Bollman hopes the offensive line keeps him out of the cross hairs in 2010It wasn't long ago that much of the fan base was clamoring for the ouster of Jim Bollman. After a chunk of years featuring less than stellar offensive line play when it mattered most combined with a laundry list of blue chip linemen who didn’t appear to improve much during their careers in Columbus, 2009 was believed by many to be a make or break year in which Tressel’s loyalty might reach the tipping point.
Bollman and Tressel were keenly aware of the sniping coming from the media and fed up fans but 2009 started with a whimper anyway:
| Opponent | Attempts | Net Rush Yards | YPC | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navy | 38 | 153 | 4.0 | 1 |
| USC | 30 | 88 | 2.9 | 1 |
| Toledo | 46 | 247 | 5.4 | 1 |
| Illinois | 46 | 236 | 5.1 | 1 |
| Indiana | 46 | 212 | 4.6 | 3 |
| Wisconsin | 27 | 97 | 3.6 | 2 |
| Purdue | 28 | 66 | 2.4 | 5 |
In the close call versus Navy to open the season, a turnover on downs helped the Midshipmen make it close but it never should have come to that. Tressel went for a 4th and 2 that gained just one yard as the line failed to get a push igniting the comeback. The ill-fated series saw OSU gain one yard on 2nd and 3 then zero yards on 3rd and 2 setting up the 4th down calamity. OSU averaged a below average 4.0 ypc when they should have had their way against a small Navy front putting Bollman’s kneecaps in jeopardy.
The angst kicked up a notch the following week as USC swallowed up the Buckeye line holding OSU to 88 rush yards on 2.9 per carry. While difficult to stomach, this failure went beyond the offensive line as USC smartly stacked the line daring Pryor to be a factor through the air. He wasn’t (11/25, INT). Play calling and getting plays in extremely late also led to a disjointed offensive effort across the board. Feeling is that it’s probably not safe for Jim Bollman to walk down High Street.
Weeks three, four and five saw the offensive line attack poor defensive teams in Toledo, Illinois and Indiana to the tune of a combined 231 average rush yards per game, good for 5.04 ypc, but those numbers did little to inject confidence in a fan base refusing to be fooled by good numbers against bad teams.
The following week against Wisconsin, in a weird 2nd half featuring a Ray Small KO Return for a TD and a Jermale Hines pick-six, the OSU offense didn’t even see the field until just two minutes remained in the 3rd quarter. That was probably just as well as the rushing attack wasn’t dismal but only managed 3.6 yards per carry on 27 totes for 97 yards. The line also gave up two sacks but most of the aftermath centered on the big plays and a 5/13 stinker out of Pryor. Bollman can walk High Street, but must do so before it gets dark.
Bollman’s brief respite in the shadows didn’t last long as his offensive line collapsed, in conjunction with Pryor, at Purdue Harbor. At the time, I referred to the o-line’s performance as a “steaming log” and seven months later it still seems on point. Purdue stacked the line but that wasn’t a completely valid excuse as missed one-on-one assignments, false start penalties and five sacks contributed to the Boiler jailbreak. Cordle looked crippled in his first game back from injury and Ballard also struggled mightily. Bollman is hung in effigy in the minds of many.
Trying to hang on to a season with the potential to spiral out of control, the schedule Gods did Bollman and company a favor in the form of Minnesota and New Mexico State. The thought was OSU had two games to find their offensive identity, get healthy up front and establish some cohesion for a line being maligned from coast to coast before closing the season with a final three of @ Penn State, Iowa and @ Michigan. Low and behold, the light turned on:
| Opponent | Attempts | Net Rush Yards | YPC | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 49 | 270 | 5.5 | 1 | New Mexico St. | 49 | 310 | 6.3 | 1 | Penn State | 49 | 228 | 4.7 | 0 | Iowa | 51 | 229 | 4.5 | 2 | Michigan | 53 | 251 | 4.7 | 3 |
As expected, the line controlled both the Gophers and Aggies rolling up 580 yards on the ground (5.92 ypc) as the Buckeyes got back to their power game roots. Those outings instilled some confidence internally and it showed as Ohio State wore down the PSU front seven in Happy Valley the following Saturday rushing for 228 yards even though the Lions knew it was coming. The Buckeyes ran on 25 of 27 first down plays and 49 of 66 total offensive snaps averaging 4.7 yards per rush in a physically dominating 24-7 victory. Bollman wasn't off the hook, however, because many wondered if Penn State was a paper tiger (they were) who had now lost to the only legit teams they had played.
