Comments on: Shuffles on the Offensive Line, Hoping for Something http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2008/10/injuries-starting-to-take-toll-on-both-lines.html You're Stepping into Manhood Right Now Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:50:45 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Ken http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2008/10/injuries-starting-to-take-toll-on-both-lines.html#comment-27296 Ken Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:08:09 +0000 http://www.elevenwarriors.com/?p=2872#comment-27296 Well, my mid-season take as a native Ohioan in WNY is this: Matt: This isn't so much about where we are (6-1) as how we got to this point. Honestly, 6-1 is about where I figured we'd be at this point, and after Beanie went down, it was the best I could hope for. Having said that, I see a couple glitches with the offense. First, and foremost is the atrocious line play. Please, spare the "don't beef about 18-23 yr olds", because the problem lies with upper end of the age range; notably Boone, Person and Rehring. I've been harping for years about the 'fat-assness' of our tackles, as UF's (for starters) defensive ends exposed them. Now, we've got to worry about SEC-like rush speed from Big 10 teams? Dan, you mentioned that there was some press going around about Rehring being in the best shape of his life this year; that may be so, but n way is he in football shape, IMO. The other beef I have is with play calling, open it up for TP for gawd's sake. I'm not looking for vertical passing game (much) at this point, but with TP, a couple nice bootlegs/sprint-outs where he can have option to run, hit tight end dragging across the field, or heaven forbid, off-side WR running deep post or slant (please let it not be Hartline). Sorry, a third thing. Please, never, ever try to run Mo Wells between the tackles again. Screen/flair/circle pass, toss sweep, anything as long as it's toward the hashmarks. As a fellow Muskingum College alum, I'll "give" Heacock an atta-boy this past week, but only as long as he turns his 'kids' loose and let them play as they did against Purdue. I know tha many bloggers and commentors have implored him to play like this; maybe the efforts have paid off. We continue to win (good) but it seems to me that we are just getting by, considering what was perceived to be the talent level on this team. That's enough for now, I've taken up way too much of you time. At this point, 6-1, not bad; I'm optimistic about winning 4 of next 5 games. Well, my mid-season take as a native Ohioan in WNY is this:

Matt: This isn’t so much about where we are (6-1) as how we got to this point. Honestly, 6-1 is about where I figured we’d be at this point, and after Beanie went down, it was the best I could hope for.

Having said that, I see a couple glitches with the offense. First, and foremost is the atrocious line play. Please, spare the “don’t beef about 18-23 yr olds”, because the problem lies with upper end of the age range; notably Boone, Person and Rehring. I’ve been harping for years about the ‘fat-assness’ of our tackles, as UF’s (for starters) defensive ends exposed them. Now, we’ve got to worry about SEC-like rush speed from Big 10 teams? Dan, you mentioned that there was some press going around about Rehring being in the best shape of his life this year; that may be so, but n way is he in football shape, IMO.

The other beef I have is with play calling, open it up for TP for gawd’s sake. I’m not looking for vertical passing game (much) at this point, but with TP, a couple nice bootlegs/sprint-outs where he can have option to run, hit tight end dragging across the field, or heaven forbid, off-side WR running deep post or slant (please let it not be Hartline).

Sorry, a third thing. Please, never, ever try to run Mo Wells between the tackles again. Screen/flair/circle pass, toss sweep, anything as long as it’s toward the hashmarks.

As a fellow Muskingum College alum, I’ll “give” Heacock an atta-boy this past week, but only as long as he turns his ‘kids’ loose and let them play as they did against Purdue. I know tha many bloggers and commentors have implored him to play like this; maybe the efforts have paid off.

We continue to win (good) but it seems to me that we are just getting by, considering what was perceived to be the talent level on this team. That’s enough for now, I’ve taken up way too much of you time. At this point, 6-1, not bad; I’m optimistic about winning 4 of next 5 games.

