‘When you lose, there’s troubleshooting’: Ohio State and the

• Heather Dinich, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterJun 19, 2023, 08:00 AM ET Close College football reporter Joined ESPN.com in 2007
• Graduate of Indiana University

COLUMBUS, Ohio– A box of Yogi Tension Relief tea rested on Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ desk, where he watched film consistently this offseason to analyze defensive breakdowns in losses to Michigan and Georgia.The pressure

here, he conceded with a smile, is a little different than anywhere else he’s ever coached over the previous three years.

“You can’t lose a game,” he said following his first season with the Buckeyes, an 11-2 surface that consisted of a College Football Playoff semifinal look. “You can’t lose a game.”

Particularly The Video game. Twice.Roles have actually reversed in the Big Ten, in which Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was lambasted in 2019 after dropping to 0-5 in among the sport’s most iconic rivalries following an awkward 56-27 house loss to Ohio State. Buckeyes coach Ryan Day hasn’t beat Harbaugh because– leaving two huge ink stains on Day’s Huge Ten record that’s an otherwise clean 32-0, consisting of championship game games. Not only has Michigan won the Big 10 each of the past 2 seasons, but the Wolverines have likewise trespassed on Ohio State’s national spotlight, completing in the top 4 in each of the previous two seasons and reaching a brand-new level under Harbaugh.Ohio State is hardly

in crisis mode– the Buckeyes enter this season with what must once again be among the most respected offenses in the nation and genuine CFP aspirations– but the layers of NFL draft skill on the two-deep have yet to equate into a national title for Day. Back-to-back losses to Michigan have just compounded the examination as Day enters his fifth season leading among the wealthiest and most visible programs in the country.”The expectation here every year is the very same,”said Day, who is 1-3 in CFP semifinals.” Win the competition game, win the Huge Ten and win the championship game. We combat like heck to do that and we’re right there. You can feel it, you can taste it, which’s inspired the men this offseason. When you get that close and you don’t arrive, you didn’t get it done. And it certainly does inspire. “And now he’s attempting to do it without the No. 2 general choice in the NFL draft, quarterback C.J. Stroud.Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith has offered no indicator Day’s task is in jeopardy (“He’s my CEO

,”Smith stated in April), but the head coach is well aware the program hasn’t met its own expectations, especially in the past 2 seasons. If Day loses to Harbaugh again, it will be the very first time since 1995-97 that Ohio State lost 3 straight to Michigan. The goal, however, is consistently bigger, and the Buckeyes have not won the national title since the 2014 season with Urban Meyer.Day has made numerous hires to enhance the brainpower in the building, has thought about relinquishing playcalling tasks, and had sincere conversations

with Knowles about how the defense can enhance this fall.”When you lose, “Day stated,”there’s troubleshooting.”

Jim Knowles enters his second season as Ohio State’s defensiveorganizer this fall. Picture by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire THE UNCANNY AND unlikely timing of Ohio State’s missed field goal against Georgia in the CFP semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl might have etched its place in college football history.As midnight approached on the East Coast and the New Year’s Eve clock in Times Square ticked down the final seconds till

2023, Ohio State kicker Noah Ruggles’50-yard game-winning attempt concurrently cruised broad left as the renowned ball dropped and celebrations emerged all over. Everywhere but Buckeye Country.The No. 4 Buckeyes lost 42-41 to the eventual national champs in what was the most entertaining game of in 2015’s CFP. It never ever comes down to one play, but that’s

how close Ohio State was to playing TCU for the nationwide title, and with all due regard to the Frogs, probably winning it. It’s a narrow twist of fate and football that changed the whole narrative and worsened the losses to Michigan.” We don’t have an option, “Day said of winning a national title.” The expectation is that you do. The rivalry game is clearly really essential, and when you take a look at those games

, and you see the single plays that truly cost us the game, when you’re talking about on defense giving up explosive plays, that’s really important, that’s how games can go sideways. We need to identify that and get that repaired. That harmed us in the Georgia game as well. “Which is why Knowles was back at his desk this spring, zeroing in on 16 plays of at least 20 backyards that changed Ohio State’s season (six versus Michigan and 10 versus Georgia ). Plays such as Donovan Edwards ‘two runs of

more than 75 yards in the fourth quarter for Michigan or Stetson Bennett’s 76-yard pass to Arian Smith in the final quarter for Georgia. It was the most plays of at least 20 lawns Ohio State has allowed in any two-game span considering that 2004, and the 10 in the Georgia loss was the most the Buckeyes have actually allowed in any game dating back to 2004, when ESPN’s Stats & Information started tracking the data. “We had some match issues, which I blame myself,”Knowles stated. “Got taken into positions where the match was not in our favor. That’s my task to fix that and look out for that. We had some times where we lost our eyes and we didn’t carry out. I call it eye infractions.