Looking to lock up a trip to Pasadena, Bollman's boys stepped up again, this time facing Iowa, recording 229 yards (4.5 ypc) against a tough Hawkeye front seven led by Adrian Clayborn. Once again, the whole country knew what the Buckeyes were going to do on offense - OSU rushed on 51/68 snaps, or 75% - with Boom getting 32 carries for 97 yards and Saine going off for 11/103 and 2 TD. Saine's 49 yard burst to pay dirt skewed the YPC stats a tad but his run was made possible by a constant push up front that helped fatigue the Iowa defenders. Bollman can now visit a restaurant without fear of arsenic making its way into the salad dressing.
Poised to drop some corn on top of the turd-cake that was Michigan's '09 campaign, the Buckeyes racked up 251 yards (4.7 ypc) featuring two key drives directly after Michigan scores resulting in a 21-10 victory. After a Michigan field goal cut the OSU lead to 7-3, the line ignited a six play, 80 yard scoring drive featuring a 14 yard run by Saine on 1st down, a 25 yard gallop by Pryor on a textbook read/option triggered by a splendid kickout block from Stoneburner, and a 29 yard TD run by Saine around left end sprung by an excellent block from Cordle.
Later in the 3rd quarter, the line again helped OSU regain momentum immediately after a Michigan TD cut the Buckeye lead to 14-10. My comments in Five Things following the win sum up that drive:
"After an illegal block forced OSU to start at their own 11, the offensive line buoyed an 11 play, 89 yard TD drive taking over 5 minutes off the clock in the process allowing the Buckeyes to once again seize control of momentum – and a 21-10 lead. With the hogs opening lanes, Boom, Zoom and TP had gashes of 13, 17, 13, 12 and 23 yards before a perfectly executed – and unexpected – screen pass to Boom on 3rd and goal allowed him to find the endzone for the third time in 2 games against Michigan. The drive was straight up bully material thanks to spirited efforts from Cordle, Browning and Boren, in particular."
The win capped a five game rushing blitzkrieg that registered 1,288 yards (5.13 ypc) against defenses armed with the knowledge Ohio State was going to run the ball nearly 75% of the time. That impressive reality wasn't solely due to the resurgent (and more healthy) offensive line as both the emergence of Saine and Pryor's improved decision making were two major factors but even Bollman's biggest detractor would likely admit strides were made.
In the Rose Bowl, the line would help produce pedestrian rushing numbers as the Buckeyes installed a more balanced attack (51 rush, 38 pass) but they still stepped up when it mattered most - the 4th quarter. Leading 19-17 entering the final 15 minutes, Ohio State possessed the ball for 11:24 including a 13 play, 81 yard TD drive (TP's perfectly thrown back shoulder fade to Posey) that gobbled up 6:01 and gave OSU a 26-17 lead. Following an unconventional Oregon 3 and out (missed FG) Bollman's crew helped salt away the victory by running out the final 5:10 via nine straight running plays totaling 45 yards (3 1st downs) before taking a knee on two snaps to end it.
Now, Bollman's line heads into 2010 with lofty expectations. The group features seasoned vets like Boren, Brewster and Browning with Adams looking to finally lock down a spot and Shugarts hoping to build on his learnings of a season ago. Marcus Hall also lurks as a starter-quality player (wouldn't shock me to see him supplant Shugarts or Adams in due time) and younger guys like Mewhort and Linsley provide depth along with senior Miller. The rub is that inconsistent line play, especially in big games, looms large over the offense.
So what do you say? Is this the year the line lives up to the potential all season long or will it evolve into another year of line breakdowns and calls for Bollman to be removed?
