3 new OL and new QB. Steele and Tommy are back which helps because they have experience, and they were very solid. I would like to see us have more 4-3 looks.
BOATS and HOES.
Great story! I can’t wait to see CJ become a defensive force, and I’m hoping it is this year!
“When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less.” — Paul Brown
People also seem to forget the reclassification aspect for Hicks. He should’ve been a high school senior last year but he came to Ohio state early. That’s invaluable and even as likely the youngest scholarship player last year he still saw the field a bit. That’s impressive. Dude is a dog that’s for sure
The Excellence of Execution, the Best there is, the Best there was, the Best there ever will be!
They probably forgot because CJ Hicks did not reclassify.
Because I couldn't go for 3.
I believe that was Styles who reclassified. But both seem to have some dog in them. We'll need them to play significant roles if we are to challenge the 'Dawgs next year.
Knowles did EXACTLY what a quality coach would do at a new program. He poured time and energy into all the defense, but especially his starters, who have tho know the mostest, the fastest.
NextThis Soring practice, the experienced starters will be pouring info into those who didn't play as much so the D can truly be 2-3 deep at every position. Also, as everyone masters the necesaary reads and skills to play this complex D, athleticism will play more and more of a role. I expect Hicks to challenge Eich for the middle by mid season due to superior athleticism and near equal knowledge of the system. The reason it takes 2-3 years to implement Knowles D is the first students become the teachers and after 3 years there is sufficient players up to speed both in skill and knowledge. Hicks, Styles and others are the future of Buckeye football and it's gonna be a real treat to watch.Steelybuck54
This guy is a generational talent at LB. don’t expect him to sit behind Steel Chambers and “wait his turn” for another year. This defense was atrocious all season. It’s time to see what what these younger guys can do. CJ and Sonny better be playing significant roles in this 2023 defense. It couldn’t possibly get any worse!
This defense was not good enough, but not atrocious or terrible.
Hicks’ comments make him sound a lot more mature than most people are giving him credit for. When it’s his turn to play I expect some growing pains and a beast.
Hmm
It is almost as if many posters on the site are not taking Hicks at his word about being patient and just throwing crap against the wall. ;-)
Dayton Buck 99
I love hearing about a player that finds a way to contribute when there was little there. Epitome of a team player.
It's unreal how talented and deep we are and we lost to fucking scUM 2 years in a row and haven't won a title in almost ten years. Frustrating.
ibleedscarletandgray
I'm with the general tenor of your post, but just to level-set:
Do you know who else has not won a title in ten years besides us?
126 other D1 FBS teams. ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX.
This includes Michigan, Penn State, Notre Dame, Florida State, Miami, Florida, Tennessee, Auburn, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Nebraska, USC, Oregon, Washington, and many other big names and bluebloods.
Do you know who has won in the last ten years? Alabama, Clemson, LSU, Georgia. That's it.
Maybe a little perspective....
I appreciate your opinion, I just have mine, losing to scUM the last 2 years in particular stand out the most, in general we are too talented to not have more hardware over recent years, tired of hearing lesser teams brag about how they're better than us.
ibleedscarletandgray
It’s a shame that Knowles can’t/won’t change to a 4-3-4 defense to be able to utilize Hicks talent. It’s not like our DBs are elite.
It basically comes down to who can contribute on the field more: CJ Hicks or Styles. They both have almost identical dimensions out of HS.
Please explain how it comes down to that when they play different positions? CJ is a true LB an Styles is a safety.
Now CJ...I am very excited to see him hit the field at LB. Captain Buckeye will be a beast. I think he might end up being one of it not the best LBers we have had in a long time. Styles at safety is equally exciting.
Someone not talked about, or at least not very much on here is Jermaine Mathews Jr. I would love to see what he can do at CB. I mean, how often do you have offensive guys telling the coaching staff to offer a kid during a camp? I have never heard of that happening but you had Stroud, JSN, Miyan and Henderson all screaming to offer the kid.
When I think about a defense with Hicks, Styles, Matthews, Curry and Sawyer...I think Silver Bullets.
"I wipe my a$$ with wolverine fur"
I’ve been saying this all year!
I would hope all the players take a team first over me first approach. That’s what the brotherhood is all about.
Buckeyes need to find someone to start besides ransom and Chambers. They are decent players but not big tim football players. I don't recall chambers name being mentioned all game. These two guys just aren't big enough to play at any big time school.
Hector m Rivera
Chambers needs to go, he’s not good enough, he is not big enough, he’s not fast enough? Lol some people kill me. Dude was a running back, he is plenty fast enough. This defense was garbage before e and Eich took the reins. Hicks will get his time, if somebody is an All American, you don’t just replace him with an unproven commodity 5 star. I want the Freshman to play more than anybody, but if they aren’t ready, they aren’t ready. Some positions you can play Freshman, some you can’t. NPF weighed 275 pounds, it took him a while to get his weight up. You think he would have been ready as an Freshman 5 star?
If the coaches truly believe what they tell the recruits " no guarantees of playing time, the best player plays ", then Chambers may see reduced PT. Hicks looks special, Chambers looks solid
puddy
Get him on the field and not only special teams.
I think CJ will find his way onto the field for meaningful snaps. Too good to play only special teams for 2 years.
CJ is a beast and fully expect him to get opportunities this upcoming season. We need more reps for our young talent to keep them engaged and growing. Go Bucks!