When the minutes get big, our vision needs to get smaller and more condensed. At times we had men who were doing too much and not focused on their task. That goes back to me. No one wants to make the crucial mistake, they do not want to quit the vital play. That’s not how our men are built. So then I need to look at my mentor and the environment.”The environment includes one of the most respected offenses in the country at every practice. Knowles said he talks with his players about going against “the very best receiver in the country”in Marvin Harrison Jr., who caught 77 passes for 1,263 yards and 14 goals as a sophomore and is a forecasted first-round NFL draft choice.”I went through it at Oklahoma State, “stated Knowles, who was employed from the Cowboys following the 2021 season. “When you enter into a location where the offense is just great and off the charts, I seem like the defense, especially in the back end, gets used to not winning in practice. I think it is a difficult practice to

break.” It’s not OK to lose to Marvin,” he said.”That’s who we have to beat if we’re going to win the championship game, so we’re learning to contend versus our offense and doing our reasonable share of winning.”Winning was all Ohio State did last fall through its first 11 games, when Ohio State’s defense enabled an average of 16.9 points, compared to 43.5 against Michigan and Georgia. The Buckeyes held their very first 11 challengers to 4.5 yards per play, while the last two balanced 8.9. “You have to be willing to change if required,”Knowles stated.”

That belongs to growth. You have to be restless, uneasy. Absolutely nothing is nonnegotiable with me. I have actually worked my way to get here. I’m not going to fall on the sword and say,’This is the way we do it.’ No, look at whatever. Break it down. It doesn’t matter if I have actually done it for twenty years. If

something does not work in those essential circumstances, then I actually need to look at myself. “Editor’s Picks 2 Associated The issue went much deeper than a couple of big plays, particularly versus the Wolverines, who plowed their way to 252 hurrying yards and 7.2 lawns per carry. Michigan’s Edwards had nine carries for 170 lawns and 2 goals– in the fourth quarter– and 114 of those yards came before contact. It was the second straight year the Wolverines outgained and outmuscled Ohio State in advance, as

they ran for 297

yards to Ohio State’s 64 in 2021. The variation triggered former Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis to question the Buckeyes’ toughness two days after the 2021 game.”They’re a finesse team; they’re not a difficult group,”Gattis stated at the time, according to the Detroit News.”And we knew that going into the game that we can out-physical them, we can out-tough which was gon na be the key to the game, which’s what we got ready for all year long.

“Former Buckeyes’star James Laurinaitis signed up with the program in January as a graduate assistant working with the defense, and Day worked with previous Nebraska assistant

Mike Dawson as a defensive analyst. Day said the defensive staff is a”really veteran group, “but at the end of the day, “I’m the head coach, and I’ve got to make sure that it’s the way that we want it.” Ohio State returns its

leading tackler from last season, linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, along with defensive take on Michael Hall Jr., who tied for the group lead in sacks last season. Protective end J.T. Tuimoloau, who enters his junior season with 15 takes on for loss and 6 sacks, should be one of the very best linemen in the country. Tuimoloau, who was the No. 5 player in the 2021 ESPN 300, had one of the best efficiencies ever

by an Ohio State defensive lineman in the Buckeyes ’44-31 win at Penn State last season. He had a career-high six takes on, 3 TFLs, consisting of two sacks, two interceptions, one pass separation, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He assisted Ohio State require four takeaways that straight led to 21 points, topped by Tuimoloau’s fourth-quarter pick-six to seal the win. Tuimoloau said the defense rely on Knowles, and the Buckeyes are motivated to be much better this fall.”We have actually got to continue to grow in all aspects of the game,”Tuimoloau stated, “Go to our offense, inquire concerns. They coach us, we coach them, simply continue to drive each other to be the team we understand we should be.”Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord, who is competing with Devin Brown for the beginning job, stated the Buckeyes will be”a very difficult team”this fall.”I believe that everyone seems like we have something to prove,”he said. “After in 2015, how close

