4 months ago
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- On this section of Buckeye Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis talk Ohio State’s backmost room and specifically Julian Sayin’s capacity during nan season.
They talk his grades, expectations, and nan effect of caller games connected his wide evaluation. The speech besides touches connected nan value of nan room’s development, its imaginable and nan non-negotiables heading into nan offseason
Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk and motion up to get matter messages from experts Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis astatine 614-350-3315. Get nan insider analysis, person your sound heard connected nan Buckeye Talk podcast and link pinch nan champion Buckeye organization retired there.
- How Caleb Downs, Arvell Reese and nan remainder of Ohio State’s defense graded successful 2025
- How Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith and Ohio State’s discourtesy graded successful 2025
- A erstwhile Ohio State backmost is transferring to nan ACC: Buckeye Breakfast
- Why Ohio State’s violative statement will beryllium nan cardinal to nan Buckeyes’ 2026 success
Read nan automated transcript of today’s podcast below. Because it’s a computer-generated transcript, it whitethorn incorporate errors and misspellings
Stephen Means (00:04.32)
Welcome backmost to Buckeye Talk. I’m Stephen Means. That’s nan nosy Christic and that is Andrew Gillis and is officially nan offseason for Ohio State moreover though nan playoff plunges connected because they mislaid past week, moreover though possibly we weren’t expecting that and truthful now we’re gonna beryllium doing thing for nan adjacent week present wherever we’re going to beryllium fundamentally for illustration You cognize really astatine your occupation you person this nan reappraisal that you do astatine nan extremity of nan twelvemonth We’re gonna do that for each azygous position group
So backmost will beryllium today. We’ll talk Julian soil successful nan backmost room tomorrow. We’ll do moving backmost successful nan linebackers. Then we’ll do wide receivers successful nan DBs. We’ll do tight ends successful nan safeties and past we’ll do some of nan trenches. Essentially going to beryllium extracurricular of this pod, 40 minutes each broadside of nan shot per pod. We didn’t want to do a typical teams one, though. I don’t know. Maybe we should for illustration talk typical teams astatine immoderate point.
Because that’s for illustration a point too. We are alert that nan portal is open. It opened connected January 2nd. It’ll beryllium unfastened till January 16th. So that’ll beryllium a portion of immoderate of these conversations is really Ohio State’s attacking nan portal, really they request to onslaught nan portal. We’ll do a for illustration afloat connected for illustration reappraisal of what happened successful position of who will location a nonaccomplishment successful nan portal and nan impacts of those things. We’ll beryllium doing small videos connected those. So cheque retired our YouTube channel. Just spell to YouTube slash Buckeye Talk podcast of reappraisal those and past we’ll do 1 large pod.
when nan portal closes connected January 16th. We conscionable don’t want to for illustration consciousness for illustration we’re keeping up pinch that type of worldly because this isn’t technically a news part, but we do respond to immoderate news each truthful often. But what we don’t want to do is for illustration we talked astir it. We did a cookware astatine 1 30 successful nan day and past 4 different players hopped successful nan portal 3 hours later. Now you’re like, really travel you didn’t talk astir these different players? Like, it happened astatine 7 and we recorded astatine one. So we’re starting pinch backmost coming and nan building for each these pods is going to beryllium nan aforesaid except
for backmost is going to beryllium a small spot of a grading and having conscionable a speech astir nan room, but besides much importantly, Julian Sam, who is going to beryllium entering his 3rd twelvemonth of assemblage shot successful 2026 and his 2nd twelvemonth arsenic a starting backmost successful assemblage football. And I deliberation I’m putting an accent connected that because if you look astir assemblage football, location person been immoderate changes into conscionable really this athletics useful that I deliberation matters erstwhile you’re trying to measure wherever Julian saying is. So arsenic we person done, Stefan,
Stephen Means (02:24.284)
after each crippled this year, person graded Julian Sand. And I don’t deliberation immoderate of america person ever been little than a D. And that was nan fabric ball. Before that, I don’t deliberation anybody had been lowered successful for illustration a C positive pinch him. So what’s your people connected a standard of A to F for Julian Sand successful his first twelvemonth arsenic Ohio State starting quarterback?
Stefan Krajisnik (02:47.219)
Yeah, I springiness Julian saying an A minus for his first season. I thought nan measurement he stepped successful arsenic a first clip starter, um, sewage himself into nan Heisman conversation, fto Ohio State to an undefeated regular season, you know, thief them get nan monkey disconnected their backmost for deficiency of a amended word against Michigan. Um, I effort not to fto nan last 2 games. You know, effect excessively overmuch really I retrieve his season. I will talk about, you know, nan measurement those 2 games possibly impact.
things moving guardant and what’s near for him to activity on. But I thought nan play arsenic a whole, I thought he was benignant of what Ohio State needed this year, right? Like aft a mates of years of, know, Kyle McCord benignant of being beneath nan standard, Will Howard being, um, you know, a feline to lead you to a nationalist championship, but he is benignant of a span guy, right? He was only location to beryllium location for 1 season. thought Julian Sand benignant of sewage you backmost connected way for wherever you want nan backmost room to beryllium and really Ryan Day wants to create a activity pinch this quarterback. So I thought his, his accuracy was awesome. Um,
And I deliberation a batch of times you perceive accuracy and you deliberation cheque downs and things of that nature. Again, cheque downs, astir apt different point we’re going to talk astir later. but I thought his heavy shot accuracy was, was spectacular too. I don’t think, you know, erstwhile you look astatine nan heavy shot passing, there’s a batch of throws that he made this twelvemonth wherever I’m not saying, he conscionable threw it up location because it’s JJ and Cornell. It’s like, okay. He besides put that successful a spot wherever only JJ aliases Cornell could drawback it. Right. I deliberation I said that connected a batch of our videos this twelvemonth where
Stephen Means (03:52.0)
Mm-hmm.
Stefan Krajisnik (04:11.091)
Um, personification makes a spectacular drawback and I would benignant of opportunity like, yeah, but that’s besides Julian saying, putting it successful a spot wherever only that feline could drawback it. So a minus I thought Julian saying was terrific this year. Um, you know, location were immoderate bumps on nan way, things you would expect, I deliberation for a first twelvemonth quarterback. And deliberation going into twelvemonth two, you’re beautiful assured pinch what you person successful it.
Stephen Means (04:29.439)
Gail, let’s watch your last people successful nan people book for first twelvemonth starter Julian Sand.
Andrew Gillis (04:37.814)
Yeah, I’m successful an A. Like I’m somewhat better. deliberation this was a really, really bully year. I Heisman finalist, I understand nan twelvemonth didn’t extremity nan measurement that you wanted it to, but I deliberation location were moments where, you know, Ohio State purposely kept him down. We deliberation astir nan Texas game. You you deliberation astir possibly what those numbers could person been.
I don’t know. I deliberation astir that Wisconsin game. That crippled was a 2 people crippled and they were subbing successful nan backups, right? Like that was, you know, we knew what that was. And you conscionable benignant of wonderment to yourself, like, what did happen? Like what, what, would his numbers person been had they kept nan pedal down? And, and I understand, you know, I understand nan statement that, you know, is surely existent of he didn’t do it. So you can’t.
You can’t opportunity that, well, he simply would person been awesome had they conscionable done more. Had they played much football, he would person been good. Like, I don’t know, possibly he would person shrewd up more. I don’t know. But I thought he was really good. And I thought, particularly for illustration for what they asked him to do, I thought he excelled successful that role. I mean, he was evidently a Heisman finalist. was, you know, really, really adjacent to winning it, depending connected really that Big 10 Championship crippled turned out.
I’m successful an A, mean his heavy shot accuracy was really conscionable singular this year. Not each him, he’s sewage 2 ace weapons throwing nan shot to. If his receivers were conscionable mean Big Ten receivers, that’s not happening, but that did happen. So I’m successful an A, I thought he was really bully this year.
Stephen Means (06:19.261)
I gave him a B+.
And it benignant of leads america into nan adjacent portion of this for starters. 77 % completion percent is what he ends pinch connected nan year, truthful I conjecture technically speaking, he didn’t break bony mixes completion percent record. I don’t cognize for if they’d for illustration adhd successful postseason for strategy regular season, but they had successful nan postseason technically he did not break it 3610 yards, 32 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, though he had an interception and I deliberation his last.
Like 4 consecutive games aliases thing for illustration that 9 constituent 2 yards per effort is adjusting yards per effort So this is erstwhile they return retired each nan drops and whatnot 9 constituent 9 five. So that’s a small spot higher 2 100 and 50 7 constituent 9 yards per crippled successful nan passing crippled As gibbous mentioned he vanished 4th successful nan Heisman Trophy voting 301 completions that was number one
in nan Big Ten, nan completion percent number 1 successful nan country. 391 attempts.
That’s beautiful ridiculous. He had little than a 100 incompletions this year. There are three, location are 30, I believe, yeah, 30 group who threw arsenic galore passes this twelvemonth arsenic Julian Sand done 391. He is nan only 1 from what I’m seeing present who had little than for illustration 120 incompletions and he had little than a hundred. That is singular for a first twelvemonth starting quarterback.
Stephen Means (07:56.394)
to do that while playing successful nan champion convention successful assemblage football, which we tin fundamentally opportunity now, right? This is nan 3rd clip successful nan past 4 years that nan Big Ten has had 2 teams successful nan last 4 of nan assemblage shot playoff. This is nan champion convention successful assemblage football. And it’s besides nan 3rd consecutive twelvemonth that nan Big Ten has had nan number 1 wide seed successful nan assemblage shot playoff. And there’s a bully chance that nan Big Ten will again person nan nationalist champion. So this is nan champion convention successful assemblage football.
How overmuch did nan past 2 games of nan season, Stephon, effect your people versus nan first 12? Because for me, it encapsulated thing that I don’t deliberation I realized passim nan play erstwhile talking astir Julian Sayers.
Stefan Krajisnik (08:39.941)
Yeah, I definitely, I mean, I gave him an A minus. If you had asked maine done nan regular season, I astir apt would person fixed him an A plus, right? So I deliberation that made a beautiful large impact. thought the, the, nan violative statement evidently did not thief his case. I deliberation we were each beautiful adamant erstwhile talking and grading Julian aft that Miami crippled of being like, you know, Hey, this, capacity was impacted by, you know, this violative lines play. It’s not wholly his fault, but it felt for illustration those past 2 games showed us.
And this is possibly going to get into immoderate of nan worldly I want, you know, erstwhile we talk astir things, Julian tin do better, but it was for illustration erstwhile nan discourtesy wasn’t cleanable and we’re not, and everything goes, it wasn’t going precisely nan measurement I deliberation it was designed. Right. And you person to improvise a bit. felt for illustration that’s wherever possibly he struggled some. I cognize his athleticism isn’t needfully what Fernando Mendoza is, aliases what, you know, Dante Moore’s is, but Carson Beck was capable to do immoderate things pinch his limb and I thought legs and I thought Julian saying could person done immoderate much of that.
In that crippled against Miami, it conscionable felt for illustration those past 2 games, Ohio authorities wasn’t wholly dominating, pinch its discourtesy against nan opposing defense. And erstwhile it came clip to improvise and possibly bargain clip and do thing that conscionable wasn’t needfully connected script, that’s wherever he struggled a bit. And that that’s benignant of, you know, possibly thing that impacted nan measurement I people him, nan measurement I effect things aliases nan measurement I position things going into adjacent season. But yeah, I deliberation successful your 2 biggest, 2 of your 3 biggest games, right? Cause I put Michigan up there.
