We object to this nonsense!Remember the stat you heard flying around after the drubbing in Los Angeles? The one about how it was the first time the Buckeyes had failed to score a touchdown since the Michigan game 12 years earlier? 141 consecutive games that saw Ohio State cross the goal line in some capacity was snapped at the hands of Cushing, Ellison, Mays and company.
It was a stat that was used to convey just how much of a beating the Trojans put on the Buckeyes and it was effective. But not so much after Saturday night when Penn State became the 2nd team this season to prevent Ohio State from scoring a touchdown in a game. In the two biggest games of the season, the Buckeye offense has managed to score a combined nine points. Toss in Purdue, and the offense has failed to score a touchdown in one out of every three games this season.
But why?
You have a Heisman-contender type back, a quarterback that was first-team all-conference last season, a veteran wide receiver corps that has produced in the past, veteran tight-ends and a line that was returning four out of five starters. Oh, and you're adding the nation's top recruit to a 10-2 team. How is this possible?
The first omen and what may have set the offensive mood for the season was Beanie's toe injury in the opener against Youngstown State. The offense performed well that weekend, but the injury hit the team like a ton of bricks. In their next outing -- their first against FBS competition -- they laid a relative egg in that close win over Ohio. Then came USC, followed by sputterings against Troy, Wisconsin and Purdue.
The line, without question has been the weakest link on the offense all season long. I'm still not sure how that unit actually regressed, but through nine, they've been yelled at by Tressel, Beanie and Nicol, seen a freshman forced into their ranks and have seen themselves getting worked over by the majority of opposing lines they've gone against. That is on Bollman.
Another complaint has been about the playcalling and while I maintain that a playbook doesn't matter if your line cannot provide the protection to use half of it (or the players simply cannot execute), this is a legitimate beef.
Where was the pistol against Penn State? Why do you run a play-action bomb to Robo with 90 seconds remaining in the first half and the ball at your own 39 when it's obvious that you are in a passing down? Why move away from bunch receiver formations that were giving the Lions a little trouble? Why are you so hesitant to throw on first downs and break the mold of your tendencies? Does it not bother you when Pete Carroll states that he wasn't surprised by anything the offense did on the field?
There clearly is a problem within the Tressel/Bollman playcalling braintrust.
And we won't even touch talent evaluation issues or how a guy like Thaddeus Gibson could have started the season as backup. New house rule please: If a guy is taken first in the spring game draft, he's a guaranteed starter for the opener.
The Buckeye staff is clearly in a funk and may be slipping a little. It's natural -- it happens in other programs and within government administrations, management teams at corporations and elsewhere. Tressel Ball may need some tweaks to stay with this most innovative game. New blood may be needed.
We humbly request a new offensive coordinator and the separation of playcalling duties from the Vest. We love him. He is an asset to the University, a role model for many and makes sweater vests look awesome. But the time has come to turn the playcalling over to a new offensive coordinator. One that is only thinking about how to put his offense into position to score as many points as possible and not worried about that killer punt you're trying to setup on the next series.
And if this doesn't happen before the 2009 season, there's a very good chance that Pryor's talent covers up these deficiencies and we'll rediscover the stink once he leaves after two years. Fierce urgency of now, please.
Comments
Once again, our punt and kickoff return teams STINK!!! They could barely hold onto to them!
I briefly alluded to Mo Wells' stink in my Five Things...you are definitely right, chief.
Good posting. I think a big reason why Ohio State seems to have regressed is actually due to the fact that its playing tougher teams this year than last year. Moreover, they DID struggle against Akron, Washington, threw a bunch of interceptions against Purdue, lost to Illinois, struggled against Wisconsin, Michigan State, Michigan, LSU...the only game they were dominant in was against Penn State - one game.
