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2025 tOSU Offense Discussion

Tegra plays too upright and gets off balance too easily. I was hoping it was something he'd play his way out of but if anything its getting worse.

Ian Moore did pretty well coming in, although I still think Padilla is ahead of him a bit.

bingo. the screen pass was a glaring example
 
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Really pleased with our running game this past Saturday. I think we get over 200 yds against UCLA on Saturday night.
Purdue gives up 161 yards rushing per game at 4.2 ypc. We had 170 yards at 3.9 ypc. UCLA gives up 191 yards per game at 5.0 ypc. So, it’s not a stretch if we’re simply average like we were vs. Purdue.
 
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RAVIOLI, RAVIOLI, GIVE ME THE FORMUOLI? The Los Angeles Rams may have the secret formula to solving Ohio State's offensive line inconsistencies — and providing the Buckeyes with their next evolution on offense.

Sean McVay is one of the elite offensive minds in football. In his eight-plus seasons as the Rams' head coach, McVay's offenses have perennially ranked among the league's best in points and yards per game as the 39-year-old maestro has Los Angeles on the cutting edge with scheme and personnel. That's no different in 2025.

I'm not an LA fan — I think I've made that clear in the Skull Session, where I sometimes vent about the Factory of Sadness — but the Rams' offense has fascinated me since their dominant 35-7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Oct. 19.

With star receiver Puka Nacua sidelined with an ankle sprain, McVay utilized 13 personnel (one running back, three tight ends, one wide receiver), not 11 (one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers) or 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends and two wide receivers) on offense. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, running back Kyren Williams, tight ends Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson and Terrance Ferguson, and wide receiver Davante Adams was the lineup, and that lineup looked unstoppable — not because the Rams ran the ball, but passed it. Stafford threw for 182 yards and five touchdowns, with Adams (three), Parkinson (one) and Ferguson (one) combining for the scores.


Even with Nacua returning for the Rams’ matchup with the New Orleans Saints, McVay still leaned on 13 personnel. That decision paid dividends as Stafford torched the Saints with 281 passing yards and four scores. Nacua had seven catches for 95 yards and one touchdown, while Adams had five catches for 60 yards and two scores. Williams also thrived on the ground with 114 yards and one touchdown on 25 carries.

In a divisional matchup with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, McVay pushed all his chips into the center of the table. According to Next Gen Stats, McVay used 13 personnel on 30 of 67 snaps (44.8%), the second-highest rate in a game since 2016, and their third straight game over 38%. The Rams averaged 6.7 yards per play, 63.3% success rate and 20% explosive play rate out of 13 personnel as Stafford threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns, and Williams ran 73 yards and two scores on 14 carries.


(Just to summarize Stafford’s insane run, the 37-year-old completed 68.4% of his passes for 743 yards and 13 touchdowns in the Rams' victories over the Jaguars, Saints and 49ers.)

It’s obvious McVay’s calculated shift has created an advantage for the Rams.

Why?

When LA goes “heavy” in 13, opponents expect a run and match with their “heavy” base personnel. McVay then pulls the rug out from underneath them and lets Stafford rip fastballs because the opponent’s cornerbacks and linebackers can’t cover the Rams’ pass-catchers. If opponents expect a pass and use nickel personnel, McVay has Stafford hand the ball off to Williams because the opponent’s defensive backs can’t evade the Rams’ run blockers.

Personnel Tendency

Stats from SumerSports
It’s brilliant. Just brilliant. And it’s not just an NFL wrinkle. It’s a concept that could translate perfectly to college football, especially with a program like Ohio State, which has one of the deepest tight end rooms in America.

Before I continue, let’s address the obvious: Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate are two of the best receivers in college football, and taking one off the field for Will Kacmarek, Bennett Christian, Jelani Thurman or Nate Roberts feels counterproductive. But for Ohio State, 13 personnel wouldn’t be about benching star receivers; it would be about keeping opponents on their toes while balancing the offense.

With an extra tight end on the field more regularly, Sayin could have cleaner pockets, and the Ohio State running backs could have clearer run lanes — both of which have been issues the past few weeks as the Buckeyes’ offensive line has been inconsistent. Given the Rams’ success, there’s reason to believe McVay has provided a solution to Ohio State’s problems.