Two of your 3 biggest games. wasn’t precisely spectacular, right? And he made mistakes. And if you do want to lump successful that Michigan game, I mean, that’s, that was 3 short games wherever he had a costly early interception, right? I deliberation nan 1 against Michigan, you were capable to move connected from nan 1 against Indiana. You’re benignant of saying, okay, that, you know, it didn’t needfully costs you nan game, but it stung. past nan 1 against me, for illustration each 1 of them sewage benignant of progressively much and much important as, arsenic nan games progressed. And it just, it felt for illustration location was conscionable a mini constituent of nan game.
That was missing wrong Julian saying that ended up hurting Ohio State successful his 2 biggest games. Again, not wholly his fault. He’s not nan only feline to blame. And there’s, there’s a batch of blasted that goes astir from, Ryan time to, nan violative statement to Julian saying to, to, you know, nan remainder of nan unit connected offense, but location were felt for illustration location was times wherever possibly he could person made immoderate much plays. And erstwhile those are your 2 biggest games, right? Two, you know, 1 is simply a trophy game. One is, you know, to support competing for a nationalist championship. It should impact, think.
Stefan Krajisnik (11:08.37)
how we people your season.
Andrew Gillis (11:10.058)
So speedy mobility for you guys, because I deliberation this is adjuvant for group that are listening because like, what percent for illustration let’s blasted floor plan this thing. 100 % let’s spell Ryan Day. Let’s spell Julian Sane. The violative statement and outer factors is nan 4th one. So nan 4th 1 is nan force that you played. So Indiana and Miami, nan thought that you had a new
coordinator change, play caller alteration because of nan sports almanac being each screwed up. for illustration one, two, three, 4 Julian time violative statement outer factors. What percent blasted are you giving Julian for losing those games successful nan past two?
Stephen Means (12:04.511)
33%.
Stephen Means (12:12.447)
And past I would put different 33 % connected Ryan Day and nan violative coaching staff. And past I would put different 33 % connected nan violative statement arsenic a whole. 1 % connected outer factors because Ohio State’s not nan only squad who’s coordinated was besides trying to commencement his ain programme location else.
So like, I just, I don’t consciousness sorry for immoderate 1 programme erstwhile it comes to outer factors and the, because they’re each dealing pinch it to different extent. was listening to Kirk’s, Signetti and Dan Lanning’s presser arsenic they get fresh for their vessel game. And for illustration Kirk’s, Signetti’s talking astir really he had for illustration 13 dudes connected campus. So I took like.
two hours distant from his crippled prep. And Dan Lenny was like, yeah, support focusing connected those portal guys. We want you to person a bully squad adjacent year. But besides we were doing nan aforesaid point today. So it’s just, just, it’s whenever it’s a problem everybody has, it’s difficult to consciousness sorry for 1 squad complete different for having to woody pinch it, right? Like these, there’s 4 teams near successful nan section who person to woody pinch nan truth that nan portal was unfastened while they’re besides trying to, you know, compete for a nationalist title. So that’s their plight, whatever. Brian Artline,
Willie will will Stein is conscionable for illustration Brian Hartline wherever he’s calling nan spot for Oregon, but he’s besides trying to navigate trying to build his programme astatine Kentucky. So I conscionable don’t consciousness bad for that stuff. The logic I’m giving 33 % to Julian saying I don’t deliberation I would person fixed it to him caller retired of nan game. In fact, I would person astir apt only put for illustration 20 % possibly moreover little than that. If we had asked maine that for illustration connected nan video we did aft nan game.
But past you spell rewatch nan crippled a mates of times and.
Stephen Means (14:03.143)
I conscionable deliberation location are immoderate things that he’s gonna fundamentally person to get amended astatine this disconnected season, aliases we’re gonna beryllium having nan aforesaid speech arsenic he’s stepping retired nan doorway to spell beryllium a first information draught prime successful 12 months.
Stefan Krajisnik (14:16.435)
Yeah, I would work together pinch that. I deliberation portion of 2 why the, outer facet is why I, I would astir apt conscionable put that arsenic 0%. If you had asked maine aft nan Indiana game, I possibly would person put a bully magnitude connected that. Then they had 3 aliases 4 weeks to hole and came retired looking for illustration nan aforesaid offense. I deliberation nan play calling was a small spot better, but it’s like, I don’t know, right? Ryan time took complete play calling and they had 4 weeks to hole and it didn’t consciousness for illustration overmuch had changed. So I don’t want to say.
Stephen Means (14:28.948)
Sure.
Stefan Krajisnik (14:42.607)
the USF worldly was a distraction going into Indiana game. And that was a immense effect erstwhile we benignant of saw nan aforesaid merchandise 4 weeks later erstwhile Ohio State had had clip to set and prepare. So yeah, I don’t know, I’d astir apt I’m location adjacent to Steven, you could possibly springiness aliases return 5 % connected immoderate of those. But like, it did upon re watching it, it wasn’t for illustration I walked distant being like, wow, Julian Sand played horrible. But it was benignant of like, it felt for illustration he astir apt could person made immoderate plays astatine times that he wasn’t needfully astatine his best.
I deliberation a prod rewatching, I’d springiness him much blame, benignant for illustration Steven said too, than I would person possibly originally. But again, I think, Steven, you gave him a B plus. If personification gave him a somewhat lower, I wouldn’t spell for illustration into nan Cs. But if personification wanted to springiness him for illustration a B aliases B minus, because of nan past 2 games, like, I deliberation that’s wholly fair. Like, 2 biggest games of nan year, he wasn’t astatine his best. Again, blasted tin spell around, but like, he said it aft nan game.
Andrew Gillis (15:17.986)
Yeah, I think.
Stephen Means (15:26.504)
No.
Stefan Krajisnik (15:40.083)
Ultimately, it’s connected him. He’s nan quarterback, right? And nan caput coach will opportunity good yet it’s connected me. I’m nan caput coach for illustration group judge blasted but for illustration it each starts pinch your backmost and He wasn’t spectacular against Indiana and Miami and spectacular is simply a precocious barroom But besides it’s for illustration I don’t cognize That’s what quarterbacks are expected to do successful nan biggest games which which you look astatine nan NFL playoffs Which squad is gonna triumph nan Super Bowl without their backmost being spectacular?
Stephen Means (15:59.36)
If he wasn’t
Andrew Gillis (15:59.534)
No, Mark.
Yeah. Right.
Stephen Means (16:05.183)
And he wasn’t spectacular. Well, I’m not going to opportunity nan backmost connected nan different broadside was spectacular, but he sewage outplayed 2 games successful a row.
Andrew Gillis (16:17.71)
Yeah, and for illustration like that, I think. If you want to springiness him in installments for like, I don’t know, nan 2nd half of Indiana, nan 2nd half of Miami is like, well, they put immoderate things together, they put immoderate things together successful some half. I don’t cognize that still half of nan clip wherever he wasn’t great. And for illustration we were talking astir it successful nan property box. And I’m judge everybody was watching this astatine home. He benignant of looked rattled a small spot for illustration he benignant of looked shook a small spot arsenic location were conscionable moments like.
You know, I understand a screenshot is not nan champion parameter of whether a dude was open, whether a dude was covered, whether a dude was this, whether for illustration I understand that he did person Claire unfastened astatine that 1 point. I hide what constituent of nan crippled that was. I saw nan replay a cardinal times. Was it? Yeah, he had it. and past he sewage sacked. That’s right. So, yeah, he had him unfastened and that that I mean, that’s that spot swung nan crippled and like.
Stephen Means (17:01.981)
It was nan play correct earlier he threw a prime six.
Andrew Gillis (17:12.842)
Even if you judge Ryan Day of saying, well, you can’t really blasted him for throwing it. It was nan correct determination to propulsion it. And fundamentally that’s Ryan saying like, we sewage to artifact that retired better. I don’t know. He still missed nan touchdown nan play before. location were still moments that I don’t deliberation happen. So like, I don’t want to bleed excessively overmuch into nan adjacent class that we’re going to talk about. But like, that’s what you would expect of an Ohio State quarterback. That’s that’s what you request an Ohio State backmost to do, because I deliberation location would beryllium a batch of group nan past 2 years who would say.
Like I cognize nan playoff was different pinch McCord aliases pinch Howard, but they would say, you know, nan backmost was not nan driver of nan offense, particularly successful 23, for illustration particularly successful 23, group looked astatine Kyle McCord and they went 11 and one. They were 40 yards distant from winning and winning nan large 10 and going to nan Rose Bowl to play Michigan aliases to play Alabama. And it was for illustration Kyle McCord screwed this full point up. And I don’t.
necessarily deliberation that that level of reasoning is for illustration hideously wrong. But yeah, you you you want Julian saying to beryllium capable to prime your squad retired of nan mud. And I don’t deliberation you did that.
Stephen Means (18:23.839)
So did Ohio State exceed, again, arsenic you get connected your ain capacity review, nan full exceed, meet, aliases neglect to meet expectations? Did Ohio State exceed, meet, aliases autumn short to meet expectations astatine quarterback? And these are immoderate your expectations were for Ohio State starting backmost coming. Not for illustration this, whatever, for illustration we know, cognize what Ohio State says. There was a measurement that you talked astir Julian Sand, each of us, successful our ain unsocial ways of what we were expecting him to beryllium this year, Andrew.
Did Ohio State’s backmost transcend metre autumn short of that anticipation for you?
Andrew Gillis (18:59.31)
I deliberation it met it. I would opportunity it didn’t nan past 2 years. One pinch McCord and I deliberation group are benignant of alert that if you’ve been a agelong clip listener to this aliases spectator of our YouTube pages aliases whatever, that I was a small spot harder connected Howard. And that was because I don’t deliberation Howard was surviving up to this anticipation of an Ohio State backmost that you are expected to beryllium 1 of nan champion successful nan state because not only do you person everything you could perchance request astatine your disposal,
You’ve sewage a coach who knows backmost play really good and you’ve sewage a awesome discourtesy and you’ve sewage nan champion receivers successful nan sport. Like if you could manus prime 3 receivers to beryllium connected this team, I mean, you’re astir apt starting 2 of them, right? Like, for illustration those are astir apt two, if you’re starting from scratch successful nan past mates of years with, pinch JJ and Emeka and JJ and Carnell. So yeah, I deliberation it met it because Heisman finalist quarterback.
got you to wherever you went to nan playoffs. I don’t deliberation it was needfully each Julian. I was astir apt successful that aforesaid realm arsenic Steven. I would springiness a small spot much to nan outer factors one. And that’s mostly conscionable for illustration you played a bully team. That’s going to hap successful this tourney that we person now. So I opportunity met. I deliberation location were moments that exceeded it. I deliberation location were moments that surely fell short. So I’ll opportunity this is what you want astatine an Ohio State quarterback, to beryllium a Heisman finalist, to get you to a level where
When nan discourtesy is clicking, he looks for illustration 1 of nan champion successful nan country, especially, you know, everybody’s talking astir this being his first year. mean, by nan extremity of nan year, I’m not judge really overmuch that really mattered, but I’m going to opportunity it met it. And frankly, by adjacent year, you would expect him to transcend this bar. Like if this is nan bar, he’d amended transcend it.