I think we have been sort of masked-over as a fanbase. Ohio State hasn't played consistently great for a couple of seasons now. And just like you say in your posting, and just like I've said in postings yesterday, this team can't score TDs. In fact, you have to remember that against YSU, they struggled to find the endzone in a 44-0 win...5 field goals in a game where they probably shouldn't have had to kick a single one.
This is a season where it just never came together, from the backup positions all the way to the top of the play calling chain of command. Last week I thought that we'd welcome a rematch with USC. Now, I'd rather waive any BCS invite and go to the Alamo Bowl, or the Capitol One/Outback Bowls.
I would like to see Bollman go AND for Tressel to stop doing all outside activities (library fundraising, etc.) and concentrate on being the Head Coach and nothing more. If his players get the drift that they (and the team) are not his #1 concern then they will play accordingly.
What is disturbing to think about is the postseason strategy of having offensive players sit in defensive meetings and vice versa. It's almost like after the offense learned the 5 plays that they were going to run this year, they were done for the preseason.
Does anyone know what I am talking about?
Sam great point. We all assumed having a senior-laden team would work in our favor, but maybe it bred complacency among the players and staff. I haven't been alive long enought to have decades of great perspective from which to judge the current state of the program, but I have seen troubling things this year that have me worried about trends going forward. We seem to not be getting much out of the talent we have, particularly on offense.
Can anybody explain how our offensive line sucks so much? Just think if we dind't have Beanie and the Todd was still taking snaps how much worse we would be on offense (hard to imagine I know).
Oh, I have a request of my own. I want a new strength and conditioning coach. Maybe some one from the SEC, Big 12, or USC. Hell, he doesnt even have to be the head guy. I would take one of his assisstants. Its time to run these fat o-linemen we have into the dirt. There embarrasing to watch.
I forgot about Thaddeous Maximus being the first drafted in the spring game. That should have been an indication to the coaches that this guy was good if the Seniors of that team wanted to draft him ahead of everyone else.
Where is Coach Tressel from 2006? That offense was pretty explosive? It's not as though we're weaponless. Our arsenal is full of powerful ammunition (Beanie, Pryor, Herron, Flash), but we've regressed to using a water gun instead of a 'pistol' or a 'shot-gun'. Formations don't count however foreign they were on Saturday evening. I view this as proof that even though Pryor is the man, Tressel doesn't truly trust TP or Tressel has lost faith in the WR corp.
General math: TSmith+Ginn+Gonzo+Hall > Pryor-Boeckman+Robo+Hartline+Small
There is a ridiculous lack of creativity (zero reverses, middle screens, flea flickers, roll-out passes) and a CPU-easy level of predictability.
My example of horrendous play-calling & personnel usage: the WR-screen to Brian Robiskie. Really?
On the bright side, at least we'll beat Michigan!
I have to agree with you E-roc on the screen to Robo. If they want to run that why not use Posey or Flash? What did you think of using Rasta on the first play running the screen? I really didnt mind the play call because it was to Rasta's strenght. Get him in the open field and hopefully he can make someone miss. To bad it wasnt executed.
I was surprised that Tressel didn't play Boeckman when the offense continued to idle in neutral into the fourth quarter. Todd lit it up against p*nn st*t* last year, and had the (probably) best game of his career. Give the senior a shot, because The Kid isn't moving the team. It might have undercut his confidence, but you owe the seniors a chance to win.
Whatever.
Hey Joe,
I actually had that same thought for the last drive. We all know Penn State was going to play a prevent. Why not put in Todd and see if he could pick it apart and move them down the field and score. He still has the stronger more accurate arm then TP and understands when he needs to zip in a pass or loft it. Hell, the worst he could have done is throw an int. as you said.... whatever
"We humbly request a new offensive coordinator and the separation of playcalling duties from the Vest."
Does it have to be a humble request? And don't forget, we'll also need an Offensive Line Coach, since these duties should be separate.
"I want a new strength and conditioning coach."
I, too, would like that for Christmas, in addition to the Offensive Line Coach and Offensive Coordinator.
