DC/LB Coach Jim Knowles (Official Thread)

[AuTX Buckeye]

There have been an extraordinary number of busts in those two areas over the past few years. I very much question the talent level of both rooms.

I know the recruiting rankings don't say that but I see three 5 star DE's on the roster and only one that plays like it. I see DB's that are so bad I question if they could play for other P5 programs if you took away the names/recruiting rankings and they had to earn a roster spot.

then doesn’t that all hang out he shoulders of the staff… as its there job to id the talent, coach it up and try to scheme a way to win with what you have… if Knowles doesn’t have the guys to run what he wants then he should adjust…and well doesn’t look like he did

 

[Jaxbuck]

then doesn’t that all hang out he shoulders of the staff… as its there job to id the talent, coach it up and try to scheme a way to win with what you have… if Knowles doesn’t have the guys to run what he wants then he should adjust…and well doesn’t look like he did

100%

Guy in charge has been there 4 years. It's all on him ultimately.

 

[dragurd]

then doesn’t that all hang out he shoulders of the staff… as its there job to id the talent, coach it up and try to scheme a way to win with what you have… if Knowles doesn’t have the guys to run what he wants then he should adjust…and well doesn’t look like he did

I honestly question people who say he didn't adjust watched the damn game...

He did. They went on an 8 min drive.

The reason he went back to being aggressive is if they do that again we lose without ever getting the ball back. Aggressive D was stopping them quick or busting. Either way you'd give the offense more chances and hope you get a stop or two. He played high risk rewards got burned and then played conservative and died 1000 cuts. He rightly figured high risk reward was the only way to get back into that game. Did it work no. But it was the only chance we had.

 

[AuTX Buckeye]

I honestly question people who say he didn't adjust watched the damn game...

He did. They went on an 8 min drive.

The reason he went back to being aggressive is if they do that again we lose without ever getting the ball back. Aggressive D was stopping them quick or busting. Either way you'd give the offense more chances and hope you get a stop or two. He played high risk rewards got burned and then played conservative and died 1000 cuts. He rightly figured high risk reward was the only way to get back into that game. Did it work no. But it was the only chance we had.

sorry … by adjust I meant yeah he wanted to play a 4-3-3 or whatever if he didn’t have the guys he wanted to run that formation he should have adjusted .. of course he might not have a known he had some guys who couldn’t run it until this game… again not saying “in game adjustments” in this case… just saying the whole defensive philosophy

 

[dragurd]

sorry … by adjust I meant yeah he wanted to play a 4-3-3 or whatever if he didn’t have the guys he wanted to run that formation he should have adjusted .. of course he might not have a known he had some guys who couldn’t run it until this game… again not saying “in game adjustments” in this case… just saying the whole defensive philosophy

Until this game are safeties had been pretty good while the corners were drek.

He trusted Ransom who had looked good the rest of the season.. He looked terrible out there yesterday. I have no idea why they didn't pull him and play Procter like they pulled proctor against ND. It probably wouldn't have made a difference but they should have at least tried

 

[Bestbuck36]

He called a pretty good game but the execution in the back end was dog crap. Burkes only real bust I can remember was the slip early on. Trouble is for him that wasn't the first time he got burned deep so it felt like here we go again. Cam's poor angle and missed tackle on the first passing TD was the turning point in my opinion. Sawyer tried to run it down but couldn't get there. They knew there was no safety help over the top.

The safeties were the scapegoat all day long. Never seen so many blown coverages. What the hell were they watching most of the game?? Ransom has been a total stud all year long and he had a couple plays that didnt even look like him. Too many nits to pick but if we get pressure the way we have been some of those don't hit even out of position. It all works hand in hand and we didnt have anyone just go off Spielmanlike to try and win this game no matter what.