Stephen Means (20:49.608)
Stefan, which of nan 3 for you?
Stefan Krajisnik (20:52.211)
I thought it was Matt. mean, coming into nan year, I deliberation I had him for illustration finishing third, fourth, aliases possibly for illustration conscionable beneath that successful nan Heisman race. I thought for first twelvemonth quarterback, he was bully this year. He led them to undefeat a regular play erstwhile each of us, think, I deliberation each of america had predicted them to suffer astatine slightest 1 regular play game. Obviously fell short successful nan postseason, but I thought for first twelvemonth starting quarterback, was, Julian saying was beautiful bully and looked nan portion of personification who’s going to create into and proceed to be.
up to nan modular of an Ohio State quarterback, astatine slightest nether nan Ryan Day era.
Stephen Means (21:26.142)
Okay, truthful I’ll do it. He exceeded my expectations. Stefan, really galore times person we travel connected this pod and I went by November 1st erstwhile we’re heading into that Penn State game, do you deliberation he mightiness beryllium nan champion backmost successful assemblage football? And we’d beryllium like, yeah, yeah, that’s nan case. I mean, we sewage there. It’s my November 1st. But I deliberation I sewage location earlier. And nan logic it succeeded for me, listen, I cognize nan extremity of nan play didn’t spell nan measurement group expected. They didn’t went backmost to backmost nationalist champions and spell 16 and 0. Boy, ohio boy, it’s been a...
The portal opened up and nan lunatic fringe sewage busy, busy, engaged boy. Listen, I, by halftime of nan Texas crippled was like, this kid’s fresh to do this. Because while successful nan aforesaid breath, I spent 9 months going, yeah, Julian Sands is gonna beryllium a star. I besides wrote earlier nan season, hey, if he’s not a prima successful week one, don’t termination him nan measurement you tried to termination CJ Stroud. If he throws an interception successful week one,
Don’t beryllium fresh to propulsion him distant for illustration an aged toy. Give it time. He’s young. He’s 19 years old. He had 25 aliases truthful snaps to his sanction and 12 passes, which is ironically funny. He completed 41 % of his passes past twelvemonth successful a very mini sample size. So nan truth that that dude completed 78 % of his passes by nan extremity of nan regular play is hilarious. And nan truth it was truthful precocious that erstwhile he only completed 62 %
of his passes against Miami and it dropped a percent point, it went down to 77%, which I deliberation is hilarious. So nan truth that he was truthful fresh to do this correct distant exceeded my expectations. That is wherever nan 33 % Gillis comes successful for maine of what went incorrect successful nan Cotton Bowl and successful nan Big Ten Championship game. That 33 %
is a very, very dense 33 % because I felt for illustration it told nan communicative of nan twelvemonth of Julian’s fresh to do this and you won’t fto him do it. That was nan Texas game. That was nan Washington game. Penn State wasn’t bully by nan clip they played him, truthful it didn’t really matter. They didn’t fto him do it for truthful agelong and past conscionable thought they could get successful nan neutral sites and this flip nan move and he’d beryllium fresh to do it for you. It’s like, no.
Stephen Means (23:48.127)
That’s nan point astir CJ Stroud successful 2021. He had to do it truthful overmuch early successful nan twelvemonth that by nan clip they sewage to nan Rose Bowl, it’s like, we’re down by 14 and a half time. He’s like, each right, I’m conscionable going to propulsion nan shot to Jackson Smith, nan jiggler for nan adjacent 30 minutes of my life. We’re going to triumph nan shot game. He was fresh to do those types of things. I felt for illustration Julian was fresh to thrust nan car by halftime of nan Texas game. And I do not deliberation that coming into nan twelvemonth I was going to beryllium astatine that.
I thought we would get done nan Washington crippled and past go, each right, present we go. This kid’s fresh to do each these things. So nan truth that he was fresh from time 1 to meet nan infinitesimal and it ne'er really seemed for illustration it’s spooked him astatine all. Meanwhile, nan different feline connected nan different sideline did spell done that. He did spell done nan hay. I cognize Arch didn’t look bully successful week one, but by nan clip they sewage to nan extremity of nan season, Arch looked beautiful good.
So for me, that’s why it’s exceeded expectations is because I thought this would beryllium gradual. And from Julian Sands perspective, I don’t deliberation it was gradual successful position of what he was fresh to do. I thought nan attack and nan accuracy of nan group successful complaint is what was slower than possibly I anticipated it being. And I deliberation that’s portion of nan point that costs them astatine nan extremity of the
Stefan Krajisnik (25:05.703)
Yeah, it felt for illustration astatine times nan the conception from nan Texas crippled of, we could person put much connected his plate. That’s a bully point looking back. And location were decidedly games wherever it’s like, okay, we’re fresh for you to put much connected display. It doesn’t consciousness for illustration you’re doing that rather yet.
Stephen Means (25:20.222)
Hey Ryan, hey Billy. Hey Brian. I’m hungry. Yeah, but I don’t cognize man Maybe you conscionable eat your vegetables correct now. Maybe conscionable nan carrots. No, springiness maine nan steak. I Would for illustration to eat now, please. I’m quiet and they conscionable ne'er fto him do it. Okay, that’s a bully 1 20 minutes Let’s return a break and past we’re get immoderate basking takes, you know, but I talk And we’re backmost connected bucket talk Stephen mean Stefan Christy tin extremity you Gillis we’re giving retired basking takes
Stefan Krajisnik (25:23.315)
you
Stephen Means (25:51.199)
to make a point. The return has to beryllium based successful logic erstwhile you explicate it. But nan basking return is you’re fundamentally being me, because I deliberation I do this, aliases I travel successful hot, and past I like, OK, well, fto maine show you really I sewage there. You’re like, OK, that really makes sense. conscionable you didn’t person to connection it for illustration that successful nan beginning, Steven. It’s like, no, no, no. It’s called nan intermezo value. I sewage to get you to travel perceive to it. It’s a bully headline. A bully header is simply a small click-baity, but past you publication nan story, and you felt for illustration you really sewage thing retired of
That’s nan quality betwixt headlines that are clickbait and really a really bully headline. That’s thing we talk astir pinch our bosses each nan time. Stefan, you are up first. We tin commencement pessimistic aliases optimistic. Which measurement would you for illustration to commencement pinch your basking take? Which 1 you want to get first?
Stefan Krajisnik (26:32.499)
Let’s commencement pessimistic, because I consciousness for illustration we benignant of ended nan past conception connected pessimistic. So let’s get that retired of nan way. Because I deliberation erstwhile we do our optimistic thing, I deliberation nan remainder of nan show is going to beryllium beautiful pop.
Stephen Means (26:44.696)
Okay, let’s do this. Get your dislike watch on.
Stefan Krajisnik (26:50.555)
Yeah, my pessimistic hop return is that Ohio State makes soul move astatine violative coordinator and we spot a very akin attack to what we’ve seen nan past mates seasons successful position of offense. And arsenic a result, we don’t ever spot Julian saying afloat unleashed, right? And possibly that’s much of a interest than for illustration a hop take. But I it sewage it felt for illustration it sewage to a constituent this twelvemonth wherever early successful nan year, it was like, wow, look astatine Julian saying nan accuracy.
Stephen Means (26:59.955)
Mm.
Stefan Krajisnik (27:17.747)
Knows erstwhile to propulsion it away, knows really to do nan correct thing, return his chances erstwhile it’s clip to return chances. And past it sewage benignant of to nan extremity of nan year. And it felt like, Julian saying excessively safe? And it goes backmost to this benignant what I was looting excessively early. I’m conscionable like, you’re watching nan crippled and you’re wishing there. was a small spot much improv, a small spot much unpredictability to Ohio state’s offense. And I opportunity that successful knowing that erstwhile they driblet a play.
they expected to activity and a batch of times it does activity because you sewage guys for illustration Jeremiah Smith and carnell tate max claren brandon innis and each these weapons who tin execute nan play precisely benignant of arsenic you expected it but it felt for illustration location was an constituent of improv that was possibly missing from julian sayings crippled and a batch of it it went from okay possibly he’s conscionable not nan astir diversion feline this and that to for illustration it felt astatine nan extremity of nan twelvemonth that conscionable ohio state’s discourtesy was playing successful a measurement of conscionable for illustration don’t make a correction don’t make a correction we person a bully defense conscionable don’t make a mistake
And it took distant a spot from what I deliberation Julian saying is tin of. And I deliberation going into adjacent season, if it’s that aforesaid mentality and that aforesaid approach, and this is not maine saying for illustration Ohio authorities needs to play astatine afloat full velocity each play and consequence injury. And like, I get it. Like location is, location is an constituent of for illustration there’s definite games wherever you tin prime and take to play a spot slower and understand that it’s a 16, 17 crippled season. I wholly get that. I’m not saying Ohio metropolis needs to beryllium reckless, but I deliberation successful nan biggest games.
It didn’t needfully consciousness for illustration they fto nan leash off. And arsenic a result, erstwhile you sewage to nan extremity of nan postseason, it felt for illustration Julie Sam was excessively acrophobic to make mistakes astatine times. So that that is my pessimistic position of conscionable what if we spot this again adjacent twelvemonth wherever it’s it’s a afloat play of, he makes nan correct decision. He’s he’s safe and conservative. And it takes distant nan expertise to possibly fto it rip sometimes and just, I don’t know, beryllium an Ohio State backmost for illustration he yes, he is not arsenic diversion arsenic Justin Fields was.
There was an constituent of Justin Fields that was really annoying. Whereas for illustration if the, if nan play wasn’t there, he just, he took disconnected excessively quick. But besides there’s an constituent of Justin Fields. That’s benignant of awesome. And it’s like, erstwhile you deliberation nan plays over, you deliberation nan play is dormant and Julian St. Is fresh to propulsion away. It’s like, I don’t know, Justin Fields makes thing hap again, 2 wholly different quarterbacks, but moreover Carson Beck, felt for illustration was, was doing a spot much of that than Justin, uh, than Julian St. Was. So that, that is my pessimistic position of this benignant of for illustration ultra safe approach.
Stefan Krajisnik (29:35.417)
leaking into adjacent play a spot excessively much. And I deliberation it would astir apt stem from an soul promotion pinch violative coordination.
Stephen Means (29:44.701)
I for illustration that. I for illustration that hate. I for illustration that negativity Just for illustration it’s doing for illustration it’s doing Gillis Give america a pessimistic return astir Julian saying aliases arsenic a nonaccomplishment its quarterback
Andrew Gillis (29:57.9)
Yeah. Yeah. I’m going to rattle disconnected immoderate names for you existent quick. Ball State astatine Texas, Kent State astatine Indiana, astatine Iowa, astatine Nebraska, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern Oregon, and astatine USC. That is their 2026 schedule that is evidently not group pinch dates. I understand that. I it’s truthful dumb. It’s truthful it wasn’t it was group for illustration nan Heisman week.
Stephen Means (30:19.686)
Why is that not group yet? It’s January. What are we doing here?
Andrew Gillis (30:26.836)
of past twelvemonth and now each of abrupt we can’t do this. It’s a stupid
Stephen Means (30:27.571)
Yeah.
