2018 tOSU Offense Discussion

[GovTressel]

I know the running game has been a little disappointing this year, but I think it's really going to shine in the second half of big games. Without a consistent QB running threat, it's going to take time for the passing game to loosen up the back seven of opposing defenses before more opportunities present themselves. And I think that happened in the TCU game. Don't have time now to go back and break it down, but looking at the play summary, the RBs were getting chunk runs with Haskins sprinkling in some nice passes at key moments during the last 3 drives.

It might also just be that this OL is more skilled at pass blocking. I haven't really seen a breakdown of their performances, but I wouldn't be surprised.

Night and day difference between run and pass blocking..not surprising for a line made up of 6’7” guys. The lack of push vs inferior opponents is the only major concern I can see in this offense.

 

[pnuts34]

Night and day difference between run and pass blocking..not surprising for a line made up of 6’7” guys. The lack of push vs inferior opponents is the only major concern I can see in this offense.

Agreed with the lack of push.
But I for one am far from concerned about anything regarding the offense. I don't think that Day/Wilson have made a hard effort to focus on the run game because Haskins and the WRs have been SO good in the passing game. We have traded one lopsided version of offense for another between this year and last. But it's easier to correct the run game problem, especially with the size and athleticism of our OL. I could see as the season wears on, that the offensive staff starts to rely on the RBs more, but for now, in conditions that can favor us throwing, why not let Haskins sling it around? We've played in some decent weather(other than rain). I can see next week, against Ped St, Dobbins/Weber being used more, but it all depends on what the defense is giving them. When JT was behind center, the offense was forced to be one dimensional, because everyone watching the game knew of his limited arm talent, so our main plan was running him and then the RBs. Now with Haskins, we have a more complete offense, to where if the coaches see weaknesses with the DBs, then there's no reason to force Dobbins/Weber to run as much when Haskins can carve them up through the air. Or if they see a DL and/or back 7 can't handle the physicality of our offense blocking, then run down their throats. This is a great game plan to have, and the elite teams like Clemson(though Clemson now resembles OSU with JT at QB this year), OU, UGA and Bama have had this when we haven't.

 

[Systems_id]

I’m not too concerned about the run game. When we’ve had to run i.e. TCU, we’ve had no problems running it.

 

[cjmik_75]

Somebody needs to shop a meme with the guy from Die Hard wearing a gray sweatshirt that says:
now I have a passing QB
HO - HO - HO

 

[Jaxbuck]

I’m not too concerned about the run game. When we’ve had to run i.e. TCU, we’ve had no problems running it.

I think it's unfolding exactly as it should have logically when you switch from a run threat QB to a pass threat QB.

Against the 3 tomato can opponents who couldn't stop the primary threat, Haskins has had the big days and the running game is good not great.

Against the one opponent who could put up a fight and limit Haskins somewhat, you saw the RB's (Dobbins) have their biggest day.

I have zero concerns about this offense as long as Haskins is the QB.

 

[pnuts34]

I think it's unfolding exactly as it should have logically when you switch from a run threat QB to a pass threat QB.

Against the 3 tomato can opponents who couldn't stop the primary threat, Haskins has had the big days and the running game is good not great.

Against the one opponent who could put up a fight and limit Haskins somewhat, you saw the RB's (Dobbins) have their biggest day.

I have zero concerns about this offense as long as Haskins is the QB and Ryan Day is calling the plays.

FIFY

 

[bukIpower]

Agreed with the lack of push.
But I for one am far from concerned about anything regarding the offense. I don't think that Day/Wilson have made a hard effort to focus on the run game because Haskins and the WRs have been SO good in the passing game. We have traded one lopsided version of offense for another between this year and last. But it's easier to correct the run game problem, especially with the size and athleticism of our OL. I could see as the season wears on, that the offensive staff starts to rely on the RBs more, but for now, in conditions that can favor us throwing, why not let Haskins sling it around? We've played in some decent weather(other than rain). I can see next week, against Ped St, Dobbins/Weber being used more, but it all depends on what the defense is giving them. When JT was behind center, the offense was forced to be one dimensional, because everyone watching the game knew of his limited arm talent, so our main plan was running him and then the RBs. Now with Haskins, we have a more complete offense, to where if the coaches see weaknesses with the DBs, then there's no reason to force Dobbins/Weber to run as much when Haskins can carve them up through the air. Or if they see a DL and/or back 7 can't handle the physicality of our offense blocking, then run down their throats. This is a great game plan to have, and the elite teams like Clemson(though Clemson now resembles OSU with JT at QB this year), OU, UGA and Bama have had this when we haven't.

IMO we are just taking what teams are giving. Theyre choosing to die by a knife instead of a Hammer. Dwayne is a damn good QB but the reason I believe he's throwing for 300 and 75% per game is teams are loading the box.

Still need to get nasty and gut out 200 a game rushing IMO but teams are for some reason betting Dwayne can't continue this pace.

He did it last year and now for 4 weeks so it's only a matter of time until the box starts lightening up.

 

[pnuts34]

IMO we are just taking what teams are giving. Theyre choosing to die by a knife instead of a Hammer. Dwayne is a damn good QB but the reason I believe he's throwing for 300 and 75% per game is teams are loading the box.

