• Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
  • Consider registering! Fewer and higher quality ads, no emails you don't want, access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Even if you just want to lurk, there are a lot of good reasons to register!

2006 Running Backs Discussion

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Sort by date Sort by votes
How many coaches would love to have this "problem?" "Wow, I have just too many quality running backs, oh wait a minute, I recurited them." My guess is that Tressel will have it figured out by next season. I am not sure what the idea was behind it, whether some of them were "insurance" or not, but I'll bet he knows. I don't see Pittman losing his job at all at any point during the season, barring injury. I don't care how much potential C. Wells shows, he won't be the starter. He may look good before the season starts, but Tressel takes calculated risks and until Wells gets into games, nobody knows what he is going to be like. Pittman's job is safe.
I am just astounded at what is being put together here at our beloved university. We are once again reclaiming our rightful place as the "elite."
 
Upvote 0
Tressel is a very loyal based coach. He has been loyal to his seniors and loyal to the guys he feels work the hardest. Remember the Smith/Zwick situation. Even when Zwick began struggling he stuck with his man. It wasn't until Zwick hurt his shoulder that Smith got in. At that time he proved enough to keep his spot. Then he got in trouble. Zwick was the man again and at the beginning of the year he started while Smith served game 2 of his suspension. Then when Smith was eligible he still started Zwick against Texas. Even though Troy screwed up, we all knew he was the better QB. From Tressel's point of view he knew the same but the fact he did screw up allowed him to let Justin start and see what he could do. He wasn't going to punish Justin by giving Smith the ball again as soon as he came back. He gave him a shot. I think you're going to see a similar situation. Pittman had a HELL of a year and Tressel will honor that. He rewards good performance and Antonio has done just that. The job will be his to lose. I will be honest, before this year I questioned Pittman's ability to be the premier back for us. He certainly proved me wrong and I'm glad he did. Although Troy had an excellent year and once again led us past scUM. I still have to give the offensive MVP of the year to Pittman. Because of what needed to be done this year and how he stepped up. Last year this time we were hoping someone would step up and run the ball. This year we don't have to worry about that and it feels great. If it were any one but Chris Wells I'd say redshirt them next year and he can get more carries the next...but it IS C. Wells. People are going to want to see him play and he will play. I'm looking at a Bush/White combo where both get over 1,000 yards next year. Originally I thought Pittman would get about 1500 and Wells maybe 500. Then I watched him earlier today. WOW. I can't wait.
 
Upvote 0
I've been to dingsville on this subject too often. Pittman certainly had fine games against Michigan and Notre Dame and anyone who ends a Big 10 season with 1100 yards is a quality back.

The question seems to me to come down to what was so wrong with the beginning of the season? Was Smith given no reps during his suspension? When Smith got things going, Pittman and the running game came around. Tressell certainly turned the offense over to Smith asap and that makes me wonder why the offense took so long to jell this year.

Anybody who saw the team practice between the Alamo Bowl and the start of the season got any answers?
 
Upvote 0
I think JT and staff need to spend some time out USC way and get some ideas on how they used White and Bush together so well because thats the type of scenario we have now with C Wells coming in. OSU's switch to spread philosophies has been effective and seems to be a fundamental change based on the type of backs they have been recruiting. Now along comes an old fashioned true power I back with rare talent.

Very, very ineteresting to see how this plays out to me.

Do we find a way to use him within the current spread offensive schemes?

Can a big Power I guy like him flourish in the spread?

Is he so good you go back to more of a power I attack?

Does JT's natural inclination to run, run and run to control a game take over ,especially with souch a young Defense, and make the offense more 2002 than 2005?

There are going to be so many questions this off season and so many things to watch play out in 2006. For me personally its like pre season 2002 in the great unknown regard.
 
Upvote 0
ohiostate=life said:
Tressel is a very loyal based coach. He has been loyal to his seniors and loyal to the guys he feels work the hardest. Remember the Smith/Zwick situation. Even when Zwick began struggling he stuck with his man. It wasn't until Zwick hurt his shoulder that Smith got in. At that time he proved enough to keep his spot.
Click to expand...

Actually, Tressel said he would've plugged Smith in as the starter after the Iowa game even if Zwick didn't get hurt...other than that, you're spot on about Tressel and his loyalty.
 
