Buckeye Talk: Ohio State podcast by cleveland.com

Latest Episodes:

A Ryan Day Era Offense Draft -- with a Meyer and Tressel twist Feb 17, 2023

Show notes

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are back to do one of their favorite things on this podcast -- drafting teams against each other.

For this exercise, they each drafted an 11-player offense made up of Buckeyes from the last four season -- Ryan Day's four years as head coach. But there was one twist -- each of them had to draft one player from the Urban Meyer era and one player from the Jim Tressel era.

That added an extra level of strategy -- and made sure each team got a good quarterback.

So listen to this 11-round draft to find out which 27 Day players, which three Meyer players and which three Tressel players made the cut.

Thanks as always for listening to Buckeye Talk. And expect a defensive version of this draft next week.

What you love about Ohio State and being a fan of the Buckeyes: Anti-rants Feb 15, 2023

Show notes

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises is here late with what was supposed to be a Valentine's Day episode.

Why did it make sense for Valentine's Day? Because it's about love.

Instead of rants this week, Doug asked Ohio State text subscribers for anti-rants. That is, he wanted stories and explanations from fans about what they love about the Buckeyes and what they love about being a fan of them.

And that's what people sent. From Ohio State's history of winning to the bonds forged with family, Doug runs through anti-rant after anti-rant about love for this program.

Sorry it's a day late, and thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

Can C.J. Stroud and Justin Fields be Super Bowl quarterbacks? Feb 13, 2023

Show notes

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Nathan Baird are reacting to the Super Bowl, and thinking about whether an Ohio State quarterback will get there one day.

First (0:30), on this Monday Madness edition, Doug and Nathan do Whatcha Watchin’, Whatcha Eatin’, Whatcha Thinkin’?

They are watching the Super Bowl, eating Super Bowl food, and thinking about flag football, bad radio and worse Ohio State basketball (32:54), among other things.

Then (44:29), they discuss Justin Fields and the Bears, as the former OSU QB is preparing for Year 3 in Chicago. Does Fields have any similarities to Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts, and what should the Bears do to best set up Fields for success? Can he be a Super Bowl QB?

Finally (1:09:23) it’s onto C.J. Stroud and the best landing spots in this NFL Draft for the former Buckeye. Will he go in the top two picks? Which teams might trade up for him? And what might be the best places for Stroud to succeed? Can he be a Super Bowl QB?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

Can Ohio State football change its recruiting strategy? Mark Pantoni has ideas Feb 10, 2023

Show notes

On this Friday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means discuss the latest views on Ohio State recruiting based on last week’s interview with Mark Pantoni, who has overseen the recruiting operation for the Buckeyes for more than a decade.

First (0:30), Doug and Stephen discuss Ohio State’s latest ideas about NIL and how it affects Ohio State’s recruiting.

Then (9:35) they dive more specifically into one possibility in this recruiting world -- the Buckeyes focusing more on in-state recruits.

Finally (47:47), it’s some changes in the OSU recruiting department and what Pantoni’s main duties are now.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

Sonny Styles, Kye Stokes, Jermaine Mathews and spring chances available in Ohio State's secondary Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk, it's time to talk about the Ohio State secondary.

Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means discuss what OSU cornerbacks coach Tim Walton and safeties coach Perry Eliano said last week.

First, (0:30) the guys talk about the eight Buckeyes invited to this year's NFL Combine and what that says about Ohio State's 2022 team.

Then (12:47) they talk about Walton, what was said about the OSU corners and the wide-open competition that could occur this spring.

Then (33:53) it's the safeties, Eliano and how young safeties Sonny Styles and Kye Stokes could factor into the 2023 season.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

Jim Knowles’ mood; young LB opportunities; and James Laurinaitis in the rivalry Feb 08, 2023

Show notes

On this Wednesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are talking about Ohio State linebackers after speaking with Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jim Knowles and new OSU grad assistant James Laurinaitis last week.

Covered in the three sections on this episode:

* (0:30) How Knowles felt about his first year running the defense and what the focus will be in spring football

* (25:20) The chances that young linebackers C.J. Hicks, Gabe Powers and Reid Carrico should get in the spring

* (38:36) The role Laurinaitis should play in recruiting and ... might play in Michigan prep?

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

Ohio State DL coach Larry Johnson's future, and is Jack still a Jack? Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

On this Tuesday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means continue to work their way through interviews with Ohio State assistant coaches and staffers last week, and up now is defensive line coach Larry Johnson and his room.

First up (0:30), the guys talk about the 71-year-old Johnson, a legend as a college football assistant, and discuss what his future is in Columbus and how the Buckeyes are handling it.

Then (22:42) it's onto the defensive ends, and how Johnson rotates his players and how much J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer will play this season. Plus, will Sawyer still play that stand-up Jack position and move around the line, or will he be a pure defensive end with his hand on the ground?

Finally (45:22) it's defensive tackle talk, plus a brief discussion of a defensive lineman who could be on the Marvin Harrison Jr. career trajectory.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com.

The problems with Ohio State basketball, and the answer: Buckeye Talk Rants Feb 06, 2023

Show notes

On this Monday Buckeye Talk, Doug Lesmerises and Stephen Means are here to take rants from Ohio State text subscribers and discuss the state of Buckeye basketball, after Ohio State fell to 11-12 overall and 3-9 in Big Ten play with a loss to Michigan on Sunday.

First (0:30), Doug and Stephen look at things on the horizon, including how the incoming recruiting class should affect the view of Chris Holtmann and whether Bronny James can come save the Buckeyes.

Then (22:19) it's rants and talk about this edition of the Buckeyes, how Holtmann built the roster and why it's not working in what is looking like a season that will produce Ohio State's worst Big Ten record in 25 years.

Finally ( 1:21:47) Doug wraps it up with some solo rants about what should be done, other coaches the Buckeyes should look at, how Gene Smith has handled this, and what Holtmann's future really is.

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

Ohio State disputes the Marvin Harrison Jr. call; plus Tony Alford, Keenan Bailey and more Feb 03, 2023

Show notes

On this Friday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means open with what turns into a very long talk about the non-targeting call on Marvin Harrison Jr. in the Peach Bowl. This talk was spurred by Ryan Day revealing his conversations with officials about the call.

Then the guys get into:

Ohio State injuries for spring football
Running backs coach Tony Alford and the running backs
New tight ends coach Keenan Bailey

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com

Ryan Day's big change, plus quarterback and offensive line battles: News from Ohio State coaches Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

On this Thursday Buckeye Talk from cleveland.com, Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means are bursting with info after interviewing 13 Ohio State staff members on Wednesday as part of the late National Signing Day (even though the Buckeyes didn't add any recruits.) That group was head coach Ryan Day, all 10 assistants, plus recruiting coordinator Mark Pantoni and new defensive staffer James Laurinaitis.

You'll hear more about all of those talks on future Buckeye Talk episodes.

But for now, the guys focused on three areas:

The discussion around Day maybe giving up play calling
What to expect on the offensive line
The quarterback battle to come in the spring

Thanks for listening to Buckeye Talk.

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