Stafford has been more accurate (66.6% in Games 1-6, 68.4% in Games 7-9), thrown more touchdowns (12 in Games 1-6, 13 in Games 7-9) and taken fewer sacks (11 in Games 1-6, three in Games 7-9) since the shift to more 13 personnel. Meanwhile, Williams has become a more efficient runner (4.4 YPA in Games 1-6, 4.73 YPA in Games 7-9) and scorer (two touchdowns in Games 1-6, three in Games 7-9).

Could the same evolution occur for Sayin and the Ohio State running backs?

It could.

With Sayin, Smith and Tate, the Buckeyes can air it out on anyone. But sooner rather than later, Ryan Day’s team will need to run the football against the nation’s best teams — not Purdue, UCLA or Rutgers. And when that time comes, why not do it with the personnel grouping that helped turn the Rams into a Super Bowl contender and Stafford into an MVP?

 
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I watched that too. i was amazed by what seemed to me to be the coaches not being able to get the players to stick to their blocking assignments. Apparently there was some butt chewing after incorrect blocks. The coaches need to get their acts together.
I was thinking the problem is all on the right side of the line. For sure I know better now
<<<<<<dumchit.
 
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RAVIOLI, RAVIOLI, GIVE ME THE FORMUOLI? The Los Angeles Rams may have the secret formula to solving Ohio State's offensive line inconsistencies — and providing the Buckeyes with their next evolution on offense.

Sean McVay is one of the elite offensive minds in football. In his eight-plus seasons as the Rams' head coach, McVay's offenses have perennially ranked among the league's best in points and yards per game as the 39-year-old maestro has Los Angeles on the cutting edge with scheme and personnel. That's no different in 2025.

I'm not an LA fan — I think I've made that clear in the Skull Session, where I sometimes vent about the Factory of Sadness — but the Rams' offense has fascinated me since their dominant 35-7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Oct. 19.

With star receiver Puka Nacua sidelined with an ankle sprain, McVay utilized 13 personnel (one running back, three tight ends, one wide receiver), not 11 (one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers) or 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends and two wide receivers) on offense. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, running back Kyren Williams, tight ends Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson and Terrance Ferguson, and wide receiver Davante Adams was the lineup, and that lineup looked unstoppable — not because the Rams ran the ball, but passed it. Stafford threw for 182 yards and five touchdowns, with Adams (three), Parkinson (one) and Ferguson (one) combining for the scores.


Even with Nacua returning for the Rams’ matchup with the New Orleans Saints, McVay still leaned on 13 personnel. That decision paid dividends as Stafford torched the Saints with 281 passing yards and four scores. Nacua had seven catches for 95 yards and one touchdown, while Adams had five catches for 60 yards and two scores. Williams also thrived on the ground with 114 yards and one touchdown on 25 carries.

In a divisional matchup with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, McVay pushed all his chips into the center of the table. According to Next Gen Stats, McVay used 13 personnel on 30 of 67 snaps (44.8%), the second-highest rate in a game since 2016, and their third straight game over 38%. The Rams averaged 6.7 yards per play, 63.3% success rate and 20% explosive play rate out of 13 personnel as Stafford threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns, and Williams ran 73 yards and two scores on 14 carries.


(Just to summarize Stafford’s insane run, the 37-year-old completed 68.4% of his passes for 743 yards and 13 touchdowns in the Rams' victories over the Jaguars, Saints and 49ers.)

It’s obvious McVay’s calculated shift has created an advantage for the Rams.

Why?

When LA goes “heavy” in 13, opponents expect a run and match with their “heavy” base personnel. McVay then pulls the rug out from underneath them and lets Stafford rip fastballs because the opponent’s cornerbacks and linebackers can’t cover the Rams’ pass-catchers. If opponents expect a pass and use nickel personnel, McVay has Stafford hand the ball off to Williams because the opponent’s defensive backs can’t evade the Rams’ run blockers.

