The Rumors About Ryan Day....Whew!

[Charles Fischer]

I agree with Mike West's comments about the stubborn nature of Chip; we could have passed our way to a 'Natty in 2010, and Chip is being stubborn to a fault at osu2 now.  In the NFL...he ran an offense that required a mobile QB, but got statues to prove he could do it without a mobile QB.

 

His pride is more important than winning....and thus why his Oregon days were his best.

 

[Charles Fischer]

Ohio State has not run the ball well against good teams since they played Oregon at full health on the O-Line.  They are damaged now, and Michigan exposed it further.  Will Chip pass more if they face us again?

 

I would bet against it.

 

[Dave23]

On 12/4/2024 at 10:59 AM, Mike West said:

I don't think Cam Ward is a top level QB.  He will face narrower windows than In college, and he will struggle.

 

Miami made Florida look like a high school team and everyone drooled.  They wouldn't stay within ten against the Gators now.  

 

Ward would have lost four games in the SEC.  And scored much less at that.  

 

I like Ward.  He isn't going to thrive in the NFL.  He's the perfect college QB.  Until he faces elite defenses.

I was referring to Justin Herbert who Mario made look like a mid-tier QB. Sorry I should have been more specific.

Edited December 4 by Dave23

[Dave23]

On 12/4/2024 at 10:18 AM, Jon Joseph said:

It's always been about and always will be about the Jimmies and the Joes.

You're not going to win it all unless you have the guys but you also have to have the coach that motivates those guys and puts together a cohesive game plan otherwise you can have all the talent in the world and it won't get you anywhere. 

 

Day has had 4 years and hasn't improved upon his big game coaching ability. He's not out there finding every advantage and making excellent game time decisions he's sitting back relying on the Jimmies and the Joes to do it for him. 

 

Not that it's not possible for pure talent to win the national championship but it gets easier with a great coach.

 

Small mental mistakes are the difference between sliding a second earlier and setting up a game winning field goal and losing the game. We've all seen this happen in different regards to different teams but well coached players tend not to make this mistake.

 

Lanning is getting better at  not making these mistakes. Saban, Smart and other great coaches of the past have grown over the years to become better at the small things that make all the difference in the big games. Will Day grow as a coach or will he continue to make the small mental mistakes.

 

I'm not denying that he easily has the most talented team in the nation this year yet he still has lost two games.

[Jon Joseph]

On 12/4/2024 at 11:28 AM, Dave23 said:

You're not going to win it all unless you have the guys but you also have to have the coach that motivates those guys and puts together a cohesive game plan otherwise you can have all the talent in the world and it won't get you anywhere. 

 

Day has had 4 years and hasn't improved upon his big game coaching ability. He's not out there finding every advantage and making excellent game time decisions he's sitting back relying on the Jimmies and the Joes to do it for him. 

 

Not that it's not possible for pure talent to win the national championship but it gets easier with a great coach.

 

Small mental mistakes are the difference between sliding a second earlier and setting up a game winning field goal and losing the game. We've all seen this happen in different regards to different teams but well coached players tend not to make this mistake.

 

Lanning is getting better at  not making these mistakes. Sabine, Smart and other great coaches of the past have grown over the years to become better at the small things that make all the difference in the big games. Will Day grow as a coach or we'll continue to make the small mental mistakes.

 

I'm not denying that he easily has the most talented team in the nation this year yet he still has lost two games.

 

All good points. Who would you hire instead? Is there anyone out there who can win the % of games won by Day? Who can recruit like Day? 

 

I think comparing Day or any coach to Nick Saban when it comes to winning the big games is a tough standard. Check out James Franklin's, Steve Sarkisian's, and so-called 'Big Game' Bob Stoops records in the biggest games. 

 

Again, I get and appreciate all of your comments but Michigan is one game on the schedule. In 7 seasons Harbaugh won 2 B1G conference championships. And OBD is the only undefeated team in the G5/P4 this season. 

 

You want to be a tough grader? I'm fine with that but I think you are judging the man against the greatest coaches in the history of CFB. And I for one do not see Vrabel as an ipso facto improvement. Others may be out there but I cannot easily identify them. 

 

Love the discussion and your thought-provoking comments.

[Dave23]

On 12/4/2024 at 12:42 PM, Jon Joseph said:

 

All good points. Who would you hire instead? Is there anyone out there who can win the % of games won by Day? Who can recruit like Day? 

