Mike West

I actually agree with you Jon. It's just the threat of it concerns me. We've long been past amateurism in college football. Since I was a freshman in college many many years ago. I talked to the players, they knew back then opponents were paying players. But this free agency situation is harming everyone. I'm not keen on the House Settlement either. I also don't believe that stems the tide, nor pits a check on outright greed.. That's what driving things now. Pure greed. Michigan proved they'll overpay an unknown just to lock him up. Player counts are going back to 100 plus. That's just a rerun if the seventies and eighties when blue bloods stocked talent to eliminate competition. OBD will survive, but Northwestern is toast. Vanderbilt is going to be a high school team. And like Nevada Dawg stated, massively mediocre teams are going to reach the playoffs. I liked a six or eight team playoff field. That's the max number of elite teams the total talent pool offers..

Let’s be frank, The ACC and the Big 12 would be lucky to earn two playoff spots regularly moving forward. They are about to fall behind significantly once the players get paid. I agree with FishDuck. Move to 16 teams, no byes. Season begins Week 0, Big 12 and the ACC use CCG weekend as qualifiers (two games 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3-winners advance-a financial boon for both conferences). Better yet, reduce the final week of the season to the top four each conference left open (the top four play for playoffs in the “second P2”, the top 8 play for playoffs in the P2). Ratings would hit the roof if that proposal was slotted properly (would help, if the NFL took their players’ advice and eliminate Thursday Night Football). College Football needs the P4 to separate so the G5 can create their own playoffs, while still getting those million plus ‘preseason’ games. There needs to be the thought that somebody like ASU can crash the Natty party. Think March Madness football style. The networks can still get their NFL esque matchups every week. Just pit the best of each conference against each other much like what ESPN just did to Notre Dame. We already know Bama and Ohio State are the most popular teams. And Texas. People will watch a surging Ole Miss, Florida, or whomever play Ohio State, or Michigan. Same with Oregon vs Bama. Or USC vs Texas. Mid season at that. Slot Oklahoma State with Georgia. Missouri at Penn State. You get the idea. Expose the SEC to the entire country, now that they get four slots, bump the ratings, and fans from the Second Two will not only watch all season, they will eagerly await the playoffs. Anything to be the opposite of the NFL will preserve college football. Anything resembling the NFL will destroy it.

You brought up even better points David. It really is a chicken or egg dilemma. I think the players are good enough, and I believe the secondary issues seem like the weakness, especially given the amount of transfers that have started. Yet the questions you posed give pause to reconsider. Either way, it’s clear Lanning gets plenty from his team. He is getting better in the clutch, and now it’s a matter of elevating the units to complete elite status. OBD didn’t have the most elite prospects this year. Several teams have more ‘NFL stock’. 13-1 is impressive when you consider that fact.

Not to argue or anything, Bassa is having a good camp at the Senior Bowl. I also believe he was good in coverage, but ineffective because…. You guessed it-he kept looking at the QB instead of covering guys running into his area of responsibility. Boetcher has the same problem. Lots mentioned DL has his recruits now. Well, I’m concerned then because only DL Washington has truly stood out in the interior. We have too many edge rushers in the mix in my opinion. It’s why DL has had to go to the portal to fill the interior. But we shall see this year if the guys inside are legit. I want a 4-3 / 3-4 combo formation. It’s easier to seal the edge, set more flexible coverage rules, and frankly cover the entire field better. But I’m just a hack, so I could be completely wrong. I just hope the defense starts grinding down elite offenses. Still requires an elite offense though. I really like Lanning. He beat Ohio State at home when I was pretty sure we’d lose that game. He showed me he has the chops to step into the trophy box.

That’s a good assessment. But we’re talking about public institutions here. Profit isn’t their first consideration. Especially since they acquire a good portion of their revenue from Government grants, research and Endowments. This more than likely stems from them not having had to compete like they currently do now. The stakes are real now because it’s actual competition instead of structured competition. Losing has real consequences.

