← The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk
The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk
Ohio State spring practice No. 11: Legend Bey, Bo Jackson, Isaiah West and the Buckeyes' RB room
00:46:20
The Ohio State Buckeyes held their 11th practice of spring football on Friday, and afterward running backs coach Carlos Locklyn and running backs Bo Jackson, Isaiah West and Ja'Kobi Jackson spoke with reporters.
Loading summary
Transcript138 lines
- [00:00]
A
Walmart Express Delivery can get what you need delivered in as fast as an hour. Whether it's baby formula when you're down to the last scoop, pet food before the bowl runs empty batteries for a dead remote or a last minute gift, it is handled. Try Walmart Express Delivery today and get free delivery with promo code. Express Promotion valid for First Express delivery. Order $50 minimum subject to availability restrictions apply.
- [00:29]
B
Spring fest is heating up at Lowe's and for a limited time we have the extra big deals you need to impress guests. Get your outdoor space ready and save $50 on the select Cobalt 24 volt blower kit now $79. Plus save $80 on a char broil performance four burner grill now $199. It's springtime and our best lineup is here at Lowe's, valid through 413 while supplies last selection varies by location.
- [00:56]
C
Foreign. Welcome back to the Bill and Doug Show. Bill Landis, Doug Lamori is talking about Ohio State running backs and special teams after practice number 11 on Friday on April 10th, Bill Landis, you were there for interviews. Robbie Disher, the special teams coach Carlos Lachlan, the running backs coach Isaiah west and Bo Jackson, two running backs who are not taking part in spring ball because they both had shoulder surgery but they still talk to the media. And Jacoby Jackson, they're the running back transfer from Florid. I was not there. Just so people know. We don't want to like we're not trying to trick people here. I had an eye doctor appointment that I made like four months ago. I thought we wouldn't have anything on a Friday. I was wrong. So my pupils are dilated. So if I'm freaking out, I apologize on the YouTube channel. But I went back and watched all the interviews. But I want mostly get your vibes. You were there, you were partaking. Have your thoughts and feelings about the running back room for Ohio State changed at all from where you were before spring practice started? Based on anything that we have seen, anything others have said or particularly anything that was said on Friday, I think
- [02:10]
B
they have a little bit, I'm trying to be like aware of the fact that Carlos Lachlan has a way of talking very confidently. They can just get you feeling real good about his position group real quick. So yeah, I do, I do feel a little differently about some of the stuff that's going on in the running back room because I also feel like if Carlos Lachlan thought like, you know what, we don't have it, maybe he wouldn't. Maybe he Wouldn't be speaking so confidently or he'd, like, find a way, I think, to sort of, like, let us know that he's looking for something that's maybe not apparent to him at the moment, but I didn't get those vibes at all. I think. I think he's a little frustrated. Not even frustrated. Just sort of, you know, wishing that Bo Jackson and Isaiah west were available in practice this spring. And obviously they're not. But despite that, he seems pretty pleased with how things have gone in the spring. So I. And, like, combine that with watching we got to watch at the Student Appreciation Day and in particular, Jacoby Jackson. But also, I'd say, about Favori, I thought he looked good that day, too. Yeah, I feel. I don't know that I ever felt bad about running back, but I feel. I feel decent about it, I think, especially compared to the way that Ryan Day has kind of talked about it so far this spring.
- [03:29]
C
First of all, some of the coaches interviews that we've done this spring were like eight minutes long. Carlos Lachlan's like 21 minutes, 23 minutes. You guys didn't let him up, man. Was he trying to get out of there or was he cool hanging out that long?
- [03:40]
B
No, he was cool hanging out. It was. It was odd, too, because sometimes that happens because there are other people who are talking at the same time. But he was last. I. I want to say just about everybody was wrapped up probably eight or nine minutes into Carlos lan's time. And then they just kind of let him go because he was cooking a little bit. He was giving us good stuff. And I think everybody was. Was happy to let him talk.
- [04:01]
C
Quoted Martin Luther King Jr. Quoted Aristotle and said, there's a sign on the door of the running backs room that says no soft batch cookies allowed in here.
- [04:11]
B
That's right. Also said made some. Some kind of metaphor about throwing dirt, but when he's throwing dirt, he's actually throwing soil because soil helps you grow. Also quoted. I thought he said Jim Rome, the radio personality, and I guess there's a motivational speaker whose name is Jim Rohn, R O H, L, who. Who he also quoted. So, yeah, he was rolling.
- [04:37]
C
Yeah. Also was very aware. He clearly knows the fact that whatever that first day or two of practice when we were all in there, and it's just like, who does the drills closest to where the media is allowed to stand? And it's always the running backs. And so we all caught Carlos Lachlan yelling at Favor a key. And he was. He's clearly aware of that and was basically making the point of, I coach these guys super hard, but I love my guys. And he said, like, his. I think the last thing he said before he walked away was, I love my boys. I love them hard. And it was like, that's. Put that on your. On your door. Carlos Lachlan. Right. So, I mean, it was interesting. And he was sort of like, he was talking up a lot of his guys and sort of like, hey, you're really talking your guys up. He's like, if I don't talk him up, who's gonna? I brought him here. Why wouldn't I talk about here? And then he also said, the reason that I have confidence in this room is because I'm leading the room and I have confidence in myself. Right. So it's like it was. It was a great. I don't want to say performance, but it's like Carlos Lachlan, he. He can hold the attention when he's got a bunch of media people. I'm sure he can hold the attention whether he's talking to his running backs, whether he's talking to recruits, whether he's talking to fans, whether he's talking to media. Carlos Lachlan, when he talks, you listen.
- [05:59]
B
I think. I think anytime a coach speaks with the media, like, it's not the end all, be all, nor is it when players do. But I do think it's a. It's a. It's a window into certainly how they want to present themselves. And I think in a lot of cases, how they act probably when they're around anybody. So substitute. Yeah, substitute the media with the running backs on the roster or the kids who come to visit Ohio State. And I think you very quickly understand why people like Carlos Lachlan, I think he is. And he's like, sort of said this and he's not. Not that he's like an acquired taste in the sense that he's like, awkward or anything like that, but he has a very specific, intense way of coaching that probably is not for everybody, but if it is for you, I bet you love him a lot.
