2008 Ohio State Offense

[DaddyBigBucks]

Cordle did say after the game that he helped Brew out with the calls.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

I think that loyalty is an important human quality and the trait of an exceptonal leader but exceptional leaders also know when to make professional decisions about staffing.

always be loyal but never to a fault

The Ohio State offense or defense has not performed up to expectations this year. Were expectations for a top 5 finish realistic? I think so. Can those expectations still be achieved? Possibly.

remeber the story of john wooden and his 1975 team after the national championship game, the fan who ran past him and patted him on the back, "coach you reallylet us down last year" as the team celecrated a title, that was 10 of the last 12 titles. and 8 of 9. or the story of the pacific ocean being a disappointment...

 

[osugrad21]

DDN

Wells-Pryor backfield is 'scary'

OSU's starting tailback expected back on the field for Big Ten opener against Minnesota.


Associated Press

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

COLUMBUS ? Tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells is likely to return to action for No. 14 Ohio State against Minnesota on Saturday.
"It adds to our arsenal," coach Jim Tressel said Tuesday, Sept. 23, shortly after declaring Wells is probable for Saturday's game.
Wells has been out since injuring his right foot early in the second half of the Buckeyes' opening victory over Youngstown State. Dan Herron has been the tailback in victories over Ohio and Troy and a lopsided loss at top-ranked Southern California.
Even though freshman Terrelle Pryor threw four touchdown passes last week in his debut as a starter against Troy, the offense has been erratic since Wells was hurt.
Against Troy, the Buckeyes led just 14-10 heading into the fourth quarter before punts downed deep inside the 20 helped Ohio State set up two short touchdown drives to pull away for a 28-10 victory.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Buckeyes welcome return of Wells Recovering from toe injury, running back expects to play in Big Ten opener against Gophers
By Rusty Miller
Associated Press

Published on Wednesday, Sep 24, 2008
COLUMBUS: Another week, another major change for the Ohio State offense.
A week after installing freshman Terrelle Pryor as the starting quarterback, it appears the 14th-ranked Buckeyes will welcome the return of tailback Chris ''Beanie'' Wells when they host Minnesota in the Big Ten opener for both teams.
''It adds to our arsenal,'' coach Jim Tressel said Tuesday, shortly after announcing that Wells was probable for the game Saturday.
Wells has been out of action since injuring his right foot early in the second half of the season-opening victory over Youngstown State. Dan Herron has been the tailback in victories over Ohio and Troy and a lopsided defeat at top-ranked Southern California.
The Ohio State offense needs a boost. Even though Pryor tossed four touchdown passes last week in his debut as a starter, the offense has been erratic ever since Wells left. Against Troy, the Buckeyes led
just 14-10 heading into the fourth quarter before punts downed deep in Trojans territory helped Ohio State win the field-position battle. The Buckeyes had two short touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to pull away, 28-10.
Pryor gives the Buckeyes a mobile, shifty quarterback who can avoid a collapsing pocket and transform a loss into a gain. He escaped from severe pressure on several occasions to frustrate Troy defenders and perpetuate drives.
Cont..

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

OHIO STATE FOOTBALL
With Wells probable, offense is formidable

Wednesday, September 24, 2008 Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter

Columbus- Beanie Wells' injured right foot helped kick-start the Terrelle Pryor era at Ohio State. Now, the Buckeyes are ready to find out what a run/pass quarterback and a speed/power running back sharing the field can do for an offense ranked 10th in the Big Ten.

After watching Wells stand on the sidelines for three games, OSU coach Jim Tressel on Tuesday deemed his No. 1 running back "probable" for Ohio State's game against Minnesota on Saturday.
Other offensive players raved about his practice this week. Left tackle Alex Boone said Wells was cutting in a way that it was not apparent he was injured. Left guard Jim Cordle explained how Wells went so hard in practice Monday he ran up Cordle's back several times.
"I feel like he'll play this week," Cordle said. "He probably won't play as much as he wants to play, but he's definitely going to get carries."
So, the junior (a preseason Heisman favorite) and the freshman (a recruiting phenom) had better gain some familiarity. So far, they have shared the field for just three snaps, all in the first half against Youngstown State in the season opener, when Pryor came in for the game's third series before Wells went down.
Pryor completed one pass, ran the option with Wells and kept it for a 2-yard gain, then looked deep before hitting Wells with a 2-yard swing pass. And just like that, it was over. But now it's back. Cordle, for one, figures to see a new-look offense that features both a Wells power inside game from the I-formation and a Pryor spread attack opening up the field. And then . . .
"You run the zone read with Beanie and Terrelle, and who are they going to defend?" Cordle said of opposing defenses.
"Scary," said OSU safety Kurt Coleman. "Scary."

Cont..

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Tressel feels it's time for Ohio State to get offensive
Thursday, September 25, 2008
BY RUSTY MILLER
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBUS The most important numbers attached to a football team make up its record.

No. 14-ranked Ohio State is 3-1 in that regard.

But four games into the season the Buckeyes are way, way down the list when it comes to the numbers that make up most NCAA offensive categories.

They stand No. 92 in total offense, 56th in rushing and are 104th (of 119 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision, or Division I-A) in passing. Averaging 25 points a game, the Buckeyes rank 73rd in the nation.