I am trying to be respectful here. The level of unacceptable behavior from Ohio State fans the past two years in my opinion leaves me no room for empathy for their feelings towards another fan base. Michigan cheated in 2021 and 2022. Buckeye fans conflated that to 2023 knowing full well that was false. Then they had the temerity to act like hyenas in the jungle after Ryan Day lost games this year. Jackals as well. Death threats to a coach’s family is criminal in my opinion. That is beyond unhinged behavior. Calling him a loser when the guy has one of the most winning records ever is ridiculous. I will never look at the Ohio State fan base as acceptable. Nobody in that fan base took the time to say enough is enough. Nobody. College football is not life and death. It is a function of entertainment. When people start personalizing the game to the degree they stop acting appropriately towards others is the time to put an end to such behavior. That not one Ohio State fan actually called out fans for such behavior is disturbing to me. Worse, it was clearly evident to anybody that was paying attention that Ohio State was probably going to win the Natty. That makes the behavior even more disgusting because is was simply pile driving the team for no acceptable reason. So, I am going to say I don’t have much empathy for a fan base that feels other fan bases are out of line. Even Alabama fans have more decency than what Ohio State fans demonstrated the past 24 months.

Oh I believe the Safeties and Corners played well enough to make a difference. In both Ohio State games and the Penn State game guys were so wide open, I truly believe any of us old geezers could have run those routes and been open. Not to mention the absolute confusion on defense the last two games. Michigan started the avalanche. Between Michigan, which only scored 17 but threatened twice in the Red Zone, and Penn State that struggled against what I consider a very mediocre Boise State defense, OBD looked mighty ordinary. The variance in points allowed between the average offenses and the elite offenses was huge. Too huge. We’re talking a full three touchdowns. I completely attribute that to a flawed defensive alignment and philosophy. Never surrender the edge. Lupoi’s defense does that just lining up before the play, then drags the backside edge to the middle. Once again, linebackers and safeties eyeball the QB instead of taking away his options (a dreaded epidemic in football actually). How many times have you seen me write you can’t cover your guy if you’re looking at the QB? Now go back painfully and count the number of times WRs were so open a missile couldn’t catch up to them. That’s worse than bad. That’s pure philosophy. I talked to FishDuck about this. You can cover sideline to sideline if you’re faster than Usain Bolt. Not many guys fit that qualification. Lanning had that at Georgia. Mack trucks that could catch a missile mid air. Bulldozers that could snag gazelles in the backfield. In other words NFL ALL-PRO level guys. Devon Jackson is the only guy on the team with that kind of size and speed. Lanning has more than enough talent. He needs a scheme that allows BB to plug holes and find TEs and RBs (and stop them from getting open). He needs to bracket superstars like Jeremiah Smith much like Texas did (the guy is too big and too fast to leave alone). Lanning has a heat seeking radar missile in a safety he can use like Ohio State uses Caleb Downs. He has quality corners that aren’t exactly lockdown, but are able to take away certain routes solo, and lockdown areas with safety (and LB) help. Im telling you he has the components. They weren’t going to stop Ohio State, but they sure could have slowed them down and kept them to thirty (which at that point meant the offense needed their standard 35, that they didn’t get in Pasadena). The goal is to keep lethal offenses at around 23-27 points, and make sure your lethal offense scores more. You can’t do that when you automatically relinquish the edge on defense, and your secondary looks like it’s performing a Chinese Fire Drill on national television. Believe me, I think Lanning gets it. If he’s anything like Nick Saban, they retool the entire defense the next two years-which is what it will take given he’s had his guys for three years. I’ll bet you this, I’d never get a media pass with these kinds of critiques. But I’m telling you, a hack like me is nothing compared to a pro. They have forty plays guaranteed to explode based on the footage they’ve seen.

I'm not sure we beat Michigan last year. Their offense was more potent than this year's, and this year's team was the first to "crack the code" on our defense. Not to mention, they way we lined up against Washington last year was an open invitation for last year's Michigan to simply pile drive our defense (the Fuskies used a similar defensive front against the Wolverines in the Natty last year and got obliterated - until that game I thought Washington would win hands down). I personally believe it's time to overhaul the entire philosophy on defense. I don't get paid for these things, and I'm just a hack, but I totally believe the best coaches in the business completely know how to take down Lanning 's scheme on defense. It's just apparent to me we can out physical lower grades teams, but when it boils down to elite competition, they know exactly who to attack, and what Formations to use to neutralize a pretty damn set of talented players.

I love that Buckeye fans recognize the threat that Oregon is. It first started with the recruiting battles. Then it immediately spilled over to the field. They don’t respect us, but they respect the threat that we are to them. Whether they like it or not.