- [06:42]
C
Yeah.
- [06:42]
B
As. As a position coach.
- [06:45]
C
Can I just say, though, Keebler, soft batch chocolate chip cookies. Is there anything better?
- [06:50]
B
No, they're the best. Like, I. So I. Because he said the soft batch cookie thing last year, too, and, like, I took a little bit of exception to it because, like, who's out here not preferring the soft batch cookie?
- [07:00]
C
That feels like a special. Watch this segment where you and I take a bag of soft Batch cookies into Carlos Lachlan's office and sit down and eat them with him and just talk ball for a little bit and see what I can come around.
- [07:13]
B
Yeah, I think what maybe the issue might be is if you see Carlos Laughlin, he might have, like, 3% body fat. It's possible he's never had a cookie. He's saying this thing, not realizing that he is talking trash on the best kind of cookie. It's.
- [07:27]
C
It's for his own good. Right. I mean, it's like we just don't want him, like, you know, talking out of school about, like, you know, downgrading cookies when he. When he shouldn't be doing it. The thing that struck me the most that. That maybe I believe the most or would have changed my opinions the most is Carlos Lachlan making the point that we're all aware of that, but it's a reminder from him that Isaiah west and Bo Jackson, he said Bo Jackson, he had the numbers, played four games of high school football his senior year. Isaiah west played five. They both came in and played as true freshmen last year. They both had shoulder injuries. Like someone said, Isaiah west did you have it all year. And Isaiah west said. And Bo Jackson said he kind of happened in the middle of the year. So they. And. But then Carlos Laughlin also said every running back's hurt all the time, but also that they were like true freshmen and they're both bigger and stronger and they're hitting the weight room and everyone's talking about lean body mass and lowering body fat and all these kind of things. The reminder of they were young, they were kind of hurt, they didn't even play that much as high school seniors, and they're going to be bigger and stronger this year. His point about the freshman year to sophomore year leap for Bo Jackson and Isaiah west, it's hard not to buy that to some degree, and maybe to a very large degree.
- [08:52]
B
I. I think so. Especially like. So Isaiah west tore his acl. It wasn't like. Because he wasn't even involved in the spring last year, like, Bo also injured his knee. But his. If I recall correctly, his injury in high school did not recover or not require surgery, just acquired. Like him being off of it for two months or something like that, which then still ended his season. But his. His Runway, he was a little bit ahead of Isaiah, I think, when he got here in terms of being able to do some stuff, like for Isaiah west to come off an ACL and then a torn labrum and frankly play it all is A bit remarkable. And. And the same thing is true, true for Bo. And Bo has not, as we discussed many times, like, not. Not a lifelong running back. He's got some receiver background in his game as well. I. I think both of these guys, and it's a shame they can't be on the field in the spring because I think they are missing something by not being able to do that. But there is a lot, A lot, a lot of room for growth for both these guys. And it's. You know, everyone knows the cliche about players make their biggest leaps between freshman and sophomore year, and I do think that's true, but it could be especially true of guys who basically, like, don't have high school senior seasons. So I don't know exactly what that means for either guy, but I. I definitely believe that it means both will be better players in the fall. And some of these things we're talking about, especially with, like, the making guys miss stuff, and a lot of things that, you know, there's. There's skill set involved and you can get bigger, faster, stronger, and they have. We can talk about that, but I also think it's. It's about reps and feel and experiencing things and reaction and banking those reactions and then learning to play off of them in the future. Just like, they don't. They don't have a lot of that, and they got some of it last year. I think they'll be better for it. But, you know, going into a sophomore year, I. Yeah, I think both those guys stand a chance to, like, really take some. Some large steps forward.
- [10:40]
C
Yeah. Where are you on Jacoby Jackson? Jacoby Jackson also spoke with reporters on Friday.
- [10:48]
B
I. So I'm happy that it worked out this way because I am probably a little prone to, like, if I have a. Whatever, a preconceived notion about a guy and then somebody tells me something that goes against that, I don't dismiss it, but, like, I don't believe it all that strongly. But the fact that we got to watch practice first and Kobe Jackson started to change my mind a little bit in that practice. And then Carlos Lachlan said what he said about him. What was it five days later? I'm rethinking it, like, pretty significantly. I think, like, what his. What his impact could be. And I do think based off a lot of the stuff that Carlos Lachlan was talking about with Jacoby, his. His ability to catch the ball, his ability to make guys miss after the catch, pass protection, just being an old, strong dude, I kind of Think he's going to be like their third down back, huh?
- [11:41]
C
So Carlos Lachlan was saying that he was looking for a one year guy in the portal. Like he wanted a veteran guy in the room. But like they weren't, they weren't looking to like build the room. I think they, you know, they think Bo Jackson, Isaiah west and Lynn Legend Bay and these guys are the future. They don't need a future. They needed an influx of oldness for one year right now. And Jacoby Jackson said that Carlos Lachlan contacted him the first day that you could contact somebody when he went right in the portal. I'm still out. And that's not at a.
- [12:13]
B
It's just not like entirely. No, no role for him at all.