I dont know about everyone else but I for one would love to see Walt Harris return as Offensive Cord. When he was here with Coop he was the man, look at the offensive numbers he put up with the like likes of George, Glenn, Boston, Hoying among others. I agree 100% there must be a change and soon.
Let's take Barwis from Michigan kplzthx.
Again, I reiterate my support for Christensen/Foster in '09. We need new coordinators on both sides of the ball - the Penn State game was a mirage, Heacock is not that good, and a new S+C coach would be nice as well. I'm sick of seeing fat, slow Buckeye offensive linemen getting outclassed by even the most pedestrian of defensive lines.
Couple years ago I used to lift a little with the current S&C at jesse owens south. He was a beast of a dude in the gym for someone his size, but I agree that his work isn't translating well into the players and onto the field
Great post, Chris thanks about the hoops post. I hope Mullens will be legit because i think Turner and Mullens will decide if we make Sweet 16. Now on to football i would love to know how Wells and Saine were returning kicks, i think that is the little stuff people are starting to harp on about Tressel. I would also like to now how Thad was not starting from week one. Now onto the O-line, i know they are not very good, but on the game last saturday, i don't think it would have matter who was blocking, I really think that was most stacked LOS i have seen, they were daring us to throw. I think that is the main reason why the play calling is starting to be a problem, just like article above we have went three games with no TD's and some of that has to be the play calling. All this being said its good for Pryor to have a humbling experience i think it will make him work that much harder!
When you have 8 and 9 players in the box your not going to have much luck running the football. You have to throw the ball down field on 1st down if they are daring you to do so. We played it too close to the vest on offense and It cost us the game. There is no reason this team can't move the football through the air. However if we continue to run on first down, second down and then throw on third your not going to move it or score. One step forward two steps back. We got out of our slump vs. MSU then revert right back to the Purdue game plan vs Penn St it is very hard to watch T. Pryor play with his throwing arm tied behind his back.
Throw the ball on first and this team scores at will. Thats all I got!!!! Im done.
Sucking on offense has been a Jim Tressel trademark.
It's not like it's new thing. The 2001-2003 teams caused riots in Columbus when they scored offensive touchdowns.
Every once in a while Jimmy T can pull through with a 42-39 victory...but it's definitely not the norm. I'd like to put up Big 12 or SEC numbers.
No offensive TDs in 3 games is quite bad.
Guys,
Pryor threw for a season high 226 yards. He hit 65% of his passes to 7 different receivers, including 6 passes to Dane Sanzenbacher. He had a great college football performance. Darrell Clark and the Spread HD only had 121 yards passing.
Lamaar Thomas, who's frickin' sick, people...averaged 36 yards a kick-return, and he did it twice. Derrick Williams was held to one return for 18 yards, and a long punt return of 9 yards. So, we won that battle, too.
Beanie Wells and Terrelle Pryor got outrushed 160 yards to 61 yards. THAT is what lost this football game - the OFFENSIVE line not creating lanes. It's the most important fundamental in the game of football - RUNNING the ball.
Playing Boeckman would have been an error. It was a game against a top-3 opponent. Pryor had to scramble on a few plays, and found some guys way downfield in the process. Boeckman, who wouldn't have been able to do that, would have been good for 3 picks, one for a TD, and we would have gotten beat worse than we did.
Steve, You are 100% correct.
Steve is correct. What lost the game was Beanie not being able to get going. That was the offensive line. They need to open holes. Beanie had to stretch his runs out, and he had to bounce his runs out, and Penn State's defense is too fast for that. It always comes back to the offensive line and its terrible regression from even last year's mediocrity.
Gentelmen, the bucks threw 25 times for 226. While not huge numbers, its not as bad as most think. Some of the personel decisions this year are surely in question and that was evident with Thad. And where i think we needed the most help was the turnover dept. The defense did a great job, but didn't force 1 turnover. In college football momentum is everything and we lost that with that with the fumble in the fourth.