]]> By: JBeveridge http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2008/10/injuries-starting-to-take-toll-on-both-lines.html#comment-27295 JBeveridge Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:47:50 +0000 http://www.elevenwarriors.com/?p=2872#comment-27295 Nice post Fakewoodyman and i also read a post saying this is not a tough year, i disagree we have not beaten a good team this year we have not even killed a poor division 1 team. As i watch Tressel tenure no doubt he is not a elite coach, our offense is horrible and the team is not nasty. Also in the good run he had you better look at assisant coaches who made him look great. Seriously in 2002 we should have lost to Purdue because vanilla offense and offense will continue to be a problem until we get a great offensive mind here. I do like Tressel but he is not in the same catergory as other top programs. I am true Bucks fan and i am tired of what i am seing and if anybody can't be honest just watch our games coaching is the biggest problem we got. I remeber the year we lost to Texas game which we should have won then watched our offense against PSU that year it was horrible because that was a great team. The proof is in pudding i don't know the number of returing starters PSU or MSU but they are improved and well coached, just watched Buckeye Weekly and heard Tressel say Pryor does not force things and gives us a chance to punt seriously College Football you better be able to score a bunch in some games because there are always going to be shootout games which Tressel has not produced but only one good year offensively and he is the OC. I hear about Heacock and Bollman well our biggest problem is offense and guess who our OC is. Tress is classy but College Football has changed and my final note Tress has gotten lucky because the Big Ten has sucked for 5 years now and 1960 football is not going work espically nationally. GO BUCKS Nice post Fakewoodyman and i also read a post saying this is not a tough year, i disagree we have not beaten a good team this year we have not even killed a poor division 1 team. As i watch Tressel tenure no doubt he is not a elite coach, our offense is horrible and the team is not nasty. Also in the good run he had you better look at assisant coaches who made him look great. Seriously in 2002 we should have lost to Purdue because vanilla offense and offense will continue to be a problem until we get a great offensive mind here. I do like Tressel but he is not in the same catergory as other top programs. I am true Bucks fan and i am tired of what i am seing and if anybody can’t be honest just watch our games coaching is the biggest problem we got. I remeber the year we lost to Texas game which we should have won then watched our offense against PSU that year it was horrible because that was a great team. The proof is in pudding i don’t know the number of returing starters PSU or MSU but they are improved and well coached, just watched Buckeye Weekly and heard Tressel say Pryor does not force things and gives us a chance to punt seriously College Football you better be able to score a bunch in some games because there are always going to be shootout games which Tressel has not produced but only one good year offensively and he is the OC. I hear about Heacock and Bollman well our biggest problem is offense and guess who our OC is. Tress is classy but College Football has changed and my final note Tress has gotten lucky because the Big Ten has sucked for 5 years now and 1960 football is not going work espically nationally. GO BUCKS

]]> By: Reality Check http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2008/10/injuries-starting-to-take-toll-on-both-lines.html#comment-27293 Reality Check Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:07:07 +0000 http://www.elevenwarriors.com/?p=2872#comment-27293 Anybody honestly think they are playing like a top 25 team? Saturday is a road game versus a team in the top 25 so they better play like a top 5 team or they will come back with a loss and ILL/PSU are still left on the schedule. I don't see many quality victories in the "w" column, so the time has come to let it all hang out. MSU will play with intensity for 60 minutes so it will take a great effort to pull this one out. Go Bucks! Anybody honestly think they are playing like a top 25 team? Saturday is a road game versus a team in the top 25 so they better play like a top 5 team or they will come back with a loss and ILL/PSU are still left on the schedule.

I don’t see many quality victories in the “w” column, so the time has come to let it all hang out. MSU will play with intensity for 60 minutes so it will take a great effort to pull this one out.

Go Bucks!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2008/10/injuries-starting-to-take-toll-on-both-lines.html#comment-27292 Anonymous Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:02:41 +0000 http://www.elevenwarriors.com/?p=2872#comment-27292 i have to say, not scoring an offensive touchdown means its at least in the ballpark of a tough year. just bc the losses haven't piled up yet...doesn't mean they aren't waiting. the only solid team we have played so far is USC, which was ummm, not good. keep your head in the sand though. its a good place to suffocate... i have to say, not scoring an offensive touchdown means its at least in the ballpark of a tough year. just bc the losses haven’t piled up yet…doesn’t mean they aren’t waiting. the only solid team we have played so far is USC, which was ummm, not good.