- [12:18]
C
I just think it's. I think they just were looking for an old guy and they found that old guy that. The way he said, like I wanted, I wanted a, I wanted an old guy. I mean he, he wanted a veteran for one year for this room and they went and found that a guy who fit that just reminder. I mean he really, he was like, he was like the, the year at Florida that he played because he got hurt in 25, right? Only played like four games. I mean in 24. I think he was the fourth back when he transferred there because like they had three guys, then one guy got hurt and then he played. It's like even the numbers he had that I just, I just don't think it's going to be there. So whatever that means. I just think you. It's going to be about Bo Jackson, Isaiah west, because you asked him for instance, about short yardage stuff and that would have maybe been an opportunity for like, like he basically said it's everybody except Legend Bay. Right. But I just don't know that like it sort of. C.J. donaldson wound up not being good enough to be the RB1 last year, but then had a specific role because they kind of didn't because Bo reached the ball across the goal line and fumbled the one time. And so it's like what are you gonna do? But if it sounds like if they think that, that Weston Jackson have put on weight are, you know, they've added experience that they can be the goal line backs. When you say third down back, do you mean like ca ball out of the backfield? It's third and seven. We need a guy who can pass, protect, keep Julian saying clean. And then if there's nobody coming, can leak out and be an option and catch the ball on third and seven and Maybe get something. Is that the third down back? You mean for Jacoby Jackson?
- [13:45]
B
Yes. Not short yardage. I don't know that there's anything discernibly different between Isaiah West, Bo Jackson and Jacoby Jackson when it comes to short yardage. And I would rather have the ball probably in Bo or Isaiah's hands down on the goal line, but neither one of those guys could block last year. So like C.J. donaldson. Yeah. He had to play against Miami because they couldn't block Miami. It's not because they were trying to run a short yardage. So that's where I think Jacoby Jackson could carve a role for himself. Like, it's. And it's a situational role and that's great. But like, and his, his body of work past blocking wise of Florida was, was a small sample size, but the numbers were good, so. And bows weren't good. And like, I don't remember. Like, Isaiah wasn't asked to do it a ton, but even he, when he was asked, he wasn't very good either. Like, Bo got ran over like three times last year by like a blitzing linebacker. So maybe that's less likely to happen now that he's. I think he said he's like 2:17 or something like that. Yeah. Yeah. So obviously he can be a stronger player, but that's, that's where he's, that's the, whatever, the weakest part of his game. And there are moments where that skill set is important. So. Yeah, when I say that, that's, that's sort of what I, I didn't. I went from thinking Jacoby Jackson's like, not going to be much of a factor at all to thinking when they want to back out there who can pass, protect on third down, maybe he'll be the guy on the field, but
- [15:12]
C
may not wind up with many touches.
- [15:15]
B
No, yeah, I don't, I don't think many touches. Yeah. Big thanks to our sponsor BetterHelp, for
- [15:23]
C
partnering with us for this important conversation about mental health.
- [15:26]
B
This is Steve Smith here, former NFL wide receiver and host of the 89 show on YouTube. So having a counselor and working with BetterHelp, that gives you an opportunity to really start to unpack. But people don't understand when you unpack things, you also open up a box that you're not always sure what's inside. So I think that's why seeing a professional is extremely important. If you need someone to open up to visit betterhelp, that's betterhelp.com89 to get started.
- [15:56]
A
Walmart Express delivery can get what you need delivered in as fast as an hour. Whether it's baby formula, when you're down to the last scoop, pet food before the bowl runs, empty batteries for a dead remote or a last minute gift, it is handled. Try Walmart Express Delivery today and get free delivery with promo code. Express Promotion valid for First Express delivery order $50 minimum subject to availability restrictions apply.
- [16:24]
C
It's just because it's one of those things like if Bo. And if the point is Isaiah and Bo are bigger, stronger, smarter, more veteran, healthier and just playing more ball, then it's like, well then why can't they do that? Like, wouldn't it be that they come far enough that they, well now they can pass protect because they put in on 10 pounds of muscle and they know what they're supposed to do. And last year they didn't know they weren't big enough, they weren't strong enough and they didn't know what they were supposed to do and now they do. So it's just one, like, I just, I mean, like, it's great that he's here, but there's some of it, it's like, oh, why did you, you know, it's just a reminder. It's like, oh, Jacoby Jackson, like, why did you come here? And it's like the answer is because he couldn't believe Ohio State called him. Are you kidding me? I'm like, I'm like a junior college guy for three years who went to Florida and kind of didn't do anything. And then Ohio State called me. This is not like, oh, Jacoby, what did Ohio State do to like lure you in the portal? It's like they, they, they said hello. You had me at hello, right? And I'm not like, that's not Jacoby Jackson. Like, it's great opportunity for Jacoby Jackson, but it's like a reminder of like, I just don't want anyone to get. I think it's Bo and Isaiah have to be the guys. And then again it's like if you need to be putting in a seventh year player on third down because your main running backs can't pass protect, it's like, okay, well, I mean like, they really kind of should learn how to do it, I guess. I don't know. I don't know.
- [17:45]
B
I don't.
- [17:46]
C
I just, there's a little bit of a vibe of like, I just like, why, like, why would we think he's going to be something that he's never been?
- [17:54]
B
I don't know. Why anyone would think that either. Um, yeah, that's fine. But. But I also, like. I think it was. I think it was a good ad. Right. I think they. I think they needed to add a veteran to the room. Right.
- [18:04]
C
Just to be there. Yes.
- [18:07]
B
Yeah.
- [18:08]
C
To be a backstop. Yes. To be a veteran, voice to be break in case of emergency. Like, all those kind of things that you're not teaching, to have somebody that you're not, like, teaching how to, like, hold the ball when you carry it in college football. Like, he's been around, but then to me, it's a little bit. It's like if. Well, then if Jacoby Jackson, like, actually has any kind of real role, it's like, maybe because stuff isn't going the way it should in the rest of the room. I don't know. I don't mean to be a downer, but I was just, like, refreshing myself with, like, that whole thing, and I just don't want to expect too much.
- [18:40]
B
I just don't. Yeah. And it's like. It's hard. It's a difficult conversation, I guess, to have without seeming like you're being a downer on them, but it's like, rank the guys in the room by who you'd. Who you want to touch the ball the most. And Isaiah west and Bo Jackson and Legend Bay are ahead of Jacoby Jackson. And I think everyone in the building would agree with that.
- [18:59]
C
Yeah, yeah, I agree. I agree. They're not holding back on Legend Bay. Nobody's holding back on Legend Bay. What do you think of that?