Stefan Krajisnik (30:29.117)
People like, and I get it, sometimes they do for illustration excessively acold successful advance. Like it’s January. If you’re going to for illustration Ohio state, USC, you would for illustration to commencement booking stuff. Like you would for illustration to cognize erstwhile you person to scheme to alert to LA and get hotels successful LA. Like we could, we could velocity this up a small bit.
Stephen Means (30:41.682)
Right.
Stephen Means (30:50.876)
I would for illustration to my hotels. Please. But continue. Yeah, pinch the...
Andrew Gillis (30:51.01)
Yeah, truthful bad. Mm-hmm. I’d for illustration to cognize wherever I’m be.
Stefan Krajisnik (30:56.915)
We booked our Austin hotels successful for illustration September because for illustration you were 365 days out. You could do it. Like outcry retired to Nile Conference Games for giving america that.
Stephen Means (31:00.613)
Right.
Andrew Gillis (31:03.789)
Yeah.
Let maine cognize if Ohio State is gonna play astatine USC erstwhile nan Orioles play nan Dodgers successful nan World Series. That’s each I gotta cognize about. But I deliberation you look astatine that schedule, and Steven and I person talked astir this a lot, for illustration nan 2025 schedule fell apart. You had Penn State and Texas connected it. Penn State collapsed. Texas was solid. They really kinda gained their footing later successful nan year, but they weren’t possibly what you thought they would be.
Illinois wasn’t possibly what you thought they would be. There were just, location was not a batch of bully connected it. And I deliberation we would each work together that his worst 2 games were against Indiana and Miami. There’s a fistful of playoff teams aliases imaginable playoff teams connected that schedule. And you, you wonder, okay, what if Julian soil looks much for illustration that against playoff teams? And that’s what Julian saying is because it’s great.
that he tin complete 85 % of his passes and propulsion for 300 yards and complete 4 touchdowns against Wisconsin. And it’s awesome that he’s not throwing picks against Minnesota and against Purdue and UCLA, but successful nan 2 astir important games of nan year. And moreover if you want to widen it backmost to nan 3 astir important games of nan year, he ended nan twelvemonth pinch 4 picks successful 3 games aliases 3 and 2 games, nevertheless you want to look astatine that. And I, I don’t know. I would look astatine that schedule and see,
a Texas squad that again, I cognize they fell isolated this year, but they should beryllium better. They should beryllium astatine slightest good. And you sewage to spell connected nan road. Oregon’s coming to town. You sewage to spell to USC. Like I look, you sewage to spell to Indiana. I look astatine that schedule and I see, I don’t know, possibly there’s a nightmare wherever it’s, you know, you spell to Indiana, you travel location and you play Illinois, and past you sewage to spell to Iowa, right? Like nan schedule is excessively loaded of just.
Andrew Gillis (33:04.088)
kind of bully teams and you commencement to, you commencement to benignant of person that thought of for illustration Ohio State schedule is going to beryllium overmuch tougher 1 done 12 adjacent year, I deliberation than it was this year. And successful nan past 2 games of nan year, I don’t deliberation Julian soil played his champion football. So what happens if you play those bully teams and Julian looks for illustration he did. So, you know, that would be, that would beryllium thing that I deliberation is simply a pessimistic viewpoint of Julian of just, Hey, what you saw successful nan first
10 games, really 10, 11 games is not really Julian. Julian is overmuch much turnover prone than possibly you thought aliases you worried because yeah, his completion percent was fine, but moreover against Miami 62.9%. I cognize his violative statement didn’t thief him out, but that would be, I deliberation a pessimistic position and a interest of Julian saying if you were to conscionable look astatine it from a wholly antagonistic broadside of point, broadside of view.
Stephen Means (33:59.614)
Hmm.
I didn’t deliberation astir extracurricular factors because I just, I don’t know. Like what’s nan worst point that’s gonna hap to Ohio State adjacent year? spell 10 and two? I don’t know. They’ll 10 and two, they’re make a playoff. Yeah, but you are not saying that, but I tin decidedly envision personification proceeding that and going, well, location it is, six and six. It’s like, oh, this is Ohio State.
Andrew Gillis (34:11.958)
Yeah, I’m not saying they’re going to spell 7 and 5 erstwhile I opportunity that schedule. Keep that successful mind.
Stephen Means (34:26.642)
So my pessimistic return is this, assemblage shot is not going to get nan champion type of Julian Zane. Right, that’s just, mean, he’s gonna get better. He’ll get to nan NFL and get amended unless he conscionable for illustration falls disconnected a cliff. But moreover Justin Fields, he had a mates of bully seasons for nan Bears earlier things conscionable benignant of disconnected nan cliff there. So there’s gonna beryllium different level that Julian gets to erstwhile he’s not playing assemblage shot anymore. Mine is that we’ve already seen
what he is arsenic a assemblage shot player.
Stephen Means (35:01.79)
And it’s much if I had to pin it down much it’s that he’s not special. He’s conscionable good
Stephen Means (35:17.532)
What’s what makes him typical correct now? Stefan and this is again, we’re being overly antagonistic for nan constituent of making what would you opportunity makes Julian Sands typical right
Stefan Krajisnik (35:23.058)
It’s.
It’s his accuracy, I think.
Stephen Means (35:28.136)
Okay. Gillis, would you work together pinch that? If you had to pin down connected what makes him typical is nan accuracy.
Andrew Gillis (35:35.116)
Yeah, and specifically downfield accuracy. Like that was ridiculous this year.
Stephen Means (35:38.833)
Okay.
Stefan Krajisnik (35:40.656)
you
Stephen Means (35:41.278)
Cause moreover successful nan fabric ball, he had nan one, nan JJ wherever I don’t cognize really he put it there, but he put it there. But title sewage amended and I felt for illustration that typical trait sewage a small much streaky.
a spot and immoderate of it is not connected him. Some of it is nan violative line, possibly getting successful nan measurement of that. But there’s besides this constituent that Julian soil and I felt for illustration I don’t retrieve if it was his past for illustration existent propulsion earlier nan last thrust erstwhile they’re conscionable trying to propulsion bombs connected nan section because I’m trying to play drawback up. But if you retrieve Stefan and I deliberation I said it to you, I’m like, that’s conscionable not it. Julian, you can’t you can’t make that propulsion correct there.
where he’s scrambling around, he gets loose and there’s greenish successful beforehand of him. And he doesn’t return nan green, alternatively he looks astatine CJ Donaldson opinionated correct adjacent to him and he dumps it disconnected to CJ Donaldson who past gets for illustration 1 aliases 2 yards. And I’ve been reasoning astir that play, that’s nan type of play that makes group telephone you a cheque down artist.
Stephen Means (36:48.061)
He is very typical erstwhile it comes to throwing nan shot down nan field. He doesn’t do it enough. And what I mean by he doesn’t do it enough. There’s an constituent of like, you sewage to return nan chance sometimes. And again, let’s you brought it up earlier. The, nan miss of Max Clair for a touchdown pass. mean, let’s spell backmost to Texas erstwhile it’s 4th down and he doesn’t deed JJ down nan scene. Instead, he dumped it to Max Clair.
And it’s, it should person been a completion. Max Clair dropped nan ball. So it’s like, if he catches nan ball, it’s okay, right? It was a bully decision, but it wasn’t nan champion decision. It’s not nan determination that maximized nan offense. That’s expected to beryllium a touchdown. Okay. So that’s six points. And I don’t deliberation they scored connected that drive. I deliberation later connected that thrust is erstwhile they stalled connected 4th down. So they missed retired connected 7 points because alternatively of hitting JJ deep, origin he didn’t deliberation it felt arsenic cleanable arsenic it needed to be. He hits Max Clair who past drops it. So that’s six points for you correct there.
Let’s retrieve nan Purdue crippled erstwhile he makes Max Clare going down nan segment and we each retrieve that 1 because we were each worried astir a prop that astatine that point. So he misses him there. How galore times did he miss Brandon successful his down nan segment this year? Right. It became a point of like, he doesn’t spot it. I don’t cognize if he doesn’t spot it if he doesn’t spot it. And he’s sewage to spot that going forward. can’t because you become
The completion percent is nice, nan only logic you get those completion percentages is because you’re dumping disconnected to your moving back, which I get it. They thatch that right. Even Will Howard was talking astir that past year. You ne'er spell collapsed taking a profit. Did completions, get completions, get completions, but you still besides person to return your changeable erstwhile it arrives. And I don’t deliberation successful nan past 2 games of nan season, really, I don’t deliberation each play he maximized those opportunities to return those shots unless it was nan first point location and it was
clearly designed that way. I deliberation nan Penn State game, erstwhile he had heavy balls to JJ and nan Carnell was, I deliberation he was astatine his champion astatine like, I’m conscionable gonna, I’m gonna fto it fly. They’re playing quarters, I’m gonna fto it, I’m gonna spot my guys and I’m conscionable gonna fto it fly. And those 2 had one, I deliberation Brandon Ennis had 1 that was for illustration a 15 to 20 yarder successful nan first half. Like that crippled lives connected an land of, I sewage an arm.
Stephen Means (39:16.285)
I’m going to spot it. Cause that was the, that’s nan point astir your typical waste and acquisition is sometimes judge it tin get you successful trouble, but much often than not, it’s going to beryllium nan point that ends up winning you a shot game. Justin field, his typical trait was his legs. So sometimes he held connected nan shot excessively agelong erstwhile he was here. And it’s why he’s nan only backmost who has been sacked much than 20 times since, since Ryan time became nan caput coach. He sewage sucked 30 times successful 2019. Do you care? No, because of nan plentifulness of times he held onto nan shot and past he deed Garrett Wilson successful nan Michigan game.
or he deed Chris Olave deep. CJ Stroud utilized to effort to fresh immoderate balls successful immoderate windows he had nary business trying to fresh balls into nan windows of. But you cognize what? Marvin caught it. Garrett caught it. Chris caught it. Mecca caught it. Jackson caught it. So you unrecorded pinch it, sure. Did it get picked disconnected erstwhile aliases twice? Maybe, yeah, but much often than not, it worked retired successful his favor.
Cobb, McCord, Wilhauer not first information draught pick. So they’re not successful like, I’m conscionable not going to see them successful this conversation. We deliberation Julian is successful nan Justin Fields, Dewayne Haskins, CJ Straughall speech of a first information draught pick, which intends his typical trait, he’s sewage to thin into that much adjacent year. They can’t beryllium leaving points retired there. You can’t, origin that’s nan point, Gailis of you missed Max Clair and connected nan very adjacent play, it’s a prime six. It’s not your responsibility why it’s a prime six, but if you deed Max Clair connected nan play earlier that, they’re not throwing a bubble surface nan adjacent play, origin location is nary adjacent play.
It’s 7 to 7 alternatively of 14 to nothing. If he hits Jeremiah Smith connected nan first thrust of nan crippled against Texas, possibly it’s a 21 to 7 game.
just because it’s opened up much because you conscionable threw nan first punch, right? Maybe if he doesn’t miss Brandon Ennis down nan segment against Indiana successful nan Big 10 title game, you adjacent that disconnected pinch a touchdown and you don’t locomotion distant pinch a 13 to 10 win. Maybe you triumph nan crippled 21 to 13. I don’t know, right? We tin do nan hypotheticals each we want, but I felt like, man, he’s really bully astatine throwing nan shot down nan field. Why doesn’t he do it more?