we were, I think we still have a bit of a sour taste in our mouth, so we’re coming out motivated. ” Regardless of losing beginning quarterback C.J. Stroud to the NFL draft, Ohio State should as soon as again have among the most electrical offenses in the country thanks to Marvin Harrison Jr. & Co. Image by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire ASIDE FROM GETTING the extra push up front, Ohio State’s offense hasn’t been a problem. In truth, it’s been one of the very best in the country. Considering that Day joined Ohio State’s

staff as co-offensive planner in 2017, the Buckeyes are the only FBS team to average 40 points per game in each of those 6 seasons. In spite of that success, Day has played with the idea of turning over the playcalling responsibilities to recently promoted offensive coordinator Brian Hartline, who also coaches the receivers, and Hartline called plays during the spring game. Get your favorite live sports, stories and originals with ESPN +, Disney+ and Hulu. Upgrade to a Disney Package strategy and begin streaming something for everyone today! Day likewise worked with former NFL head coach Joe Philbin as an offending expert, and even with a new starting quarterback and 3 new starting

offensive linemen this fall, the Buckeyes need to find methods to create eye-popping data. Including Harrison, Ohio State returns 10 of the 11 players who had at least 100 lawns from scrimmage last year, with Stroud being the lone exception.”I always state if you play quarterback here, you have the keys to the Ferrari,”McCord said.”… The list goes on and on of talent I have around me, and it certainly assists. Whether you’re with the ones or the twos this spring getting representatives, there are future NFL receivers around you. If you don’t throw a perfect ball, they’ll still increase and get it for you.” Harrison was among the Buckeyes’

highlights in the losses, as he snagged seven catches for 120 backyards and one goal versus Michigan and had 5 receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns against Georgia prior to leaving the game in the third quarter under the concussion procedure– yet another questionable game-changing play that wasn’t flagged for targeting.”

Not being able to play the 4th quarter and seeing your team battle offensively, certainly tough, “Harrison said.”We’re one play away– a couple plays away– from it being an entirely different result.”Ohio State didn’t have to beat Michigan last season to earn the choice committee’s No. 4 spot and its shot against Georgia. The season-opening win versus Notre Dame coupled with the Oct. 29 road win at Penn State– plus an elite offense that scored a minimum of 40 points in all but two wins– was enough.It might be again.Ohio State has a comparable schedule, consisting of a Sept. 23 journey to Notre Dame. If the Buckeyes can beat the Irish on their house grass, and Notre Dame finishes as a top-25 CFP team, that win will once again increase Ohio State’s résumé through Selection Day. If the Buckeyes complete with one loss or much better, they would likely be thought about for a semifinal, and all however ensured an area with a Huge Ten title.Day said the pressure he feels now is no various than his first day on the task, when he took over for Urban Meyer. It’s been the exact same, he stated, for the previous coaches who came prior to him, from Woody Hayes to Meyer and everybody in between.Hayes won five national titles, elevating the program to unmatched heights. In 7 seasons as head coach of Ohio State, Meyer won one nationwide title– however he never ever lost to Michigan( 7-0). Jim Tressel won the nationwide title in his second season and went 9-1 against Michigan. John Cooper was 2-10-1 against Michigan. He was fired, however any comparisons between Day and Cooper are unfair and frankly unreasonable. Cooper was fired following issues about discipline, competitiveness and academics.The only typical thread is the expectation to beat Michigan. “It’s more than just a football game,”McCord said.”It’s something you live 365 days a year if you come here. It was a surprise when we lost to them my freshman year, and I think it woke a great deal of individuals up. Last year we were confident going into the game. I think we had a great tactical plan. We knew what we wanted to do in regards to offensive plan and where we wished to assault them on defense. To come up brief again truly makes you take an action back and say,’We have actually got to change our method and a few of the things we’re doing.'” I believe everybody had a clear vision of what it’s going to take to win, due to the fact that obviously the last 2 years we haven’t done enough to do that,”he said.”I can say with confidence, I think that’s the No. 1 objective in every person’s mind in the building each and every single day we stroll in is to beat them.”Which is why it’s magnified when they do not.