DT Luke Fickell (HC Wisconsin Badgers)

[Buckeyefrankmp]

Guess I am being a jerk here but what in world makes you think Drayton would do any better. Do you have insight to what input he has on the gameplan and in game adjustment? Have you a seen a game in which he was "the guy" calling the plays?

I don't think it could get any worse with someone else calling the plays. I have seen what Bollman can do. Drayton might not be any better. He was in the Florida system for the best few years. I was hoping some of that system would part of him and he could bring new life to the offense. I have not seen any games where he was "the guy" calling the plays, but I have seen enough of Bollman's play calling without Tressel.

 

[Apache]

Calling plays and having a "wide-open" offense is one thing. Calling an all-go play while very exciting is a risk vs. reward type play. If you get it, it is a long gain and perhaps points. If not, you have second or third and 10 or more.

More importantly, is having athletes that can get deep, get open, and catch the ball. You need to have a receiver or two or three that can actually do that. Also a quarterback who can get them a precise and well thrown ball.
On top of that the line must give protection for a longer period of time and it is an entirely different skill than run blocking.

I love the quick strike and sudden change, but it appears that the Bucks coaches are trying to win the surest way with the athletes they have.

So the best offensive philosophy and scheme works on paper, but in practice that may be a far different animal to tame.

I don't think it could get any worse with someone else calling the plays. I have seen what Bollman can do. Drayton might not be any better. He was in the Florida system for the best few years. I was hoping some of that system would part of him and he could bring new life to the offense. I have not seen any games where he was "the guy" calling the plays, but I have seen enough of Bollman's play calling without Tressel.

 

[craigblitz]

Good Post Apache.

I was hoping some of that system would part of him and he could bring new life to the offense. I have not seen any games where he was "the guy" calling the plays, but I have seen enough of Bollman's play calling without Tressel.

I am not sure we have the players to run that system to make it work. That is not to say Florida was better at x, y, z, it means that as a whole the system we are running might be the best fit for the team as a whole.

Trust me I am as frustrated as a fan as their is, but I think the knee jerk reactions and thinking it is all on one guy Jim Bollman is short sided. I would imagine that none of us have any idea how the plays actually get to the players and whose input goes into it. I am not even 100% sure it is all Jim's show. It seems to be, but I do know calling plays is not a matter of one guy holding a controller and selecting this or that.

What I hope more to see then anything is some basic execution regardless of who is in there. The team did not do that at all Saturday. Play calling is a good piece of that puzzle for sure but Luke needs to find answers to address the execution piece more then anything this week.

 

[Bucks21]

It's early in the year, I don't know if you guys forget but it almost always took Tressel's teams more than a few games to find an identity for the team on the offensive side of the ball. With all the turmoil, trying to find a new qb and losing the man that helped Bolls call the plays. Well that all adds up to what we saw on the field last Saturday night or at least part of it. If Brax is given the shot and really given the shot to succeed this week, I'm all for taking whatever lumps we will have to take starting a freshmen QB.


And as Bestbuck36 said I want to see more fire out Fickell on the sidelines. I'm really pulling for him and hope he can get this thing turned around and heading in the right direction. This is such an important week to just get some momentum going on the offensive side of the ball, hopefully they can make that happen.

 

[buckeyebri]

One thing for sure is that the Buckeyes as an offensive unit have struggled for years scoring once inside the redzone. They have normally done well moving the ball in between the 20's, but have settled for a tremendous amount of FGs over the past some seasons.

I am not sure if these struggles are systematic, player or coaching struggles, but there is certainly a common denominator in the implementation of the Buckeye's offensive system.

 

[MSURacerDT55]

:popcorn:

 

[HorticullyBuck]

One thing for sure is that the Buckeyes as an offensive unit have struggled for years scoring once inside the redzone. They have normally done well moving the ball in between the 20's, but have settled for a tremendous amount of FGs over the past some seasons.

I am not sure if these struggles are systematic, player or coaching struggles, but there is certainly a common denominator in the implementation of the Buckeye's offensive system.

I have noticed the red zone issues myself too. If the stats do indeed point to a deficit of red zone inadequacies. Wouldn't it have to be a systematic problem? either coaching, play calling or, practice. i would like to see the numbers but players turn over every 2-4 years so wouldn't players be ruled out?

