Jim Tressel (National Champion, ex-President, Youngstown State University, CFB HOF)

[Nick71]

By avererage, I mean Ohio State brings in top recruiting classes (average ranking was 13th from 2002 thru 2008) so you expect their avg offensive ranking to be better than 68th. Now, the recruiting rankings vary a little depending on which site you look at but the offensive rankings based on total yardage and scoring are not subjective, they are fact. Check out NCAA Statistics to view the stats. They are based on the list of schools in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision of the NCAA. This year, there are 120 teams. I believe there were 110 or 115 teams in 2001. I am not saying the average offensive ranking should be 13th but it should be better than 68th considering all the talent that comes to Ohio State.

I 've enjoyed reading posts on this forum for years but yes, I finally decided to post something (mot much of an online chatter or anything). I strongly feel the offeneses as a whole have not been on par with the quality of our recruits. The head coach has to take responsibility for that, especially when they are running his offensive scheme and he is the one calling the plays.

 

[muffler dragon]

By avererage, I mean Ohio State brings in top recruiting classes (average ranking was 13th from 2002 thru 2008) so you expect their avg offensive ranking to be better than 68th.

This presumes that you're bringing in top flight recruiting personnel at all skill positions, doesn't it? IMO, you might have a case if you can show me that the offensive skill positions that we recruit are better than some sort of average that has yet to be decided.

Furthermore, recruiting classes are not exactly exact. They are an expectation of how one might perform at the collegiate level. They are not a given. This is another variable that probably throws your argument askew.

 

[NateG]

Rankings in Total Offense, Scoring Offense, and Recruiting Classes.

Year, Total Offense, Scoring Offense, Recruiting Class

2001 65, 67, **
2002 70, 41, 05
2003 93, 74, 41
2004 98, 71, 09
2005 32, 26, 12
2006 26, 08, 12
2007 62, 41, 15
2008 76, 45, 04
2009 thru Oct 18th 91, 57, 03

Average 68, 48, 13
Not including 2005 & 2006 79, 57, **

Jim Tressel is a class act and a great mentor. However, he is is not a good offensive coach. He is not even an average offensive coach. The numbers do not lie. The main reason Ohio State has won so many games is they consistently put good defensive teams on the field year in and year out. Special teams have always been pretty good too.

It's funny that people say things like this and drop 05 and 06. He was involved in 05 and 06. The difference is a QB that was allowed to build continuity with his offensive partners. Match that with a line that was dominate when they showed up(Florida, the obvious game im talking of). Maybe Tress isn't the best offensive coach, maybe just involving Hazell isn't the long term answer, but to be honest.. if TP and the line were playing up to half of their potential, this thread and the offensive discussion thread would be half as full as they are now. It will come, but when you play youth you get inconsistent results. And JT is building for a better cause. Yeah it would have been great to be in the hunt for the title but he knows our best chance is next year. He may at that point even hire someone new. He can't do it right now so let's talk about that come Jan 8th.

 

[Nick71]

The reason people drop 2005 and 2006 is Tressel has been here for 9 years and has only produced a high scoring offense 2 of those years. Producing a great offense 2 out of 4, 5 yrs would be ok but only 2 yrs out of 9 is unacceptable. Anyways, the avg ranking of 68th include stats from 2005 & 2006. Again, if our talent is so good, one would expect that avg ranking to be higher than 68, unless our offensive recruits are just not as good as people perceived them to be.

 

[matcar]

It's funny that people say things like this and drop 05 and 06. He was involved in 05 and 06. The difference is a QB that was allowed to build continuity with his offensive partners. Match that with a line that was dominate when they showed up(Florida, the obvious game im talking of). Maybe Tress isn't the best offensive coach, maybe just involving Hazell isn't the long term answer, but to be honest.. if TP and the line were playing up to half of their potential, this thread and the offensive discussion thread would be half as full as they are now. It will come, but when you play youth you get inconsistent results. And JT is building for a better cause. Yeah it would have been great to be in the hunt for the title but he knows our best chance is next year. He may at that point even hire someone new. He can't do it right now so let's talk about that come Jan 8th.

Players make plays and coached can only coach, but ultimately if kids aren't playing up to their potential, it rests on the head coach. That true bottom line is that the head coach either 1) didn't get the right or enough talent in order to bench one kid in favor of another or 2) didn't "coach 'em up". People can state that we're young this year or two old/thinking about the NFL last year or whatever else. It really doesn't matter. He's been here 8 years so he's had ample time to build and stockpile his teams to accomplish his own stated goals year-in/year-out. JT is a winner, and a fantastic man, but our offense often doesn't reflect those attributes as one might expect.

Oh, and the other bottom line that matters, (since I don't want to appear overly negative), is JT's overall record, final rankings, which as I noted in a previous thread are quite impressive, and the quality men he graduates. It's not all roses, but it is MOSTLY roses.

 

[osugrad21]

By avererage, I mean Ohio State brings in top recruiting classes (average ranking was 13th from 2002 thru 2008) so you expect their avg offensive ranking to be better than 68th. Now, the recruiting rankings vary a little depending on which site you look at but the offensive rankings based on total yardage and scoring are not subjective, they are fact. Check out NCAA Statistics to view the stats. They are based on the list of schools in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision of the NCAA. This year, there are 120 teams. I believe there were 110 or 115 teams in 2001. I am not saying the average offensive ranking should be 13th but it should be better than 68th considering all the talent that comes to Ohio State.

Nick, again, the rankings you post mean absolutely nothing...nada, zilch. They are a broadstroke illustration of a generalized complaint. Execution is poor, playcalling leaves much to be desired, whatever...but yards per game is a garbage assessment of a successful offense.