Stephen Means (41:16.913)
Why did he miss this shot? Why did he miss this shot? And I was looking for a batch of things successful nan passing crippled wherever it felt for illustration nan Miami crippled was conscionable a continuation of a speech we had been having each year. And that’s that, yeah, location are things that nan coaching unit did. Yes, they’re nan violative line, each those things that we person those conversations. But what’s Julian Sands domiciled successful that? And Julian Sands domiciled successful that is sometimes he doesn’t conscionable for illustration fto it rip. Because he mightiness not spot it each nan way. And that’s
Where I, that’s why my fearfulness is like, what if we’ve already seen nan champion of him? Because sure, you’re typical throwing nan shot down nan field, but if you’re not gonna do it, who cares really typical it is?
Stefan Krajisnik (41:57.095)
Yeah, I he finishes pinch with 32 touchdowns and 8 interceptions like. I don’t know. I don’t cognize what nan ratio is, but for illustration if I told you, Steven, hey, alternatively of 32 and eight, he vanished pinch 40 and 13. Would you return that?
Stephen Means (42:10.813)
any time of nan week.
Stefan Krajisnik (42:12.179)
Right, right. That’s conscionable for illustration I and possibly this we tin spell into for illustration optimistic basking take, but for illustration location is nan pessimistic broadside of for illustration what if it’s it’s that aforesaid point again, which I don’t for illustration moreover that for illustration is not overly pessimistic, right? Because I deliberation we each cognize there’s a level now that Julian’s astatine that’s for illustration still beautiful good. But I deliberation if you’re Ohio State for illustration not not taking a measurement guardant is is not needfully awesome thing. That’s why I deliberation that’s possibly pessimistic.
Stephen Means (42:37.723)
Because nan level isn’t enough. And that’s what this comes down to is, he capable for Ohio State to triumph a nationalist title? And I don’t deliberation that level is capable to triumph it. I deliberation it’s bully capable that if he’s nan nonstop aforesaid backmost adjacent year, they’re gonna make nan playoff. And I deliberation they’re gonna get to nan quarterfinal. Right.
Stefan Krajisnik (42:40.561)
Yeah.
Stefan Krajisnik (43:00.179)
Right. I deliberation he could extremity up successful New York. That’s why moreover nan Heisman things a small tricky to maine too, because it’s like, yes, he’s a Heisman finalist, but besides Dylan Gabriel moreover showed america like, if you spell if your squad was undefeated successful nan regular season, you’re astir apt going to beryllium successful that speech if you’re nan quarterback. So there’s like, there’s a springiness and return present of is Julian saying bully capable to triumph you nan nationalist championship, nan type that we saw successful 2020, 2024. It’s like, aliases 2025. I should opportunity it’s like, yes, of course, it’s bully enough. He was a Heisman finalist. Well, it’s like,
Stephen Means (43:22.077)
Uh-huh.
Stefan Krajisnik (43:29.939)
OK, true, but it was besides Heisman finalist only because Ohio State went connected defeat. Like that’s not to diminish them. Like those 2 things spell manus successful hand. But for illustration if Ohio State is going to triumph a nationalist championship, you astir apt do request a somewhat amended type that is 4 because 4th successful nan Heisman. I don’t cognize if that’s needfully enough.
Stephen Means (43:36.391)
Null it.
Stephen Means (43:47.472)
It’s he near plays connected nan section successful nan past 2 games and nan feline connected nan different extremity didn’t time off plays connected nan section successful nan past 2 games. And I don’t want to prevention immoderate of this worldly because it’s going to get into what immoderate of my non-negotiables erstwhile it comes to Ohio State successful their backmost play correct now. But it’s conscionable it. I deliberation if he if he’s this nonstop aforesaid backmost adjacent twelvemonth aliases possibly he’s a level up from this conscionable because he’s older he’s been done it earlier past I deliberation Ohio State is going to get to nan quarterfinals.
Whether it’s because they sewage a bargain successful location successful a quarterfinal aliases they played a location crippled without a quarterfinal I deliberation they’re gonna beryllium playing he’s gonna make it to nan quarterfinal But erstwhile you’re connected this level arsenic we conscionable saw There’s sewage to beryllium a measurement up from this and if I was being pessimistic, I americium not judge if There is simply a measurement up from this possibly his ceiling successful nan level aliases nan aforesaid now if I had to beryllium optimistic
about things and this is wherever I’ll get backmost to nan constituent I was making earlier. My optimism
We did nan backmost rankings arsenic our past unrecorded show earlier they played successful nan fabric bowl. I, for, location was a logic I included their recruiting classes. He is importantly younger than each backmost who’s starting successful nan assemblage shot playoff. I don’t cognize what happened to nan sport, but it sewage old. No, I do cognize it happened. COVID happened and nan NCAA gave each these group an other twelvemonth erstwhile they didn’t request to. And past besides there’s nary rules anymore. So you tin person everybody instrumentality astir forever.
The Kyber Bowl was nan youngest backmost successful nan field, Julian Sand, a 2nd twelvemonth assemblage shot subordinate and a first twelvemonth starter against Carson Beck, nan oldest personification successful nan field. 2020 recruitees successful his sixth twelvemonth of assemblage shot and his 3rd twelvemonth arsenic a starter astatine his 2nd school. Carson Beck early enrolled astatine Georgia earlier nan pandemic happened.
Stephen Means (45:48.104)
That’s really aged he is. There’s a female who useful astatine nan dispatch now, her sanction is escaping me. We were joking astir that earlier nan game. She was like, it’s crazy that I’m covering personification I was successful assemblage with. And it’s like, that is crazy. Carson Beck shouldn’t still beryllium connected nan shot section correct now playing. But do you deliberation that showed up successful that crippled that Carson Beck had done this before? And Julian Sand hadn’t done this before? Do you deliberation it showed up that Fernando Mendoza?
had done this earlier and Julian Sand hadn’t done this before. Sure, had they played for convention championships? No, but there’s for illustration that screenshot of Fernando Mendoza dueling pinch Caleb Williams backmost successful 2022 erstwhile Caleb won nan Heisman Trophy, because that’s really aged Fernando Mendoza is.
And you look astatine their schedule.
Stefan Krajisnik (46:35.418)
I deliberation it matters.
Stephen Means (46:41.415)
Texas, and Julian are adjacent successful position of acquisition for nan astir part, because Arch played a bad Mississippi State squad nan twelvemonth earlier that. Grammley and OU, they’re G5 schools. G5 schools and FCS schools, it doesn’t matter. Daman Williams had a small spot of experience, but Ohio State’s amended than Washington. And besides I deliberation Julian mightiness person outplayed Daman Williams that day. Illinois, older backmost and Luke Altmeyer, but Illinois’s not bully capable to hit Ohio State.
Penn State whitethorn person been absorbing if Joe Aller was still connected nan different sideline, but he wasn’t. So he’s playing Ethan Grucklmeier, who’s successful nan aforesaid position arsenic Julian Fisani. In fact, Julian astatine that constituent has much acquisition than Ethan Grucklmeier because Grucklmeier had conscionable been thrown into nan occurrence 2 games earlier that. Wisconsin stinks. Purdue stinks. UCLA, sure. Nico Iamalava had much experience. He besides didn’t play successful that crippled and UCLA stinks. Rutgers.
Anything Caliak Manas is older than Julian Sam, but they can’t they conscionable are not successful nan aforesaid speech arsenic Ohio State and past you get nan Michigan. So. Texas, Michigan. There are 10 games successful betwixt that wherever I deliberation it was you could say. If nan backmost connected nan different sideline outplays Julian Sand, it doesn’t matter.
And truthful nan 2 games during nan regular play wherever it did matter, wherever guys, Julian soil had nan aforesaid magnitude of acquisition arsenic truthful you weren’t needfully worried astir acquisition being nan point that fundamentally wins 1 guy, nan crippled complete nan other. And past each of a abrupt you get into a assemblage shot playoff wherever again, it does matter who’s backmost outplays nan different and Julian sands playing a bunch of aged guys. So my optimism is successful a sport, we’re having a veteran
quarterback matters much possibly it has ever mattered because you sewage to retrieve we’re coming disconnected of Trevor Lawrence won a nationalist title arsenic a existent freshman to a sewage dropped into nan crippled astatine halftime arsenic a existent freshman and won nan game. Justin Fields is simply a first twelvemonth starting backmost successful nan 2nd twelvemonth subordinate Heisman Trophy finalist CJ Stroud first twelvemonth starter. He’s a Heisman Trophy finalist Bryce and Bryce Young wins nan grant his first twelvemonth arsenic a starter Caleb Williams wins nan grant his first twelvemonth arsenic a starter.
Stephen Means (49:00.581)
And past you get nan Jane Daniels.
Joe burrow was a was not nan norm astatine that point. Colin Murray was for illustration successful twelvemonth 3 aliases 4 erstwhile he won nan highest man trophy. So we’re getting backmost to aged quarterbacks. And I deliberation it’s because protect has caught up a small bit. So nan young backmost can’t conscionable spell successful location and conscionable beryllium awesome correct away. I deliberation that Julian has immoderate acquisition nether his loop and he’s been location before. Not only do you spot Ryan time return nan training wheels off, he conscionable mightiness spot it a small bit.
So nan missed Max Clair touchdown, nan missed Jeremiah Smith heavy shot, nan missed Brandon Ennis complete nan seam. Those things conscionable deed now because he has seen it earlier and been done these things. Because moreover if you look astatine this playoff, nan last 4 teams are guys who person been starters before. I understand this is Dante Morris first clip starting astatine Oregon, but he started a afloat play almost astatine UCLA. So he has banked reps. Julian didn’t person that.
before this twelvemonth and I deliberation that showed up successful nan past 2 games of nan play and it won’t show up that measurement adjacent twelvemonth because he’s been done this.
Stefan Krajisnik (50:10.961)
Yeah, I deliberation that astir apt leaks into my optimistic basking takes. I going into your your clickbait thing. I deliberation my clickbait header pinch this would beryllium Julian saying will do thing that nary Ryan Day backmost has ever done. And I deliberation my optimistic basking return is Julie’s time was nan Heisman adjacent year, right? Like, if we spot that unleashed type version of him, what’s stopping Julian saying from being nan Heisman victor adjacent year, right? Like, for illustration if they fto it rip and they fto him do what he tin do, not only tin he
Stephen Means (50:26.502)
Cool.
Stefan Krajisnik (50:39.347)
But he’s besides going to do it connected nan biggest stage, right? When astatine Texas erstwhile astatine USC, a location triumph against Oregon triumph astatine Indiana for illustration these are each nan schedule sets up and granted this twelvemonth schedule. We thought group up that measurement excessively and and we’ll spot really it pans out. I I deliberation I person much assurance successful Oregon, Indiana and Texas being bully adjacent twelvemonth than I did needfully successful Texas, Penn State and Michigan this year. But nan constituent of nan matter is that there’s going to beryllium opportunities on nan way.
Stephen Means (50:42.418)
Mm-hmm.
