2018 tOSU Offense Discussion

[bukIpower]

Also, for all the talk about LB core being biggest issue, I still say that replacing the 2 most important positions on the O Line in the same year is absolutely something to worry about.

I dont think we will have an issue at LB personally. Borland helped our play a ton and we have a great deal of depth with Werner, Hilliard, Browning, Harrison,Booker, Jones and or course Borland. Also we can go 5 DBs to limit our exposure if there isnt improvement.

Im mildly concerned about the OL. We have a ton or depth but we just dont have that 1-2 starters we know will be rocks. Sure Prince did well last year but hes not quite like Decker. If our OL is just average we will be very good and if theyre elite we will be unstoppable.

 

[scarletngray]

Agree on the LB's.
I feel good about the OL. Prince, Jordan and Munford are all going to be better this year. We get Bowen back which will be an upgrade at RG. You may remember that last year when Bowen won the RG position that Urb said it wasn't even close. We should be significantly better on the right side. Taylor, though not spectacular, is solid and is a Senior. And who knows, he might just surprise.
We also have depth behind the starting unit. Methinks we will be very good upfront.

 

[bukIpower]

Agree on the LB's.
I feel good about the OL. Prince, Jordan and Munford are all going to be better this year. We get Bowen back which will be an upgrade at RG. You may remember that last year when Bowen won the RG position that Urb said it wasn't even close. We should be significantly better on the right side. Taylor, though not spectacular, is solid and is a Senior. And who knows, he might just surprise.
We also have depth behind the starting unit. Methinks we will be very good upfront.

Our depth is certainly better up front I agree... so theres reason to be optimistic but I would be shocked if we are as good as last year.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Our depth is certainly better up front I agree... so theres reason to be optimistic but I would be shocked if we are as good as last year.

The most important position in all of the team sports is the QB. The potential is there to be a lot better than last year; however, being better than last year is ultimately going to come down to how the QB (i.e. Dwayne Haskins) plays.

 

[RhodeIslandBuck]

Imagine this offensive line:

LT: Munford 6'6
LG: Pridgeon 6'7
C: Jordan 6'7
RG: Bowen 6'7
RT: Prince 6'7

Absolute mammoths.

 

[scarletngray]

Our depth is certainly better up front I agree... so theres reason to be optimistic but I would be shocked if we are as good as last year.

Well we will be better on the RHS. We could be just as good on the LHS. Munford is going to be special and Jordan is a year better. The drop off will be at Center.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Competition for the X receiver spot will only help Mack, Victor

They say competition breeds success, but it can also lead to animosity. When teammates are fighting for the same position, they can handle it one of two ways, either use it to motivate them or have it create issues. Ideally, teams want the former.

A good example is right here at Ohio State. Austin Mack was a four-star wide receiver according to the 247Sports Composite. He was ranked the ninth-best wide receiver out of Fort Wayne, Indiana in the 2016 class and committed to play for the Buckeyes. In that same class, Ohio State also landed a four-star receiver out of Pompano Beach, Florida in Binjimen Victor. He was ranked the 12th best receiver in the class by the 247Sports Composite.

It's not uncommon for a program like the Buckeyes to sign two talented receivers in one class, but Mack and Victor came in together knowing they were going to be vying for the same position. As the two players head into their junior years, that competition for the Scarlet and Gray's X receiver continues.

"The thing is, even though it's a competition, we're pushing each other to beat each other," Mack told Bucknuts about himself and Victor. "I want him to be so good that I've got to work even harder to make sure he doesn't beat me out or vice versa. And it's so great having that competition."

While the competition may be great, the results haven't quite been there for either player over their first two years. Since Michael Thomas' 56-reception, 781-yard, nine-touchdown season of 2015, Ohio State hasn't had an elite X receiver. Noah Brown looked like he would fill Thomas' shoes after he left for the NFL, but he barely caught half as many passes as Thomas did the year prior.

As freshmen, Mack and Victor, who are both are built to play the X role, combined for just six catches for 79 yards and one touchdown. Victor went on to have the better sophomore season with 23 receptions for 349 yards and seven touchdowns, but that wasn't much greater than Mack's 24 catches for 343 yards and two scores. The two players, like all three of the receiver positions, were rotated, meaning neither saw a major number of the snaps at the X spot like Thomas or Brown did before them. While it seems like getting most of the workload would benefit young players still trying to establish themselves, Mack says that just not the Ohio State way.

"I think what Coach Meyer wants is two guys that can go into any situation, no matter what the circumstances are, and be able to compete at a high level. So that's what we want," he explained.