 

I think comparing Day or any coach to Nick Saban when it comes to winning the big games is a tough standard. Check out James Franklin's, Steve Sarkisian's, and so-called 'Big Game' Bob Stoops records in the biggest games. 

 

Again, I get and appreciate all of your comments but Michigan is one game on the schedule. In 7 seasons Harbaugh won 2 B1G conference championships. And OBD is the only undefeated team in the G5/P4 this season. 

 

You want to be a tough grader? I'm fine with that but I think you are judging the man against the greatest coaches in the history of CFB. And I for one do not see Vrebel as an ipso facto improvement. Others may be out there but I cannot easily identify them. 

 

Love the discussion and your thought-provoking comments.

I get it there is no known entity to replace him and he's probably the best choice out there at this time. I hope they hold on to him forever and he never gets a single bit better at the small things, advantage Ducks!

 

Eventually if you can't beat the Ducks and the Wolverines recruiting will fall off. All the better for us! Go ducks

 

Thanks for the great discussion.

[Mike West]

On 12/4/2024 at 10:56 AM, Charles Fischer said:

Ohio State has not run the ball well against good teams since they played Oregon at full health on the O-Line.  They are damaged now, and Michigan exposed it further.  Will Chip pass more if they face us again?

 

I would bet against it.

 

You know,

 

‘When Ryan Day talked about revamping the defense, I believe they revamped the offense too.  I think they decided to go Power ala Michigan.

 

Bad career move.  
 

Here’s the thing: never allow squatters on your property.  You can never get rid of them.  In other words, Ohio State is a power passing team, not a power running team.  Even with a banged up OL.  Letting "homeless" Michigan and wanna be Nebraska stay close is a travesty.  
 

Bury them early.  
 

If you can make a power defense like Oregon look "ordinary " (and vice versa frankly), drop 50 gigaton bombs on average teams.  Put them out of their misery in the first quarter.

 

Since October 12th, Ohio State has let every decent team hang around.  We haven’t ( I dare say Wisconsin got a scheduling gift from the Gods because we would obliterate them when rested).

Our defense got exposed too.  You beat OBD by isolating the safeties in one on one coverage.  Especially after getting away with a surprise steal from our CBs.

 

OBD have yet to prove to me they can take out strong passing teams.  I think they do if they play match up zone.  That’s too much detail to explain, but essentially the Safeties don’t chase guys they can’t cover, but instead take areas away that those guys run to. 
 

There’s more to that, but so many offenses take away natural advantages that it makes no sense for a safety to be chasing a road runner he can’t keep up with.

 

But I’m a strange dude.  I believe practice should be ‘street ball’ half the

 

duration of the period so coordinators stop insisting their game plan is perfect. 
 

‘’Hence, Ohio State SHOULD pass the ball 65% of the time.  Nobody can stop them, their run game will open up like gang busters and they’d score at least one explosive running TD a game.  
 

My opinion of course.  But I saw way too much explosion against OBD.  And I think OBD have a pretty damn good defense. 

Edited December 4 by Mike West

[30Duck]

On 12/4/2024 at 12:55 PM, Mike West said:

OBD have yet to prove to me they can take out strong passing teams.  I think they do if they play match up zone.  That’s too much detail to explain, but essentially the Safeties don’t chase guys they can’t cover, but instead take areas away that those guys run to. 
 

There’s more to that, but so many offenses take away natural advantages that it makes no sense for a safety to be chasing a road runner he can’t keep up with.

 

That makes a lot of sense. Thank you!

[David Marsh]

On 12/4/2024 at 9:24 AM, 30Duck said:

Day is a great recruiter, he has NFL talent across the board, and a great record, except in the games that really matter. osu2 is coming up short in these; where that talent isn't enough, when Day has to outcoach the guy on the other side. He didn't against Lanning or against first year coach, Moore, at Michigan. 

Mad Man Dan has him beat. 

 

Gotta throw in some wild stuff when it's needed and at times when it's not needed. 

 

Day assumes, and rightly so, that his players are more talented than the opposition. But talent doesn't always equal wins, it requires putting those players in position to win. Sometimes that means you kick a punt right at a return man or throw a touchdown to a offensive lineman. 

