2018 tOSU Offense Discussion

[Bestbuck36]

My opinion is that is why the RPO is so popular and needs to be worked on for us. Dwayne shouldnt be the runner in the "R" part of the option but let him decide if he gives to the back or pulls it for the quick pass. The guys up front would have to block zone in that case and pick up the blitzes because in case Dwayne pulls it, they can't be downfield. Slants, Pops, screens bubbles and goes will make the defense widen and give us some alleys to work in. We can't eliminate the number of people in the box but we can dictate their first steps by action and intent.

Our coaches are smart enough to figure this out. If they're not, have em give me a call.

 

[ScriptOhio]

OHIO STATE CONTINUES SEARCH FOR ANSWERS IN SHORT-YARDAGE SITUATIONS, WHICH URBAN MEYER SEES AS A “WEAKNESS”

Ohio State had a battering ram at quarterback last year.

Seemingly every time the Buckeyes needed to get a yard or two to move the chains on third downs, J.T. Barrett either carried the ball or handed it off to Mike Weber or J.K. Dobbins. Even when Weber or Dobbins earned the third-down carries, defenses had to account for Barrett.

Down three points to Michigan in overtime in 2016, Ohio State faced a 4th-and-1 situation. It didn’t take any creativity or out-of-the-box thinking. Everyone knew Urban Meyer would call for the inside zone, which is exactly what he did – and it worked, per usual.

“Used to be, when the dual-threat stuff – I don't want to say it was automatic, but it was pretty good,” Urban Meyer said at a press conference Monday.

Without Barrett, he no longer has the luxury of relying on what came to be a nearly assured first down in short-yardage situations. Dwayne Haskins has 21 rushes for 43 yards in six games, and he’s not a particularly fast or powerful runner.

It’s an uncomfortable position for Meyer, one he’s still working through.

“3rd-and-1 is tough right now. That's another weakness,” Meyer said. “So a weakness right now is balance on offense and those short-yardage. We had a couple of close ones Saturday. And there's a time you're going to have to throw it and we have. But there might be more times to throw that.”

Indiana stuffed Dobbins for no gain on 3rd-and-1 midway through the third quarter of Saturday’s game. Meyer opted to go for it on 4th-and-1, but the Hoosiers once again stuffed Dobbins at the line of scrimmage and got the ball on their 42-yard line.

After a few weeks of multiple Ohio State offensive linemen being named champions, which is given to players who have outstanding efforts, no offensive linemen were honored as champions for their performances against Indiana. Meyer said the execution in the run game, from both players and coaches, must improve.

“This week (the offensive line) didn't play particularly well,” Meyer said. “So we gotta get back to – I think protection was very good. We've got to get back to the word ‘balance.’ We've been saying that and we're going to work again this week at that.”

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...rdage-situations-which-meyer-sees-as-weakness

 

[Tanner]

Even if we don't get the run game all the way figured out, I'm excited to see this offense play tsun. Their defense isn't built to be spread out and defend the pass. They want to play you in a phone booth. They were to built to play our offenses the past couple years, which is why the games were closer than they probably should have been.

 

[buckeye4ever21]

Why don’t we use our goaline back? Master Teague!

 

[bukIpower]

My opinion is that is why the RPO is so popular and needs to be worked on for us. Dwayne shouldnt be the runner in the "R" part of the option but let him decide if he gives to the back or pulls it for the quick pass. The guys up front would have to block zone in that case and pick up the blitzes because in case Dwayne pulls it, they can't be downfield. Slants, Pops, screens bubbles and goes will make the defense widen and give us some alleys to work in. We can't eliminate the number of people in the box but we can dictate their first steps by action and intent.

Our coaches are smart enough to figure this out. If they're not, have em give me a call.

Well we could but a few here think other wise.

Can call me crazy all you want but if you use every inch of the width of the field and put 4 WRs on the field they'll get out of the box really damn fast.

More RPOs though is an option I think... no pun intended.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Football: Running backs find a place in changing Ohio State offense

For Urban Meyer, third-and-short used to be automatic.