 

[muffler dragon]

^couldn't agree more @Bestbuck36

 

[Bestbuck36]

sorry … by adjust I meant yeah he wanted to play a 4-3-3 or whatever if he didn’t have the guys he wanted to run that formation he should have adjusted .. of course he might not have a known he had some guys who couldn’t run it until this game… again not saying “in game adjustments” in this case… just saying the whole defensive philosophy

And that's an awful philosophical problem on both sides of the ball. Practice reps aren't the same as game reps. Why haven't we at least seen elements of the thing they knew they wanted to run before it was too late? I get you can't do that against the likes of Maryland but seems to me Iowa was perfect for this no? Penn State at times? Even Indiana even though they just sucked. God damn I'm frustrated.

 

[dragurd]

And that's an awful philosophical problem on both sides of the ball. Practice reps aren't the same as game reps. Why haven't we at least seen elements of the thing they knew they wanted to run before it was too late? I get you can't do that against the likes of Maryland but seems to me Iowa was perfect for this no? Penn State at times? Even Indiana even though they just sucked. God damn I'm frustrated.

Have you seen Iowa throw the ball?

As much fun as we made about Michigan throwing the ball. Iowa would have taught us nothing. Just like we thought we had fixed our D issues against the run post MSU.

 

[colobuck79]

It's probably just me, but when I see the entire secondary, and sometimes the linebackers as well, looking over to the sideline with their arms out as if asking where they should be standing as the tsun qb is about to take the snap, I think that's a problem. Do they appear to be micromanaged to the point of paralysis? Couldn't be. Are they wound tighter than a tourniquet, so afraid to make a mistake that they can't do anything right? Naaaaaaaaw. Everything is fine. Trust the coaches, we'll get them next year (or at least in the next 10).

 

[Jaxbuck]

It's probably just me, but when I see the entire secondary, and sometimes the linebackers as well, looking over to the sideline with their arms out as if asking where they should be standing as the tsun qb is about to take the snap, I think that's a problem. Do they appear to be micromanaged to the point of paralysis? Couldn't be. Are they wound tighter than a tourniquet, so afraid to make a mistake that they can't do anything right? Naaaaaaaaw. Everything is fine. Trust the coaches, we'll get them next year (or at least in the next 10).

The fundamental concern about Knowles defense coming into this was the complexity taking years to learn and at a place like Ohio State you don't have the luxury of only fielding a good defense every 3-4 years once you have a bunch of upperclassmen.

I was pretty sure Knowles and Day recognized that and commented on it several times. I was led to believe they had a plan and it was all ok.

Doesn't jive up with what I saw last Saturday (or before it limited cases) so I am confused.

 

[brodybuck21]

The fundamental concern about Knowles defense coming into this was the complexity taking years to learn and at a place like Ohio State you don't have the luxury of only fielding a good defense every 3-4 years once you have a bunch of upperclassmen.

I was pretty sure Knowles and Day recognized that and commented on it several times. I was led to believe they had a plan and it was all ok.

Doesn't jive up with what I saw last Saturday (or before it limited cases) so I am confused.

same here. In 2019 Hafley turned a disaster unit (2018) into 1 of the best defenses in the nation. so whats the difference? recruiting?

 

[Jaxbuck]

same here. In 2019 Hafley turned a disaster unit (2018) into 1 of the best defenses in the nation. so whats the difference? recuiting?

either all the recruiting rankings are way off at the same time OR

we are on, what feels like, our 15th DC in the last 10 years that can't field a top shelf, cohesive defense out of a bunch of really talented individuals.

 

[Woody1968]

I'm not really upset with the defense outside of the secondary. I feel like the second half big plays would have been fewer if our offense had done better with the ball at that point.

 

[dragurd]

I'm not really upset with the defense outside of the secondary. I feel like the second half big plays would have been fewer if our offense had done better with the ball at that point.

I'm not too upset.

I just wish our DB's would have ran with a fucking reciever on 90-95% of them. If he still makes those plays whatever but make it difficult like Burke did breaking up one.