2009 tOSU Offensive Line Discussion (official thread)

[snake charmer]

if the game was played today justin would be playing.......lets hope things stay the same and don't worsen on game day. hes had to play while sick before and can fight thru it.

 

[ant80]

The inconsistency is maddening. How is it that the OL, which withstood a far superior pass rush against USC, looked so pedestrian today? How is it that the same OL that was pretty bullish against Texas was mediocre against PSU and at USC last year?

 

[jlb1705]

the flu?

their only senior starter is still out with an injury?

 

[Buckeyecty4]

The inconsistency is maddening. How is it that the OL, which withstood a far superior pass rush against USC, looked so pedestrian today? How is it that the same OL that was pretty bullish against Texas was mediocre against PSU and at USC last year?

We didn't exactly light it up vs USC. That was a mediocre performance as well. It seems our standards have dropped so low, that putting up 200 yards against USC actually earned our line praise.

 

[ant80]

We didn't exactly light it up vs USC. That was a mediocre performance as well. It seems our standards have dropped so low, that putting up 200 yards against USC actually earned our line praise.

I wouldn't say the OL didn't play well against USC really. They at least neutralized the pass rush. Pryor generally had time to throw. That loss was on Pryor.

I sincerely hope its the flu.

 

[NateG]

I wouldn't say the OL didn't play well against USC really. They at least neutralized the pass rush. Pryor generally had time to throw. That loss was on Pryor.

I sincerely hope its the flu.

Inconsistancy is generally a byproduct of youth and not having the experience. My guess is it was due to other guys playing Wisky's pretty good D Line last year.

 

[1926Buckeyes]

Man, it couldn't be those 2 true sophomores getting their 3rd and 4th starts at the tackle position, could it? Nah, couldn't be.

 

[ant80]

Inconsistancy is generally a byproduct of youth and not having the experience. My guess is it was due to other guys playing Wisky's pretty good D Line last year.

Man, it couldn't be those 2 true sophomores getting their 3rd and 4th starts at the tackle position, could it? Nah, couldn't be.

It's not like the inconsistency is localized to this year. It has been a chronic problem. Luckily we pulled out with a W. May not be so lucky next time. I hope it is fixed.

 

[WaitingforKickoff]

You had Boren and Ballard, who's for all intent and purposes an extra tackle, battling all week with the flu. And you had arguably the best Tackle on the team out with the flu. Plus, the second best tackle is out with an injury. Good news is they should all be back for Purdue. Think of the depth chart:

LT: Miller/Adams
RT: Cordle/Shugarts/Hall

Hall also saw a lot of time out there, which should pay dividends later on. Adams, Shugarts and Hall are still very young players and will no doubt get better.

 

[Taosman]

Ugh! This week was a nightmare and we still survived! :tongue2:
The flu won't be such an issue starting next week and we'll get back on track.

 

[Buckskin86]

Ohio State Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel says team can't afford any misses on offensive line
By Doug Lesmerises
October 16, 2009

Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer
Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) speaks with offensive line teammates Bryant Browning (70), Mike Brewster (50), Justin Boren (65), and Mike Adams (75), during their game against Toledo. Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressel is concerned about the number of missed blocks by the offensive line.

Columbus -- On Ohio State's second drive against Wisconsin last Saturday, right tackle J.B. Shugarts whiffed on a block on second down and running back Brandon Saine was dropped for a 1-yard loss. On the next play, left tackle Mike Adams whiffed on a block and quarterback Terrelle Pryor was flushed and sacked before the play could develop.

"You need zero times where we just miss, where you allow someone to totally disrupt a play," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said Thursday when asked what he needs from his tackles. "So what we need from them is consistency, being square, and we can't miss men. If we lose a [pass-rusher] after a little bit, that's part of the deal. But we can't miss guys. I don't know how many of those we had, maybe three, but that's 10 percent of the plays we had. So obviously, we can't 10 percent of the time miss one."

Maybe this is a good time for some veteran tackles to be returning for the Buckeyes. Adams and Shugarts are only sophomores, and right tackle part-timer Marcus Hall is a freshman. In the absence of junior Andrew Miller and senior Jim Cordle, the young guys didn't lock away the tackle jobs, so as Miller and Cordle get healthy, it sounds like they'll take at least part of their jobs back.

Cordle, the former starting right tackle, has missed four games with an ankle injury and should play Saturday at Purdue. Tressel said Cordle has taken part in 90 percent of practices this week, working at both tackle spots and at center, where he's also a former starter.

"He looks to me like he's ready for more than half a game," Tressel said. "That's a huge bonus to have a guy like him."

Miller isn't that far along. He has missed two games with the flu and, according to Tressel, lost 18 pounds. He was sharing the left tackle spot with Adams before he went down.