The Ohio State head coach would call a quarterback sneak or read play that would allow former Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett to easily get the first down, continuing the offensive drive and creating momentum.

For anything outside a third-and-short play, Meyer is confident in his quarterback, redshirt sophomore quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who has led Ohio State to the best statistical passing offense in the Big Ten, averaging 364.7 yards per game.

On paper, third-and-short should not be an issue. With Haskins behind center, the Ohio State offense utilizes what offensive coordinator Ryan Day deemed as a “two-headed monster;” sophomore and redshirt junior running backs J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber.

However, this offense is changing. It’s moving away from the power-back offense that Weber and Dobbins had seen and excelled in in the past, and is moving more into a pass-heavy, pro-style approach in terms of pass protection and a receiving corps with the specialty of beating defenders in open space.

This change is something about which Meyer said he is worried.

“Third-and-one is tough right now. That’s another weakness,” Meyer said. “So a weakness right now is balance on offense and those short yardage [situations].”

With Dobbins and Weber leading the charge, Ohio State holds the No. 41 running game in the NCAA, averaging 201 yards per game.

However, the Ohio State offense is still averaging 49 points per game, something that running backs coach Tony Alford wants to focus on — not on how the offense might be getting those points.

“Our guys aren’t worried about that. I’m not,” Alford said. “The key component is to win and when you do it at all costs, you do what you need to do. If that means we are throwing the ball, if that means we are running the ball, if we are running screens, whatever, as long as we are winning games. And that’s what we are here to do.”

Alford said the running back room has adapted to the offense Haskins has run over the first six games of the season, calling the Ohio State offense more of a drop-back team that uses screens as a way to beat any aggressive defensive front.

In six games, Dobbins and Weber have adapted, combining for 17 receptions, averaging a combined 29.3 receiving yards per game and each recording a touchdown catch this season.

In the traditional running game, the game that both Weber and Dobbins had become used to, Ohio State has not found as much success. Both backs’ yards per carry average has decreased from a season ago, with Dobbins averaging 4.7 yards per carry after breaking out for 7.2 yards per rush last season.

With an offensive line that has protected Haskins remarkably well through six games, allowing 1.3 sacks per game, which is tied with Michigan for second-fewest in the Big Ten, Meyer said protecting backs in the run game is a bit different, and has to improve.

“We got to do a better job as coaches and better job, obviously, with players, just executing the run game,” Meyer said. “Because it’s not always that. It’s not always a loaded box.”

Entire article: https://www.thelantern.com/2018/10/...-find-a-place-in-changing-ohio-state-offense/

 

[ScriptOhio]

Ohio State Offensive Line Must Get Back to ‘Champion’ Ways

For the first time this season, no members of the Ohio State offensive line graded out as a Champion following a Saturday football game.

Every player is graded for their performance after a game, with each position having different thresholds for rating as a Champion. Needless to say, in order to earn the grade, you have to play very well, and that has been the overwhelming case for the OSU offensive line this season.

In fact, over the first five games this season, three times the entire offensive line graded out as Champions, and in every game this season — save for the last one — center Michael Jordan, right guard Demetrius Knox, and right tackle Isaiah Prince all earned Champion’s marks.

So to have none of them make the grade against Indiana was startling.

The Buckeyes rushed for 154 yards last week, which would have been the lowest mark of the year in 2017. It is the fourth-consecutive week that Ohio State has failed to rush for 200 yards.

The last time that happened at OSU was 2006, which was also the same year the Buckeyes had a Heisman-winning quarterback. They may have that very same thing again in 2018, which would help explain some of the lack of running, but not all of it.

For instance, this is the third-conecutive game where Ohio State has been under 4 yards per carry. You have to go all the way back to the disastrous start of the 2004 season to match those numbers.

While this current offense and the 2004 offense are parsecs apart, the inability to rush for even 4 yards per carry is universal. Prior to this season, the last time the Buckeyes were held under 4 yards per carry in a single game was the 31-0 loss to Clemson at the end of the 2016 season.