Somebody in the B1G brass has suggested using CCG week as a seeding tool. Three games. Number one versus number two. Number 4 versus Number 5 and Number 3 versus Number 6. Winners get automatic bids. Number 2 goes to the playoffs as well. Would make sense if the playoffs expand to 14 or 16. I believe the ratings would be outstanding. Vegas and the Rose Bowl could be used as sites along with Indianapolis. Talk about huge interest! Better yet, if the Big 12 and the ACC took the top 4 and had a two-week tourney starting the week after the season ended (1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3 then the Title game the next week), and the B1G and SEC used the above over two weeks after the season ended, the ratings would certainly spike. They would have to stagger the games -say on Thursday Friday and Saturday the first week. That would be similar to March Madness, but conference specific until the playoffs start. I believe that would etch College Football as a Brand to follow in November and December because the second tier of the P4 would have a new revenue source. and people will still believe in College Football (not being an NFL Esque money grabbing enterprise ironically).

Didn't he say they used that as the theme for the Rose Bowl? I thought he said that was the theme for that playoff game. He didn't reveal that until the week of the Natty from what I remember. For what its worth, I don't think any team with 11 were going to beat them the way they prepared, and strategically unveiled their strategy for us(and everybody else). We had not seen anything like what they brought to the table that game. They brought their coaching staff to the table as well. Lots of coaches thought Day's staff was more experienced, and thus would beat Oregon in Eugene. That happened the second game because they didn't take OBD for granted, and they were totally motivated to humiliate us like we humiliated them. I think Lanning learns from this. I think Lanning is going to start going to Specialists instead of General Practitioners from this point forward.

I think it will be interesting to see how he does without his son at QB. He has adapted the mercenary route to win. I'm not sure how that works out long term. One thing I can say is he did way better than I expected. I didn't believe he completely cared about his players enough to motivate them to rise above their "pay grade". That they were in contention for a conference title this year impressed me. Now we will see if he is a coach or talent acquirer. If he matches that record this year (2024's), I'll certainly be impressed.

I think that works for Gabriel too. Murray at Arizona comes to mind. Size matters if you don't know how to use your talent. Joe Montana is tiny compared to current NFL QBs. Gabriel demonstrated how much of a play maker this year. The right (smart) NFL team will pick him up. Gabriel can play if he has talent around him. I have always admired Pittsburgh's strategy of picking up NFL talent. They always go to the playoffs. I used to think Belichick did the same until Brady went to Tampa Bay. Denver seems to have adapted the same philosophy-stack your team with guys that not only fit your scheme, but pick them up in every round of the draft. The players will replace the money seekers because they are suited for the style of play. Let the greedy get the "bag". Make sure you have a complete team, and the stars are replaced by guys that will be excellent in your scheme because their talent level and capabilities match what works on your team. Money IS important. Titles matter more to me. Brady, Montana, Sanders... those guys gave up some of their salary to pick up enough talent to win Championships. Winning matters more. Especially when you are good enough already. Gabriel has a chance to make an impact if the right team with the right stuff picks him up.

I don't think his comment is any different than "they play for clicks, we play for wins". It was used in the same context. A tool to motivate his team. They were pretty ticked that they lost to us. Surprised at that. They felt they were the better team. Not that day. They were more talented. They learned from their mistakes. They left nothing to chance. They set their egos aside and really went to the doctor (nothing against DL here-I think the world of Lanning, but he's still learning). They were willing to overhaul their entire concept, their defense and offense, and they waited on purpose to unveil all they were going to display (until the playoffs). Lanning will get there. He is a more complete HC than CK ever will be. He will have to adapt his efforts to suit the strengths of his players. I think he goes there. He wants to win a title...badly. He fully grasped how to acquire talent. Now he just needs to completely put them in position to win. That will require adapting his schemes to fully exploit the strengths his players possess. That's what Ryan Day did this year. Both coaches approached the season as a long haul. They both knew it would require looking at the season as sections of its entirety. I actually believe both of Ohio State's losses tremendously helped them win the Natty. They were forced to accept it takes more than putting a philosophy on paper. It was going to require drilling down to accentuate the exact strengths each player had. They had a wealth and abundance of talent. That wasn't enough. They tweaked their schemes to suit their talent better than everyone else. Including motivating them by expressing what the players already believed (that we needed twelve to beat them because nobody with eleven could beat them).

I remember when Nick Saban called it a fad. Then asked everyone if that's what they really wanted. Then Saban basically took Chip Kelly's Offense (not Bill Walsh's) and earned three more Natty's. I believe Cio Kelly had far more an influence on the teams that earn titles than Bill Walsh has. The fad was the no huddle. The option aspect of it still forces teams to pick their poison. You have to commit to what you want to defend instead of dictate the game. I'd say football is thinking about Chip's system more than Walsh's.