Still need to get nasty and gut out 200 a game rushing IMO but teams are for some reason betting Dwayne can't continue this pace.

He did it last year and now for 4 weeks so it's only a matter of time until the box starts lightening up.

Fully agreed! And I don't see a reason to have to gut it out in the running game if the defense is going to sit back and let Haskins pick them apart through the air.
He didn't really do it last year, because DCs won't consider a half in The Game a large enough sample size, and I'm sure they're waiting for the "Urban offense" to kick in and start running Haskins like we did with JT.

 

[bukIpower]

Fully agreed! And I don't see a reason to have to gut it out in the running game if the defense is going to sit back and let Haskins pick them apart through the air.
He didn't really do it last year, because DCs won't consider a half in The Game a large enough sample size, and I'm sure they're waiting for the "Urban offense" to kick in and start running Haskins like we did with JT.

Here's the issue... Other teams just keep betting that we won't be able to execute like this. There will be a point where a team starts to respect our throwing game. When that happens it's all over from there

 

[kujirakira]

I think it's unfolding exactly as it should have logically when you switch from a run threat QB to a pass threat QB.

Against the 3 tomato can opponents who couldn't stop the primary threat, Haskins has had the big days and the running game is good not great.

Against the one opponent who could put up a fight and limit Haskins somewhat, you saw the RB's (Dobbins) have their biggest day.

I have zero concerns about this offense as long as Haskins is the QB.

Even TCU refused to stop stacking the box. Haskins made them pay. Dobbins and Weber earned their yards the hard way... esp Dobbins.

It will be interesting to see if conference opponents start adjusting or stick with the JTB defense.

 

[Jaxbuck]

Even TCU refused to stop stacking the box. Haskins made them pay. Dobbins and Weber earned their yards the hard way... esp Dobbins.

It will be interesting to see if conference opponents start adjusting or stick with the JTB defense.

They don't have to stack the box though, like we have seen in the past. When the QB is not a run threat you should be, as a defense, able to control the run game with just your front 7. You have the numbers advantage.

The problem for defenses will be the quality of the passing attack (primary weapon) forces them to be in a lot of nickel and dime which obviously degrades the ability to stop the run.

The MSU defense against Urban Meyers offense was to over play the run and take away the deep ball, forcing Barrett to be patient and consistently hit the short passes. Now I could see defenses, try to, take away the pass and see if OSU can stay patient with the run game.

The doomsday scenarios are 1) weather game taking away the ability to pass and 2) The OSU defense gives up so many big plays and points that the opponent knows OSU has to pass and can easily cheat for that 3) a team that can handle the run with their nickel personnel or some combination of the three.

Obviously some are more likely than others but this is a discussion of the offense and I don't want to get off track by bitching about the defense ( I do that in what seems like 9 other threads).

 

[bukIpower]

They don't have to stack the box though, like we have seen in the past. When the QB is not a run threat you should be, as a defense, able to control the run game with just your front 7. You have the numbers advantage.

The problem for defenses will be the quality of the passing attack (primary weapon) forces them to be in a lot of nickel and dime which obviously degrades the ability to stop the run.

The MSU defense against Urban Meyers offense was to over play the run and take away the deep ball, forcing Barrett to be patient and consistently hit the short passes. Now I could see defenses, try to, take away the pass and see if OSU can stay patient with the run game.

The doomsday scenarios are 1) weather game taking away the ability to pass and 2) The OSU defense gives up so many big plays and points that the opponent knows OSU has to pass and can easily cheat for that 3) a team that can handle the run with their nickel personnel or some combination of the three.

Obviously some are more likely than others but this is a discussion of the offense and I don't want to get off track by bitching about the defense ( I do that in what seems like 9 other threads).

Good point and honestly playing our TEs as much as we do probably keeps teams in their base personnel.

If we replaced the TE for a 4th WR IMO we could force teams into nickel. Running probably opens up then and I have faith our 4th WR is better than anyones 4th CB. So keeping a TE in to help run block might actually be stunting this offense when it comes to getting a certain personnel group for the defense on the field.

Would love to see us spread teams further and really put them in a personnel conflict.

 

[Jaxbuck]

Funny we were no more than just talking about some of this and 11W has a good article with quotes from Urban:

FILM STUDY: OHIO STATE KEPT THINGS SIMPLE AGAINST TULANE IN ADVANCE OF A BIG TRIP TO STATE COLLEGE

Knowing Haskins was an unlikely runner himself, the Tulane defense played single-high, man-coverage almost exclusively throughout their trip to the Horseshoe, looking to add an extra body to the box in hopes of slowing down J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber. With a command of the passing game not seen from a Buckeye quarterback in years, Haskins picked apart the one-on-one matchups that littered the field.

"As a defensive coach, you know, when you are a dual-threat quarterback that presents problems," Meyer noted after the game. "If you don’t have a dual-threat quarterback, you better be extremely accurate and make that be legitimate, or it’s going to be hard to run the ball because they’ll load the box on you."

 

[Dryden]

 

[MGMT]

That safety absolutely humiliated himself. He turned and just fell. Or is that just the worst-timed dive in the history of sports?