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2024 tOSU Offense Discussion

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Ohio State Passing Attack Still Productive Despite Overall Offensive Struggles Against Nebraska​

Ohio State’s offense was not good against Nebraska.

There are more creative ways to say that, certainly, but that feels like throwing punches at a deceased stallion – or beating a dead horse – at this point. Put simply, the Buckeyes’ attack provided about as much downfield motion as a dead horse for long stretches of play versus the Huskers.
Against that backdrop, which has bred much fan pessimism about Ohio State’s offensive line and its capability to win at No. 3 Penn State on Saturday, one element of the Buckeyes’ offense stayed efficient and productive: its passing game.

Will Howard went 13-of-16 for 221 yards and three touchdowns, the only three Ohio State scored in its 21-17 win over the Huskers. The Buckeyes continue to have probably the best receiving corps in the country, and Howard has completed more than 80% of his throws in back-to-back air-tight games. If the offensive line can give him time to work through his progressions on the road, perhaps it’s something the team can hang its hat on again.

“I think, historically, the wide receivers at Ohio State have always been really talented,” Emeka Egbuka told Eleven Warriors. “So I think that's part of the reason. We have guys who work extremely hard, and God has gifted them with great abilities. So I think if our coaches put us in positions to be able to make plays when the ball is in the air, we're going to do everything we can to do that.”
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Onebuckfan said:
Howard was good…throw more. I know we love our backs but we are struggling to run the ball without Josh. Break tendencies..4 targets for Smith is criminal.
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Especially last week - they kept running RPOs and the "p" part of that was seemingly missing. They only threw the key screens a couple times at most. It was perplexing.

And I agree about the targets for Smith. Get the ball in his hands as much as possible.
 
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Mike80 said:
Especially last week - they kept running RPOs and the "p" part of that was seemingly missing. They only threw the key screens a couple times at most. It was perplexing.

And I agree about the targets for Smith. Get the ball in his hands as much as possible.
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Get the ball in his and EEs hands on the move. These can be quick passes down the seam or across the field that are designed for YACs.
 
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RuGettinIt said:
Get the ball in his and EEs hands on the move. These can be quick passes down the seam or across the field that are designed for YACs.
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that if they have time. Once it was clear they didn't have the ability to pass block, roll Howard out or, again, the key screens. If they are up tight on the outside, a key and go (basically one guy runs the key, the other guy runs a vert)...but get the ball out quick if nothing else and let the playmakers play.
 
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Poe McKnoe said:
Why do you say that?

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RuGettinIt said:
Anticipating that the pass to the WR behind the line is one of the first 3 plays we see.
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Execution matters. These aren't even true RPOs other than maybe the first one. This is the concept that I've been calling key screens.

They only work under a couple conditions:

Play 1: It's 3 receivers on 2 defenders in the immediate area. If the blocks are made (they weren't), it should be a 5-7 yard gain at minimum. Instead it's like 1 because no one got their blocks.

Play 2: another play where a blocker doesn't get his job done. If Stover makes that block in any way, EE is up the sideline for at least a first down.

Play 3: while not specifically a key screen, this is another one where the blocks not being made make the play concept look worse than it is. In this case 2 receivers miss the one guy who HAVE to block to make this play work at all and EE pays the price for it.

Play 4: This is (or at least should have been) the key and go concept I'm talking about - while the first receiver blocks, the 2nd receiver receives the pass. The issue here is the defenders are both within 6-ish yards of the LOS. This play gained 5 yards because EE stuck to his block (mostly) and MHJr was a damn freak. Make that a key and go (with EE being the go) and you end up having a guy trying to stop EE's block and a corner or safety trying to crash down to tackle the key. If EE gets off the jam, you have a superior receiver against a slot corner or a safety. I'll take that and so would everyone else.

If they execute at a high level, this offense is basically unstoppable. Even in the Oregon game, they executed at a fairly high level. Obviously Nebraska was much different (and potentially an outlier?). We will see on Saturday.
 
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brodybuck21 said:
ouch

Michalski failed as a pass blocker and run blocker. He was far worse in the former than the latter, allowing four pressures, two hurries and two sacks in 21 pass-blocking snaps — good for a 14.2 grade from Pro Football Focus. That number ranked dead last among Ohio State’s starters, following Josh Fryar (77.7), Donovan Jackson (75), Seth McLaughlin (68.8) and Tegra Tshabola (36.3).
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He struggled for sure. But he did a fantastic job on the three TD passes.
 
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