I'm still wondering what the heck Kansas State's HC was thinking. The guy that was supposed to light the Big 12 on fire will never sniff a College Football playoff game (yeah I said it, the dude is a fraction of what Will Howard is). That may have cost OBD a shot at the title. I don't regret not going full tilt into the football industry, but I sure do wonder how some of these coaches think ( getting rid of Howard to promote potential is just obvious - you don't run off the guy that earned you a conference title).

I'm not sold on the recruits yet. DJ's brother was the ONLY breakout in his class, and nobody broke out in last year's class. Contrast that with Downs at Bama, then Ohio State. Williams and Smith at Bama and Ohio State respectively. Those guys get impact freshmen, and freshman backups contributing in the two deep. It's great that NIL is leveling the playing field, but I'm starting to question the whole recruiting industry. Too many four stars are sitting the bench all over the country. I realize it takes at least a year now, but we should be hearing whispers of future stars. And I've seen a significant difference between the starters and the reserves during mop up duty. Disturbing differences. Especially on defense ( which until now I hadn't thought about - could explain all the confusion even the starters show at times). I like the defense Andy Avalos inherited and suited to his style. I just think a 4-3 or 3-4 is better suited to exploit an individual player's skill set. I could go on, but alas, I'll never be a DC or an analyst to contribute my thoughts. I just see way too many coaches spending way too much time on their thing instead of of looking at the lau of the land and putting their players in position to execute against any and everybody. Or perhaps I'm just delusional and an old hack that wishes he was actively part of the game lol.

Well I certainly hope we don't become the distasteful blue blood when we get there. It already shows some in the Athletic Department. Some believe they're too big for 'the others'. Reminds me a bit of The Outsiders. Not to mention, some kids can never relate to being humble as we Grey Beards know all too well. It's a blessing to be a contender. Not too long ago we were just like Oregon State and WSU. And we'd have been looking in the outside in if Rich Brooks hadn't worked his butt off and learned what he needed to learn.

Interesting take. If it's true that position coaches matter most to recruits, does it really matter? Chip is a football genius that doesn't relate to inflated egos that much (I'm with him on the egos, I can't stand hyped up (and relatively) grade schoolers). Chip changes the entire game of football. Chip is damn near the Vince Lombardi of College Football. The media age (social media that is) inflates egos and fosters many a delusion. So as CEO I wouldn't mind my coordinators spending more time finding ways to carve their elite opposition rather than hunt down too many maybes. Just my take. Recruiting should be for those that really want to deal with the kids. You can build relationships with them when they are on your team.

If the B1G is talking about it, it may well happen. I like the strategy: create compelling end of season games for ratings AND another revenue source for the conference. Expand to 14 teams, provide the 3 AQs for the SEC and B1G ( it's going to happen anyways - especially after the House Case settles), and hype it all season ( that will make the regular season more relevant than ever). Will it happen? We'll see. Money has a funny way of creating foggy hubris in decision makers. Let's see if they still care about the essence of college football.

My take on the posts here: OSU basically took a key coaching move by DL and used it as AMPLE MOTIVATION TO DEEP SIX OBD. Nothing like a rivalry starting off as hot as tOSU/Michigan. They already hate us. That's good. Another Blue Blood annoyed that we are coming for them. As I said, if I know DL at all, he is going to scheme better than he ever has. And personell doesn't matter as much as using the talent you have in hand.

LOL, I stared a whole new thread before seeing this... But my take is vital. We need every exam known to mankind to fix our issues with elite teams.

I’m curious, what’s the point in spamming a free website? Seems like an awful waste of time.

I’ve got to look at it. Michigan does an excellent job of slowing teams down. They have an elite staff. That’s one of the reasons they keep getting elite players. I believe our staff is pretty good. They haven’t attacked that major weakness yet. I’ve even seen CB Mohamed isolated at times in ways that don’t make him look good. That has to change.

I’m going to have to take a good look at them before I comment. Again, I believe it’s going to hinge on giving them solid rules for coverage. Savage couldn’t cover elite speed, but he sure was around the ball a lot. ‘’Ohio State (Chip) did a good job isolating the weakest man on man cover guys and kept the deep Safeties in conflict coverage. That is where the rubber meets the road-finding coverage rules that bolster those weaknesses and most importantly, forcing elite WRs to take short catches . Open field tackling is vital and that may be where OBD can take advantage of their skills best. This requires a lot of trial and error. Which I don’t think DCs and position coaches scheme for. It’s more the entire defense. One on One coverage is very difficult for even the best CBs and Safeties. That’s why I believe it takes looking at the best offensive plays ever designed and crafting coverage packages for them. I don’t believe coaches think that way.