Welcome to the Skull Session.
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 18, 2024
Welcome to , @PhilDaniels77 pic.twitter.com/HFdkIoS5It
Have a good Thursday.
WHAT IS THIS PHENOMENON? I have a question – the title of the section spoiled it – but I have a question!
What is this phenomenon?
I experience it often.
Years, months or weeks in advance of an Ohio State football game, I have some doubts about the Buckeyes’ chances to beat [INSERT OPPONENT], but as years, months and weeks become hours, minutes and seconds, those doubts vanish, and I start to have complete faith that the Buckeyes will demolish [INSERT OPPONENT] with no problems at all.
I can feel it now.
After Ohio State’s fourth consecutive loss to Michigan, I wasn’t sure if the Buckeyes could beat Kent State. (This is, of course, hyperbolic. Did you see how bad Kent State was this year? They can’t read, can’t write and can’t play football.) But now, with two more sleeps until a College Football Playoff matchup with Tennessee, I’m not sure if the Buckeyes will lose again this season.
Yes, I understand there are concerns about the head coach.
Yes, I understand there are concerns about the offensive line.
Yes, I understand the —
I don’t care.
La, la, la, la, la.
I have experienced this phenomenon, whatever it is called.
Ohio State will beat Tennessee on Saturday.
You can’t convince me otherwise.
“WE’RE GOING TO BE AGGRESSIVE.” I think one of Ryan Day’s comments on Ohio State’s offensive line made the phenomenon return.
For better or worse, Day has decided that Tegra Tshabola, Austin Siereveld and Luke Montgomery will rotate at guard against Tennessee. The decision, as I have interpreted it, will keep all three linemen on a short leash as Ohio State looks to assert its dominance through the air and on the ground. Should the Buckeyes find a combination that works, Day and Chip Kelly will attack the Volunteers at will.
“They know how they need to play in this game,” Day said of the offensive line. “Not that everything has to be perfect, but we gotta rock off the ball and knock people back. They have a good front. Might we swing and miss every once a a while? OK. But we’re not going to swing and miss by not being aggressive. We’re going to be aggressive. We’re going to go after these guys and make sure we’re moving back the line of scrimmage.”
Aggressive?
He said, aggressive?
Mood. pic.twitter.com/hKKwjeDfaB
— Josh Poloha (@JorshP) January 1, 2023
Yes, I would like to see Aggressive Ryan Day in the Tennessee game, please.
“I’M CONFIDENT IN OUR PLAYERS.” Another reason the phenomenon returned is because Jim Knowles is one of the best defensive coordinators, if not the best defensive coordinator, in college football.
When Kelly held a press conference on Tuesday, I thought about how it was his first time in front of a microphone since Ohio State’s loss to Michigan. What did I think about next? How Knowles answered questions from the media after the Buckeyes’ losses to the Wolverines in 2022, Georgia in 2022 and Oregon in 2023 – as in, the three games in which his defenses failed to meet the program’s standards, leading to defeat. I respect Knowles a ton for that. It’s hard to face the music after an embarrassing loss. It’s also hard to admit failure, to seek accountability and to make changes. But Knowles has done that all three years he’s been in Columbus. That’s what makes him great.
But I digress.
If Ohio State makes a run for a national championship, the Silver Bullets will have to shoulder most of the burden. Knowles is confident his defense can accomplish that feat.
“I’m confident in our players,” Knowles said. “I’m confident in the way they perform in crucial moments. Never put a limit on it. I’m always confident in our team and all the members of our team. … But we’re also willing to (prove) that we can win the game on defense. That’s everything I’ve been working on since I’ve gotten here. I think there have been times we have done that, so we have a history of it. The guys know they can do it, and they take pride in that.”
With the $8 Million Man Nico Iamaleava at quarterback and SEC Offensive Player of the Year Dylan Sampson at running back, Tennessee will challenge Ohio State’s defense with talent and tempo. The good news? Knowles said his scheme is built to handle fast-paced offenses.
“I think we are ahead of the game in that way. Our defense is built that way. It’s built for tempo,” Knowles said. “David Cutcliffe made me do that back in the day at Duke, so hats off to Coach Cutcliffe. This is what everybody was doing 10 years ago, 12 yards ago, 14 — I lose track of time.
“That’s how we set it up, our calls and everything. It’s been that way in this system since back then at Duke with Coach Cutcliffe, so it’s built for temp. When I first started it back then with Coach Cutcliffe, he said he wanted to be the fastest playcalling defense in the country. That’s what we are. We’ve remained that way. We’re the fastest playcalling defense in the country.”
The scheme is there, but the players have to execute – on both sides of the ball.
“This is a team game. It’s the greatest team sport there is. If that takes (winning the game) 3-0, it’s 3-0. We have to always strive for perfection. … You’re not going to say, ‘Well, we did our job.’ That’s not how it is. These guys sweat and bond. We know all the time and effort they put in. Whatever it takes to win. Either you do, or you don’t.”
Mmm, yes.
Whatever it takes.
NEYLAND NORTH? Reason No. 843 that I dislike Tennessee fans:
A Tennessee fan really changed Ohio Stadium to “Neyland North” on Apple Maps pic.twitter.com/RW6J0u3dP8
— Vol Report (@AllVolReport) December 18, 2024
Again, Vols fans are insufferable.
Ohio State needs to humble them – and fast!
SONG OF THE DAY. "HUMBLE" - Kendrick Lamar.
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