keep your head in the sand though. its a good place to suffocate…

]]> By: Julio Rumundo http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2008/10/injuries-starting-to-take-toll-on-both-lines.html#comment-27290 Julio Rumundo Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:53:50 +0000 http://www.elevenwarriors.com/?p=2872#comment-27290 I hear what you are saying Matt and I am sorry, it has been a tough few years now that I think about it. Travel back to the Florida game. Ginn returned a kick for a touchdown, got hurt and then hell broke loose. Coaches were scratching their heads wondering "we were going to do a 5 WR set but with Ginn out, we can't now" we did not adapt to the situation and we were embarassed. LSU, Beanie rushed for over 100 yards against an SEC team even when they stacked 8 in the box, we didn't adapt to what LSU was doing and lost. Now, this year we have talent but the game plan isn't helping these guys. It's time to change some things up on offense and defense. Let's beat teams that don't belong on the field with us by 50 so we can build not only respect from other teams but confidence within our players. As a player, if you struggle against an OU and a Purdue, you start to doubt yourself and your teammates and then you have a bigger problem on your hands. I hear what you are saying Matt and I am sorry, it has been a tough few years now that I think about it. Travel back to the Florida game. Ginn returned a kick for a touchdown, got hurt and then hell broke loose. Coaches were scratching their heads wondering “we were going to do a 5 WR set but with Ginn out, we can’t now” we did not adapt to the situation and we were embarassed. LSU, Beanie rushed for over 100 yards against an SEC team even when they stacked 8 in the box, we didn’t adapt to what LSU was doing and lost. Now, this year we have talent but the game plan isn’t helping these guys. It’s time to change some things up on offense and defense. Let’s beat teams that don’t belong on the field with us by 50 so we can build not only respect from other teams but confidence within our players.

As a player, if you struggle against an OU and a Purdue, you start to doubt yourself and your teammates and then you have a bigger problem on your hands.

]]> By: Transylvaniabuckeye http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2008/10/injuries-starting-to-take-toll-on-both-lines.html#comment-27289 Transylvaniabuckeye Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:50:33 +0000 http://www.elevenwarriors.com/?p=2872#comment-27289 Jeesh fellas... Keep a little faith, you act like we have Tommy Bowden as a (former) head coach and the team is 2-4. I am pretty sure we had a lot of ugly wins in 2001 and nobody complained too much about how that season turned out. We still have a lot to play for and we are most definitely going trough a rebuilding process during the season and that is never easy. I am looking forward to seeing how the rest of this season turns out. GO BUCKS! Jeesh fellas…
Keep a little faith, you act like we have Tommy Bowden as a (former) head coach and the team is 2-4. I am pretty sure we had a lot of ugly wins in 2001 and nobody complained too much about how that season turned out. We still have a lot to play for and we are most definitely going trough a rebuilding process during the season and that is never easy. I am looking forward to seeing how the rest of this season turns out. GO BUCKS!

]]> By: Kyle http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2008/10/injuries-starting-to-take-toll-on-both-lines.html#comment-27288 Kyle Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:35:43 +0000 http://www.elevenwarriors.com/?p=2872#comment-27288 When you have 20 returning starters and at least three projected first-round NFL picks, expectations should be high, and nobody should be apologizing for the poor play of this team. The only people who get a little slack are Brewster and Pryor because they are freshman being asked to step in for lackluster upperclassmen. This isn't are "rebuilding" year. This is supposed to be a year in which this team is a top five team. Anybody honestly think they are playing like a top five team? When you have 20 returning starters and at least three projected first-round NFL picks, expectations should be high, and nobody should be apologizing for the poor play of this team. The only people who get a little slack are Brewster and Pryor because they are freshman being asked to step in for lackluster upperclassmen.

This isn’t are “rebuilding” year. This is supposed to be a year in which this team is a top five team. Anybody honestly think they are playing like a top five team?

]]> By: FlipBuckeye http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2008/10/injuries-starting-to-take-toll-on-both-lines.html#comment-27287 FlipBuckeye Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:15:42 +0000 http://www.elevenwarriors.com/?p=2872#comment-27287 It's fun and nice to bask in the 'glory' of tight wins over vastly inferior teams but when it comes to playing with the big boys, reality has to set in. We can't hang, and we have a ways to go before we can be considered one of the elite again. It’s fun and nice to bask in the ‘glory’ of tight wins over vastly inferior teams but when it comes to playing with the big boys, reality has to set in. We can’t hang, and we have a ways to go before we can be considered one of the elite again.

