The Front Row

The North Carolina defense of 2010 had more NFL players than Ohio State plain and simple. The statistic breakdown is as follows
North Carolina Ohio State
rush yds. 125.6 per game 96.7 yds per game
pass yds 212.9 per game 165.5 yds per game
pts 23.2 pts per game 14.3 pts per game

Nfl draft picks defensive playesr only
North Carolina 2011 draft Ohio State 2011 draft
1st Quinn 1st Heyward
2nd Carter 4th Chekwa
2nd Austin 5th Hines
4th Searcy 6th Rolle
6th Sturdvant 6th Homan

2012 NFL draft defensive only
North Carolina Ohio State
1st Couples 6th Ebner --
2nd Brown

What is ridiculous is do use Withers past success as a measuring stick for future success. Basically other than the fact he had a title as defensive coordinator, I don't see any success. Fickell had the title of co-defensive coordinator so I am assuming he had responsibilities as being a coordinator. The fact is Withers had very good talent at North Carolina and did not get the results better than Ohio State with Fickell. I hope like hell Withers is a great coordinator, however I see no way based on his past.

Maybe you're just missing my point.
My issue is with your lack of confidence in a man appointed by one of the best coaches in college football. Withers has more experience than Fickell as a D-Coordinator and if Meyer is willing to roll with him, why would anyone doubt his aptitude?? and not Fickell's??? Unless that opinion is biased, of course. From a homer's viewpoint I can see your argument but outside of Ohio Withers looks like the prettier girl at the dance. Your statistical research is appreciated, but to conjure up 1 season and act as if it's the standard (rather than exception) is laughable. I could be wrong but I would wager that OSU has more players drafted in the last several years on the defensive side of the ball than UNC. If you're feeling up to it, check those numbers and get back at me. I could be wrong.

BTW - what measuring stick are you utilizing to measure Fickell's future success? Last time I checked being "intelligent and ambitious" didn't keep opposing teams out of the end zone. There are a lot of smart and ambitious guys that get their asses handed to them week after week in college football. TTUN just fired one that was supposedly going to take the B1G by storm and revolutionize the game.
#keepthingsinperspective and #easeoffthebuckeyekoolaid.

To be frank, you're approval of Fickell hinges on the fact that he's a loyal Buckeye. Nothing else. He has no track record to speak of so it couldn't be anything else. I hope for the teams sake that Fick and Withers can put together one of the best defensive units in the country. But you and I know that if Joe Dumbass walked off the street with the same credentials as Fickell, you wouldn't be so amped to prop the guy up. #homerismatitsfinest

Well we both agree on the hope for Withers and Fickell future success. I did give you the defensive draft picks see above, yes North Carolina had more. The 2010 North Carolina season was the best season Withers had so I wanted to make him look as good as I could. Fickell is younger and has less experience, ok I get that. If Meyers hired the defensive coordinator of Alabama I could not make the point for Fickell because obviously the Alabama coach would have proven success. My point is that Withers does not have proven success. Speaking of homers, I assume just because Meyers hired Withers he is going to be great. Question: who was Florida-Meyer defensive coordinator in 2010? My guess is that you would not know that. Why, because he sucked and had lousy results in 2010 at Florida. Meyer never attempted to hire this defensive coordinator at Ohio State showing further proof of his mistake at Florida. By the way the Florida defensive coordinator in 2010 was the great Teryl Austin. I am sure we are both hoping that Fickell and Withers is better than Teryl Austin.

I have absolutely no clue how great or poor Withers will be in his respective role. Your whole thing about Meyer's 2010 D coordinator being Teryl Austin, lets just say I've been living in Florida for the last 6 years and follow the Gators closely - but thats neither here nor there. Im fine with all the support Fickell is getting, I really am. I just choose to call it like I see it. People (I included) root for him because he's a Buckeye. I just think the majority of his supporters (I NOT included) on this and other boards are conjuring up lofty expectations for a guy that has minimal experience and even less as the leader of the defensive unit. I expect the defense to be solid this year and in 2014 off the charts. We can speculate all day but Fickell is the less experienced of the two. Shape it how you'd like but regardless of Wither's previous success (or lack there of) I still hold firm that the majority of onlookers (outside the state of Ohio) would be more perturbed about Fickell in his NEW role rather than Withers in his USUAL. You're also right in your assertion that we both are hoping for better results than Teryl Austin was able to delver to UF in 2010.

Go Bucks

Hmmmmm.....
It's funny how some of the same people bashing fickell today thought he was going to be the difference for this years defense (even more so than Withers). Funny what a couple bad performances by OSUs defense can do to a man's worth.