Yards per game is easily skewed...especially as an entire set value.

You have every right to question the offensive performance, but please drop the ridiculous cookie cutter argument.

 

[Woody1968]

Since he contrasted offensive rankings with recruiting rankings, I took "below average" to be relative to talent. So if a coach has the tenth most talented offense in the country, then a tenth place ranking, or thereabouts, would probably be considered average offensive coaching. Higher than that would be above average, and lower would be below average. That's just what I think he meant anyway.

That is misleading if only for the fact that recruiting class rankings are a prediction of college level talent and not conclusive evidence of said talent. Throw in the fact that the ranking can be skewed by one or two recruits, or an abundance at one position and nothing at another. Phil Fulmer used to recruit top 5 classes and only had 1 NC team to show for it, and most would agree that that team had less talent than the Tennessee teams that preceeded it. Peyton Manning led Tennessee lost to MEMPHIS, for crying out loud.

 

[LordJeffBuck]

The reason people drop 2005 and 2006 is Tressel has been here for 9 years and has only produced a high scoring offense 2 of those years. Producing a great offense 2 out of 4, 5 yrs would be ok but only 2 yrs out of 9 is unacceptable. Anyways, the avg ranking of 68th include stats from 2005 & 2006. Again, if our talent is so good, one would expect that avg ranking to be higher than 68, unless our offensive recruits are just not as good as people perceived them to be.

So, are you saying that the offense in 2002 was unacceptable?

 

[leroyjenkins]

Tressel's Stock Rising and Falling with Pryor's
By John Porentas

Just two years into Jim Tressel's OSU head coaching career he was the ultimate Blue Chipper. Consecutive wins over Michigan, an undefeated season, and a win over Miami in the Fiesta Bowl made him a can't miss buy on the Buckeyes Stock Exchange. Now? He's sideways at best.
Following consecutive seasons in which the Buckeyes made it to the BCS National championship game then lost there was growing sentiment within the fan base that they would gladly trade one mediocre (say four of five losses) season for the ability to win a national championship every four or five years. They weren't ready to dump their interests in Tressel Inc, but they weren't adding to their portfolios either. The same people poo-pooed the fact that the Tressel-coached Buckeyes win the games they supposed to win and that he beat arch-rival Michigan with a regularity that has never existed before in the annuls of OSU football. That is not good enough, the sentiment became. Winning the Big Game from time to time is much, much more important. That"s where the return really is.
Like any other good CEO, Tressel set about to improve his stock. If winning the Big Game is the measure, then you have to move in that direction. The Buckeye Market, it turns out, is a bit fickle, and Tressel's calculated risk is currently eroding some of his equity with the OSU faithful.

Continued....

The-Ozone, Ohio State Football, Wrestling, Softball, Basketball, Hockey, Baseball and More

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Not really the issue. Most of us who are critical don't want Tressel to act as OC in the first place. We don't want him to try and innovate on offense--something he's clearly unsuited for. We want him to bring in a young innovative oc to do it for him.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

So, are you saying that the offense in 2002 was unacceptable?

Let's not lose sight of the fact that the 2002 team was 3 plays away from going 9-3 and playing in the Hall of Fame Bowl.

It was an unacceptable offense that was bailed out by great D and special teams. 2002 was also a team where every lucky bounce went its way. I said at the time that a season will come where those bounces all fall the other way, and you'll see the dark underbelly of Tressel ball. I think we're in the middle of that season now.

 

[Gothmog8]

Unless JT and crew go 7-5, or 8-4, 2-3 years in a row, lose to Michigan 2 of 3 in a row, or continue the streak of bowl losses, I doubt there will be any serious changes in the way things are in the coaching staff. How many years have people complained about the O-line, Offense in general, Offense coaches, and the playcalling?

Bucks finish out the season with a win over M, a bowl game win and MOST people will be satisfied...

 

[Steve19]

So, are you saying that the offense in 2002 was unacceptable?

Well, I don't mean to lay this on Nick or anyone else for that matter, but what is the underlying attitude of a lot of Buckeye fans who are criticizing Coach Tressel?

"Yes, absolutely. 2002 was NOTHING special. I paid my $77 for perfection. 14-0 and national championship? Meh. I want to see 70 points a game on that highlight reel. This is all Pryor's fault. He's not 18 anymore. Man up!

I think what guys like you fail to realize is my personal contribution to the team. Without me, they would be nothing. Nothing at all. My beer revenue pays Tressel's salary, they owe me!

I mean, for $77, I left it all on the field and I want my money's worth!"

I love Ohio State football. I sit up until early Sunday morning every week because of the time difference. My advice to people who can't realize just how special this team is, warts and all, is to go get a life.

Here's a news flash you may have missed: Even if he is a committed religious man, Jim Tressel does not walk on water. You can tell your friends now and say you heard it here.

I'm not saying that I don't really enjoy some of the critical insights people bring to this board, about Tressel, the other coaches, or the team. I'm talking about a bunch of spoiled brats who expect to win a national championship every year, talk down the team at every chance they get, then buy all the Ohio State gear they can wear when the Buckeyes win the big one.

OK, fellas, the bandwagon has stopped, please just [censored] off and let the rest of us enjoy the balance of the season, come what may.

 

[cincibuck]

So, are you saying that the offense in 2002 was unacceptable?

With or without MoC?

 

[TDG]

Not really the issue. Most of us who are critical don't want Tressel to act as OC in the first place. We don't want him to try and innovate on offense--something he's clearly unsuited for. We want him to bring in a young innovative oc to do it for him.

I agree, my point was only that the main specific criticism leveled against JT as an OC has been that he's too conservative... and now he's trying to break away from it and it's not working out very well.