- [19:13]
B
I think it means something. I think it's not. Carlos Lachlan reminded us that he, like, talked the same way about Bo Jackson and Isaiah west last year, which, like, I guess he's proven right about Bo because Bo rushed for a thousand yards. But as you said, like, he's like, you know, he's always gonna. He's gonna put his guys on a pedestal and tell us what he likes about them. And the fact that Ryan Day is there, I think is more interesting than, like, yeah, Carlos Lachlan being there. But. But I think, like, Ryan Day is there, clearly, and. And the fact that Legend's going to help him and, like, Carlos Lockland and some of the guys in the running back room are just sort of, like, doubling down on it. So I expect him to play a decent amount.
- [19:54]
C
The idea of, like, who can catch the ball out of the backfield came up, and he said that everybody. Carlos Lachlan said everybody except Favor a key, the true freshman and Turbo Richards, who was hurt last year, are good pass catchers. So he said he wants to get. Yeah, I know.
- [20:08]
B
I do it too, all the time. Yeah.
- [20:12]
C
Boston College to Indiana. Turbo Richard. Turbo Rogers, Ohio State. Because I thought. We thought when Turbo Richard was at Boston College, it sounds like. I always thought he sounded like a hockey wing. Turbo Richard, left wing of the Boston Bruins, originally from Montreal, playing for the original six. Turbo Richard has transferred to the Indiana Hoosiers. Turbo Rogers. What was I saying?
- [20:43]
B
Legend Bay was going to win the Doak Walker Award, I think is where you were going.
- [20:46]
C
Legend Bay and Bo Jackson, like, like two guys on the field at the same time. And he was saying, like, you could do it because, like, it, for instance, Bo or Legend can go out in the slot, right? He said, Carlos said, like he's going to try to. I don't know if they said push or like sort of like suggest some packages like that to have two running backs on the field. What do you think of that?
- [21:06]
B
They've done it in the past, so I think they'll. I think they'll do it now. And usually when they have done it, even. Even if you go back to like the Curtis Samuel, Mike Weber days, it was like, one of these guys is running back all the way. One of these guys is a good running back. We can also play him as a slot receiver. They did a little bit of that, I want to say, with like Xavier Johnson and maybe Mayan Williams. It's like that as, like, as the back. And then obviously they did it with Trivion Henderson and Quinn, Sean Judkins and I think Travian. We never talked about Travion. I was like, this guy's a slot receiver, but he's got some of that to him, clearly. So it's not like it's a foreign idea. I don't know. And actually like, Bo's got the flexibility to play in the slot too. So I think you could. I think you could play bow and legend together. I think you could play bow and Isaiah together. I think he could play Isaiah and Legend together, like, because there's. There's just sort of that flexibility there. And Arthur Smith has done plenty of two back stuff. He was doing it last year with the Steelers when he had. Kenneth Gainwell was kind of a Swiss Army Knife kind of, kind of back who by the way, played for Carlos Lachlan at Memphis. It's like Carlos Lachlan's favorite player of all time is Kenneth Gainwell. I think. I think we'll see it. I think we'll see. Like, that'll be like, this year's answer to, like, 14 personnel, I think, because we'll. We'll see a little bit more. Two running backs, though.
- [22:24]
C
That'd be good. Fans would be more accepting of that, I think. So I'll take the second running back more than they'll take the fourth tight end.
- [22:31]
B
Yeah.
- [22:33]
C
He did say Carlos Lakinson said he called. He told Ryan Day, we've got five guys we can go to war with. So that's Bo Jackson, Isaiah West, Jacoby Jackson, Legend Bay.
- [22:45]
B
And he said that in response, I think, to a question about Turbo Rogers. So I think Turbo Rogers. Okay.
- [22:52]
C
And then like, Favor A key is a true freshman who has not been playing football all that long. He was saying. So, like, that's just. He's gonna take some time, which is fine. And he was saying, like, he's. It's favor. Aki is great because he. You can coach him hard. And like, that's a good thing. I did. I find it interesting, even as all the things that he said, that Bo Jackson's the most complete back in the room. He said Legend Bay is the most dynamic. He did mention, like, he's got to make like Legend Bay has to make sure he's carrying the ball the right way.
- [23:18]
B
Yeah. Legend Bay, by the way, was wearing number 44 walking off the practice field on Friday. He is number two and 44 is like a get your stuff together skill guy kind of jersey. And I don't know if that's the. The ball security stuff that Carlos Lock Them was talking about or I don't know, maybe Legend Bay ate a Kaniak combo when he was supposed to have a salad or something. But. But those things happen. It's not anything like I'm worried about. But I did think it was interesting that he was walking off the field in that jersey Friday.
- [23:49]
C
Is that Mike? Yeah, like, Mike Allstott. You're Mike Allstott today.
- [23:53]
B
Yeah.
- [23:55]
C
And he was talking about Legend Bay playing quarterback in high school. But he said, I told Legend you're a fake quarterback. You just dropped back and waiting to run. So. Which of course he was, but I just thought that was funny.
- [24:07]
B
Yeah. Yeah.
- [24:08]
C
You're a fake quarterback, by the way,
- [24:10]
B
to just draw the comparison out more. Kenneth Gainwell, also a former high school quarterback.
- [24:16]
C
So you, you, you, you put. Let Kenneth Gainwell in a question.
- [24:21]
B
Yeah. And because I know he really.
- [24:23]
C
Smith and Lachlan have coached him, and he seemed very pleased to have that name presented to him.
- [24:28]
B
Yeah, that's that's his guy. So I just, I, I, I wondered if he would, like, embrace the idea of comparing them or if he would just say, like, Kenneth Gainwell is the standard of running backs that I've coached. For you to suggested a true freshman who's been here for three weeks is anything like him is ridiculous. Like, he could have said that.
- [24:43]
C
Oh, right, right, right. No, that's true.
- [24:45]
B
But no, he said, like, yeah, they're pretty similar, but legends faster.
