2018 tOSU Offense Discussion

[1926Buckeyes]

Pretty hard for the OL to block everyone when there are 7-8 defenders stacked at the OL. In the red zone, they know Haskins isn't/can't run the ball so they jam the WRs and attack down on the RB.

Only solution is to execute fades and rub routes efficiently. Time for Victor to step up and Haskins to shine.

EDIT: I do think the OL can execute much better upfront, but this is just a down year for the OL, especially when it comes to run blocking.

 

[cjmik_75]

Pretty hard for the OL to block everyone when there are 7-8 defenders stacked at the OL. In the red zone, they know Haskins isn't/can't run the ball so they jam the WRs and attack down on the RB.

I get that it’s pretty hard, I really do. But the issue I have is that it’s not like stacking the box is some new concept to football or something. How has any offense, ever, gained a first down against eight in the box? You have to either find a crease and exploit it or beat the man coverage with play action. It takes execution and this offense, the OL in particular, is not on the same page in short yardage situations. Shitty execution is what makes it pretty hard. And that is on the coaches to get fixed.

These coaches and assistants get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to figure it out. They need start putting the right players in positions to succeed. If they can’t figure out how to get these guys to execute in short yardage or score TD’s in the red zone then find someone else who can get them motivated. A big part of being successful is confidence in what you’re doing. These guys can’t get lined up after a timeout without a penalty. Whether it’s a delay of game, false start or not enough guys on the line of scrimmage. That’s being unsure of what to do.

I get there are new starters out there but they’ve played football before at some point. I don’t know, maybe blocking schemes need to be simplified so the players have more confidence in what they’re doing. It’s November in 3 days, this shit should’ve been ironed out by now.

 

[bukIpower]

I get that it’s pretty hard, I really do. But the issue I have is that it’s not like stacking the box is some new concept to football or something. How has any offense, ever, gained a first down against eight in the box? You have to either find a crease and exploit it or beat the man coverage with play action. It takes execution and this offense, the OL in particular, is not on the same page in short yardage situations. Shitty execution is what makes it pretty hard. And that is on the coaches to get fixed.

These coaches and assistants get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to figure it out. They need start putting the right players in positions to succeed. If they can’t figure out how to get these guys to execute in short yardage or score TD’s in the red zone then find someone else who can get them motivated. A big part of being successful is confidence in what you’re doing. These guys can’t get lined up after a timeout without a penalty. Whether it’s a delay of game, false start or not enough guys on the line of scrimmage. That’s being unsure of what to do.

I get there are new starters out there but they’ve played football before at some point. I don’t know, maybe blocking schemes need to be simplified so the players have more confidence in what they’re doing. It’s November in 3 days, this shit should’ve been ironed out by now.

We continue doing things that are obviously not working until it bites us with a loss or two.

We knew by week 4 we couldn't stop the big play so do something about it. Dont let it cost you or wait until week 9 to go all hands on deck.

With the offense we should've been all hands on deck after PED. It was obvious then that the running game was broke.

 

[Steve19]

This is a silver bullet. Meditate on this. Be a silver bullet.

 

[ScriptOhio]

URBAN MEYER SAYS OHIO STATE NEEDS TO DO A BETTER JOB GETTING ATHLETES IN SPACE, BREAKING TACKLES IN THE RUN GAME

Ohio State’s struggles running the ball continued to be one of the hottest topics of discussion at Urban Meyer’s first press conference following the Buckeyes’ bye week on Monday.

The Buckeyes have rushed for fewer than 3.3 yards per carry in each of their last four games. Inside the red zone, the Buckeyes have rushed for a net total of just 12 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries in that same span of games.

While Ohio State was able to get by on the strength of its passing game through its seven games, the Buckeyes’ inability to run the ball effectively caught up with them in their 49-20 loss at Purdue, and as a result, Meyer said the Buckeyes’ offense was almost entirely focused on improving in that area of the game during the off week.

“We worked and are continuing working very hard in those two areas, the run game and the red zone, and that was basically the whole devotion of the bye week last week on offense,” Meyer said Monday.

