If this isn't worthy of a thread, please delete.

This isn't meant to pile on Dallan Hayden, the most controversial OSU running back in recent memory, but to highlight how things may not be what they appear when we watch OSU as fans.

One of the biggest criticisms last year (or of the last couple of years) has been our O-line, specifically run-blocking. As a result there was a LOT of chatter about which RBs are most effective, who should get more snaps, and why Frye should be fired. At the center of a lot of this conversation was Hayden. He flashed brightly whenever he got the ball at OSU, and ran over multiple teams, all while looking (sometimes) more effective than many of our other ball carriers. So there was understandably a not-insignificant segment of the OSU fanbase on here strongly stating he should be RB1/2 and get far more carries. Cries of "where's Hayden" appeared frequently.

I loved the kid and thought he ran downhill and found the right holes to hit more often than not. He was just fun to watch. But as a result of our offseason activity he decided to leave because he wasn't going to move farther up the depth chart.

So he goes to Colorado....and doesn't move up the depth chart. And when he does have his chance to shine, he's unproductive and the O-line did him no favors. Final box score: 9 carries for 20 yards and multiple plays where his pass blocking was, not to be mean, terrible.

All of this is to say: OSU's O-line is not bad. It's not even average. When our guys are healthy and the offensive pieces are in place, it's a productive unit. Hayden went from looking like a world beater (against objectively bad run defenses fielded by overmatched teams) at OSU, to whatever last night was.

We have it good here, and we should all be mindful of that...even if we get stuffed on a 4th and 2. Our players, both O-line and running backs, are some of the best in the country and there are many ways we won't even know what we have until you see examples like what was on the field last night.