Upvote 0
It goes:
Pittman
M. Wells
Haw
.
.
.
.
C. Wells

Chris looked very good today and is a heck of a talent, but has not yet spent a day as a college student. Let him bust his butt doing everything and more than the coaches ask of him, most importantly in the classroom, before he earns his way into the lineup.
 
Upvote 0
Well you kinda have to believe C.Wells will have a definate role in this offense. When you have Chris's size, strength, speed, and vision your warrented ATLEAST 5-8 carries a game. I truely believe next year tressel will lean heavily on chris and tony. Why would tress run one into the ground with 30 carries a game when he can distribute the ball to another back who's going to be a monster? If C wells doesn't get the ball around 10 times a game he's been wasted IMO. Just imagine how devistating it would be to be stopping Pittman in the 4th quarter only to have a huge 235 pound running back slash through a defense. I believe He'll use C.Wells to soften a defense up, and Tony will be just as punishing. I believe Tony/Chris compliment each other and its going to be nearly impossible to stop both chris/tony not to mention a 210 pound Troy Smith.

In the end I see Pittman starting and getting 20 carries a game, and Chris with about 15 carries a game. You have to remember we have tremendous talent at reciever also so we'll pass the ball 20 times a game as well. It'll be a thing of beauty watching our play action pass next year!! This offense is STACKED.
 
Upvote 0
3yards' point is spot on...only 3 other frosh/sophs having broke a grand before Pittman shows us just what we have. In 2003 and most of 2004 we were concerned about a distinct lack of a running game. Now we'll have one of the better running games in the country. Granted, it may not be "showcased" like some others because our offense will emphasize balance so that running and passing compliment and enhance each other, but it will be one of the best nonetheless...
 
Upvote 0
BigSlick said:
I totally forgot about our empty hole at returner next year. That will be a fantastic spot for Haw and or M. Wells to see the ball next season. Nice call sandgk
Click to expand...

what about gonzo? i like the idea of haw/m wells as returners, but i think gonzo is gonna get the other spot. but what the heck, i'd love to see any of them as returners
 
Upvote 0
3yardsandacloud said:
Just some food for thought.

IIRC, only 2 sophomores and 1 freshman have ever broken 1000 yards rushing at Ohio State.

Archie, Keith and Maurice.

Kind of puts Pittman in a different light huh?
Click to expand...

Indeed it does. He's also made it easy to forget that our leading rusher in 2004 was Lydell Ross with a meager 475 yards on the season. Pittman's getting it done, and I think his production can only increase in an offense that has a chance to come firing out of the gates this coming season.
 
Upvote 0
I don't see it as who is going to get more time than the other, I see it as who will be used in which situations. With C. Wells' size and speed, why not use him as a hybrid-FB in short yardage situations or when the opposing teams d-line is suspect and pounding them up the middle would get huge yardage? Pittman himself said that next year the goal was to have two 1,000 yard rushers at Ohio State. While I don't see C. Wells as getting 1,000 as a frosh, I would see him getting something like 500-600 but with a lot of TD's.

Either way, this is a sweet argument to have..."We got so much depth in skill positions! Aaaaahhhh!"
 
Upvote 0
OSU_Fan14 said:
what about gonzo? i like the idea of haw/m wells as returners, but i think gonzo is gonna get the other spot. but what the heck, i'd love to see any of them as returners
Click to expand...

We already let Gonzo return a few punts this year in garbage time...I think Haw and Gonzo would be great kickoff returners. But, you gotta have Ginn back there as primary, so the question is who the guy who is his return partner...Gonzo, Haw, or someone else?
 
Upvote 0
Obviously Ginn will still be on both KR and PR. So as Mili suggested who is his counterpart? Gonzo did get a few chances this year but I don't think he's going to be the man. I just don't have a gut feeling telling me it will be Gonzo or C. Wells. As tempting as it is to put Wells back there...I'm just not feeling it. Something tells me it will be Haw. He was listed as the fastest Buckeye this year and if Pittman and Wells soak up the reps in the backfield as we all think they will, Haw's role running the ball could be even less then it was this year. Haw is fast...Ginn is fast...this might be Haw's only chance to shine next year in an area (special teams) we all know Tressel takes seriously.
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top