When Urban Meyer watches the Ohio State offensive line, he sees plenty of good, but also knows this past week needs to be an aberration.

“We had five champions for several weeks right in a row,” he said. “This week we didn’t play particularly well. So we gotta get back to — I think protection was very good. We’ve got to get back to the word ‘balance.’ We’ve been saying that and we’re going to work again this week at that.”

Entire article: https://theozone.net/2018/10/ohio-state-champion-ways/

 

[sparcboxbuck]

Alright football heads- I get the numbers problem in the run game. I'm happy to trust Haskins accuracy and ball placement to continue terrorizing the quick screens and mesh routes against 1 on 1 coverage, it's just as good as a run really.

But, is there absolutely nothing that can be done in the run game? If there are numbers in the box, they almost have to be unbalanced somewhere (doubt we're seeing 4-4 stuff). My question/suggestion are counters and pulls that get lineman or a TE coming across to run away from the numbers. I almost wonder how McCall/scat back would do here. The QB Read/RB dive play is dead this year. The Bucks are not running straight up the middle for any success- hard to accept but I get it. I'm in love with this passing offense and not ready to see it go so soon anyway.

I'd just like some comfort in the Buckeye run offense should they need to slow a game down or win a game. Hopeful there's something that can be evolved to get some success.

When in doubt, Dave.

 

[Jaxbuck]

From one of the articles summarizing Meyer's phone interview (as it relates to previous discussions around the running game):

As No. 3 Ohio State prepares for a Week 7 game against Minnesota, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said in the Big Ten Teleconference there needs to be something that changes in the running game.

He said the offensive coaches have talked about everything, including placing both sophomore running back J.K. Dobbins and redshirt junior running back Mike Weber on the field at the same time more often.

However, he said that’s not the major issue of why the running game needs to improve. It’s the defensive sets Ohio State running backs are facing.

“Everybody is packed in there on us, so somehow we have to get out of that,” Meyer said. “There’s a variety of ways to do that. One’s throwing the ball a bit more, one’s trying to get on the edge a bit more … as opposed to slamming up in there all the time.”

6 can't block 7 etc etc etc

get it outside quick and make them pay for being stacked inside

This is the path they chose when they put a non running QB in the Meyer offense so I'm a little disconcerted with his "somehow" comment. It's not like he's going to tell the media how he plans on doing it, just hopefully, he isn't legitimately surprised/bewildered.

 

[sparcboxbuck]

Off Topic:
Did I ever mention I have a friend at work named Balake and his real first name is A-Aron? No joke.

On Topic:
I'm kind of in the yards are yards camp. Yes, I like me a run game and balance... but if it's coming at the expense of just moving the damn ball down field, I'm not in favor. Wasn't it JT, early in his career, who got a call up to the booth from Earl that went something like, "Jim, that's five run plays in a row. All off left tackle. Are you going to call something else?" To which he replied, "As soon as they stop it, I will." It's kinda the same situation now but just with a passing offense. If they try to stop it and can't... why work against what's working for you?

 

[Jaxbuck]

Off Topic:
Did I ever mention I have a friend at work named Balake and his real first name is A-Aron? No joke.

On Topic:
I'm kind of in the yards are yards camp. Yes, I like me a run game and balance... but if it's coming at the expense of just moving the damn ball down field, I'm not in favor. Wasn't it JT, early in his career, who got a call up to the booth from Earl that went something like, "Jim, that's five run plays in a row. All off left tackle. Are you going to call something else?" To which he replied, "As soon as they stop it, I will." It's kinda the same situation now but just with a passing offense. If they try to stop it and can't... why work against what's working for you?

I have both a Balake and an A-aron working for me.

I have been unmerciful with it for years.

New people think that is actually how you pronounce their names. I love that skit.

 

[sparcboxbuck]

I have both a Balake and an A-aron working for me.

I have been unmerciful with it for years.

New people think that is actually how you pronounce their names. I love that skit.