- [24:52]
C
Yeah. I think maybe my favorite thing he did, he said, was when he was talking about Memphis, and he said that, like, Memphis is his Carlos Lachlan saying Memphis is his second home. And he was talking about Arthur Smith being from Memphis and how gritty Memphis is. And I was waiting for him to say Arthur Smith is. Was the grittiest billionaire in Memphis.
- [25:20]
B
I thought that was really, like, no one said anything, but I, I hope everyone was thinking it because that's not. Like, I don't. Whatever Arthur Smith, you can be. You can be tough and rich. But, but like, to say that that, that Arthur Smith, son of the, the FedEx billionaire, is representative of Grind City is not. It's not exactly the route that I would have.
- [25:45]
C
It was. Yeah, man. I was talking to Arthur's butler, and Arthur's butler was saying, that guy is gritty as heck. It's just funny. It's just funny. Anything else about the, the running backs that you want to cover? We did talk. We did. You guys did. You talked about Jackson. You talked Isaiah west, you talked to Jacoby Jackson. Anything popped the most from. From those young fellas.
- [26:08]
B
I just thought, like, especially Bo and Isaiah talking about how much they've trained, transfer, transformed. Excuse me, physically. Like, they're both like. I don't know. It's weird. Like, they look, they almost look smaller, like on television with their pads on than they do when you're standing right next to them. They're both pretty big dudes, like, like, very, like, very sturdy guys. And Kobe, Jackson's a grown man, so. Of course he is. But, like, the two sophomore guys that we talked to, you could just tell they were putting in a lot of time in the weight room. And like, I, I certainly like thinking about the short yardage thing and how things ended up going last year to hear, I think you're right. The bow was like 220. And Isaiah said he was 220 with. And Carlos Laughlin said Isaiah was like, 223. To see that they have both kind of changed their bodies that way makes Me feel a little better about their ability to handle the short yardage stuff that they weren't as equipped to handle last year.
- [27:06]
C
Homework, sports practice, no time to cook. There's only one cure for the weeknight hustle. More cheese, please. The Applebee's OM Cheeseburger is back with even, even more cheese. Applebee's Juicy Bacon Cheeseburger served on a sizzling skillet of cheese. Perfect for dipping fries and burgers. Family style cheese. Head to your nearest Applebee's to try the even cheesier om cheeseburger for 11.99 or on the 2 for 25 menu. Dine in only for a limited time. Price and participation varies. No substitutions offer. Valid per person, per order.
- [27:36]
A
Walmart Express Delivery can get what you need delivered in as fast as an hour. Whether it's baby formula, when you're down to the last scoop, pet food before the bowl runs empty, batteries for a dead remote or a last minute gift, it is handled. Try Walmart Express Delivery today and get free delivery with promo code. Express promotion. Valid for first express delivery order. $50.00 minimum. Subject to availability restrictions apply.
- [28:05]
C
Yeah, couple questions to Beau about, like, did you, you know how seriously, did you maybe consider transferring? And he just said. What was the phrase he used? He used it a couple times. Kind of gave short answer. But this is where I want to be. So I'm where I want to be. This is where I want to be. So this is where he is. I don't know that he's here. Yeah, we were going to get much more than that out of that. So he is here and that's what matters. And like they'll be ready by summer, right? That like they're, they're, they're in the weight room right now. They're doing all the mental rep stuff, but they're not out practicing. But like they'll be, they'll be ready to start moving around, I think, and doing stuff fully. And again, it's shoulders for both of them.
- [28:46]
B
Yeah. But neither one had like a brace on that. I could tell. Right. Sometimes you see that, that like kind of bulky shoulder brace. I don't. They might have had like a wrap or something, but neither one of them had that big shoulder brace.
- [28:57]
C
Yeah. Okay. You want to talk about special teams a little bit?
- [29:03]
B
Yeah.
- [29:03]
C
Robbie Disher, do you know this? Do you know who Robbie Disher went to college with? Who was college football teammates with? I didn't know it until today.
- [29:12]
B
Where did he go?
- [29:14]
C
Went to William Jewell College in Missouri.
- [29:16]
B
Oh yeah. Dan Lanning Yeah, yeah.
- [29:18]
C
And they played together like two years. Dan Landing was a linebacker and Robbie Disher was a receiver. And then I was looking it up and James Crepia, our buddy over at Oregon Live, wrote a story about it a couple years ago when Illinois played Oregon. So. And, and Robbie Disher said that? No. Who was it? It was someone's wife went to high school with the other. I don't know if it was Dan Lanning's wife went to high school with Robbie Disher or Robbie Disher. I think that's right. I think Dan Lanning's wife went to high school with Robbie Disher. So anyway, Dan Lanning and Robbie Disher know each other. You know how I am. I watched the whole interview. This is the question that I would have asked of the new special teams coach. Ohio State missed a 27 yard field goal in the Big Ten title game in the fourth quarter that would have sent that game into overtime. What can you do as a special teams coach to make sure that doesn't happen this year to Ohio State? And I would have been curious to see what he might have said to something like that because. Let me ask a second question before I let you answer the first question. If Jaden Fielding makes that field goal, is Robbie Disher Ohio State special teams coach?
- [30:28]
B
Yeah, I think so.
- [30:29]
C
You still think so? Okay, yeah.
- [30:31]
B
Because like that, I actually don't think. I don't think special teams coordinators have a whole lot to do with whether or not a kid makes or misses or makes a field goal, which I
- [30:41]
C
would be interested in hearing because I
- [30:43]
B
don't know if they can say that,
- [30:44]
C
but because I think, and I write that does. Oh, I say have like a kicking specialist. Right. That sometimes a special teams coach isn't even like. But like, what are you doing? What are you doing? If not shaping the pressure mindset of like the two most important guys that you're coaching on special teams. Because it's like, well, you got to make sure that whatever the third string linebacker runs down the field in the right place and is in the right spot to make a tackle on kick coverage. But also like the plays that the field goals are the plays that matter the most. Because he was asked about, you know, Ryan Day saying he wants Joey McGuire to have better hang time and kick it a couple yards, punted a couple yards farther this year. So he talked about that. So I know, like, I agree with you, but yet also I would want, if I'm paying Robbie Disher to be the guy I want Robbie Disher to have some opinion on how we can make sure our kicker doesn't miss 27 yarders when pressure's on.