As a side note i am very glad Fickell has made a decision and its early enough in the week to seem concrete.

 

[Sportsbuck28]

If Luke does get the job on a permanent basis, the big thing that I would like to see is some sort of consistent identity offensively. Whether it be a pro-style attack, the spread, wishbone, wing T, etc., I don't really care, but we've been lacking an identity offensively for a while now.

 

[HorticullyBuck]

I believe we have an offensive identity it's just not a very effective one as of late; We run lots of I formation and play action.

 

[Buckskin86]

LF with Dustin Fox- radio interview

 

[craigblitz]

Damn it Buckskin86.... Do you not read before you post... Posters are asking for an identity to the offense... So you go a post a link from an interview from Dustin Fox, a great Safety...err corner back. Somehow the root of this identity crisis goes back to him I am sure.

 

[OSUK]

Was going to Braxton a difficult decision? I don't think Fickell had much of a choice. All week almost all of the fans, and most of the media, past players, and BTN personalities were calling it a "no brainer".

If he had trotted Bauserman out there for the first series, I dare say it would have been a scene that wouldn't have reflected well on anyone.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

More importantly, is having athletes that can get deep, get open, and catch the ball. You need to have a receiver or two or three that can actually do that. Also a quarterback who can get them a precise and well thrown ball.
On top of that the line must give protection for a longer period of time and it is an entirely different skill than run blocking.

There are four things that will kill your passing game:

1. Poor pass protection
2. Receivers not getting open
3. Receivers failing to catch the ball
4. Quarterback failing to get the ball to open receivers

#1 wasn't a real problem...the OL provided good pass protection for the most part.

#2 wasn't as big a problem as some here think...WRs were getting open against Duh U.

#3 was a problem on several occasions.

#4 Bauserman looked flustered and his accuracy suffered for it, and when he did make a good throw he was hurt by problem #3 above.

We had problems #1 and #2 covered. Fixing #3 shouldn't be a real problem...just catch the fucking ball or you sit. The only way to fix #4 right now, IMO, is to play Miller as much as we can...just hand him the keys and tell him to drive the offense.

 

[Mrstickball]

There are four things that will kill your passing game:

1. Poor pass protection
2. Receivers not getting open
3. Receivers failing to catch the ball
4. Quarterback failing to get the ball to open receivers

#1 wasn't a real problem...the OL provided good pass protection for the most part.

#2 wasn't as big a problem as some here think...WRs were getting open against Duh U.

#3 was a problem on several occasions.

#4 Bauserman looked flustered and his accuracy suffered for it, and when he did make a good throw he was hurt by problem #3 above.

We had problems #1 and #2 covered. Fixing #3 shouldn't be a real problem...just catch the [censored]ing ball or you sit. The only way to fix #4 right now, IMO, is to play Miller as much as we can...just hand him the keys and tell him to drive the offense.

I think one of the most difficult things has been our WR's lack of experience. Every single one fielded at Da U was either a freshman or at most, sophomore except for Stoney. Since Jake was double covered the entire game, it took away our only credible (at that time) threat in the passing game.

On the other end, by the end of the year, if they can all develop properly...We will have some crazy weapons at WR and hopefully at QB.

 

[cjmik_75]

I think one of the most difficult things has been our WR's lack of experience. Every single one fielded at Da U was either a freshman or at most, sophomore except for Stoney. Since Jake was double covered the entire game, it took away our only credible (at that time) threat in the passing game.

On the other end, by the end of the year, if they can all develop properly...We will have some crazy weapons at WR and hopefully at QB.

Jake wasn't double covered when he tried to one-hand a TD pass that JB threw behind him. Point is JB definitely played below expectations but so did the WR and TE positions. The guys are young but this is The Ohio State. Next man up. They need to step it up this week and help Brax out and I believe they will. Knuckle balls from the QB isn't going to cut it in big time Divison 1 football (unless you're a scum QB) but a better effort from the receiving corps is needed also.
JB will probably get on the field again at some point and I hope he plays to his fullest potential because at the end of the day he's still a Buckeye.