You need to get a name plate for your office: O'Shaghenesey

 

[buckeyebri]

Off Topic:
On Topic:
I'm kind of in the yards are yards camp. Yes, I like me a run game and balance... but if it's coming at the expense of just moving the damn ball down field, I'm not in favor. Wasn't it JT, early in his career, who got a call up to the booth from Earl that went something like, "Jim, that's five run plays in a row. All off left tackle. Are you going to call something else?" To which he replied, "As soon as they stop it, I will." It's kinda the same situation now but just with a passing offense. If they try to stop it and can't... why work against what's working for you?

When my dad coached football in the 60s that’s what you did. Run it till they stop it, then run something else, then run it again. That was Woody and Earle to a T.

After rewatching The game today, Weber would be my 1a back. He sees the field better and hits up field quicker. I love Dobbins but I still think he dances too much and gets tripped up to easy. I would definitely have Weber in on short yardage.

I like the thought of having both backs together, but we have heard that before from Urban and rarely have we seen it. Smokescreen....

 

[ScriptOhio]

URBAN MEYER PLEASED WITH OHIO STATE TIGHT ENDS' IMPROVEMENT AS BLOCKERS, BUT WANTS TO GET THEM MORE INVOLVED IN PASSING GAME

Urban Meyer’s offenses at Ohio State have consistently had a reputation of sparingly utilizing tight ends in the passing game.

That reputation certainly hasn’t changed this year. Through the first six games of the Buckeyes’ season, in which Dwayne Haskins has already completed 142 passes for 1,919 yards and 25 touchdowns, Ohio State tight ends Luke Farrell, Rashod Berry and Jeremy Ruckert have combined to catch just five passes for 51 yards and two touchdowns – and only one of those catches, a 13-yard reception by Farrell, has come in the last four games.

As the Buckeyes begin their second half of the regular season, however, Meyer says he wants to see their tight ends make a bigger impact as receivers.

“In the pass game, just OK,” Meyer said Wednesday when asked to evaluate the tight ends’ performance this season. “That’s something we’re still growing with, but in the pass game, we need to get them more involved.”

The tight ends’ lack of involvement in the receiving game hasn’t exactly hurt Ohio State’s passing offense. Between Haskins’ gaudy numbers and backup quarterback Tate Martell’s performance in limited action, Ohio State is currently tied for the Football Bowl Subdivision lead in passing touchdowns (26), ranks second in completion percentage (73.0) and ranks third in both passing yards per game (364.7) and passer rating (188.8).

Still, the emergence of Ohio State’s tight ends as receiving playmakers could add value to the offense in specific situations – particularly in short-yardage situations, where the Buckeyes are currently searching for answers, and in the red zone – and give opposing defenses one more option they have to worry about.

The tight ends themselves, of course, would like to have more opportunities to catch the ball, and they believe the key to making that happen is to continue showing what they can do in practice.

“Just got to keep working every day in practice,” Berry said Wednesday. “Completing passes in practice, and just building that confidence, really.”

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...nts-to-get-them-more-involved-in-passing-game

 

[Hstead]

I am a HUGE Urban fan, want no other coach on our sidelines, however, I have one simple concept for you coach in short yardage.

The Caps are me screaming:

IF YOU WANT TO GET THE GODDAMN FIRST DOWN WHEN WE NEED ONE FUCKING YARD, HOW ABOUT NOT GOING SUPER DUPER HURRY UP AND RUNNING THE TAILBACK THROUGH THE FUCKING TWO HOLE LIKE YOU DO EVERY GODDAMN TIME YOU START RUSHING TO THE LOS?

Fuck. Anyone that has watched us understands we are running two hole when we rush to the damn line. Not three hole, not four hole, and not five hole, the FUCKING two hole. EVERY FUCKING TIME. How about some plays off of that bitch coach? Predictable much? As soon as we start rushing that shit you know exactly where the fuck the ball is going, and that includes whoever we are playing and all three of their LBs. Jesus Urban.