2024 Ohio State Off-Season Thread

[CatsbyAZ]

Ohio State is hiring former Penn State and Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien as its new offensive coordinator.

Penn State Head Coach (2012–2013):
  PROS: Handled aftermath of Penn State’s Sandusky scandal with stability
  CONS: Publicly dismayed with the fans who expected him to run the program exactly as Joe Paterno had

Houston Texans Head Coach (2014–2020):
  PROS: Consistently won a lot of games to include multiple division titles and NFL Playoff appearances
  CONS: Roster talent noticeably declined once handed the reigns of GM to end the 2019 season; Players didn’t like him; Texans fans disliked him even more (see the pattern here?), especially after trading away DeAndre Hopkins

Alabama Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach (2021–2022):
  PROS: QB Bryce Young won the Heisman under his coaching
  CONS: Offense took a noticeable step back from Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian’s earlier time as high-octane OCs, especially in the red zone, despite out-talenting the competition at most every position; Tide fans hated him

New England Patriots Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach (2023):
  PROS: ?
  CONS: The Patriot’s Offense under O’Brien somehow statistically worsened after coming off Matt Patricia’s coaching the year prior, to include caretaking QB Mac Jones’ further decline from a 2021 Rookie Pro Bowler to NFL bust; Patriots fans disliked well into season one

Ohio State Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach (2024–present):
  PROS (Prediction): Strategic Fall Guy hire for Ryan Day – should the Ohio State offense have a second straight season of falling offensive production, Buckeyes fans will be quicker to blame O’Brien than Day
  CONS (Prediction): Despite Ohio State’s dazzling talent advantage, the offense will underperform and appear stale, crusty, predictable, and one-dimensional; Buckeyes fan will quickly turn on O’Brien

As for the fan's unified dislike of O’Brien, it gets worse the longer he sticks around, much of this having to do with his poor handling of the media; Bill O’Brien’s Wikipedia photo channels a Bo Pelini presser:

[Mdot21]

Penn State Head Coach (2012–2013):
  PROS: Handled aftermath of Penn State’s Sandusky scandal with stability
  CONS: Publicly dismayed with the fans who expected him to run the program exactly as Joe Paterno had

Houston Texans Head Coach (2014–2020):
  PROS: Consistently won a lot of games to include multiple division titles and NFL Playoff appearances
  CONS: Roster talent noticeably declined once handed the reigns of GM to end the 2019 season; Players didn’t like him; Texans fans disliked him even more (see the pattern here?), especially after trading away DeAndre Hopkins

Alabama Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach (2021–2022):
  PROS: QB Bryce Young won the Heisman under his coaching
  CONS: Offense took a noticeable step back from Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian’s earlier time as high-octane OCs, especially in the red zone, despite out-talenting the competition at most every position; Tide fans hated him

New England Patriots Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach (2023):
  PROS: ?
  CONS: The Patriot’s Offense under O’Brien somehow statistically worsened after coming off Matt Patricia’s coaching the year prior, to include caretaking QB Mac Jones’ further decline from a 2021 Rookie Pro Bowler to NFL bust; Patriots fans disliked well into season one

Ohio State Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach (2024–present):
  PROS (Prediction): Strategic Fall Guy hire for Ryan Day – should the Ohio State offense have a second straight season of falling offensive production, Buckeyes fans will be quicker to blame O’Brien than Day
  CONS (Prediction): Despite Ohio State’s dazzling talent advantage, the offense will underperform and appear stale, crusty, predictable, and one-dimensional; Buckeyes fan will quickly turn on O’Brien

As for the fan's unified dislike of O’Brien, it gets worse the longer he sticks around, much of this having to do with his poor handling of the media; Bill O’Brien’s Wikipedia photo channels a Bo Pelini presser:

yeah, he sucks imo. And he's a complete asshole. Ryan Day is going to hate the guy, butt heads with him, and then fire him at the end of the season imo. 

[Mdot21]

Joey Freshwater still a little butthurt that his star RB left him for Ryan Day...


https://twitter.com/Lane_Kiffin/status/1749140784459223518?s=20

[MaximumSam]

People are saying that Sayin is a Buckeye

[FearlessF]

only a couple million bucks

[MaximumSam]

only a couple million bucks

https://twitter.com/Reflog_18/status/1749181492679340167

[MrNubbz]

BOB got hired by Belichick twice and was good at developing QBs at the college level. Both Christian Hackenberg (PSU) and Bryce Young (Alabama) played well above their potential under him. Young won the Heisman Trophy in 2021 under O'Brien, and Alabama finished in the top 10 in scoring offense in both of O'Brien's seasons as coordinator, averaging 39.9 and 41.1 points per game. OSU sources(Birminham) have said they were looking for an OC with head coaching experience so he could help Hartline from WR's to OC, and that Hartline was on board with it.

Pretty good article on what O'Brien will bring, multiple looks and formations with a liking for working the middle of the field
https://www.patriots.com/news/analysis-what-will-the-patriots-offense-look-like-with-bill-o-brien-returning

[MrNubbz]

Jeebis this NIL is really sucking the fun,sportsmanship and credibiity out of CFB. Just have the No Fun League set up and pay for their own player procurement

[MrNubbz]

Joey Freshwater still a little butthurt that his star RB left him for Ryan Day...

Ask Joey about bolting Mountain top for the land of milk and honey  at SC. Had nothing to do with the benjamin's or self aggrandizement

[FearlessF]

Jeebis this NIL is really sucking the fun,sportsmanship and credibiity out of CFB. Just have the No Fun League set up and pay for their own player procurement

at least there's no salary cap yet

[betarhoalphadelta]

at least there's no salary cap yet

Yeah, because God forbid we have anything approaching parity... 

[MrNubbz]

Julian Sayin Is a Buckeye according to Kirk Barton at Buckeye Scoop. This hired guns and mercenary movement is just slimey as hell

[FearlessF]

yup, and most of us don't care if it means more wins

I know I don't

[TyphonInc]

I'd prefer a hard reset on a lot of CFB. But I'd also prefer it being OSU be the one to take the most advantage of the lack of rules then not.