- [31:36]
B
I'm sure he has an opinion about it and you're right, he should have been asked about it. And I think, you know, you can as best you can create simulations in practice of those high pressure situations or, I don't know, make a, make your kicker. It's like, what are you doing? Basketball, right? Make them run till he can't stand up anymore and then go kick a field goal. Right. You do the same thing like make basketball players run till they can't stand up and then make them go shoot free throws. I think, I think it's pretty similar. I do like kicking. To me it's like pitching in baseball. Like if you haven't done it, you can't coach it. So I don't know. Robbie Disher was not a kicker. I know like Gunnar Daniel, who's part of the special teams operation at Ohio State, I think, who does work a little more closely with the kickers, I think was a long snapper. So it's like they're, they're in the world of special teams. But it's a very specialized thing to kick a football. So I don't, I think there are limits to, to what a coach can actually impart on those guys. Unless you are specifically a kicking trainer, which most teams, pro and professional or pro, excuse me, pro in college, I think don't have. I've seen plenty of stories about that over the years. Right. Like why don't teams have kicking specialists? And this money is probably the answer. But so I don't know because like,
- [32:43]
C
if you said what's the number one thing that Ohio State special teams has to do this year? Especially maybe in comparison to what they didn't do in the recent past, it's make clutch field goals like that. That's. Yeah, I mean 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
- [32:56]
B
That's the most obvious thing. Like their pun operation has not been good. They're giving up too much in field position. There's a lot of hitting yardage out there. Both punt, punting and punt return. That they're just a team like Ohio State shouldn't give up. So I like, I think I understand it's like the sexiest thing in the world and I'm not going to talk to people about what they were better at. Hidden yardage. If Connor Hawkins like Mrs. Whatever a 30 order to win a game next year. But I like, I think that that is where guys like Robbie Disher, like, really earn their keep. Are you, are you efficient? Which I don't think Ohio State has been efficient enough on special teams. And like, are you making splash plays? Are you blocking kicks? Are you returning kicks? Again, like, whether or not the guy makes a 25 yarder, there's only, only so much you can do. I think as a coach in that particular scenario.
- [33:47]
C
Yeah, I mean, I guess it's like if, if it comes down to Ohio State has to make that kick. What percent of that is Connor Hawkins? What percent of that is Robbie Disher? Because those are the two people that they brought in to make that happen. Right? Is.
- [33:58]
B
I think it's 99, 99 1.
- [34:04]
C
But I also, I guess it's like,
- [34:06]
B
well, it's, it's also like snapper holder, I guess. So, like they brought in a new, they brought in a new long snapper. Joe McGuire is the holder. So, like, that whole operation obviously has to be clean and fast, but that's still all right. Then we're talking like 97, the kicker.
- [34:22]
C
But if, if that happened, if Robbie Disher is the full time special teams coach and they miss a clutch field goal and we asked Robbie Disher about it, Robbie Disher goes, well, you know, I don't know, what are you gonna do? It's not my fault he's the kicker. I don't know if I would accept that as the answer entirely. Right.
- [34:39]
B
Well, I'm trying to. I, I think you put it on whose decision it was to bring the kicker in. You have to discern whether or not you, the guy you're bringing in can make clutch kicks. And then his ability to, to do that or not is a referendum on your evaluation. So. Yeah, but I don't, I, I don't know. I think this year might have gotten hired after Hawkins was the roster. So, like, he's good. Robbie Dish is clean and clear of any, any field goal fiascos this year that involve a kicker missing a field goal. Not Robert's fault.
- [35:09]
C
So what'd you think of the overall special teams vibes from Robbie Disher, who also spoke for quite a long time, nearly 20.
- [35:15]
B
Yeah, I thought it was good. Like, I thought, I think clearly he's pretty passionate about it.
- [35:19]
C
And,
- [35:21]
B
you know, I don't, I don't know how much you can clean about someone's like, organizational skills from just talking to them, but he seems to have a pretty well thought out process for how special teams should look, how it should operate, who should be a part of it, how Important it needs to be to a team. So, like, in terms of, you know, other people that have been in that role over the years, he seemed to be sort of like the most kind of serious about it, I would say, when I think that matters at a
- [35:48]
C
super high bar here at Ohio State, when it comes to special teams coaching, I am curious. So in 2023, Illinois, I think, blocked seven kicks his first year. Illinois, I think that led the country. And Brett Biloba, I think, always has a little bit of a special team's reputation, does he? Not that like Beela might think. Yeah, that's true. But I would be a little curious of like their blocks. The history of Robbie Disher, when his guys have blocked a kick, blocked a punt, how often has that come from the head coach? Like, let's go after it here. How often does that come from Robbie Disher? I see something here. How, how like many designs does he have of, like, you know, how does he find advantages, like that kind of thing. And then one of the things that I remain fascinated about is even a place like Illinois, I feel a place like Illinois, you've got to take a few extra risks to try to elevate yourself. And at Ohio State, you don't have to block kicks to win big games. It's a bonus. And we've certainly seen that. I mean, the Denzel Wardlock, whatever that, like, that there are moments where it really matters, but like the risk reward, how you assess risk in special teams when you are coaching at one of the three best programs in the country. Like, you know, he probably would say something like, well, you know, you want to. You want to do the best you can, every situation. Which is probably the only answer you're going to get from a coach there. But I'm curious about that. Like, I'm curious if the presence of Robbie Disher signals anything of. Should Ohio State fans expect more blocks this year? I don't know.