Offensive tackle Alex Boone said he wasn't a bit surprised that Ohio State is ranked so low in those key statistical categories.

"Would it surprise me? No. I don't want to make excuses," he said this week during preparations for Saturday's Big Ten opener against Minnesota. "Obviously, we just haven't been playing well."

Then he did offer an excuse, albeit an understandable one that plays tailback, stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 237 pounds.

"You lose Beanie and a lot of the rushing yards kind of fall down," he said. "I know that we need to pick it up on offense. We're hurting our defense. We've got to keep going."

The Buckeyes have been in a three-game swoon offensively ? ever since they lost tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells to a foot injury midway through their season opener.

Part of the problem has been the transition to unproven redshirt freshman Dan Herron as Wells' replacement. Part of it is the even bigger transition from fifth-year senior Todd Boeckman at quarterback to even more unproven freshman Terrelle Pryor. The wide receivers, thought to be a major strength of the team, have gotten off to a slow start with several dropped passes. Topping it all off, the line has been porous at times.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Scout$-OSU Offensive Identity Becoming Clear

Various players discuss the offensive identity...pounding the run.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Ohio State football: Do the Buckeyes need a passing game?

by Doug Lesmerises Wednesday October 01, 2008, 1:51 PM

Marvin Fong/ The Plain DealerIf Terrelle Pryor can do this, do the Buckeyes need to throw it?


Jim Tressel wants better production from his passing game. But does he really need it?

Through five games, the Buckeyes have thrown almost the same number of passes from a year ago, just nine fewer, and have completed almost the same number, just seven fewer, but look at the yardage.

"I think a lot of it is based on how the game is going and what defenses are doing," receiver Brian Robiskie said. "I think last year we were able to get behind some defenses because how they were playing our run game. We've had a couple shots (this year) but I think they're basing things on how defenses are playing us."

Ohio State has 312 fewer passing yards compared to this point last season, averaging 6 yards per attempt compared to 7.9 yards per attempt a year ago.

Continued............

 

[Buck Kid 66]

They still need some improvement in the red zone. Need to start getting more TD's and kicking less field goals.

 

[TP=AMAZING]

Someone picture a fake option pass. That has homerun play all over it because u have to respect Tp and Benie running ability.

 

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

Ohio State football: Opponents face a difficult option
Pryor can hold ball, or pitch to Wells
Tuesday, October 7, 2008 3:08 AM
By Tim May


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
As Ohio State ran its most important play yet this season, Wisconsin's Jay Valai looked into the teeth of two charging invaders and made a snap decision. He went after the king.
That is, he went after Ohio State tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor, running the option, not only understood, he had counted on Valai going after Wells.
"Man, he's a big beast," Pryor said of Wells. "On his arm he's got a (tattoo of a) lion biting a football and he has 'King of the Jungle' under it.
"He's the king of the jungle, I promise you that."
While Valai flashed outside to take out the king, Pryor, the fresh prince, tucked the ball and cut up 11 yards for the go-ahead touchdown Saturday in the Buckeyes' 20-17 win.
"I saw Beanie right there and I saw someone cutting, so I thought, 'I'm going to give him a pump fake just to make sure he goes and hits Beanie,' " Pryor said. "I pumped it and just saw a free lane."
Cont...

 

[Buckrock]

They still need some improvement in the red zone. Need to start getting more TD's and kicking less field goals.

Agreed, but Tress will take the points anytime he can get them.

 

[NightmaresDad]

Agreed, but Tress will take the points anytime he can get them.

yeah, but 1 TD (& ex pt) > 2 FGs

i.e. if you sell out to score TDs, and are only successful half the time, you still come out ahead of settling for three every time.

I know that's not a realistic scenario, just making a point.

First and goal from the three, we need to be able to run plays that eventually will get it in, even though the defense knows what's coming.

Woody was the least imaginative coach of all time inside the ten yard line - but I'll bet he had a higher TD / FG ratio than just about anybody else, too.

Bottom line is, we need to execute our plays better in the red zone, and they will be successful. then you don't have to trick or outsmart your opponent. You just beat them.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Not gonna criticize Tress and the offensive play calling because it comes down to execution of the play that is called...

But when we are on the 3 yard line we gotta score...We have Beanie Wells, there is no reason to line up in the gun...Hand the ball to Wells 4 times or QB sneak it...

I hate the idea of running outside inside the 5 because you have the opportunity to lose yardage...

Also I think at times we are getting a little too cute so to speak...Just make the play, decide who is taking the ball out to the triple option, and not try to make every play the perfect play...

Same with throwing the ball...Make the easy play...Go for the big one if it is the easy play...When teams are stacking the box the ability to get deep is much easier...

WR's need to hang on to balls, still need some work on routes to tighten them up, and need some work on timing with Pryor in and out of breaks...They are on the same page in terms of getting open when Pryor is running around back there...

Would like to see a couple WR screens with Hartline and Small instead of Robo...

 

[daveeb]

We're we implementing elements of the West Coast Offense with Todd Boeckman? The first drive was clearly practiced and repeated over and over. We often times would run on 3rd down. And, aside from the fact that we did use the run to open up the pass, our passing plays were rather consistent and sometimes for short yardage. Just a thought.

We still seem to practice the first drive and it's set of plays until it's at perfection. Sometimes, I feel like that hurts our abilities throughout the game.