Entire article: https://247sports.com/college/ohio-...y-help-Austin-Mack-Binjimen-Victor-120476830/

 

[LovelandBuckeye]

This covers both offense and defense but thought it fit better here since they say QB won't be as good as last year.

Most of the year, the only way you’ll hear coaches publicly discuss other teams is with glowing praise, as a tactic to keep their own charges focused. But to set the table for the 2018 college football season, we asked opposing coaches most familiar with the top 20 teams in SI’s preseason rankings for a more forthcoming breakdown of what makes each squad so good—and where each might be vulnerable.

The coaches quoted below were granted anonymity in exchange for their candor in assessing teams that could loom large on the upcoming season’s schedule. What follows is the result of that candor: unfiltered takes on the national title contenders, superstars and coaches everyone will be talking about when the season kicks off on Labor Day Weekend.

OHIO STATE
The program is in turmoil entering the season because it’s unclear whether Urban Meyer will remain as coach, but talentwise, this team is stacked.... The biggest question is at quarterback, where they have to replace J.T. Barrett. In relief last year, Dwayne Haskins made some good throws, and he was athletic getting out of the pocket. He’s not as good as Barrett, but he’s not going to hurt the team. ... He will have some big-time weapons. J.K. Dobbins is one of the best running backs in the country, and they’re loaded at wideout. Austin Mack was Ohio State’s best offensive player against USC in the Cotton Bowl, and he has the physical ability to win one-on-one battles. Johnnie Dixon isn't a high volume guy, but he has big-play potential. ...


There are blue-chippers everywhere on this defense. Safety Jordan Fuller emerged as a star last year. He anchors what should be a shutdown secondary. ... You could make an argument that this defensive line is just as good as Clemson’s. Nick Bosa and Chase Young are headed for the NFL. ... I have some concern because of inexperience at linebacker, but otherwise the defense is one of the best in the country.

https://www.si.com/college-football...ing-reports-clemson-alabama-michigan-oklahoma

 

[ScriptOhio]

WHEN EXPECTATIONS ARE HUGE, THE FIRST FULL SEASON FOR A QUARTERBACK HELPS DETERMINE THEIR FATE

The first year of a college quarterback's career is probably my favorite. There is a beautiful mixture of hope, optimism, and a dash of Baby Huey involved that can pretty much be summed up like "no no no no what are you doing for the love of GOD oh wait WAIT" and then your brain explodes because something you've never seen before just happened.

You know, like this:



We shrug off the fact that that was one of only seven completed passes Braxton Miller threw that day (and the touchdown alone accounted for almost half of his 89 total passing yards), because... who cares? It was an awesome, game-winning indicator that Braxton is cool and good and Ohio State football was going to be fun to watch with him at the helm.

We got some of that last season with Dwayne Haskins, via a Backup Steps Up to the Plate Against Michigan scenario that I feel like we've seen play out way too many times lately. With J.T. Barrett hurt, all Haskins did was lead Ohio State to a come-from-behind victory while completing six of seven passes for 94 yards.



It was a great performance and might've been the clincher that put him firmly ahead in the starting quarterback race for 2018.

Before we get to that, however, I should tell you about how once upon a time I used to deliver auto parts in the summer to make money for college. Rotors, mostly, but also brake pads and spark plugs and whatever else was lurking in our store room.

It was a pretty good job, and I liked it, but because this was southwestern Ohio and home to the agressively contrarian sports fan, I also worked with some guys who were all about Michigan.

This led to what was the absolute dumbest argument of my entire life (and I once had an hour long argument about whether tiramisu is cake or not. Which for the record it definitely is not, Gary), where a Wolverine-loving coworker and myself argued about which quarterback would end up putting a clamp down on the rivalry: incoming Ohio born golden boy Justin Zwick, or, incoming Cali born golden boy Matt Gutierrez.

If you're asking yourself "who the hell is Matt Gutierrez?" that's a valid question because he only threw 41 total passes for Michigan, made his way to Idaho State, and then after graduating somehow found himself in a couple of NFL games where he threw one pass in each. And completed them both! Good job, Matt Gutierrez!

You know Zwick's story, but the point here is that both of these guys made way for other players who would go on to define both The Game and their respective teams for years. An initial bout of excitement was quickly turned on its ear, despite some promising early results.

