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Hey, Buckeye Talk: This may not be a fair question, but who would have been better in Ryan Day’s offense -- Troy Smith, Terrelle Pryor or Braxton Miller? Do you think any of them could have been better than Justin Fields? They all had their certain things they were better at than the others, and I personally think any of them would have put up video game type numbers. -- Dave in Bristol
Hey Dave, It’s Doug: Before Fields started his OSU career, I thought he had a chance to be a combination of Pryor, Miller and J.T. Barrett, with his speed, shiftiness and power as a runner. But the key to Fields’ success was his accuracy, and his ability to extend plays and make big throws. So my answer has to be Smith.
But none of them would have been better than Fields, who was a super-charged version of Smith. Fields is three inches taller, at least 10 pounds heavier, and just a next-level athlete. But Fields also didn’t exactly put up video game numbers with Day -- it’s Dwayne Haskins in 2018 who did that. Those crazy passing numbers were necessitated by Haskins’ lack of mobility, a subpar OSU run game, and a defense that gave up a ton of points and made the OSU offense keep scoring.
In his Heisman finalist year of 2019, Fields’ average passing game was 17 of 25 for 234 yards. In Smith’s Heisman winning year of 2006, his average passing game was 16 of 24 for 196 yards.
Some of it is the changing times of college football. In 2020, there were 64 quarterbacks that averaged more than 196 passing yards per game. But Smith was let loose and turned it on in big games, and in this current Day offense, he would have been turned loose more often.
In 22 career starts, Fields had seven 300-yard passing games. In 28 career starts, Smith had three 300-yard passing games. So Smith would have gone big a few extra times.
While I theorized on a recent Buckeye Talk about Miller in an offense that asked him to throw more, both Miller and Pryor were more dangerous running than throwing. The best QB for Day is a dangerous thrower who can be consistently accurate, make deep throws, and be elusive in the pocket and a running threat when needed. Fields was perfect for that. Smith would have been ideal for Day as well.
LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) intercepts the ball from Georgia wide receiver George Pickens (1) during the second half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)AP
Hey, Buckeye Talk: If you could have them for this year, would you rather have Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler or LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.? Anyone else from college football you’d rather have than those guys, if you can only have one? -- Nate in Indianapolis
Hey Nate, it’s Doug: It feels like a Heisman finalist quarterback is becoming almost a prerequisite for the College Football Playoff. Justin Fields, Trevor Lawrence, Jalen Hurts, Mac Jones and Joe Burrow are recent examples of that, so if any team can swipe an established, five-star quarterback talent like Rattler, how can he not be the answer?
Only if you believe the quarterback you have is capable of getting to that level, which presents the opportunity to hypothetically add a defensive star like Stingley, the best cover guy in the country, or Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux, the best pass rusher in country. In 2019, for example, I think Chase Young may have been the answer to this question for every team in the country because he was such a rare game changer as a defensive end.
So the answer for this OSU team, like most answers about this season, depends on how much you trust the quarterback situation. Can C.J. Stroud, Kyle McCord or Jack Miller play close to a Heisman finalist level by the time the playoff rolls around? A year ago, Rattler as a first-year starter had a rough beginning but was great by the end of the year. But that shaky start doomed Oklahoma’s playoff chances. It’s possible that could happen with the OSU QB this year.
That wouldn’t happen with Rattler. So with the skill players and offensive line at Ohio State, I think you’d have to take Rattler and eliminate the idea of early QB inexperience knocking OSU off a playoff track. But I’d have to think hard about it, because Stingley as a No. 1 corner for a defense that struggled in the secondary last season is very tempting. If you are sure that Stroud will be great right away, then roll with Stingley. I am a step short of sure right now, so I’d have to take Rattler.
Several Buffalo players followed former head coach Lance Leipold to Kansas.AP
Hey, Buckeye Talk: I listened to the pod about the new one-time transfer rule and a question occurred to me that I haven’t heard anyone ask. What happens when a coach changes jobs and takes players with him? One of the arguments for the one-time transfer has always been if a coach can leave whenever he wants, why can’t the players? Example: In two years Nick Saban retires and Alabama hires Ryan Day. He looks at Quinn Ewers, TreVeyon Henderson and Paris Johnson and says ‘Wanna go to Bama?’ I realize that is a stretch for OSU, but it could definitely happen at a school like Iowa State if Matt Campbell ever leaves for a bigger school. And since we are asking the question of coaches tampering, what happens if they ask some players to come before they accept the job? -- Chad
Hey Chad, it’s Nathan: This one I do not need to answer in theory.
Lance Leipold left Buffalo, which he had turned into a solid MAC program, for Kansas, an abysmal diaper-fire of a Power 5 program. So far, six former Bulls have joined Leipold with the Jayhawks.
That scenario will always be more likely than Day-Bama or even Campbell to OSU or elsewhere.
Now, without being completely naïve, we should not assume every coach will be so cutthroat to his former employer. Would Ryan Day (or his equal at some other program) really poach all of those players and completely napalm his reputation at that school for what is likely only one season with those carpetbagging players? Let’s also give players themselves some credit for the bonds they’ve formed with their teammates as a reason to stick around and finish their careers.
Another thing to keep in mind — every program has scholarship limits. A mass exodus to an already strong program would be logistically difficult.
But the Leipolds of the future continuing to act as pied piper to players who want to move up to a Power 5? Count on it happening.
We have already seen this effect some in basketball, where mid-majors on down have lost stars to bigger programs as grad transfers. The scenario Chad floats would probably also have a more frequent and catastrophic effect in basketball, too.
If you believe NCAA leaders, this trade-off is necessary to avoid paying players, which would be the end of college sports in their eyes. You have to pick your poison, and this is the poison they picked.
More Hey, Buckeye Talk answers
How much pressure is Ohio State football’s Kerry Coombs under to fix the defense in 2021?
Will Ohio State football’s starting quarterback have the freedom to fail this fall?
The Ohio State freshman who’d make a great two-way player
Were Justin Fields’ Ohio State receivers better than his No. 2 option with the Bears?
Which Ohio State position group will make the biggest jump in 2021?
Are Ohio State football fans underestimating C.J. Stroud?
Does Indiana threaten Ohio State football’s Big Ten reign more than Michigan or Penn State?
Will Ohio Stadium be full this fall for Ohio State football home games?
Will Ohio State football use the transfer portal to find defensive back help?
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