OSU's Biggest Potential Offseason Loss

[seofan_via_dublin]

Notre Dame has offered a Defensive coaching position to
Co-Defensive coordinator and Linebackers coach Luke Fickle.

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/ ... ll_of.html

Fickle has helped maintain the Buckeye reputation as a Linebacker
Factory. He has also become on of Tressel's top recruiters.

He has a history with ND coach John Tinuta. Tinuta was the Buckeyes
secondary coach while Fickle was a four year starter on the Buckeyes defense.

Fickle was recruited by Notre Dame while attending Columbus Desales High School,
but chose OSU over the catholic school.

Fickle will be a great coach and a great asset to whomever he works for,
here's hoping it remains the Buckeyes.

[Orestes]

The OSU "insider" on Scout says that Fickell turned it down today. Take it FWIW...

However, he also said that Mangini is still looming in the background for Mr. Fickell.

[seofan_via_dublin]

Luke turned down Notre Dame when he was in HS,
hopefully he turns it down again.

He is a good asset to our teams development, both through coaching
and recruiting.

[Orestes]

Luke turned down Notre Dame when he was in HS,
hopefully he turns it down again.

He is a good asset to our teams development, both through coaching
and recruiting.

Yep. Often mentioned by recruits as a coach "they love" after they have committed. Some feel he may be the Buckeye's head coach someday. If that is the case, I hope he works as a head coach somewhere else first.

[seofan_via_dublin]

It was mentioned today that he may have to "leave, to one day come back"

I would like to see him get whatever he can out of anywhere he goes,
if he hopes to be a head coach in Columbus though, he needs to get a
solid D-Coordinator spot and then a head coaching spot.
Then in about 8-10 years he will be ready to step in just as
Tress is ready to step out.

That D-Coordinator spot is not something Notre Dame is offering him either.

[Orestes]

It was mentioned today that he may have to "leave, to one day come back"

I would like to see him get whatever he can out of anywhere he goes,
if he hopes to be a head coach in Columbus though, he needs to get a
solid D-Coordinator spot and then a head coaching spot.
Then in about 8-10 years he will be ready to step in just as
Tress is ready to step out.

That D-Coordinator spot is not something Notre Dame is offering him either.

I agree. Or if Heacock goes, Fickell can D-coordinate alone at OSU, then take a head coaching job elsewhere. I just don't want OSU to hire a coach without prior head coaching experience. I was actually surprised Fickell didn't get his name out more for some of the available MAC jobs.

And again, they are claiming that Mangini is in talks with Fickell. Though, I think Fickell is too good of a recruiter to end that part of his career.

[Amen Corner]

Hopefully,Heacock leaves.

[Orestes]

LOL.

Heacock's defenses have average out to be the #1 scoring defense in the nation since he took over. What do you want?

The offense killed OSU in the UF game. 82 yards? The avg. UF scoring drive was approx. 40 yards.

Offensive mistakes killed OSU in the LSU game. OSU held LSU to their season low in numbers totals.

The offense killed OSU in the USC game. 91 yards?

The offense killed OSU in the PSU game. 6 points?

He helds Texas to 24 points and only 17 points if the fumble is called on the 4th and 3 spot. They averaged 45 per game.


People who want Heacock out are either stupid or totally ignorant about football. It's hard to shut down a highly talented offense. It's even harder to do when your own offense does nothing and your D is on the field the entire game.


People say Michigan showed college football how to shut down Tebow and the Gators.... well....

Against Michigan UF had 399 total yards and 35 points....

Against OSU UF had 370 total yards and 41 points.....


The difference....

Michigan had 524 yards of offense and 32:18 of time of possession while scoring 41.

OSU had 82 yards of offense and 19:12 time of possession while scoring 14 (7 on a kick return).


Do you not see how it all ties together and how poor offense can negatively effect the defense? OSU's offense has consistently been the side of the ball that hasn't shown up lately in huge games while the defense has been placed in horrible spots.

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

The offense does not help the defense much at all and this has been the case since Little Game took over.

[The Riepo Man]

Their run defense has been top notch but our pass coverage has been lacking in BIG games.

[Orestes]

Their run defense has been top notch but our pass coverage has been lacking in BIG games.

Really? Could it be that teams have trouble running the ball, so they abandon it and throw every down, which leads to high passing numbers? Texas threw it 60 times. They tallied less than 7 yards per pass attempt. That is very solid against a high quality team.

[The Riepo Man]

5-7yds multiplied by 60 = alot of yards.

Ohio State isnt a high quality team cause they never really get a chance to prove it throughout the season...Penn State is usually decent and Michigan has been up and down as of late but that pretty much is and should be the only major competition in the BIG 10.

When you go through the season playing Ohio University(inching by them to boot) you wouldnt be expected to compete with a Texas who plays Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Texas A&M and other schools that are constant power houses

[seofan_via_dublin]

Alot of yards yes, but not the expected amount of points
off of those yards.

Against Oklahoma McCoy had 387 yards and Texas scored 45 points
Against Arkansas McCoy had 185 yards passing and Texas scored 52
Against Missouri 336 yards passing and 56 points

But against two schools that can stop the run
McCoy had 397 yards against Oklahoma State and only scored 28
and threw for 414 yards against Ohio State but only scored 24 points.

The Buckeyes played man on the outside and gave Texas short routes,
but made the stop at the point of the catch. This is what they failed to
do against Florida, LSU, and USC. Stop the ball carrier on first contact,
at the point of the catch. The Buckeyes failed to do this twice against Texas,
both times the ball carrier scored a Touchdown.

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

Change could be a good thing.
I do not see this team winning it all with the staff and game plan they have right now.

Defense has been great against lesser teams and not so good against the better teams. Especially those who can throw the rock.

[seofan_via_dublin]

THEY LOOK WORSE AGAINST THE PASS BECAUSE THEY STOP THE RUN!

TEAMS ARE FORCED TO PASS THE BALL, OR NOT MOVE IT AT ALL!!!

MAYBE ONE DAY THIS WILL SINK THROUGH YOUR SKULL.

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

Team have been able to run on Ohio State. Maybe one day you will see the fact that the beloved Buckeyes are the biggest pretenders in college football and if changes are not made they will continue to be the laughing stock of the nation.

[The Riepo Man]

We need to stop playing these bushleague teams early on just because it is alumni day or whatever. I like our staff but we are too conservative...More deep balls would be nice...running has been pretty good except when we have pryor do it. We know he is fast so obviously when we line up with 5 wide he is gonna run a draw...try somethign different. With Smith we would fake the option and have him drop back to pass and launch some good ones...try that.

[seofan_via_dublin]

Maybe one day you will see the fact that the beloved Buckeyes are the biggest pretenders in college football and if changes are not made they will continue to be the laughing stock of the nation.

Take a look at Stoops and Oklahoma before you join Mark May's Buckeye
hate mob.

[The Riepo Man]

Michigan is the laughing stock of the NCAA

[seofan_via_dublin]

We need to stop playing these bushleague teams early on just because it is alumni day or whatever.

We can't help the Big 10 part of the schedule, and outside of Florida,
the Buckeyes have a non-conference schedule that makes other
teams look like they are scheduling cupcakes.

Texas, USC, Miami, Tennesse, VTech, what more do you want.