So that matters for us and for Dwayne Haskins is that he avoids that trap. He's an outstanding athlete with all of the tools necessary to be a legend at Ohio State. But this year, his first full year holding the reins of the Buckeye offense, will be the most important season of football in his life. In this case maybe the past can be instructive. So let's take a look at the first full seasons for new Ohio State quarterbacks, not so shiny and new, and burdened with the weight of expectations.
.
.
continued
.
.
So if history is any indicator, in the 2018 campaign it is likely that we will see Dwayne Haskins struggle, probably through a combination of inexperience and a necessary period of coaching adjustments. And that's okay! It's his first year with his treads a little worn down; we know he's talented, he just has to have the means to show it.

What will allow him success is a consistent gameplan that he can rely upon on a week to week basis, an offensive philosophy that plays to his strengths, and a coaching staff that's patient enough to allow him to be kind of crappy from time to time.

Given that, Haskins should be set up to do some serious damage in the Big Ten.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...-for-a-quarterback-helps-determine-their-fate

 

[brodybuck21]

WHEN EXPECTATIONS ARE HUGE, THE FIRST FULL SEASON FOR A QUARTERBACK HELPS DETERMINE THEIR FATE

The first year of a college quarterback's career is probably my favorite. There is a beautiful mixture of hope, optimism, and a dash of Baby Huey involved that can pretty much be summed up like "no no no no what are you doing for the love of GOD oh wait WAIT" and then your brain explodes because something you've never seen before just happened.

You know, like this:



We shrug off the fact that that was one of only seven completed passes Braxton Miller threw that day (and the touchdown alone accounted for almost half of his 89 total passing yards), because... who cares? It was an awesome, game-winning indicator that Braxton is cool and good and Ohio State football was going to be fun to watch with him at the helm.

We got some of that last season with Dwayne Haskins, via a Backup Steps Up to the Plate Against Michigan scenario that I feel like we've seen play out way too many times lately. With J.T. Barrett hurt, all Haskins did was lead Ohio State to a come-from-behind victory while completing six of seven passes for 94 yards.



It was a great performance and might've been the clincher that put him firmly ahead in the starting quarterback race for 2018.

Before we get to that, however, I should tell you about how once upon a time I used to deliver auto parts in the summer to make money for college. Rotors, mostly, but also brake pads and spark plugs and whatever else was lurking in our store room.

It was a pretty good job, and I liked it, but because this was southwestern Ohio and home to the agressively contrarian sports fan, I also worked with some guys who were all about Michigan.

This led to what was the absolute dumbest argument of my entire life (and I once had an hour long argument about whether tiramisu is cake or not. Which for the record it definitely is not, Gary), where a Wolverine-loving coworker and myself argued about which quarterback would end up putting a clamp down on the rivalry: incoming Ohio born golden boy Justin Zwick, or, incoming Cali born golden boy Matt Gutierrez.

If you're asking yourself "who the hell is Matt Gutierrez?" that's a valid question because he only threw 41 total passes for Michigan, made his way to Idaho State, and then after graduating somehow found himself in a couple of NFL games where he threw one pass in each. And completed them both! Good job, Matt Gutierrez!

You know Zwick's story, but the point here is that both of these guys made way for other players who would go on to define both The Game and their respective teams for years. An initial bout of excitement was quickly turned on its ear, despite some promising early results.

So that matters for us and for Dwayne Haskins is that he avoids that trap. He's an outstanding athlete with all of the tools necessary to be a legend at Ohio State. But this year, his first full year holding the reins of the Buckeye offense, will be the most important season of football in his life. In this case maybe the past can be instructive. So let's take a look at the first full seasons for new Ohio State quarterbacks, not so shiny and new, and burdened with the weight of expectations.
.
.
continued
.
.
So if history is any indicator, in the 2018 campaign it is likely that we will see Dwayne Haskins struggle, probably through a combination of inexperience and a necessary period of coaching adjustments. And that's okay! It's his first year with his treads a little worn down; we know he's talented, he just has to have the means to show it.

What will allow him success is a consistent gameplan that he can rely upon on a week to week basis, an offensive philosophy that plays to his strengths, and a coaching staff that's patient enough to allow him to be kind of crappy from time to time.

Given that, Haskins should be set up to do some serious damage in the Big Ten.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...-for-a-quarterback-helps-determine-their-fate

I find Terrelle Pryor's 2009 season absolutely fascinating because it's blindingly obvious that Jim Bollman had absolutely zero idea what to do with him. He was a thing of beauty at times, especially in the Rose Bowl against Oregon, going 23/37 for 266 yards through the air with another 72 on the ground. Against Wisconsin, where I swear to you Ohio State had a total of 40 offensive plays the entire game, Pryor completed five passes and ran for 35 yards on 10 carries. Neat.