Stefan Krajisnik (51:08.007)
for Julian saying to really rip it and benignant of fto loose successful immoderate of those bigger games and not be, you know, benignant of this undercooked type of what we deliberation he tin beryllium and what we deliberation this Ohio State discourtesy could be. So I deliberation if there’s, and I deliberation immoderate of that too, for illustration I get it. We put a batch of blasted connected nan coaching unit and nan attack connected discourtesy and each that. There is an constituent excessively of for illustration Julian saying a bit, being a spot much confident, right? Like, understanding, you know, Hey, I conscionable had a 14 crippled season. I watched a movie and yeah, possibly I was getting a small jumpy against Indiana erstwhile location was
when location wasn’t unit and I thought location was possibly I was getting a small jumpy against Miami aliases didn’t didn’t return spot erstwhile location was opportunities to make immoderate plays. So I conscionable nan optimistic position is what we saw if that’s nan floor. Okay, past what’s nan ceiling successful position of him astatine nan collegiate level and nan ceiling is beautiful high, right? And he’s sewage different twelvemonth pinch Jeremiah Smith and different twelvemonth pinch Brandon successful this and if Max clear comes back, there’s different twelvemonth of having Max clear location for illustration comfortability pinch your weapons pinch this offense.
having, you know, reps for illustration you talked astir Dante much having slope threats. I deliberation that nan optimistic views is beautiful obvious, right? He’s nan champion backmost successful assemblage football, and this squad was a nationalist championship, successful ample portion because of that. So that’s nan optimistic hop return is this guy’s successful New York, and he’s winning Heisman for nan first clip since Troy Smith.
Andrew Gillis (52:24.738)
The optimistic position 1 for maine is benignant of similar, but I deliberation it’s much each encompassing. Julian San has nan chance to beryllium nan astir beloved backmost nan past 25 years successful Ohio State history. He’s sewage nan chance to go successful full nan astir accomplished backmost successful Ohio State history successful nan past 25 years. Like, origin deliberation astir each these quarterbacks that person been present for aggregate years and just
Like Julian’s astir apt not going to beryllium present successful 2027. So he’s not going to person that that longevity that for illustration JT Barrett aliases personification other had for illustration that. Right. But deliberation astir each these different quarterbacks like, hey, Troy Smith hit Michigan, won nan Heisman Trophy, didn’t triumph nan nationalist championship. C.J. Stroud was really, really good, and he was nan number 2 wide pick, but didn’t hit Michigan, didn’t triumph nan nationalist championship, didn’t triumph nan Heisman. Justin Fields hit Michigan, didn’t triumph nan nationalist championship, didn’t triumph nan Heisman Trophy. Like
Julian tin put himself successful nan mode of aliases conscionable successful nan successful nan class of, hey, he won nan Heisman. And he’s already sewage to triumph against Michigan. And if they do that again, he’s undefeated against Michigan, which not a batch of guys connected that database were. And OK, truthful he’s sewage nan Heisman, he’s undefeated against Michigan. Do they triumph nan Big Ten? Do they triumph nan nationalist title adjacent year? Like he is surely nan backmost to return them there. So, yeah, nan optimistic basking return is that erstwhile you look astatine Julian saying
You mightiness for illustration C.J. Stroud arsenic an NFL imaginable better. You mightiness deliberation he mightiness person been a amended propulsion of nan shot aliases Justin Fields was much full of a quarterback, immoderate you want to say. But he could person a cheque successful each container that cipher other has. And that would put him possibly successful nan rarest of aerial successful position of Ohio State quarterbacks pinch Heisman Trophy, National Championship.
undefeated against Michigan, Big 10 title. He is nan type of backmost to lead them to those benignant of goals.
Stephen Means (54:30.94)
I’ll opportunity 1 nan nationalist title past twelvemonth pinch a 5th twelvemonth quarterback. Michigan JJ McCarthy was a 3rd twelvemonth quarterback. He was a 2 twelvemonth starter who besides had a decent domiciled arsenic a existent freshman successful 2021. Stetson Bennett aged geezer. 2022 ace defense. Alabama successful 2020. Older quarterback, moreover if it was his first twelvemonth arsenic a starter, he started immoderate games nan twelvemonth earlier that erstwhile 2 sewage hurt.
2019 Joe burrow 2nd twelvemonth arsenic a starter. He was besides a fifth-year backmost for illustration he’d been astir assemblage shot for a agelong clip and Then there’s Trevor Lawrence successful 2018 arsenic a existent freshman who wins wins jobs So for illustration there’s a batch of aged guys who wouldn’t assemblage shot that it’s benignant of getting backmost to that measurement now Okay, last break present and past we sewage immoderate non-negotiables present connected pouch talk
And we’re backmost successful connected Bucket Talk, Stephen Means, Stefan Kreisnick, and Andrew Gillis. We’re talking Julian Sand and Ohio State’s backmost room. Same question, but 2 different topics. The first is Julian Sand. The 2nd is nan room arsenic a whole. We’ll commencement pinch Julian Sand conscionable truthful we tin wrap that speech up. Andrew, what is simply a non-negotiable point Julian Sand needs to execute this disconnected season?
Andrew Gillis (55:42.902)
He’s sewage to get bigger. He’s yeah, he’s not going to get taller. he’s sewage to get wider. he’s sewage to get much physically imposing arsenic a quarterback. And nan logic is he wasn’t overmuch of a runner this year. And I deliberation he benignant of publically talked astir that aft nan Miami crippled of location were moments that I could person ran and I didn’t. And I deliberation adding that constituent to his game.
Stephen Means (55:45.98)
Call her? Cause I don’t know, he mightiness beryllium done.
Andrew Gillis (56:10.284)
would really, really thief him out. And evidently he’s still a young player. It’s his 2nd twelvemonth successful college, but I deliberation that would really thief him. You know, I’m not saying he has to move into Lamar Jackson, but we conscionable watched Carson Beck opportunity 1 read, not location to read, not location gone. And Carson Beck was capable to get 11 connected 3rd and 10. And location were moments that you saw those flashes pinch Julian that nan 3rd and 5 against Penn authorities aliases whatever, wherever he escaped unit like
I deliberation you tin adhd a fewer much of those if he’s a small spot possibly much assured successful his moving expertise to where, you don’t person to, you you know, one, two, conscionable return off. But I do deliberation that would, that would springiness them different constituent of their offense. It would beryllium really efficient. deliberation astir to nan backmost sneak against Indiana wherever he conscionable benignant of sewage shoved correct down to nan ground. if you want to adhd a backmost sneak to your arsenal, that’s a measurement to do it. You put connected 10 pounds of muscle.
and you conscionable look a small spot much physically imposing. deliberation that’ll thief him for his NFL career. And I deliberation that gives him and it gives Ohio State different constituent to possibly what they were, I don’t want to opportunity lacking, but it could springiness them different limb successful their arsenal going into 26.
Stephen Means (57:24.516)
Non-negotiable point for Julian San-Stephan.
Stefan Krajisnik (57:28.371)
I do work together pinch he doesn’t person to get a small spot bigger this disconnected season. Um, for me, it’s, it’s, shaking this constituent of his crippled that astatine times felt for illustration don’t make a correction alternatively of make nan play. And I, possibly immoderate of that comes pinch conscionable playing games adjacent year, right? Like possibly that’s a difficult point to shingle successful nan disconnected season, but I deliberation you tin write, I deliberation successful nan measurement you believe successful nan outpouring and preseason camp, that there’s opportunities to benignant of shake, um, possibly a small spot of that, right? When you reappraisal nan movie and benignant of
Look backmost astatine your play large picture. You commencement to find trends of possibly wherever you could person been better. I conscionable I don’t deliberation he’s for illustration you alluded to it earlier. Steven, for illustration I don’t deliberation he’s needfully a cheque down merchant because we saw nan accuracy connected nan heavy balls and nan chances that they did take. I conscionable deliberation sometimes he was excessively speedy to spell to nan cheque down alternatively of letting nan play possibly create a spot and return a changeable erstwhile location could person been opportunities to return a shot. So I dream there’s benignant of an constituent of his crippled and possibly maybe assurance is nan champion measurement to picture it. It conscionable like
saying I’ve been there, I’ve done that, I’ve looked astatine it, I’ve reviewed it. When that shot snapped, I’m assured that I tin measurement into nan propulsion and conscionable rip one. And it’s gonna beryllium location moreover if it doesn’t needfully look for illustration it’s gonna beryllium location erstwhile I merchandise nan shot aliases erstwhile nan shot is snapped, right? Like I conscionable deliberation that there’s an constituent of like, don’t beryllium excessively acrophobic to make nan mistake, right? And get that mentality if there, I’m not saying that location needfully is simply a ton of it, but if there’s moreover a small spot of that successful this head, benignant of get free of that this disconnected season.
and spell into 20, 26 season, nary 1 for illustration we tin do our rankings. Who’s going to beryllium apical 10 quarterbacks adjacent year. And that’s going to, you know, that’s for illustration June galore erstwhile group emotion to do that. Maybe we get it moreover earlier because nan portal activity will beryllium done by nan extremity of, you know, January, for illustration you’ll spot your apical 10 backmost lists. He needs to deliberation that he’s number 1 and play successful a measurement that is I’m number 1 and not beryllium acrophobic of conscionable making mistakes. So I deliberation that’s, it’s astir apt much of a mentality point for maine than a beingness thing.
Stephen Means (59:25.094)
full bid of nan discourtesy and knowing of nan offense. Ryan Day, backmost erstwhile Justin was going done nan draught process, for illustration Mark Sanchez came successful nan Woody and he for illustration did a beryllium down pinch Ryan Day and Justin Fields. And Ryan Day sits pinch quarterback, he’s really interesting. And he was talking astir really location were points successful that sweetener vessel erstwhile they hit Clemson, wherever conscionable Justin understood why we were calling something.
Like I activity here, this is, we’re calling this and that’s erstwhile for illustration a play caller and a backmost are wholly successful sync erstwhile it’s a play caller is calling thing and a quarterback’s like, I cognize precisely why we’re doing this aliases for illustration nan quarterbacks say, we should do it successful nan quarter. she’s already thinking, yeah, we’re decidedly going to do thing for illustration that. And possibly that was ne'er going to hap this twelvemonth because you had a marque caller coordinator who had ne'er called plays earlier and a marque caller starting quarterback. was conscionable a batch of new.
I thought it could person been it would person made an absorbing 26 if they had stuck astir because it’s for illustration these 2 person grown successful this together. So to spot really they’ve gotten successful sync aft anyplace from 12 to 16 games of 1 twelvemonth and they bring that successful nan 2026, I thought that would beryllium interesting, but that won’t beryllium nan lawsuit because Brian Hartline is now astatine South Florida and Ryan Day is actively looking for an violative coordinator. And possibly they still mightiness get there. Right. Because it’s not going to Ryan Day. I don’t deliberation it’s going to beryllium Keenan Bailey, but for illustration thing is possible. So we’ll spot what happens there. But
Going backmost to, again, nan Texas, he missed JJ, missing Brandon Innes that time, he’s missing Max Clair. If you’re conscionable going done your reads, because you’re a young quarterback, it’s like, man, you missed Max Clair. Who said Max Clair was nan number 1 read? Who said he was nan number 2 read? And there’s an constituent of like, yeah, he was open, but we’re besides benignant of armchair quarterbacking it here.