- [37:31]
B
I. So I, I tried to ask like two different versions of that, and I probably could have asked it differently. So I asked them first, like, how does aggression fit into your overall special teams philosophy? Yes, aggression. And. And then I also asked him like, the two years ago when I did have that many blocks, like, in your mind, was that more you scheming stuff up or did you just. You just have a couple guys that year who were just really good at that. And of course his answer was like, both. He put it more on the players. He said, like, when that stuff happens because you have the right guys to do it. The thing I didn't ask that I wanted to, but I, I don't know if I was like, afraid it was going to sound a little silly or what, but. So I didn't ask it, but I remember. I'm pretty sure we saw this on one of the special teams periods early on in practice. Must have been one of those first two days. Chris Henry Jr. Who's 19ft tall, was like standing in the middle of the line on Pump Lock. And I wonder like if you look at like Chris Henry Jr. Or you look at like Braxton Renbert who's also incredibly tall, is there something there for guys like that to that like you're just, they're just unusually long football players that and they're not linemen. So they got some quick, like the quickness and speed to them too. Like is there anything you can tap into there to get, to get some more blocks? I don't know, maybe that, maybe I should have asked it, but. So I didn't. But I thought his answer was not like we're aggressive all the time. We should be. But I do think, I think he views special teams as something that should be a weapon, right? And which would be like a drastic change for Ohio State over the last, I don't know, since Urban left. So I, I think, you know, it's not ultimately his call. It's Ryan Day's call to your point. So like that's sort of the thing that was left unsaid. But I don't know, my vibe from him is that he wants to scheme it up a little bit on special teams in a way that I think will help Ohio State.
- [39:26]
C
Homework, sports practice, no time to cook. There's only one cure for the weeknight hustle. More cheese, please. The Applebee's OM Cheeseburger is back with even more cheese. Applebee's Juicy Bacon Cheeseburger served on a sizzling skillet of cheese. Perfect for dipping fries and burgers. Family style cheese. Head to your nearest Applebee's to try the even cheesier om cheeseburger for $11.99 or on the 2 for 25 menu. Dine in only for a limited time. Price and participation varies. No substitutions offer valid per person, per order.
- [39:57]
A
Walmart Express Delivery can get what you need delivered in as fast as an hour. Whether it's baby formula, when you're down to the last scoop, pet food before the bowl runs empty, batteries for a dead remote or a last minute gift, it is handled. Try Walmart Express Delivery today and get free Delivery with promo code Express Promotion valid for First Express delivery order $50 minimum subject to availability restrictions apply.
- [40:26]
C
When's the last time they had a great guy off the edge who was real punt blocking threat? Has there been one since Denzel Ward? Did Cardinal Tate block a punt one time? I feel like Crystal Lave.
- [40:38]
B
Crystal Lave. Crystal Ave blocked one against Michigan, famously. But then I also think he blocked one against Indiana the next year.
- [40:45]
C
Like, I would be curious, like, because, because, you know, you guys were getting him talking about that. He's, he said like, his family's not here, so he's watching all the practice footage at night and trying to identify skill sets and writing stuff down in a notebook of whatever it's like, because it's one of those. If he says, oh, we just had good guys at Illinois and that's why we blocked seven punts, guess where you have good guys? Ohio State. They want to do it. It's not like, well, I wish we could block some punts. We just don't have any athletes. It's like, nope, that is not the answer at Ohio State. So I would be curious, like, who can be that? If Denzel Ward and Chris Olave had been that? Like, could Jerquaid and Guilford be that? Could Dominic Kelly be that? Like, who, who were the guys that he maybe would identify who could be real threats off the edge with their speed and their get off to be a threat to block punts? I'd be curious about that.
- [41:39]
B
Yeah, me too. I think. I mean, they have a lot of speed.
- [41:43]
C
They do.
- [41:44]
B
You and I have sort of been talking about like, and we haven't asked about it yet. Maybe we'll write about it someday. But it seems like they have more team speed than. Yeah, for a place that usually has good team speed, they might like have like even more of it this year with some of the guys they brought in. So.
- [41:56]
C
Yeah,
- [41:58]
B
especially in the corner and receiver room. So. Yeah. And I don't know, I guess, I guess it wouldn't be unorthodox as we're talking about Chris Olave, but it just felt like, like for instance, like when Chris Olave was here, it wasn't 100 bankable because it wasn't like he had 10 block kicks, but it did sort of feel like he was good for one every year and they were going to find a way to like to spring them loose to try to get one. And I'm thinking maybe they have some of that in the room this year that they can tap into and they have A special teams coordinator who I think is, you know, he's not going to be also coaching the defensive backs or doing anything else. He's going to be totally dialed in on drawing stuff up like that on special teams.
- [42:39]
C
What. What did you think of the vibe you got from him when it comes to the punt returner in the. Make sure you have a guy who's going to catch it versus having an explosive, dynamic guy back there, which, you know, Brandon Innis is not the most explosive player in Ohio State's roster. He was the punt return last year. But then there were even some moments early in the season, right, where it felt like, okay, well, he's supposed to be back there because he's reliable, but how reliable is he? I. I'll. I'm assuming Brandon Ennis is going to be the punt returner until proven otherwise, because it's just like, I feel like he can always get, like whenever they. The first. We always see special teams parts of practice, right? And whenever they're like. So we see the punt return of practice, like, oh, who's back with the pump returners? Like, the nine most dynamic guys on the team. It's like, Jeremiah Smith's back there, right? And Caleb Downs is back there. And it's like, are they going to return punt? It's like, no, Jeremiah Smith's not gonna return a punt. So I'm gonna assume it's going to be Brandon Ennis unless you tell me otherwise, because Robbie Disher is here and maybe the thinking has changed.
- [43:38]
B
Well, he didn't say any specific players he was asked. I think Gerd asked them. But he did say that he views decisions on who could return the ball the same way that offensive coaches view getting the ball into the hands of the best playmakers in space. Now, he said, like, we can't control always where that space is because we can't tell the team where to kick us the ball. But I think as much as he can, he wants to create those environments where guys who are dynamic with a ball in their hands have the ball in their hands with this but some room to do some stuff. So I. Now he could believe that and maybe still make the return or Brandon in this because maybe, I don't know, Legend Bay can't really feel punts all that great, or neither can like Devin McEwen, who's got really good long speed. So. But I. But I do think if those guys can catch it, then I. I would probably be surprised if there wasn't someone a little more dynamic returning punts.