Until the Buckeyes return to game action on Saturday at Ohio Stadium for their ninth game of the season against Nebraska, no one knows for sure whether that work will lead to actual improvement that manifests itself on the field. Meyer said he does feel good, though, about the work his coaching staff and his players have put in to try to get better.

“The time spent has been phenomenal, and the effort,” Meyer said. “Now it’s time to see some rewards.”

Asked whether Ohio State made any major changes during the bye week to how it will attack defenses in the run game, Meyer said “it's too late to do that.” He said the Buckeyes did make some schematic adjustments, but believes there are several factors that need to improve for his team to move the ball more effectively on the ground.

“One is getting them in the right position, making sure we have structurally the right play call,” Meyer said. “Number two is to get more movement (with the offensive line). And number three is running through tackles.”

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...tes-in-space-breaking-tackles-in-the-run-game

 

[ScriptOhio]

Buckeyes Spent the Bye Week Working on Running Game

For the first time since 2003, the Buckeyes have gone five games in a row averaging less than four yards per carry.

Back then, Ohio State was still dealing with the departure of star running back Maurice Clarett and trying to do what they could to get by. It was rarely pretty, but OSU was still in the national title hunt until their loss to Michigan.

Fifteen years later, the Buckeyes have a pair of 1,000-yard rushers on the roster, but it hasn’t mattered all that much. They have been held under 100 yards rushing in their past two games, which is the first time that has happened since 2009. One of those two games was a loss to Purdue as well.

So with a bye week last week and no opponent to prepare for, the Ohio State coaches went about preparing for their toughest opponent of the season — themselves. Defensively, they worked on stopping the big plays, while on offense they focused on two main areas.

“Oh, we worked and are continuing working very hard,” Urban Meyer said on Monday. “There’s two areas, the run game and the red zone, and that was basically the whole devotion of the bye week last week on offense.”

Both struggles have been well documented. The Buckeyes are 2-for-14 in converting red-zone opportunities into touchdowns against their four toughest opponents. The running game, meanwhile, is averaging about 110 yards rushing over their last four games. That’s just 10 more yards than running back J.K. Dobbins averaged last season as a true freshman.

With so many pieces returning from last year, the running game was expected to go smoothly this season. that hasn’t happened since the first week of the season against the Oregon State Beavers, however.

The only two majors changes from last year to now is a reshuffled offensive line and a quarterback in Dwayne Haskins who is much more of a thrower than a runner.

Meyer isn’t looking to scrap their system. Rather they simply need to do a better job of putting the players in positions to succeed, and the players need to take better advantage of being in those positions.

“It’s too late to do that,” Meyer said of any dramatic changes. “And schematically we’ve adapted some things, but it’s a matter of two things in my mind, and that’s first of all, getting the players in the right position. Number two, being more physical, and, you know, breaking tackles, and that’s the — so those three things, one is getting them in the right position, making sure we have structurally the right play call. Number two is to get more movement, and number three is running through tackles.”

Entire article: https://theozone.net/2018/10/buckeyes-working-running-game/

 

[Taosman]

Why haven't we been able to back the defense off by going over the top? They same to be ignoring the threat of the deep ball.

 

[MaxBuck]

I think we need to abandon this RPO shit. Just really puts the O-line in an untenable position .

 

[ScriptOhio]

OHIO STATE NOTEBOOK: BUCKEYES “CAN'T LOSE ANY MORE GAMES” IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE GOALS, WYATT DAVIS NEARING ROLE AND RUN GAME DIFFERENCES

POSSIBLE CHANGES IN RUN GAME
For weeks, Ohio State has been unable to stabilize a declining run game. Until the Purdue game, the Buckeyes’ yard-per-carry average decreased with each week. But even against the Boilermakers, Ohio State could not manage more than 100 rushing yards for just the fourth time since Meyer took over prior to the 2012 season.

Part of the issue stems from physicality up front, both Isaiah Prince and Terry McLaurin said. For the first time since beginning the off week, Ohio State practiced without pads on Wednesday. McLaurin said there was “a lot” of talk about playing tougher and knocking defenders around.