[Charles Fischer]

 

[AnotherOD]

Came across an interesting article on a Michigan site that sort of argues tOSU basically did exactly what it's offense is designed to do based on the defense it was facing (run the ball).

 

If I read it correctly, it argues Michigan gave tOSU light boxes all game and tOSU did what a Chip Kelly offense will do, run at it. Michigan just was well prepared (and possibly aided by OL injuries) and was able to shut down tOSU's rushing attack with light numbers. It allowed Michigan to drop an extra defender in coverage (and double the first read on passing routes). The QB threw a couple picks into the D; and, quite possibly confidence wasn't as high throwing into an extra defender versus running into a light box.

 

Michigan, it argues, just won with its preparation and strong DL play.

 

 

Neck Sharpies: What Was Ryan Day Thinking?

MGOBLOG.COM

---

Michigan has a method for playing down a man in the box.

 

 

Edited December 5 by AnotherOD

[David Marsh]

On 12/4/2024 at 7:28 PM, AnotherOD said:

Came across an interesting article on a Michigan site that sort of argues tOSU basically did exactly what it's offense is designed to do based on the defense it was facing (run the ball).

 

If I read it correctly, it argues Michigan gave tOSU light boxes all game and tOSU did what a Chip Kelly offense will do, run at it. Michigan just was well prepared (and possibly aided by OL injuries) and was able to shut down tOSU's rushing attack with light numbers. It allowed Michigan to drop an extra defender in coverage (and double the first read on passing routes). The QB threw a couple picks into the D; and, quite possibly confidence wasn't as high throwing into an extra defender versus running into a light box.

 

Michigan, it argues, just won with its preparation and strong DL play.

 

 

Neck Sharpies: What Was Ryan Day Thinking?

MGOBLOG.COM

---

Michigan has a method for playing down a man in the box.

 

 

Kinda what Oregon did as well. 

 

Lanning on rushed four all night against Ohio State and we won the rushing battle in that game too. 

 

Against a healthier Ohio State game I might add.. it was before the multiple injuries on their oline. 

[Mike West]

On 12/4/2024 at 7:28 PM, AnotherOD said:

If I read it correctly, it argues Michigan gave tOSU light boxes all game and tOSU did what a Chip Kelly offense will do, run at it. Michigan just was well prepared (and possibly aided by OL injuries) and was able to shut down tOSU's rushing attack with light numbers. It allowed Michigan to drop an extra defender in coverage (and double the first read on passing routes). The QB threw a couple picks into the D; and, quite possibly confidence wasn't as high throwing into an extra defender versus running into a light box.

 

Michigan, it argues, just won with its preparation and strong DL play.

And that is exactly why I would make half my practice an OC versus DC sloberknocker.

 

I'd tell them they could use any offense or defense against each other.  From any era, heck rugby as far as I'm concerned.

 

I don't want my coordinators hell bent on forcing their game plan on an opponent.  If they have to tell the QB to say "send Smith to the corner" so be it.

 

I watched DC Aliotti allow Stanford to run a goal line formation up and down the field for an entire half (Stanford knew they couldn't block future All NFL Pro tackles Armstead and Buckner, so they just out manned the entire DL front line).  The Cardinal scored 20 first half points, then Aliotti shut it down in the 2nd half.

 

Final score 26-20 Stanford.  That's how you lose games.  Sticking to what you do instead of lining up and playing football.

 

That's what Lombardi's "Gentlemen, this is a football" means to me.  Take away their game plan because you totally break tendencies.

[Grandpa Duck]

I hesitate to get on this thread with so many great comments above.  Some of the best analysis of the Ohio State situation, and college football in general that I've seen, anywhere.  But here is something that is hinted above but not really said.  Ohio State is not the greatest coaching job in college football.

 

Lots of posters on boards don't like John Canzano's thinking, probably because he has a Beaver lean.  I read everything he writes and enjoy it thoroughly.  Here's something he wrote in Monday's mailbag.  Short and sweet.

 

"Q: If Ohio State starts exploring options, do you think Dan Lanning could be pried away from Oregon? — Eric Watkins

A: No. Lanning has a better job right now."

 

So true.  Ohio is not a great place to live.  The fans are unreasonable.  The weather is hot and humid in the summer and awful in the winter.  