Comments
There was an article on the o-zone I think last year defending Bollman...essentially saying that the quality of RB is just as imporant as the line (Basing his stats on Clarett's year vs the following year with basically the same line). Obviously this doesn't hold for pass pro. I think having a healthy Saine getting the bulk of the carries, those numbers increase even with the same line performance. Also, if TP emerges as the passer we're all hoping he can be, that opens up his scrambling lanes. And a few games were he is 6/72 on the ground can skew your stats pretty good.
The thing with coach Bolls is the players love him. Can you get rid of a guy that's so well liked by his own team? Also, I know you can't just point at a few suspects and extrapolate to the whole, but when do you start blaming the players? Brewster has come in and played very well given the circumstances. Then you hear stories of guys like Boone being lazy and drinking a 30 pack a day...guys like Adams getting into the reefer...these things aren't exactly performance enhancing drugs here.
I agree having saine healthy is huge. Did you see that little move he put up during the spring game on the outside run? It wasn't a HUGe run but showed his capability.And like the article says I didn't hear anyone calling out Bollman after the Granddaddy. They would have if we'd lost though.
As with any line in the Big Ten, there were also plenty of bumps and bruises to deal with. Cordle was nicked a lot and so was Boren. Hell, I think they all had some ailments taht limited play at times but again, that's what line depth is for in this conference.
No.
really hoping that Mike Adams can be an upgrade over Cordle. He was versatile, but pretty meh
I agree with TLB. Bollman is absolutely not off the hit list. Where's Al Pacino when you need him?
Anyway, I'd like to request that Chris & 11W take Pryor's rushing stats out of the picture and instead, add in QB hurries. I bet it'll look much more depressing and embarrassing. Bollman has proven that he can't get the job done and that his Linemen don't move on to succeed in the pros. The fact that he made the decision not to use the sled would make Woody roll over in his grave multiple times. If we didn't have Pryor back there to avoid sacks and make big runs, tOSU would be a middle of the pack Big Ten team.
Need I remind all of us of the days when Todd Boeckman had five matadors playing in front of him? Clearly, the move back to a quick-fire, spread offense is to HELP the ailing O-Line from having to block any longer than it CAN...
I thought this was the guy that some recruits don't even remember, let alone love. We might as well go hire another Video Coordinator to coach the O-line.
Fortune Cookie say: Fire Bollman.
Agreed, Oregon was running right around our line again. We had a nice gameplan to counter that but I would prefer actually being able to block someone then having a fancy gameplan.
I'm willing to say that a lot of the problems on the line at times last year were definitely health/injury related. They seemed to play very well going down the stretch. Flu and nagging injuries really impacted the line last year. You'll have that from time to time, but with individual imprevement and quality depth the line should be pretty good this year. Add to that, quality RB's and improved passing from the QB and this offesnee has the beginnings of a pretty nasty unit. Basically, if all the "Ifs" come together, Bollman is quite safe.
Against Oregon, that was the game plan though. Quick hits, quick passes, quick offense. It wasn't a game designed to have Pryor standing back in the pocket. I don't know if that is a "fancy" game plan but it was very well executed. If they would've lined up and crammed it down Oregon's throat you all would be beating up on Tressel and Bollman for playing too conservatively. It was a great game plan that caught Oregon off guard and worked perfectly.
This is the correct answer.
I agreewith the latter posters. Our offensive line is suspect. The Oregon game was won due to Pryor's scrambling ability and of course our defense. I can't remember the name of that DE that Oregon had but he was menacing Pryor the entire game especially the second half. I believe it was him who hurried Pryor in that throw to Ballard. (Which showed amazing talent on his part. I like Ballard and think he's going to be a great TE in the NFL that will use him)
Furthermore, it isn't the coaches resposibility to be liked by these kids. If you are liked then you must be too cozy and too friendly with their players. You must be respected. I think there is a business like mentality you can bring to the table. You can be personable and professional yet demand excellence. I look back on my days in the USMC and remember thinking my DI was a hard ass. After growing and seeing the need for his tactics I see how it benefitted me. This instills mental and physical toughness. I have no ideas how Bollman coaches or what his personality is like. I just read the initial comment about being liked and it sent my mind in a whole nother direction.