"He doesn't have the stamina and the power that he had when he was healthy," Tressel said. "If he could help us, it would be a handful of plays."

Ohio State Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel says team can't afford any misses on offensive line | Ohio State Buckeyes - cleveland.com - - cleveland.com

OSU notebook: Cordle, Miller returning, but not at full strength
Friday, October 16, 2009
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

There's good news and light news concerning the Ohio State offensive line.

Coach Jim Tressel said yesterday that tackles Jim Cordle and Andrew Miller have returned to practice. Cordle, a senior who started at right tackle the first two games, has been out because of a foot/ankle injury. Miller, who started at left tackle the first three games, missed the past two weeks because of the flu.

But it's a different matter how much each will play Saturday at Purdue. Tressel said that Miller lost about 18 pounds during his illness.

"He doesn't have the stamina and the power he had when he was healthy," Tressel said. "If he can help us Saturday, it would be a handful of plays. But I expect that to come back fast."

Cordle is in much better shape, and "the beauty of him is he can play right tackle, left tackle, both guards and center," Tressel said. "He looks to me like he's ready for more than half a game and that's a huge bonus to have a guy like him."

J.B. Shugarts replaced Cordle in the third game, and Mike Adams replaced Miller in the fourth game -- although he and Miller had been sharing time before that. Freshman Marcus Hall has been playing more in relief of Shugarts the past two games.

Whether Cordle, a senior, will regain a starting job is unknown, but "he will probably spot at various places until he is 100 percent. Who knows, he could get into the game at a position and just go," Tressel said. "Down the road, I'm not exactly sure how it will go. But if we can play eight guys (in the line rotation), that really helps."

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/liv...0-16.ART_ART_10-16-09_C4_I8FCS7L.html?sid=101

 

[ysubuck]

Just re-watched the game from yesterday.

Pryor is taking his fair share of shots for the way he played and he should shoulder some of the blame for a completely impotent offense, but...

the offensive line laid down yesterday and that's something I didn't think I would see. For whatever reason the line just could not figure out what to do with the Purdue defense. Coach Hope said coming out at half time that they were sticking to their game plan after he was asked about half time adjustments. Why wouldn't he? The Ohio State offense was completely man handled by the Purdue defense. I've not seen an Ohio State line get beaten that badly in a long time. They looked lost and they looked soft. Not sure what coaches can do about that because you can't coach toughness.

This game is on the O line more than it is on Pryor.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

I haven't watched for this specifically, but I think what Purdue did was they sold out to keep Pryor inside the tackles. I'm becoming increasingly frustrated with Pryor always wanting to take things wide, particularly when he bounces scrambles outside for a 2 yard gain, or loss, when he could get 5 if he turns up. I think Purdue simply recognized this - did their best to force him inside - and reaped the rewards.

That said, on an incompletion in the 4th, I finally saw Pryor step up in to the pocket instead of bailing. He said it himself last week, I think, the "next time" he did that would be his first time. Well, now he's done it. I can only help he gets better at it. I don't know.. it's tough to get encouraged by an incomplete pass.. but.. I noticed.

 

[BuckeyeTillIDie]

Just re-watched the game from yesterday.

Pryor is taking his fair share of shots for the way he played and he should shoulder some of the blame for a completely impotent offense, but...

the offensive line laid down yesterday and that's something I didn't think I would see. For whatever reason the line just could not figure out what to do with the Purdue defense. Coach Hope said coming out at half time that they were sticking to their game plan after he was asked about half time adjustments. Why wouldn't he? The Ohio State offense was completely man handled by the Purdue defense. I've not seen an Ohio State line get beaten that badly in a long time. They looked lost and they looked soft. Not sure what coaches can do about that because you can't coach toughness.

This game is on the O line more than it is on Pryor.

These are my exact thoughts. The line play is just pathetic. Not only do they not execute well, but they also get more penalties than any other line I have seen.

 

[cbrian815]

We just seem so one dimensional on offense....why not send your DE`s wide if TP always wants to run wide. Then have your DT`s stay in their gaps and spy TP with a LB. USC showed it all 2nd half against us, Wisconsin did it and now Purdue.

How long until we figure out ways to beat it consistently and execute those plays.....our fakes and ball skills just don`t look right and only cost us more time...especially considering TP doesn`t have the luxury of a stable pocket.

One other thing I have watched a lot of teams roll the pocket to offset the pressure...run screens....and use quick slants...create a mismatch with your best playmakers. Our biggest plays yesterday were a up for grabs throw to two Wr`s....glad our guy caught it(playground play).....and a double move by Ray Small. I hope we figure this out soon because if not we are going to face the same defensive schemes for the remainder of TP`s career. Go Bucks