 

That leads to: "Who do you hire to replace Day after you fire him?"  There just are not many Saban, Smart or Lanning type people out there.  And me and Canzano are not the only people who know that tOSU does not have as much to offer the few people in football who would be better than Day as those coaches already have where they are.  The top candidates are not going to be eager to go there.  Before you leave the job you've got, make sure the next one is a lot better. 

 

This I know for sure.  The one team I would rather not be faced with playing in the next few weeks is Ohio State.  

 

 

 

 

[David Marsh]

On 12/5/2024 at 9:04 AM, Grandpa Duck said:

There just are not many Saban, Smart or Lanning type people out there.

We are at a generational shift in College Football right now. 

 

Not only is the sport changing in terms of recruiting, NIL, and the playoff. 

 

But why has Lanning been able to make it so big this year in recruiting? Well Oregon has a good NIL program but we aren't paying the most. But the biggest names in the sport are gone or greatly diminished. 

 

Ubran Meyer is gone, he has been gone for a while now. 

Nick Saban is gone. 

Dabo is reduced as he has continued to refuse to get with the times and use the portal. 

Chip Kelly is reduced, I think the NFL did him a great disservice in truth but that's an article for another time. 

 

Pick a name from the 2000's and 2010's that was a big time coach and see where they are now? The vast majority aren't coaching anymore. 

 

This is a new generation of coaches and Lanning is already carving out his place in the new world order. Saban's throne is up for grabs, the throne being the most dominant team in the college football. Smart grabbed it for a couple seasons but is clearly not that team right now. 

 

So who is it going to be? We'll have to wait and find out. 

[Augduck]

Rumors circulating in Buckeye land that Urban wants to come back and wants to do so in Columbus.  

 

We know he has tons of baggage but after the debacle last week I guess you never know.   He had a pretty stellar record again TTUN.

[Mike West]

Ohio State absolutely has a fan base issue.  Those players do not look happy.  Or at least happy enough.  They celebrate out of relief.  It’s a pain in the butt to play for that fan base.

 

The situation in Columbus is toxic.  The fan base is going to piss the players off so much they won’t be focused properly enough on football.  
 

I watched the Indiana v. Ohio State game closely.  All the issues that showed up in the Michigan game were on display in the Hoosier game.  Worse, the Buckeyes looked scared, and relieved when the game ended.  That fan base is poisoning the team’s chemistry.  
 

To me, that Daze everyone mocks Day for after the Michigan loss looked to me like not wanting to deal with the fans and the media rather than disbelief they lost.  His kicker screwed up.  Just like ours did last year.  And lo and behold, Duck Nation didn’t even discuss the missed kick.  In a game that was brilliantly played AND COACHED ( obviously exclusively my opinion), few people mentioned the kicker missed a FG he had no business botching.

 

The toxic waste Ryan Day faces for losing to Michigan last year absolutely spilled into this year.  Again, an offensive lineman blew an assignment in that Michigan loss.  The fans and the coaches blamed the QB, then chased him out of town.  Had that lineman executed, that QB completes that pass and Ohio State has a damn good shot at getting that monkey off their back.  
 

That’s not what the fan base wants to accept.  I believe that is exactly why Ohio State will deal with their fan base more than correcting some simple flaws.  They are extremely dangerous, and their fan base is heaping garbage on in them instead of expressing hope they’ll work on some pretty damn good strengths that more than make up for their flaws.

 

When Ohio State gets to the quarterfinals, if they don’t sprint out of the gate, I’m blaming the fan base.  It’s to the point they are a serious distraction. 

[Jon Joseph]

Mike West nails it: AGAIN. I did mention in an earlier post that Day's reliable FG kicker missed 2 kicks that he makes in his sleep. He makes these + tOSU fans are whining about the margin of victory and not calling for Day to be fired; at least, not immediately fired.

But the choke by the reliable FG kicker is, as Mike pointed out, emblematic of the pressure on the Ohio State players in THE GAME. This is not a healthy atmosphere in which to compete. 

 

Chip could not have called a worse game. 26 rush attempts, 77 net yards. The best WR in CFB was not targeted in the 2nd half. Was the pressure too much for Chip? The Game pressure plus not wanting to let his protege down. 

 

The QB could not have played a worse game. He folded. The great D held up against an anemic Michigan passing attack but got no help. This was a throwback Bo vs. Woody game.