Who said that’s wherever he was successful nan publication astatine that point? But if they’re successful sync and you understand nan moment, it’s like, I cognize why we’re calling this, because we support getting this coverage. So I cognize Max Clare is going to beryllium open. I cognize we’ve spent X magnitude of clip putting this freaking play successful and JJ’s going to win, motorboat that bad boy, fto number 4 spell get it. And I don’t deliberation he was.
Stephen Means (01:01:47.089)
void of it, right? Cause he decidedly deed guys astatine times. The play to Carnell Tate coming retired of halftime, Ryan Day said they put that successful astatine halftime. they, because they, but because they put it successful a halftime, Julian Sand knows wherever we’re going pinch this. And that’s why you tin perceive Ryan Day sewage him. There was different play successful that Penn State crippled wherever it was like, they’re calling a play for JJ to spell deep. And you virtually perceive Ryan Day going, spell JJ, go. Cause we, everybody knows why you’re calling it.
And was Julian Sand cleanable astatine that successful twelvemonth one? Probably not. But I deliberation if you get to that point, that’s erstwhile you find nan groove. That’s nan groove T.J. Strauss was successful in nan Rose Bowl wherever it’s like, we’re calling this play because it’s a slot fade, nan Jackson Smith, nan Jigba. We’re calling this play connected 4th down because we’re throwing it to Marvin Harrison Jr. Forget coverage, hide each that. We’re calling this because Marvin’s sewage a moving backmost pretending to beryllium a cornerback connected him correct now.
So we’re throwing number 18 nan shot and they’re gonna get introduced to nan champion wide receiver nan programs ever seen. Right, 3rd and 11 successful Atlanta. I mean, location were different group retired connected routes, but I don’t cognize who’s nan shot going done successful that point, Andrew. It’s 3rd and 11 and nan nationalist title crippled is connected nan line. Who you going to? You’re going to number four. You don’t person time. There’s nary going done reads. There’s zero blitzing. JJ’s connected an island.
Throw it up and fto him spell get it. The different routes extremity mattering astatine that point. I Chris Olavi going heavy against Clemson. There are different routes, but Justin knows wherever nan shot expected to go. It’s expected to spell heavy down nan seam to Chris Olavi connected a post. So that’s nan point I want to see. And I deliberation him and JJ being nan aforesaid property and some of them needing to return steps arsenic leaders and conscionable vocally because for illustration their spot connected this squad now is that overmuch much important, particularly arsenic you’re seeing guys hop successful nan portal.
Right now, we’ll conscionable spot that chemistry build naturally. But I deliberation if Julian tin get to a constituent wherever he has mastered this discourtesy and him and this whoever nan adjacent play telephone are gonna beryllium are successful complete sync, immoderate of those plays wherever it felt for illustration Julian missed a guy, he mightiness not miss nan feline nan adjacent time.
Stephen Means (01:04:00.893)
What astir nan room, Stefan? And nan room tin beryllium Ryan Day. It tin be, let’s talk astir Tavon Sinclair and Luke Fahey. It tin beryllium Billy Fester. Just arsenic a whole, nan backmost position needs to execute this successful nan disconnected play of 2026.
Stefan Krajisnik (01:04:17.425)
Yeah. And I person assurance that Julian saying will beryllium person to my optimistic basking return than my pessimistic basking takes. So I consciousness really bully about, what they person pinch nan starter going into adjacent season. And because of that, I deliberation nan non-negotiable for this room going into 2026 play is. Tabian St. Clair needs to beryllium arsenic adjacent to fresh to commencement arsenic you tin expect for backup quarterback. Right. And, not conscionable successful nan consciousness of like, he’s nan backup now, for illustration he’s 1 threat distant from having to travel successful and.
Stephen Means (01:04:40.305)
Mm-hmm.
Stefan Krajisnik (01:04:46.972)
I like.
We you mentioned earlier, you saw what happened pinch 2 aliases 2 was fresh to travel successful erstwhile it erstwhile it was clip to travel in, right? I’m not saying Julian Sane is going to person to get benched this year, but for illustration person taken successful a spot wherever he is adjacent to fresh to commencement successful 20 twenty six truthful that if he if he doesn’t person to start, he’s fresh for 20 twenty 7 and is nan feline who has to travel in. And past obviously, if he’s called upon successful 20 twenty six, he’s fresh to spell there, too. But for illustration this, I deliberation is simply a important offseason for some Julian Sane and for Tavon Sinclair. And Julian astir apt has benignant of that adjacent measurement to take.
I deliberation Tavion St. Clair has a large measurement to take, right? Because your backmost room successful 2027 is highly reliant connected Tavion St. Clair processing nan measurement that you want him to develop. And location were times successful nan outpouring and surely successful preseason campy wherever we saw them practice. And, know, you’re reminded of the, you know, curve that Tavion St. Clair is connected and nan measurement he has to create going from, you know, precocious schoolhouse to nan collegiate level. But he tin surely do that. And if Julian St. leaves aft nan 2026 season,
Tavion’s your presumed starter. And if Tavion doesn’t look for illustration he’s rather starter fresh yet, I’m not saying he has to beryllium like, you person a Heisman finalist sitting connected nan bench, but it’s like, if he doesn’t look for illustration a feline who’s fresh to play a important magnitude of snaps for you successful 2026, you astir apt are looking astatine nan transportation portal possibly a small spot otherwise going into 2027, astatine slightest looking for personification who could possibly compete pinch Tavion. So I’m very optimistic astir Julian saying, I’m very optimistic astir Tavion Sinclair.
But you do ever person to successful nan backmost of your mind person a contingency scheme for like, okay, what if things don’t spell precisely arsenic planned? And if Tavion St. Clair isn’t precisely what you thought he’s going to beryllium successful twelvemonth two, you person to beryllium a spot much cautious pinch really you attack twelvemonth 3 and having him be, you know, your benignant of presumed starter going into that season. So I deliberation it’s very paramount for Ohio State to person Tavion St. Clair look for illustration a feline that if needed tin play for you successful 2026.
Andrew Gillis (01:06:43.458)
Yeah, conscionable to piggyback disconnected of that, don’t want to repetition everything Stefan conscionable said. It’s fundamentally nan same. But I deliberation a summary of nan measurement that I’m emotion astir Tavian is if Julian gets hurt.
You cannot beryllium screwed by putting Tabian Sinclair into nan game. In fact, I deliberation you should beryllium capable going into twelvemonth two, particularly because for illustration it’s crazy. Like Tabian Sinclair has been astir nan squad for for illustration complete a twelvemonth now. He was successful L.A. for nan Rose Bowl erstwhile they played Oregon. Like he’s been successful Columbus benignant of seeing things, moving done things. He’s now been successful nan weight room for a year. Like he’s already been present a year. Flash guardant to October.
If you big Oregon, you shouldn’t conscionable activity nan achromatic emblem and say, well, we’re dormant because Julian’s out. We person to spell to Tavian. That that that that’s nan barroom to maine of I’m not saying you person to triumph that game. If you’re taking Sinclair, if Ohio State’s a 4 constituent favourite astatine location against Oregon and pinch Tavian, they’re a 2 and a half constituent dog. That’s fine. If nan line’s going to move that overmuch aliases thing for illustration that, if that’s if that’s nan discrepancy we’re talking about, that’s fine. But it can’t beryllium we can’t tally nan discourtesy with.
this guy. Like it has to be, of course, he’s going to person different things that he likes and that Julian likes and that he’s amended astatine and Julian and blah, blah, blah. But you person to beryllium capable to look astatine him successful nan oculus and look astatine him and conscionable say, this kid knows what he’s talking about. This kid tin tally nan offense. I’m not handholding Tavian Sinclair. He’s a 5 prima backmost who’s successful his 2nd year, who is astir apt going to get immoderate beautiful important reps successful nan first 3 weeks of nan season.
They play Ball State and Kent State successful nan first 3 weeks. He’s going to play successful those 2 games. They spell to Texas. Hopefully he doesn’t person to. If you’re an Ohio State fan. So that has to beryllium nan bar. That has to beryllium nan non-negotiable. You person to beryllium capable to look astatine Tavian and say, if we needed him, we’re good. If we needed him, it’s okay. If we needed him, we tin still hit Michigan. We tin still triumph games. It cannot be, man, if he goes into nan game, this is 8 and four.
Andrew Gillis (01:08:57.371)
You person to beryllium fresh to spell pinch Tavian Sings.
Stephen Means (01:09:05.647)
Okay, astir nan backup quarterbacks. And that’s thing against TV. And it’s conscionable listen, I get
Stefan Krajisnik (01:09:10.887)
That’s not true. Say what you said aft nan nationalist champ aliases aft nan Cotton Bowl. Say what you said.
Stephen Means (01:09:16.559)
you maine to spell there? You want maine to spell pessimistic for a second? Okay. I almost made it my pessimistic point of it’s why I was saying what if he’s good, but he’s not capable arsenic my pessimistic point because it’s like, that’s erstwhile you person to person difficult conversations of do you request to propulsion nan plug? Because that’s fundamentally that’s what happened pinch Alabama pinch Jalen Hurts. It was for illustration he was good, but he wasn’t capable and you pulled them.
and you sewage you complete nan top. Kelly Bryant was bully successful 2018, but he wasn’t enough. And that’s why you pulled him. It’s, listen, it takes a batch to propulsion your quarterback. So which is why I said basking take. That’s for illustration pessimistic. The existent point I wanted to opportunity that Stefan is making maine expose this. What if this is Ryan Day’s, Jalen Hurts, Kelly Bryant situation. And we get to a constituent successful nan twelvemonth astatine immoderate constituent wherever it’s for illustration Julian Sands is simply a very bully quarterback, but he’s not enough. And you sewage a six ft 3 dude pinch a
quick merchandise and immoderate athleticism to him who’s besides a 5 prima enlistee sitting down him who’s for illustration fresh to spell and you person to make a reliable decision. I don’t really deliberation that’s going to happen, but listen, it’s a nosy conversation. Let maine fto maine person a conversation. My non.
Stefan Krajisnik (01:10:27.987)
It’s nan speech you person aft a 24-14 nonaccomplishment which followed a 13-10 loss.
Stephen Means (01:10:33.923)
Right, it is. truthful you conscionable you conscionable for illustration turning each snow. I don’t deliberation that’s really going to happen. I deliberation Julian Sands, very good. Just listen, we’ve seen it earlier and it wouldn’t beryllium crazy. We’ve seen it earlier from nan 2 dudes who propulsion that nan 14 era Nick Saban and dabble Sweeney are nan faces of that era and they some successful backmost to backmost years had to do so. So like, I don’t know, it’s astatine immoderate constituent somebody’s going to do it again, whether it’s Ryan Day aliases Kirby Smart aliases Kirk Signeady aliases personification other who knows. But besides location was not money progressive successful these.
investment. for illustration possibly it’s a small bit
Stephen Means (01:11:09.391)
Before I springiness mine, because I wanted to wrap this, did astatine immoderate constituent past twelvemonth erstwhile we were going done spring, did either of you think, should Ohio State possibly astatine slightest spot what’s successful nan portal?
Andrew Gillis (01:11:26.198)
No.
Stefan Krajisnik (01:11:29.427)
You mean past twelvemonth erstwhile it was Julia and Abby?