There's a quote from Brewster somewhere (trying to find it) where he basically says Bollman was the reason he came to OSU - and that it wasn't his fault that the line sucked. In that sense, you have to be liked by your players. I'm not saying they're friends, but like and respect are not mutually exclusive.
I'm also not stating all this to defend Bollman...just trying to throw all sides of the argument out there.
i am torn on Bollman...LeCharles Bently is completely sold on him...I do think much of the Olines problems is recruiting. The numbers had been down and depth was terrible. It seems the staff is trying to address this problem with more numbers. The last several years the line has had injuries that decimated cohesion with very little depth to take over. As far as the RB..rewatched it last night and the line played very well...Oregon stacked the line and came after Pryor hard. Cordle was the weak link. Oregon sold out to pressure Pryor and paid for it.
"...even Bollman’s biggest detractor would likely admit strides were made. "
OK, I admit that strides were made. But there will be no excuses this season. Injuries or no injuries, the line must perform well consistently. I would also like to see better blocking out of the TE's and WR's. In general, the team needs to learn how to block. It's more than just grabbing a guy and holding him, which seems to be how some coaches approach it.
Bollman still needs to go... he is not a consistent coach and his players still underachieve......
you cant mean that with all the guys he put in the league
I understand and I meant no inflammation when I replied. I do think that the players will take it upon themselves, a sense of accountability, instead of saying "Yeah, the coach screwed us". Not sure I have ever heard that while the kid was still enrolled in school. I don't know what to think because I am not the one coached by him. On that note of silliness-I bench 400+, squat 600+ and run about a 4.6. I do need to get my wind back and increase my endurance but I am 33 nearing 34. If the coaches want to take a chance on me I can give you guys my feedback from personal experiences!
I hear you, Joe. I personally wouldn't lose any sleep if Bollman was shown the door. I assume Petersen is probably being groomed for the job anyway since he took over the tackles. I bashed Bollman as much as anyone last year but I also can't say the rushing game resurrgence late last year was mostly Pryor as someone mentioned earlier. It will be interesting to see what this season brings. Considering the Fire Bollman chants could start as early as the Miami game, it might be a wild ride. Still, you gotta like having experienced upper classmen up front. No excuses indeed.
Hell no! One Rose Bowl victory does not correct a pattern of poor play from the offensive line stretching back years. Don't let a victory over Oregon cloud your judgement lest you forget Florida, LSU, USC et. al.
lol............. yea, I guess that is a good measuring stick.
Purdue, Penn State (multiple times), Illinois (x 2)..... just to name a few more.
No. Just no.
Quick - what's OSU offensive identity? What's it been since Troy Smith's been gone?
The fact that there's no answer to those questions is disturbing.
I think if you take a look at what worked in the Rose Bowl (combo of "Dave"/Power and zone-read formations and plays) you'll see that as the team's offensive identity this year.
I don't understand this "identity" thing. In theory, the best offense would be awesome at everything and therefore would have no identity. I understand that it's impossible to be great at everything and that an effective offense usually will need to practice and refine a few key base pieces at which they excel - i.e. take advantage of their strengths, hide their weaknesses, instill confidence through repitition, etc. But when you run into a defense that can hold its own, or even get an upper hand, and your offense's supposed "identity," you better be prepared to attack in other ways.
Identity is great if you sell breakfast cereals, or you're pulled over by a cop in AZ. On a football field, identity is what you use against Toledo and New Mexico State because that's all you need.
Great piece. Rose Bowl wins and conference championships often make us forget just how irritating the Buckeye offense was to watch. Bollman hasn't produced a truly great offensive lineman in about 5 seasons, and he's had an immense crop of talent at his disposal. He's got what was supposed to be the deadliest weapon to hit college football in half a century, and the kid cannot consistently throw for 150 yards, the offense is getting gobbled up against the elite, and the winning of conference titles has been because of a defensive monster coupled with a down Big Ten and Michigan.
