Skull Session: Jeff Hafley Talks Ohio State vs. Clemson, Buckeye Quarterbacks Bad History in the NFL, and Chase Young Steps into His Captaincy

By Kevin Harrish on December 29, 2020 at 4:59 am
The buckeyes are breaking out the playoff uniforms in today's skull session.
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Fantastic news – Ohio State's quarterback of the future has brought his mullet back.

His mullet is his sixth star in my book.

Word of the Day: Facile.

 HOW TO BEAT CLEMSON. The Buckeyes aren't riding into this fight with Jeff Hafley this year, but he's got Ohio Sate's blueprint to beat Clemson, anyway.

See, by coaching Ohio State's defense against Clemson last year and then coaching against Clemson again this year, Hafley uniquely qualified to have #takes on this game. And he joined Dan Wetzel, Pete Thamel and Pat Forde's podcast to dish them.

Hafley talked about the game for about 15 minutes (beginning around the 40:00 mark), but here are some key takeaways:

  • Hafley said they wanted to press Clemson's receivers. “We felt very good about the matchups on the outside," Hafley said. "Nobody had really challenged the wideouts, and nobody had really pressed them.”
  • Even with Jeff Okudah and Damon Arnette gone to the NFL, he thinks Ohio State should have a similar gameplan. “You’ll probably see Ohio State try to do the same thing this year.”
  • Hafley said Trevor Lawrence's running ability caught him off guard last year. “It shouldn’t have, but it did."
  • Ohio State's key to the game defensively: Stopping Trevor Lawrence on the quarterback run and shutting down Travis Etienne catching the ball out of the backfield.
  • Hafley thinks Ohio State will be able to put up a lot of points on Clemson.
  • “I’ll be disappointed if there aren’t a lot of points scored in that game.”

It's worth noting that Hafley's Eagles had an 18-point first-half lead over Clemson earlier this year and had a chance at a game-winning drive at the end of the game.

If he can do that with Boston College, it is in my humblest opinion that Ryan Day should do exactly what Hafley told him over the phone during their conversation that you know damn well took place in the past few weeks.

 STRANGE HISTORY. Hand up, I really thought Dwayne Haskins – the most prolific passer in Big Ten history – was going to be at least a serviceable NFL quarterback. But that was miraculously one of my worst #takes.

See, Haskins went and got cut a day after he was replaced by a former Old Dominion quarterback who didn't even see the field in the damn XFL after Haskins turned the ball over three times in a game he played after getting fined $40,000 for partying with unmasked strippers during a pandemic following a critical loss. (Hell of a sentence, I know)

Not great! And neither is Ohio State's broader history of quarterbacks in the NFL.

Currently, the best professional quarterback ever to come out of Ohio State is either Paul Crewe or Shane Falco. It's a high bar to clear, Justin Fields. We're all counting on you.

 CAPTAIN DOING CAPTAIN THINGS. At least one of the Buckeyes Washington's taken in the first round the past two years has panned out.

Chase Young has been an absolute monster on the field this season, and by all accounts, he's been an absolute delight off of it.

And a leader, too.

@washingtonftf

Chase Young picks up frustrated teammate Dwayne Haskins after near comeback. Tough loss #WashingtonFootballTeam

original sound - @Washington Football Team Fans

Between Terry McLaurin and Chase Young, I'd say Ohio State's given Washington fans enough years of joy to offset any disappointment caused by Haskins.

 MEGACAST. I have some good news for those of you who are into choosing your own adventure.

They axed the Film Room simulcast last year and didn't bring it back this year, which means there are nine different ways to watch this game as a consumer and none of them is what I want. It truly does not get more American than that.

 TATE TIME. I can't say 2020 has given us many surprisingly pleasant things, but Jae'Sean Tate's emergence as a legitimately good NBA player certainly qualifies.

A few months ago I was clamoring for him to join Ohio State's TBT team. I don't think they'll be getting his services, regretfully.

 SONG OF THE DAY. "Track 3 g" by '68.

 NOT STICKING TO SPORTS. Remembering America's forgotten nuclear cleanup mission... The untold story of the Beatles' demise... Nostradamus’ predictions for 2021 seem to include asteroids and zombies... The search for the greatest sports car of all time...

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