“There's been more of an emphasis on just the physicality of the run game, offensive line blowing guys off the ball, running backs running behind their pads and just finishing runs,” McLaurin said. “I remember after the Purdue game we showed a lot of clips of what has been working and what hasn't been working recently. Just the physicality I feel like is going to be a big difference.”

The run game had been declining for weeks, but the Dwayne Haskins-led passing attack prevented anyone from worrying too much about a lack of success running the ball. Then, when the Buckeyes couldn’t seem to get anything going on the ground against Purdue, which led to a loss, the attitude changed.

“I just think people will see just more sense of urgency in the run game in the sense of guys really getting after it, finishing their blocks, finishing their runs and just really trying to get our run game off the ground,” McLaurin said.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...chieve-goals-wyatt-davis-nearing-role-and-run

 

[ScriptOhio]

TERRY MCLAURIN, CHRIS OLAVE AND POSSIBLY PARRIS CAMPBELL SET TO TAKE ON NEW ROLES IN OHIO STATE'S WIDE RECEIVER ROTATION WITH AUSTIN MACK INJURED

Binjimen Victor isn’t the only Ohio State wide receiver who will see more playing time for the remainder of this season as a result of Austin Mack being sidelined by foot surgery.

Victor, who Urban Meyer singled out Monday as the Buckeyes’ most improved player from the summer until now, is expected to start at X receiver in place of Mack on Saturday against Nebraska. That said, Meyer said Wednesday that Terry McLaurin, who is typically Ohio State’s starting Z receiver, will also see playing time at the X position on Saturday.

True freshman Chris Olave, meanwhile, is set to join the Buckeyes’ six-man receiver rotation at the Z position, where he will rotate with Johnnie Dixon. Parris Campbell – who typically rotates with K.J. Hill at the H-back position – could also see playing time at one of the outside receiver spots, Meyer said.

For McLaurin, who says he still expects to see some playing time at the Z position as well, it shouldn’t be a drastic adjustment. The Z and X positions are “very similar,” Meyer said Wednesday, and Ohio State expects its receivers to know how to play every receiver position, so McLaurin will be prepared for whatever role his coaches decide to use him in.

“I’ve always prided myself on knowing the entire offense,” McLaurin said. “Even toward the tail end of Purdue, when Austin couldn’t play, I was playing X. So I’m comfortable at that position as well, and I know I’m going to get a lot of reps at that, but if they need me to come over at Z, then I’ll be able to do that.”

There’s a bigger difference between playing in the slot, where Campbell typically lines up as an H-back, and playing outside, but Campbell feels prepared to play any receiver position, too.

“It’s not really an adjustment,” Campbell said. “I played a little bit of an outside receiver when I first got here, so I know the entire playbook. So it’s kind of an easy switch, honestly. Whatever the team needs.”

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...w-roles-in-ohio-states-wide-receiver-rotation

 

[GovTressel]

I hope we have some genius level shit ready for tsun...they look like world beaters.

 

[Buckeneye]

I think we need to abandon this RPO shit. Just really puts the O-line in an untenable position .

RPO's are effective plays that cause conflicts of assignment but require proper execution and quick/correct decision making.

Seems as though we have trouble handling both of those things at the same time.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Buckeyes Finally Show Run Game Improvement

Among the list of areas where Ohio State needed to show improvement this week was the run game.

After four quarters of play Saturday against Nebraska, it was clear that the Buckeyes were better this week than they have been since very early in the season. The 229 yards rushing may not have been the best overall performance on the ground for the Buckeyes this year, but it was a very timely performance by tailbacks J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber.

The duo of running backs combined for 254 yards on Saturday, the most since the opener against Oregon State.

Head coach Urban Meyer said after the game that they did all kinds of different things schematically to get the running game going, and their work showed on Saturday.

Leading the way on the ground was sophomore running back J.K. Dobbins, who finished with a season high 163 yards on 23 carries. He scored three touchdowns and averaged 7.1 yards per carry.