Personnel Tendency

Stats from SumerSports
It’s brilliant. Just brilliant. And it’s not just an NFL wrinkle. It’s a concept that could translate perfectly to college football, especially with a program like Ohio State, which has one of the deepest tight end rooms in America.

Before I continue, let’s address the obvious: Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate are two of the best receivers in college football, and taking one off the field for Will Kacmarek, Bennett Christian, Jelani Thurman or Nate Roberts feels counterproductive. But for Ohio State, 13 personnel wouldn’t be about benching star receivers; it would be about keeping opponents on their toes while balancing the offense.

With an extra tight end on the field more regularly, Sayin could have cleaner pockets, and the Ohio State running backs could have clearer run lanes — both of which have been issues the past few weeks as the Buckeyes’ offensive line has been inconsistent. Given the Rams’ success, there’s reason to believe McVay has provided a solution to Ohio State’s problems.


Stafford has been more accurate (66.6% in Games 1-6, 68.4% in Games 7-9), thrown more touchdowns (12 in Games 1-6, 13 in Games 7-9) and taken fewer sacks (11 in Games 1-6, three in Games 7-9) since the shift to more 13 personnel. Meanwhile, Williams has become a more efficient runner (4.4 YPA in Games 1-6, 4.73 YPA in Games 7-9) and scorer (two touchdowns in Games 1-6, three in Games 7-9).

Could the same evolution occur for Sayin and the Ohio State running backs?

It could.

With Sayin, Smith and Tate, the Buckeyes can air it out on anyone. But sooner rather than later, Ryan Day’s team will need to run the football against the nation’s best teams — not Purdue, UCLA or Rutgers. And when that time comes, why not do it with the personnel grouping that helped turn the Rams into a Super Bowl contender and Stafford into an MVP?


 
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Ryan Day​

On Ohio State’s game plan against Purdue​

  • “It was good to get over 40 runs in the game. We felt like that was something we wanted to get done.”
  • “We put some of the depth in the game, so that was good.”
  • “That was the most we’ve played in a while, so that was good.”
  • “Efficiency is key. That’s gonna be the name of the game here.”
  • “We all know there’s a lot of meat on the bone. We got to get better.”

On Jeremiah Smith’s block in the back penalty​

  • “The effort was there.”
  • Day said Smith did a good job of recognizing he wouldn’t get the football and transitioning to being a run blocker.
  • “It was close, but something to learn from.”

On Ohio State’s running backs against Purdue​

  • Day said CJ Donaldson and Bo Jackson had some good runs against Purdue.
  • Day called the running back room “very young” and said the Buckeyes want to get as many reps for them as possible in practice and games.
  • “We want everybody to be able to do everything.”
  • “All of those guys can catch the ball. That’s gonna be a weapon for us. … We got to use them as the season goes on, but they all can do it.”

On Ohio State’s wide receivers against Purdue​

  • “I thought Jeremiah played an excellent game. It was good to see Max (Klare) step up. And then Brandon Inniss as well.”
  • Day said he was pleased to see Mylan Graham bounce back with a catch after dropping a pass early in the game.
  • Day said Bryson Rodgers graded out as a champion against Purdue. “Had some good blocks, had two nice catches, you could see the route-running ability there. Hopefully his confidence is increasing because we need him. He can help us on special teams as well. That will be really important for us.”
  • “We’re hoping to get Quincy (Porter) back this week as well, again, hopefully to get more and more depth in that room.”

On Lincoln Kienholz’s touchdown run​

  • “That was a good time to hit it.”
  • “I thought the whole things was well-executed.”
  • “It was good to see him get in the game, and hopefully we can build on it.”

On having a running back bellcow vs. splitting reps​

  • “There’s some give and take there, for sure.”
  • Day said he values running backs finding a rhythm in the game but “it’s a long season.”
  • “Sometimes it’s good to kind of play the hot hand and let those guys get the feel of the game and roll, but at the same time it’s good to keep them fresh.”

On Ohio State’s confidence in Ian Moore​

  • Day said Ohio State’s staff has more confidence in Moore following his first start against Purdue. “There’s no question.”
  • “You didn’t really notice him in the game. That’s a good sign.”
  • “We all see the potential there. He’s still a young player, still growing and learning, but a good start for him.”
 
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