The situation hasn't changed - Bollman is still my enemy #1 on the coaching staff. It's ridiculous that our offensive coordinator isn't turning over every 4 years to bring in fresh young minds to mix up what the offense can do. We've got a kid at QB that's supposed to be an unstoppable monster, but he looks like Craig Krenzel, and is getting sacked just as often.
As long as Bollman is in charge, this offense will not have the fire it takes to be a scoring machine. They will come out timid in the first 5 games, and we're going to wonder what the heck is going on.
Yeah, man. All those guys. Like Nick Mangold. And Rob Sims, newly a Detroit Lion.
Yep. All those guys.
Speaking as one of Bollman's biggest detractors, the answer is no. Do I think the guy should be fired? Not as badly as I did in 2008. That said, you can't draw many conclusions from a set of games that included rushing defenses like Oregon's and Michigan's (and, secretly, Iowa's, which was ranked just 8 spots above Oregon at season's end). Take away all those soft front sevens, and you have one solid, not spectacular outing against Penn State.
Pass pro has been, still was and will continue to be an issue. If Ohio State holds up in pass protection against an elite defensive line, I'll be convinced. Until then, Bollman's on the hot seat.
I don't think you have to worry about Bollman's ineffectiveness as OC. It seemed to me last year that Hazel kinda took over that role in game situations. The OL got it together on the running game for the last 3 Big Ten Games last year against 2 stout defences (scUM excluded). As usual pass protection basically sucked.
If the OL fails this year, I think Tress will ask JB to resign or retire and possibly offer him an office job. Hazel would be the OC and a kick-ass outsider (probably from Ohio) will be brought in to be the OLC.
We heard the exact same thing after the USC game in 2008, then again in 2009...that it will be Bollman's last year. Another offseason later and he's still here.
pic of d-lighty's foot post-surgery
http://tweetphoto.com/22970563
Looks like Duane Long has some explaining to do...
http://www.duanelongreport.com...
Do you think involving backs and TEs in the passing game a little more can relieve some pressure from the line and Pryor. I think defenses had an advantage by not concerning themselves with these secondary options in the past.
It is all Spring ball talk until we see it in the Fall, but Stoneburner and Z. Boren may do more to shore up pass-pro by catching some balls than staying in and blocking.
I concur.
What was the team's offensive Identity in 2002? The Troy Smith years the team was blessed with a great QB and loaded at WR. It was pretty easy to have an Identity.
yeah, but what about TJ Dow..... nevermind
Thanks for the link; never seen that post before. BTW, did Bollman ever go back to blocking sleds?
No question, I was scratching my head at the lack of outlet optons available to Pryor. During the final 5 game stretch was when Saine and Boren began to contribute to the passing game.
And that was the first time I ever sucked a ---- for crack!
nope.
next 2 years is the test for bollman. after this year's seniors, shugarts, brewster, adams, hall with linsley, mewhort, norwell backing them up is the most talent on an O line in the country,
they better perform like it
I have read through all of the posts and viewpoints.
When you have middle conference tier talent ... dominating top recruits, there is a problem.
There is a little known article chronicling the evolution/de-evolution of Bollman with the O-line alone.
Bollman is a problem. I prefer him replaced, but after last year and this year ... he will retire or get his arse fired upon Jim Tressel's resignation.
now that's funny hahhahaahhahhahah
Bollman is the perfect offensive coordinator for what Jim Tressel wants to do.
He's not off my list. He's old school. I'd like to say the offense learns and evolves every year and every off season, but I don't see it.
Unfortunately and fortunately, low risk/low reward football has worked out very well for Jim Tressel and Jim Bollman. That's just the way it is.
I still think there's some magical coordinator out there that can do what JT wants and still be brutally efficient (you know, reducing drops, helping blocking)on the field. I don't think it's Hazell either.
Link to the article?
If he was a solid 'old school' we would have a line with our running game.
Tressel's faith was shaken in Bollman considering he was only coaching the interior line last season and the tackles were left to the vest himself and another who escapes me.