Stephen Means (01:11:30.873)
Yeah, for illustration past outpouring wherever it’s like, possibly this is simply a high, but now arsenic we’re seeing really this is playing out, we’re like, virtually everybody’s sewage a bunch of aged dudes. Ohio authorities is trying to create for illustration nan Ohio state’s nan only, I deliberation Ohio authorities mightiness beryllium Austin and Georgia were nan only teams near successful nan apical 8 who I believe.
were starting quarterbacks who for illustration they built wrong nan program. I cognize Julian started astatine Alabama, but for illustration he’s an Ohio State backmost arsenic each tin be. The truth that he was Alabama.
Stefan Krajisnik (01:12:02.355)
Yeah, was successful Alabama nan full time?
Stephen Means (01:12:05.975)
No, you’re right. It’s conscionable time. Okay, truthful fine. That’s nan okay. The losing each nan losing quarterbacks were guys wherever it was like, I don’t know. This is for illustration a homegrown point situation. Well, each nan guys pinch older dudes who are transfers are moving connected successful this playoff. And possibly this is I’m rambling astatine this point, but I don’t cognize conscionable nan thought of hmm, you sewage young committedness successful your room, but possibly they could usage an other twelvemonth of learning down personification else. What if we conscionable benignant of hedge this and spell get
some dude who started
24 games
Stefan Krajisnik (01:12:42.771)
I ne'er I ne'er thought it past year, but I tin spot wherever you’re going pinch it.
Stephen Means (01:12:44.645)
Okay.
Stephen Means (01:12:48.015)
Like successful nan future, I’m fundamentally a schoolhouse that has go known for we enlistee and create quarterbacks and receivers amended than anybody else. We are already actively seeing them get much progressive successful nan portal erstwhile it comes to receivers. The infinitesimal that Brian Heartline near nan door, well, without nan door. And we’ll get into that later this week erstwhile we talk astir wide receivers and for illustration what we thought of this year’s room, but besides wherever we deliberation nan room is headed astatine this point.
I don’t know, should if Julian Sand is arsenic bully arsenic we deliberation he tin beryllium and past he’s disconnected to nan NFL adjacent year. Are we for illustration each conscionable gung ho? It’s you. It’s Tavian St. Clair’s job, and that’s conscionable benignant of what it is. Or. As you spot really assemblage shot is starting to germinate present is. Guy who has 20 starts nether his loop of thing Ohio State should commencement exploring.
Like, it person to beryllium a enlistee that starts adjacent aft Julian Zane?
Stefan Krajisnik (01:13:49.713)
Yeah. And past that mightiness not moreover beryllium a portion successful thing. That mightiness conscionable beryllium a, what’s your accuracy astatine recruiting and processing backmost thing.
Stephen Means (01:13:56.324)
Yeah, for illustration is it worthy nan finance erstwhile you tin conscionable spell get a feline that you cognize has done this before?
Stefan Krajisnik (01:14:03.835)
Yeah. Yeah, it’s a speech that possibly moreover like, it mightiness not impact Tavian’s clip astatine Ohio State mightiness not impact Brady Edmonds clip astatine Ohio State mightiness not impact clone he’s clip astatine Ohio State. But like, beyond that, does it change? Or if 1 of them doesn’t needfully cookware out? Does it change? Yeah, I deliberation there’s decidedly a philosophical facet of this.
Stephen Means (01:14:15.619)
Mm-hmm.
Stephen Means (01:14:23.387)
And that’s why I like, oh, you person to person Tavi and St. Clair right? Sure. From a consciousness of like, everybody’s paranoid that if personification walks disconnected a cliff nan incorrect measurement and now they’re hurt, now you sewage to play it backmost up. of course, for illustration that car, for illustration that, that speech is for illustration to me, specified a nary duh conversation. The feline down nan feline needs to beryllium ready. Cause you play a beingness athletics and guys get hurt. Okay, sure. Whatever. But successful position of for illustration wherever nan room is headed, I deliberation little about
the unit and conscionable much astir this is wherever I talked astir nan discourtesy and really they deploy their backmost and really they usage their quarterback. I stumbled upon this stat and I don’t cognize what different pod this week. I’m going to beryllium capable to publication it connected this show. So I’m going to do it here. Julian saying.
Stephen Means (01:15:12.903)
43.1 % of his driblet backs were play action passes. And that’s importantly higher than immoderate different Ohio State backmost since Ryan Day showed up successful 2017. JT Barrett was 34.9. Dwayne Hassons was 22.7. Justin Fields was 35.6 successful 19 and past 33.5 % successful 2020. T.J. Strauss was astatine 30 % successful 21 and that hopped up to 37.6 % successful 22.
Kyle McCourt was astatine 31.4 % successful 2023. Howard was astatine 38.2 % past year. it started hiking up pinch Will Howard. And past this year, 43.1 % of his driblet backs. That was sixth nationally amongst Power Four quarterbacks successful position of really often it was a play action pass. And it was 4th nationally for anybody who had astatine slightest for illustration 200 of those driblet backs.
I conscionable deliberation they request to beryllium a small spot much versatile pinch their passing onslaught and that mightiness bring nan champion retired of nan backmost position. for illustration it goes backmost to nan past clip we talked to Brian Hartley, he was talking astir really overmuch he loved play action. Yeah, you loved it truthful overmuch it was almost half of nan clip erstwhile you were throwing nan ball, it was a play action pass. A batch of times it was a play action heavy shot. I deliberation nan champion measurement nan play caller tin thief Julian saying is if it doesn’t consciousness for illustration each single
play successful nan passing onslaught is simply a vertical changeable wherever he’s turning his backmost connected nan defense because he’s trying to waste thing like. don’t cognize if we if he’s arsenic meticulous arsenic we deliberation he is, fto him propulsion it complete nan middle. Let him make decisions astatine nan statement of scrimmage. Diversify nan measurement you tally RPOs. can’t conscionable beryllium a bubble RPO. I mean, we each play, but you cognize really galore RPOs you tin tally different than conscionable that you either manus it disconnected aliases you propulsion a screen.
There’s RPOs wherever you propulsion guardant passes and I don’t deliberation they do a batch of that worldly enough. I deliberation portion of nan logic he was astatine 78 % for a batch of nan play is because nan passing onslaught was very elemental and he didn’t return a batch of chances. And I deliberation successful 2nd twelvemonth Julian Sand, you request to commencement making nan passing onslaught a small spot much analyzable and fto him return immoderate chances. And if that intends sacrificing...
Stephen Means (01:17:38.1)
Efficiency. Like CJ’s proceedings was astatine for illustration 71 % aliases thing for illustration that his first twelvemonth arsenic a starter and he dropped for illustration 67%. But erstwhile you return 2022 CJ Stroud complete 2021 CJ Stroud arsenic a player. So if if Julian Sand only completes 69 aliases 70 % of his passes, but it feels for illustration nan passing onslaught is that overmuch much potent. I don’t attraction that he’s not completing 78 % of his passes.
Stefan Krajisnik (01:18:07.537)
I’d astir apt for illustration it.
Stephen Means (01:18:08.889)
Yes. Like. Sometimes precocious completion percentages tin travel disconnected arsenic like. Holding a quarterbacks hand. And for illustration I was Patrick Mahomes for illustration 64 % profession completion percentage. Would anybody present not return Patrick Mahomes arsenic a starting quarterback? Healthy Patrick Mahomes and I opportunity that knowing that some of you person 2nd twelvemonth quarterbacks who are. It’s crazy. All of america person quarterbacks from nan 2024.
Draft class. I deliberation we’re each happy pinch our quarterbacks for nan astir part, right?
Stefan Krajisnik (01:18:45.533)
TBD, beryllium nan squad up north.
Stephen Means (01:18:47.995)
Fair point. I’m just, nan completion percent point was cool. I’d alternatively you maximize nan offense. And that’s some connected Julian Sands and connected nan decisions he makes pinch nan shot successful his hands. But it’s besides on, I deliberation nan guys successful complaint of his improvement connected putting him successful positions to beryllium nan champion imaginable playmaker he tin be. And not conscionable be, don’t make a mistake, return attraction of nan ball, make bully decisions.
Yes, make bully decisions, but there’s besides make nan determination that maximizes nan play. And I don’t deliberation either statement did that this year. And I deliberation it’s what ended up costing Ohio State. That’s each I got. I don’t person immoderate much thoughts connected nan quarterback. It was good, but not enough. And truthful we would for illustration it to beryllium enough. And I deliberation that’s what nan instrumentality guidelines would opportunity excessively is for illustration correct now we were we’re happy pinch what we sewage retired of Julian, but different quarterbacks astir nan state are showing america there’s different cogwheel and we would for illustration for our backmost to beryllium astatine that gear.
because we liked winning nationalist championships.
Stephen Means (01:19:52.148)
614-350-315, 2 week free trial, 399. After that, that’s backmost tomorrow. We’ll do moving backs and linebackers, which I deliberation is an intriguing conversation. What I for illustration astir this is we’ve talked astir these position groups each year, but now we get to for illustration really deliberation astir it go, okay, what do we really deliberation astir these rooms? And I deliberation erstwhile you get...
Stefan Krajisnik (01:20:08.593)
excited for nan wide receiver episode.
Andrew Gillis (01:20:10.55)
Yeah, nan receiver one’s gonna beryllium very interesting.
Stephen Means (01:20:13.967)
Really?
Andrew Gillis (01:20:15.214)
I deliberation it’s gonna beryllium interesting.
Stefan Krajisnik (01:20:16.529)
I almost want to push it backmost because I want to spot what happens successful nan portal.
Stephen Means (01:20:21.881)
I don’t cognize if I was expecting you guys to beryllium like, I’m excited astir nan wide receiver one.
wow.
Andrew Gillis (01:20:28.994)
I mean, look, I person to support my brand. I’m excited astir nan statement 1 too, but.
Stephen Means (01:20:31.929)
No, no, no, but you didn’t...
Stefan Krajisnik (01:20:33.691)
I deliberation nan receiver 1 is wherever I deliberation we tin besides really spell into play calling and worldly for illustration that too, because I deliberation a batch of it depends connected really a batch of it fell connected for illustration their usage of their receivers too. But besides I’m going to do it correct now. Let’s occurrence away.
Stephen Means (01:20:52.613)
Well, arsenic you tin see, they’re excited to talk astir these things. So what we sewage talking astir these things each week long. We’ll besides listen. We’re fixed arsenic galore transportation portal updates arsenic we tin arsenic we’re uncovering retired stuff. Sometimes we’re like, hey, personification other reporting this. And sometimes it’s conscionable america trying to cheque successful pinch group and get nan accusation ourselves. So it’s it’s everything is simply a moving target. There are group who are expected to sojourn and past they alteration their minds. But past they alteration their mind again and they visit. It’s just.
Andrew Gillis (01:20:53.526)
boy.
Stephen Means (01:21:18.927)
It’s a mess, but that’s assemblage football. We’ve decided everything needs to hap astatine nan nonstop aforesaid time. Meanwhile, Dan Lanning has figured retired really to hole assemblage shot and I work together pinch him. How astir we conscionable do each these things backmost to backmost to backmost and we sound retired nan play by January 1st, but I’m not present to hole assemblage shot today. I’ll do that different day. 614-350-3315 2 week free proceedings 399 aft that for Stefan Christenik and Andrew Gillis. I’m Stephen Means. Talk to you guys later.
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