It was clear from the beginning that Dobbins was going to be a reliable weapon for Ohio State offensively, but junior running back Mike Weber also had quite the day with 91 yards on nine attempts. A pair of fumbles, however, put a couple of black marks on Weber’s solid day.

“It was great to get back to our old ways,” Dobbins said. “We knew what we could do. I don’t know what was happening [before], but today showed that we still got it.”

Entire article: https://theozone.net/2018/11/buckeyes-finally-show-run-game-improvement/

 

[ScriptOhio]

Not An Option: Buckeyes Move Away From RPOs On Offense

The Ohio State offense went back to the future against Nebraska, and it paid off in a big game on the ground.

The Bucks put up 229 yards rushing by removing run-pass option plays from the game plan this week.

“To be honest, I don’t think that there were any RPOs today. Not that I remember,” said right tackle Isaiah Prince.

Running back Mike Weber confirmed that.

“I honestly think we didn’t run any reads today. I think it was just more get the ball to the back and let them make plays,” Weber said.

“We got back to old Buckeye football. Just run at them and show them that we are strong,” said running back J.K. Dobbins, who finished with 163 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground.

The run-pass option is a hot trend for many offenses. As the name suggests, the quarterback has a couple choices, including a run and a pass, depending on what he sees the defense doing.

That can be based on a pre-snap read or what he sees after the play is already underway.

It’s a dangerous weapon, because if it’s executed correctly, it can put the defense in a no-win situation. Minnesota gashed the OSU defense with RPO calls in October.

But it also creates issues for the offensive line, because they’re not sure whether they’re blocking for a run or pass play.

“When you do an RPO and the quarterback pulls the ball, you lose sense of where the defense is supposed to be,” Prince said. “On certain run plays, I know exactly how the defense is going to react in certain situations.”

Entire article: https://theozone.net/2018/11/not-option-buckeyes-move-away-rpos-offense/

 

[ScriptOhio]

Football: Ohio State returns to its balanced offensive attack

J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber came into Saturday’s game against Nebraska with trust issues.

Both running backs stood in the backfield, never knowing what redshirt sophomore quarterback Dwayne Haskins was going to do in the run-pass option Ohio State that ran against a loaded box. Both running backs ran behind an offensive line that, at points, seemed clueless in terms of run blocking or pass protection.

To put it simply, Dobbins, a sophomore, and Weber, a redshirt junior, were in the middle of an identity crisis playing for an offense with an identity crisis.

Senior right tackle Isaiah Prince knew this. He had known this for the past two weeks. He wanted a change.

“I’m not going to lie. I went up to Ryan Day and asked, ‘Just get behind me. Keep running the ball and we are going to keep being physical,’” Prince said. “I said it all game, I said it all week, I said it last week. Get behind me, run the ball.”

Over the past four games, Weber said his team had “tried to get cute with the run game,” going away from what made both Dobbins and himself special: the traditional run play.

“It didn’t work in the past,” Weber said. “Never did work for us.”

So, according to Prince, the offensive line and the running back room made a deal.

“The O-line, we sat with the running backs before the game and we said ‘You run as hard as you can. We will block as hard as we can. You have to get something positive out of that,’” Prince said. “That was the agreement before the game and that is what we did during the game”

Weber and Dobbins combined for 254 rushing yards on 32 carries, averaging a combined 7.94 yards per rush.

Dobbins had a big day, recording a career-high three rushing touchdowns, and his second 100-yard game of the season, 163 yards on 23 carries, the most yards he had had in a game since the Big Ten Championship against Wisconsin last season.

According to head coach Urban Meyer, the running game, especially in the red zone, was something Ohio State worked on at length during the two weeks of preparation for the Cornhuskers.

After converting three of four opportunities in the red zone, two of which were traditional run plays, Meyer said it worked.

“I think we pounded the ball in there pretty good,” Meyer said. “We worked ad nauseam at that. The amount of time that we spent at that was over the top, and I felt the line of scrimmage change.”

Entire article: https://www.thelantern.com/2018/11/football-ohio-state-returns-to-its-balanced-offensive-attack/