]]> By: Fakewoodyman http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2008/10/injuries-starting-to-take-toll-on-both-lines.html#comment-27285 Fakewoodyman Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:00:10 +0000 http://www.elevenwarriors.com/?p=2872#comment-27285 I think you can say it has been a tough couple of years without being called ridiculous. my question would be whether some of you been watching over the last few years? You act as though the program has not regressed noticeably. I think some of you confuse being disappointed with the play this year with wanting to lose bowl games or something; I have no idea what sorta logic it takes to jump from being disappointed with again being humiliated on national TV, out of the NC picture at 6-1 even though every other team with 1 loss is still in it, having one of the worst offenses in the Big ten, with "I want to go back to Cooper" Seriously, you people actually think this is a glory time or something. Are you blind? we cannot compete with the top ten or 15 programs in the country, period. That is a great time in Buckeye history?? I agree that this is not a bad year and there are important goals left that can be achieved. I also agree that there have been tougher years, but there has not been a tougher period than this as far as national aspirations. Oh I remember the late 80's early 90's, but those teams didn't seem this far behind the rest of college football .... you guys really remember being this far behind the best 10-15 programs in the country? I think you can say it has been a tough couple of years without being called ridiculous. my question would be whether some of you been watching over the last few years? You act as though the program has not regressed noticeably.

I think some of you confuse being disappointed with the play this year with wanting to lose bowl games or something; I have no idea what sorta logic it takes to jump from being disappointed with again being humiliated on national TV, out of the NC picture at 6-1 even though every other team with 1 loss is still in it, having one of the worst offenses in the Big ten, with “I want to go back to Cooper”

Seriously, you people actually think this is a glory time or something. Are you blind? we cannot compete with the top ten or 15 programs in the country, period. That is a great time in Buckeye history??

I agree that this is not a bad year and there are important goals left that can be achieved. I also agree that there have been tougher years, but there has not been a tougher period than this as far as national aspirations. Oh I remember the late 80’s early 90’s, but those teams didn’t seem this far behind the rest of college football …. you guys really remember being this far behind the best 10-15 programs in the country?

]]> By: FlipBuckeye http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2008/10/injuries-starting-to-take-toll-on-both-lines.html#comment-27284 FlipBuckeye Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:52:13 +0000 http://www.elevenwarriors.com/?p=2872#comment-27284 We're spoiled Matt. The Tressel era has been a great one full of memorable victories, but now we're struggling to beat the Ohios and Troys of the world. PSU just embarrassed Wisconsin, the same Wisconsin that we stole a game by 3 points from just a week earlier. That's perspective for you. You can't say this is not a tough year, comparing it to Michigan. With no due respect, we are not TTUN. We have a top 5 coach who has established his ideologies well into the program for 7 years... not some coach trying to inject a whole new look into a big tradition program. We have a roster filled with talent--scratch that, filled with experience--not a roster filled with a bunch of freshmen who have never seen snaps at the college level. To see seniors get progressively worse, following what was supposed to be a rebuilding year in 07? Michigan was supposed to get worse, we were supposed to get better. I'm not asking for an MNC. In fact I would hate if that were the case. We are not that good. But I'm not about to settle for mediocrity. How can anyone be satisfied with the state of the team when there are such glaring problems? We’re spoiled Matt. The Tressel era has been a great one full of memorable victories, but now we’re struggling to beat the Ohios and Troys of the world. PSU just embarrassed Wisconsin, the same Wisconsin that we stole a game by 3 points from just a week earlier. That’s perspective for you.

You can’t say this is not a tough year, comparing it to Michigan. With no due respect, we are not TTUN. We have a top 5 coach who has established his ideologies well into the program for 7 years… not some coach trying to inject a whole new look into a big tradition program. We have a roster filled with talent–scratch that, filled with experience–not a roster filled with a bunch of freshmen who have never seen snaps at the college level. To see seniors get progressively worse, following what was supposed to be a rebuilding year in 07? Michigan was supposed to get worse, we were supposed to get better.

I’m not asking for an MNC. In fact I would hate if that were the case. We are not that good. But I’m not about to settle for mediocrity. How can anyone be satisfied with the state of the team when there are such glaring problems?

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