- [44:32]
C
This year, who would you like to see be the number one pot returner?
- [44:36]
B
I would like it to be Legend, because I think he's got, like, the most sort of, like, wiggle of anybody on the team. But, you know, you're putting a freshman in big spots there, and you want to make sure, like, it's, like, it's. It's catching a punt hard. Like, I don't. I don't know how many people have tried to do just, like, standing there, nobody running at you. Somebody punts a ball to you from 40 yards away, it's hard to catch same thing on a kickoff. So I. If Legend can handle that, then I think it would be him. I guess I'd. They've not really ever kind of turned that over to a freshman, so maybe that's wishful thinking. But, you know, the way they've Talked about Devin McEwen or Kyle Parker, maybe it could be one of those two guys. I don't know. I'm trying to. I don't know if there's anybody, like, in the defensive back room, a la Caleb Downs, who's, like, got some offensive skill set, maybe they could do it, too. But I would. I would say, like, my top three would be Bay, Parker, McEwen, in some order. Okay.
- [45:33]
C
Anything else? Vibe checks after practice. Random thoughts, stray observations.
- [45:42]
B
I did. I was. We. It's very crowded over there when you go to a Friday or Saturday practice. I was walking from the softball stadium over to the Woody, and they were practicing outside. I did hear them say that Jay Timmons had an interception in practice over the. Over the loudspeaker. Dominic Kelly lost his black stripe. He was the only one to lose his black stripe. He is the 10th player to lose his black stripe. Nine of them are transfers. The only freshman still who has lost his black stripe is Brock Boyd. And also six of the ten are on defense.
- [46:15]
C
Oh, interesting. Yeah. Okay. Okay. So Ohio State has practices next week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, spring game on Saturday, April 18th. We will have these videos here on this podcast feed, this YouTube feed after those three practices. And then we, of course, will have a ton of coverage from the spring game. We'll also have around the shoe, I think, next Tuesday, because we do have the Monday and the Wednesday reaction stuff. Yeah. Good spring small talk.
- [46:50]
B
Good spring next. So next week, talk to Ryan day on Monday, and then big interview day on Wednesday. O line and D line on the same time.
- [46:59]
C
You take an online.
- [47:02]
B
Yeah. Well, it's weird because we're also scheduled to talk with Carson Hinsman and Luke Montgomery, who we've already spoken to this spring. Oh, but they're like, I also guess they're not going to send out Austin Seravold or Philip Daniels because they're on the injury recovery.
- [47:15]
C
So we, we talked, but we got Isaiah Weston.
- [47:21]
B
Send an email to ask. We can switch that up a little bit or at least no. Ian. Ian. So it said Ian. I think it's guess Geski is how you say it. He's like a former club player offensive lineman. But I'm, I'm assuming that was a typo and just the wrong Ian was put on.
- [47:42]
C
All right, thanks to you guys for being here. Go check us out over on the substack. Bill and Doug. Osu.substack.com and yeah, this, we got one more week of spring ball. So thanks as always for your patronage for hanging out with us here on this show. For now, thanks for going over there, Landis. While I was getting my eyes checked
- [48:02]
B
out, I had nothing better to do. So I'm happy to do it.
- [48:05]
C
I saw, did you see the Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman is going to be out for a little bit because he's having detached retina surgery and then he's going to have another detached retina surgery.
- [48:18]
B
I can't wait for you, your interview to interview him at big time media days.
- [48:23]
C
If you see us, like just big, big bro hug. It'd be like the retina boys over there hanging out because it's like, because once you have detached, right? So I went to the detached retina doctor and just had my follow up and I'm all good. I don't have to go to the detached retina doctor anymore, but you have to just lay on your face for a week. So like his thing was like during my recovery, I won't be able to go to laying on your face for a week is what he means. But I'm glad for him because he's having it sounds like a preventative second surgery of like, well, one's already detached. Let's just get the other one. Like you sort of like firm it up before it detaches. And like when my first one detached, I was like, should we firm up my other one? They're like, no, you're good. And then like two months later, my second one detached in Boston and I was like, maybe we should have like been proactive here. So anyway, Josh and I'll hug it out. But that's why I wasn't at interviews. I'm sure everybody was asking about me right where's Doug? Where's Doug? Oh, my gosh. We can't do interviews without Doug.
- [49:16]
B
Somebody, Stephen Means said, where's the French one? I thought that was a funny way to to ask where you were. By the way, what am I looking at? Oh, people care about these things sometimes, I think. Speaking of Big Ten media days, three days in July. July 28, 2930. Ohio State is on the 29th, second day of Big Ten media days. Which remind you of that closer to.
- [49:41]
C
Is it a Wednesday? Is it Tuesday?
- [49:43]
B
Wednesday, Thursday, Wednesday. That's Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Yeah. Okay, so they'll be Wednesday the 29th.
- [49:50]
C
And look for that very special documentary on the Bill and Doug Show. Three days in July.
- [49:56]
B
That's right.
- [49:56]
C
Big Ten Media inside Big Ten Media Days. What really happens. Thanks you guys for being here for now. He's Bill Landis. I'm Doug Le Maurice and that was the Bill and Doug Show.
- [50:11]
A
Walmart Express delivery can get what you need delivered in as fast as an hour. Whether it's baby formula, when you're down to the last scoop. Pet food before the bowl runs empty batteries for a dead remote or a last minute gift, it is handled. Try Walmart Express delivery today and get free delivery with promo code. Express Promotion valid for First Express delivery order $50 minimum, subject to availability restrictions apply.
- [50:39]
B
Oh, no.
- [50:40]
C
My coffee. Brawny here.
- [50:44]
B
New brawny 3 ply is now more absorbent.
- [50:47]
C
Wow. Got a clean shirt.
- [50:49]
B
Do you wear plaid? Summon the strongest.