Regarding the post above regarding throwing on first down...I heard that the Bucks threw on 1st down over 60% of the time. Can anyone verify?
Yea...I cringe every time Small attempts to catch a punt...he's been shaky the last 3 to 4 games but then he's lights out on offense.
Jim,
Excluding the last drive, since OSU was forced to pass, my unofficial count says:
20 1st down plays
11 runs
7 passes
1 sack
1 spike to stop clock
In spite of how bad the offense appeared to be you gotta give PSU defense credit. I would have liked to have tested them vertically (deep throws) on 1st and 2nd down but that did not happen. I gotta believe we win if not for the turnover. Tough break but c'mon, its not the end of the world. OSU will be right up with the bigs most years.
Nick, Listen If you put a qb repeatedly in 3rd and long your not going to move the ball very much. The D played lights out and held a team avg. 45 points to 3 points till the time of the fumble.
There is no reason for not throw on 1st down when Penn St had 8 or 9 in the box every first down. Where was the tight end? We did drop a couple picks but the defense should be proud of the way they played. Play calling is more than just how many times you run or pass. Just like Herbie said on game day the Buckeyes would have to pass on first down to win. We failed to do so and I'm starting to think the coaches need to start looking for a new line of work because they are some of the worst in the nation.
I have never seen a coaching staff do less with more talent in my life. Look how great the defense has been playing. Why are they all of a sudden looking like a different d? It because the play calling has gotten alot more aggressive.
The same must happen on the offensive side of the ball if Ohio State is going to win another National Championship.
I think it has been proven that Tresselball is going to win the games they should win, but when they face big-time, top 5 teams, the punt, play field position, wait for the mistake is not effective.
Since that is his philosophy and always has been, I don't look for any major changes any time soon.
Typing that has sent me into depression.
It is a very young team, especially on offense. Give Pryor time to mature and the Buckeyes will be fine!
Jesse W.
http://www.churchofcowherd.com
I think we are all a bit down TLB. Its depressing that the entire fan base knows the play calling has been terrible and must change yet we continue to coach scared. You play to win the game!!!
Thanks Chris for the info on first down play selection. Based upon Chris' info the bucks passed about 39% of the time. All do respect TB, they did not score at will when they did pass. I don't want to defend the play calling, because in general I cannot and I don't want the critize a first year qb but Pryor has some work to do on his passing game.
How long for coach Tressel to figure out that TD's trump punts EVERY time! Score points, put the pressure on the other team, then play aggressive D when they are pressing and force turnovers. I'm no coach, so I don't know how to make it happen, but that is what needs to happen.
Has anyone actually looked at the "Buckeyes Big Game" history. Between 1970 and 2000, the Buckeyes were 10-17 in bowl games. That is horrible. Do you realize how bad they have been historically?
Maybe it is because I am a litlle older, but 4-3 in bowl games isn't that bad. Tressel will open things up when the personel improve. Look at 2006. There were some school passing records broke that year.
As great as an offensive coordinator Walt Harris was, his QBs never threw more TDs than Troy Smith did that year.
Alot of guys on here seem to think the sky is falling, when in reality this is actually the best time to be a Buckeye fan.
I am a huge fan and I have given the school a decent amount of money. I think we should all vent but the sky is not falling This is actually a great time to be a fan. This is the best 8 year stretch of my life as a Buckeye fan.
Now lets get 100% behind this team and look forward to the Michigan game.
I know you meant we should look forward to Northwestern first... then Illinois... then Michigan. Right?
Yeah, I just got carried away.
Years ago while I was at the Air Force Academy, I was surrounded by meeechigan fans. It was a low point for the Buckeyes in the rivalry and I had to hear about meeeechigan 24-7-365. I have such a bitter hatred for that entire state that once November gets close I start having flash backs.