 

On B1G Today Meyer analyzed the loss and did not look happy doing so. But to bring him back? $32M to dump Day unless Day agreed for some time to be a co-head coach and return to play-calling while Urban CEO'd the enterprise. I don't see this happening and wonder if this structure could work. 

 

Something is rotten in Columbus but win a 1st round game at home, things will smell better and the Buckeyes will be on the road for the next PO game. tOSU is crippled on the O line but there is still tons of talent on that team, especially on the D. There is no SEC Nick Saban SEC behemoth in this PO. No. 2 Texas has played one very good SEC team and lost. Notre Dame's best win is against 8-4 A+M. OBD has the best Vegas odds. But it's a year of parity except for OBD, and I will not be shocked if Ohio State with a tremendous D wins it all. Winning three or four games in a row will not be easy for any team in the field.

 

So many terrific comments. Such a great Forum!

 

Pound PSU!

 

This Georgia Man Knows His CFB Stuff!

 

David Pollack Didn't Hesitate When Naming The 'Most Dominant' Team in College Football - Athlon Sports

 

An Alabama grad agrees with David!

 

Rece Davis Predicts Clear Winner in Penn State-Oregon Big Ten Championship Game - Athlon Sports

 

A Tricky Ricky Trifecta!

 

Rick Neuheisel Predicts Clear Winner of Penn State-Oregon Big Ten Championship - Athlon Sports

 

Now, Win the Darn Game!

 

[HDuck]

70 percent

Win percent after 2023 season, not counting this year 2024:

87.5 – Day

85.5 – Smart

81.5 – Lanning

80.4 – Riley

80.4 – DeBoer

79.8 – Swinney

73.3 – Heupel

72.9 – Kelly

70.4 – Freeman

Would Ohio State want Heupel or Freeman?  Would they go looking in the NFL?

Mike Vrabel was born in Ohio, raised in Ohio, played at Ohio State.  Been a head coach in the NFL, but never in college.

[Charles Fischer]

On 12/5/2024 at 5:58 PM, Mike West said:

To me, that Daze everyone mocks Day for after the Michigan loss looked to me like not wanting to deal with the fans and the media rather than disbelief they lost.

This is a fantastic observation, as those fans are impossible to please, and I'm sure he was stunned about the game as well as not wanting to deal with the fans.  Not to mention...if they had to use Pepper Spray to break things up, his own safety could have been jeopardized. 

 

On 12/5/2024 at 5:58 PM, Mike West said:

few people mentioned the kicker missed a FG he had no business botching.

I'm raising my hand, as I did!  As I wrote back then...."this is what you live for as a major college kicker."

 

And I don't think Urban is touching that osu2 job with a ten-foot pole.  He is wealthy, and does not need the aggravation of ungrateful, irrational Buckeye fans.

 

What?  I am Completely Rational!

 

[30Duck]

It does seem that while Lanning is the personification of if you love what you're doing, you ain't workin', while Day signed a contract to be the administrator of a lunatic asylum.

 

[Jon Joseph]

On 12/5/2024 at 9:50 PM, HDuck said:

70 percent

Win percent after 2023 season, not counting this year 2024:

87.5 – Day

85.5 – Smart

81.5 – Lanning

80.4 – Riley

80.4 – DeBoer

79.8 – Swinney

73.3 – Heupel

72.9 – Kelly

70.4 – Freeman

Would Ohio State want Heupel or Freeman?  Would they go looking in the NFL?

Mike Vrabel was born in Ohio, raised in Ohio, played at Ohio State.  Been a head coach in the NFL, but never in college.

 

 

Freeman played LB at Ohio State. He has benefited from the ACC scheduling agreement, 5-0 vs the ACC in 2024, playing Navy every season, a G5 schmoo every season (NO. ILL and Miami Ohio this season) and being at ND when both SC and Stanford are not playing their best football. He has one inexplicable loss every season but the man can recruit. He would be in play. But he has a 'pretty good' job. 

 

Heupel is in a very good spot at Tennessee and the Vols would match any salary bump offered by Ohio State. His rival is Vandy, not Michigan. (It's really Bama and Heupel defeated the Tide this season.) 

 

Vrebel is out of work but sitting on millions in severance pay. He's a run-first guy and not necessarily suited to putting top-drawer QBs into the NFL. Does he want to and can he recruit? 

