2008 tOSU Special Teams discussion (official thread)

[Buck68]

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Yeah, I figured you for a soccer coach. :tongue2:
Your definition of plenty is an "unlimited number"?
Plenty as in: more than enough to complete the taask - one way or the other.

So...you know how much you need in each case, for an entire group of individuals, in an ongoing, competitive game? You're way past JT....

Trust as in - the coach is confident that he will do it and do it well.

perhaps listening to what JT says about building a relationship, and observing how he disciplines directly and through peer discipline...might help replace this confident assertion by you about how Coach works.

Yeah, that TG II as a freshman thing on special teams was a real let down, wasn't it? He wasn't ideal for the job either.

I wasn't in a discussion about let downs. Yes, no man is an ideal. It is a most common JT attitude that his players need to focus on getting better each day.

Once again, I use the word ideal as an adjective, and your argument uses it as a noun.
For all your fancy schmancy posting, you don't seemt o comprehend plain english.

aw, shucks.

Waht Buckeye mantras do you think exist? Is one "no freshman can possibly be the most able for a particular task?" I guess I missed that one.

Yes, so far you've missed ...this area.

 

[NightmaresDad]

So...you know how much you need in each case, for an entire group of individuals, in an ongoing, competitive game? You're way past JT....

Each coach has his own barometer. I certainly have one and I'm positive JT has a better one.
But to answer your question......yes.

perhaps listening to what JT says about building a relationship, and observing how he disciplines directly and through peer discipline...might help replace this confident assertion by you about how Coach works.

WTF?

I wasn't in a discussion about let downs. Yes, no man is an ideal. It is a most common JT attitude that his players need to focus on getting better each day.

Again - what don't you get?
Because an athlete has an ideal skill set for a position/task is not the same as saying he doesn't need to practice and improve at said position/task.
Get a freakin' clue.

Yes, so far you've missed ...this area.

Initializing Ignore function......Now.

 

[BB73]

Initializing Ignore function......Now.

That should work well for you, since he's been banned.

 

[Buckskin86]

The team was working on special teams in this first practice, partially in response to their disappointing special teams play last year. Asked about probable returners, where an upgrade is needed, Tressel first mentioned running backs Brandon Saine and Dan Herron as kick returners and receiver Ray Small as a punt returner.

Ohio State football: Terry at fullback fulltime - Buckeye Blog by The Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises - cleveland.com

 

[Buckskin86]

OSU notebook: Tressel addresses not-so-special teams
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
By Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Whatever new offensive wrinkles or defensive schemes Ohio State might be working on were put on ice yesterday. They can wait.

The first practice of the 2008 season was devoted to something coach Jim Tressel considers much more important: special teams.

The offensive linemen and quarterbacks worked on individual drills, but every other player reported for special teams duty under a hot, late-afternoon sun.

"It's a little bit different, but it's an emphasis that we feel as if we need," Tressel said.

Last season, the Buckeyes were uncharacteristically average in that area. The punt coverage team ranked sixth nationally, but it was the only special teams unit in the top 30.

Kickoff returns in particular were brutal. The Buckeyes were 117th out of 119 teams in the country, averaging 17.7 yards a return. It was the fourth straight season the kick returns have slipped, from a 23.7 average in 2004 to 23.4 in '05 and 21.7 in '06.

"We were last in the world," Tressel said, adding that assistant coach Darrell Hazell had just been talking about those struggles, "with our young champions."

The sarcasm was thick.

BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : OSU notebook: Tressel addresses not-so-special teams

 

[Taosman]

"We were last in the world." Yes! Very puzzling for a Tressel coached team.

 

[maximumblitz]

Ginn only returned one punt for TD in last season

I am wondering if the punt return game has more systemic problems.

I expected Ted Ginn to return many punts for TDs during his last season, but if I remember correctly, he only returned one. The one he returned was when the other team was backed up against their goal line with less than the normal room to punt, so it was a bad punt

Than means problems were surfacing even way back then that were masked by Ted Ginn's talent.

 

[Bestbuck36]

We had no problems returning punts when Teddy was here. After his sophomore season they were kicking the ball away from him as in directional kicks more often than not. There were a few games where the punter just kicked it straight out of bounds for a 20 yard gain just so he didnt have to kick to Ted.

Last season we struggled a bit but Hartline did return that one punt to the house for 89 yards or so. I actually would like to see us try and block more kicks this season than we have in the recent past.

 

[generaladm]

Regarding Ginn, I don't think the blocking for him was significantly better, he had several big returns called back on penalties that wouldn't have had in impact on the play. Ginn's speed made it hard for defenders to get an angle on him, and if he could get a seam, he was gone. It's hard to pinpoint where the problem lies, but I think the front line needs to hold their blocks better. There are too many times when the returner has guys in his face as soon as he catches the ball. If the returner has no chance to accelerate before making a move, there's not much chance for a big return. Hartline's return was against Kent State, 'nuff said.

I agree with BB36 about going for blocks. I've been watching some 98 games recently, and they were very aggressive. A lot of starters were on the block unit. With this teams depth, we should be able to put some gunners out there without taxing the starters. I don't think Tressel's big on selling out for blocks, but if we're not getting returns anyway, what's the harm?

 

[DaytonBuck]

I hope Saine and Flash get a chance to return kicks and punts. If the coaches want to get Brandon some more touches this is a good way to do it. If Maurice Wells, who I like, is returning kicks I'm afraid our return game won't be much better.

 

[generaladm]

scout.com (free) article by Adam Jardy on the 2008 kick scrimmage.

Scout.com: High Stakes For Annual Kick Scrimmage

 

[jwinslow]

Gallery: Kick Scrimmage + Practice

Usual drill, pics are uploading and being edited... lots of shots of offensive players, including 1v1s, option drill, and other shots that were not available to us from monday's practice (had to stay in the south endzone).

 

[Taosman]

I love this first set of pictures, Josh. Love the individual action shots.

 

[jwinslow]

Thanks, there's some good 1v1 action coming up, sparring back and forth (WR-DB).

Today was a pleasure, food beforehand (and during), access to roam all around (other than 1 team sideline), and photos at a kick scrimmage (with 1.5 hrs of regular play to boot).

 

[jwinslow]

Man-child