Going through an article I recently saw about our very own Mike Adams in the Sporting News, one line really stuck out at me:
One league source who has watched Adams at the Senior Bowl said he was "(better) this week than (on) film." Adams, the source said, is "a (horrible) technician but you can see he has a lot of ability."
The article then goes on to further quote this league source on the several other issues with his "horrible" technique. The Silver Bullet did a nice job going over Bollman's inadequacies in a "Letting the NFL Grade Bollman" two part series, but like Ramzy in his recent article, seemed to focus most on roster management as one of the primary deficiences to our OLine dilemma. I would argue that along with this, horrible coaching was the major culprit to such debacles as Braxton being sacked 6 times on 23 attempts in the Gator Bowl. Or Brewster's season long head bobs, or Shugart's not being able to count to two during his four years at Ohio State. Well, maybe not Shugarts inability to count to two - I'll blame the Texas educational system for that one. This all is not to say roster management (or lack there of) was not a factor, but rather not the greatest factor in our terrible lines the last howevermany years.
It stands to reason with much better coaching, along with filling the roster annually with 4-5 OLine studs, we should see some great improvements in this vital component of our beloved Buckeyes. I honestly can't wait to see the aclaim our new OLine coach can bring to this so very important unit (and the recruits that will flock seeing their predecessors jumping to the NFL on more than just God-given talent).
A part of me is going to miss the old 'Dozer though. I only hope that the BC fans can, in the months and years to come, appreciate the 'Dozer as much as we have, and still do. Even while some of the more sensible BC fans know the horrible hire Spaziani just made for the Eagles, you'll still find some sticking up for the hire (comments section, if you happen to look):
Do you guys ever stop? We hire the former O-Cood of a top 5 program, who has won NCs, and you guys find fault.
This along with another one of my favorite comments from the article:
This is an EXCELLENT Hire
Every team has their segment of “fans” who like to blame all the problems on one coach or player. Ohio State is no different.
Bollman was the whipping post for that bunch of “fans”.
Truth is, you cannot argue with 10 years of success. He is excellent at keeping fresh legs in the game, excellent at teaching (ask LeCharles Bentley, Michael Brewster etc), and he’s superb at working with other coaches.
He’s a team guy, and will dedicate his time 100% on Eagle Football.We have a good man now. (emphasis added)
Anyone else going to be visiting their blog on occasion for a little Bollman schadenfreude? I apologize for the long forum post that was supposed to be a quick "Hey look technique!" but I couldn't help but vent a little at what I see as bad teaching to go along with bad roster strategy. That and the BC fan's reactions were so damn cute I just had to share. Anyone with ND fans in the families (that they can put up with) who have heard some particularly good stuff on Warriner?
Bollman continuously coached down tremendously talented linemen. and yes, recruiting is not a perfect science. A guy can look great on film and not translate that to the next level. But how many absolute busts did we see on the o line especially who were supposed to be monsters? coaching is obviously to blame if you can't take someone with the physical tools and make them at least repectable offensive linemen. I'm not foolish enough to believe that his title as "offensive coordinator" during his tenure actually meant anything prior to last year. Tress called the plays, bollman sat in the press box and knitted him new sweater vests. And yes, undersigning at such a pivotal position group as the offensive line will no doubt leave our team at a disadvantage this year. Meyer did a nice job of securing a bumper crop of o linemen this year, and my hope is that our new OL coach can bring them into the fold and salvage what's left of a group that has been undercoached in previous years. There are talented linemen returning (mewhort, bobek, hall, linsley) and I'm sure they will be more than receptive to anything warriner has to say. I'm not going to blame last year on bollman...its not a fair judgement based on everything that happened. But I will blame the uncharacteristically bad o line play solely on him.
@ luckynutz "bollman sat in the press box and knitted him (Tress) new sweater vests" hahaha good one