 

If they stick around, Day has a terrific, young, QB room to work with, including the 2024 No. 1 recruit Julian Sayin. 

 

[Jon Joseph]

On 12/5/2024 at 10:10 PM, 30Duck said:

It does seem that while Lanning is the personification of if you love what you're doing, you ain't workin', while Day signed a contract to be the administrator of a lunatic asylum.

 

CREEP-E! Hide the women and children (and the make up )

 

[30Duck]

I heard a conversation that said getting rid of Day and his staff would cost osu2 around $85 M. Urban looks really happy on TV, wouldn't want to tarnish his legacy, Freeman played there, he got out, why would he go back? Vrabel is still one of the 1st coaches to get hired when a NFL job opens. It looks like Day and osu2 are stuck with each other. 

[Augduck]

Neuheisel said on his radio show the other morning that he suspects Day might be losing the locker room.  

[30Duck]

Doesn't look like Urban's interested.

 

"It has come to my attention that there are reports speculating my return to the sidelines in Columbus," the Fox Sports analyst said Thursday in a social media statement. "While I thoroughly enjoyed my seven seasons as head coach at The Ohio State University, I have no interest in coaching again. I will always be a Buckeye and have full confidence in Ryan Day, his staff, and every player that puts on the Scarlet and Gray."

[Mike West]

On 12/5/2024 at 7:47 PM, Augduck said:

Neuheisel said on his radio show the other morning that he suspects Day might be losing the locker room.  

In my opinion, that's on the players. 

 

Will Howard has only one glaring weakness - he can't consistently hit fade routes.  They still need to throw them because it really opens up their mid range pass attack.

 

The players need to buck up and work on executing to the best of their abilities.  They can work with the coaching staff- request specific types of plays.

 

Simply tuning out is not acceptable.  They choked.  Against OBD and Michigan.  They had plenty of opportunities to win both games.  Coaching issues notwithstanding.  

 

If they had a player (and Ryan Day) meeting as reported, they damn better have been talking about solutions instead of simply rehashing mistakes made and opportunities lost 

 

They are too talented to waste time on why they lost instead of saying let's work.kn this, we have three weeks to get things right. 

 

That's why I'm pissed at their fan base.  Abuse is not acceptable at this point.  Grinding is.  I see an abusive fan base.  It better not trickle down to the players.

[Mike West]

On 12/6/2024 at 12:31 AM, Mike West said:

In my opinion, that's on the players. 

 

Will Howard has only one glaring weakness - he can't consistently hit fade routes.  They still need to throw them because it really opens up their mid range pass attack.

 

The players need to buck up and work on executing to the best of their abilities.  They can work with the coaching staff- request specific types of plays.

 

Simply tuning out is not acceptable.  They choked.  Against OBD and Michigan.  They had plenty of opportunities to win both games.  Coaching issues notwithstanding.  

 

If they had a player (and Ryan Day) meeting as reported, they damn better have been talking about solutions instead of simply rehashing mistakes made and opportunities lost 

 

They are too talented to waste time on why they lost instead of saying let's work.kn this, we have three weeks to get things right. 

 

That's why I'm pissed at their fan base.  Abuse is not acceptable at this point.  Grinding is.  I see an abusive fan base.  It better not trickle down to the players.

Now there's a diplomatic way to communicate all I've said here.  The best I've seen is how Lanning actually laid the Seattle loss in the players  by saying things like " I'm sure Bo would like to get some of those okays back".  And he was correct.  Bo Nix uncharacteristically missed two open receivers in two critical situations.  A safety ran past a game ending INT, and the kicker missed a layup FG.  That is not coaching snafus& the coaches put them in successful situations for the players to execute. The players did not.

 

Rather than throw them under the bus, you say your peace diplomatically, love them up, and keep putting in situations they can win.

 

That's what happened this year.  In spades.  That's what I saw that disappointing day in Seattle and later in the stadium in Las Vegas.  It's why I never wavered when things felt horrible. 

[30Duck]

On 12/6/2024 at 12:49 AM, Mike West said:

In my opinion, that's on the players

I agree it is on the players. But if it reaches the point where the coach is just "noise", it's game over. The players won't all get cut, some might leave, via the portal, the coach is the one shown the door. It's not right, the players should focus on their game, they're the ones who aren't making the plays.  You showed how Lanning handled it, and he doesn't have a crazed fanbase to deal with.