(facepalm)

 

[ScriptOhio]

FILM STUDY: LEANING ON A WEST COAST CLASSIC SHOULD MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR DWAYNE HASKINS

Barring disaster, the Dwayne Haskins era in Columbus is now upon us.



For the first time since Todd Boeckman lined up under center in 2007, the Ohio State football program enters fall camp with a pass-first quarterback as the clear starter. While the Buckeyes’ move to more athletic quarterbacks mirrors the sport at large over the past decade, Haskins’ presence in the huddle will seemingly mark a major change in philosophy for Urban Meyer’s offense.

While some fans welcome a style of play more likely to generate big plays from the passing game, others have been cautious to simply say goodbye to the efficient, ground-and-pound style that though predictable, has been incredibly successful for Meyer. But unlike the disorganized system that failed to account for the strengths of Cardale Jones after he won a training camp battle with J.T. Barrett in 2015, Haskins is far better set up for success.

As has been discussed countless times here and elsewhere, Haskins’ position coach and play-caller, Ryan Day, brought much of Chip Kelly’s playbook with him to Columbus last year. As a result, I spent much of the 2017 season focused on the new pieces he added to Buckeye game plans, such as the crossing routes featured in Mesh, his favorite downfield concept known as Saints, and his focus on incorporating bubble screen ‘reliefs’ into the running game.

But another common passing concept that can be found in every playbook across the country was often overlooked last fall, despite its effectiveness for Barrett and the Buckeyes. With roots in Bill Walsh’s west-coast system, the Snag concept has many names, such as Spot, Z-in, or more simply, Triangle.

The last name is the most literal, as it creates the all-important triangle stretch that combines a vertical stretch with a horizontal stretch, meaning it should work against any man or zone defense thrown its way.

Walsh experimented with many different versions of such triangles, sending backs in receivers in motion to overload one side with three receivers at once, a rarity for the times. But even if the defense was in man-coverage, following every receiver with a dedicated defender, there was always a route built into the play meant to create separation from a defender in man – such as a deep corner or post pattern that left the defender isolated in coverage downfield.

As Walsh’s playbook evolved in the hands of talented protégés like Mike Holmgren, Mike Shanahan, and the many others that populate his vaunted coaching tree, the concept of triangles was refined into a pair of plays that stressed defenses most. Over time, Snagand its close cousin, Stick, were adapted and adopted into virtually every playbook across the nation, regardless of level.

While Stick became the preferred triangle stretch for the early spread and Air Raid connoisseurs due to its quick-hitting nature, making it a perfect concept to attach to a run play in the early days of run/pass options, Snag found its place among traditionalists with drop-back passing games. But what provided Snag with staying power as many West Coast playbooks were discarded is the quarterback's relatively easy read.

Typically, the passer reads deep-to-short on this play, looking first for the deep corner route. But in Meyer's first five years in Columbus, the Buckeyes only called for the concept in short-yardage and goal-line situations, sprinting out the quarterback to one side and using the intermediate "snag" route to act as a natural pick (which appears at first like a typical one-step slant before the receiver settles down after six yards), creating a barrier between the receiver running an underneath flat route and his defender.



Since Day came to town, however, the concept has been unleashed to its full potential, offering the Buckeyes a way to spring receivers open in any number of situations. When called as a play-action or drop-back pass, the progression is from deep-to-short, looking first to connect on the deep corner route.

If the defense is in man-coverage (as seen below), that receiver should be hitting his break at the same time the quarterback sets his back foot at the top of his drop, creating separation from the defender in coverage while running away from the free safety patrolling the middle of the field.



Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...assing-to-make-life-easier-for-dwayne-haskins

 

[RB07OSU]

I have a really hard time seeing this actually happening. Unless a couple of things: 2 of Bowen, Knox or Pridgeon both look awesome and the staff is comfortable starting 2 new guys on the left side (yikes) or we truly have no other option at center. Because moving Jordan to center would be cause for alarm to me regarding depth at center NOT because it means we have an over abundance of guard depth.

This would assume something like: Munford, Pridgeon, Jordan, Knox/Bowen, Prince.

Agreed, I think that lineup would not be an indictment of Taylor so much, rather that Pridgeon/Knox/Bowen have looked so impressive that 2 or 3 of those guys are better than Taylor. But from the sounds of it, the staff seems comfortable with Taylor and it sounds like we have "one of them good problems" with quality depth inside, but we will find out soon enough. I just know that Munford's play at LT and whoever we have at center is absolutely crucial...if we are solid at those positions, sky is the potential for this offense.

 

[ScriptOhio]

 

[MD Buckeye]

 

[ScriptOhio]