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

[Bleed S & G]

The game plan/play calling lacked an emphasis on protecting the ball when we were ahead by 24.

Disagree. Tressel didn't make a bad pass, or fumble the ball twice. There is always an "emphasis on protecting the ball".. even more so with Tressel at the helm.

Then, after two turnover/TDs, I was hoping to see more of a confidence builder for Boeckman --- let him throw a pass here and there, to show TB that we know he is not a complete ****up.

So after 2 turnovers for scores, and a third that was almost scooped up and returned..

You want to risk another turnover? This could get MSUback into the game during a week where they've been wacthing upset clips, and during a season where the underdog is always believing anything can happen?

Not to mention the fact, we can punt the ball from anywhere on the field, and they couldn't move the ball on our defense all day.. uhh "tressel ball"..

Overall, since the Fiesta Bowl with Notre Dame, I think he has come into his own for playcalling.

I never understand this. Tressel has made the comment that his 'playcalling/offensive flavor of the year' depends on personal. The fact that every year, we have had a new and dynamic offense, which changes every week of the season, justifies Tressel's stance on playcalling.

We should know better than anybody, controlling the clock, solid defense, exceptional special teams wins championships.

 

[ytownbuckeye]

since when does jimmy t take a knee to end the game? pretty sure it's rare but considering the way to ball was bouncing around probably the safer the better.

 

[matcar]

Disagree. Tressel didn't make a bad pass, or fumble the ball twice. There is always an "emphasis on protecting the ball".. even more so with Tressel at the helm.


So after 2 turnovers for scores, and a third that was almost scooped up and returned..

You want to risk another turnover? This could get MSUback into the game during a week where they've been wacthing upset clips, and during a season where the underdog is always believing anything can happen?

Not to mention the fact, we can punt the ball from anywhere on the field, and they couldn't move the ball on our defense all day.. uhh "tressel ball"..


I never understand this. Tressel has made the comment that his 'playcalling/offensive flavor of the year' depends on personal. The fact that every year, we have had a new and dynamic offense, which changes every week of the season, justifies Tressel's stance on playcalling.

We should know better than anybody, controlling the clock, solid defense, exceptional special teams wins championships.

I love JT as much as anybody, but I do find some irony that JT is 1) heavily involved in QB operations/development and 2) is almost as heavily involved in the offensive gameplan. He leaves the defensive side to Heacock. And when you look at tOSU's success during Tressel's tenure, the strong points of the team have been the defense and special teams, NOT the offense (with the exception of 2006). I'll grant you that JTs style of offense "helps" the defense to a degree, but still, the strength is usually the side he's NOT heavily involved in. Curious no?

 

[BengalsAndBucks]

I love JT as much as anybody, but I do find some irony that JT is 1) heavily involved in QB operations/development and 2) is almost as heavily involved in the offensive gameplan. He leaves the defensive side to Heacock. And when you look at tOSU's success during Tressel's tenure, the strong points of the team have been the defense and special teams, NOT the offense (with the exception of 2006). I'll grant you that JTs style of offense "helps" the defense to a degree, but still, the strength is usually the side he's NOT heavily involved in. Curious no?

Judging by the fact that we have had a lot of defensive success despite there being multiple D-coordinators under Tressel, I would imagine that he is just as heavily involved in the defense, we just dont hear about it as much.

 

[BrutusBobcat]

I love JT as much as anybody, but I do find some irony that JT is 1) heavily involved in QB operations/development and 2) is almost as heavily involved in the offensive gameplan. He leaves the defensive side to Heacock. And when you look at tOSU's success during Tressel's tenure, the strong points of the team have been the defense and special teams, NOT the offense (with the exception of 2006). I'll grant you that JTs style of offense "helps" the defense to a degree, but still, the strength is usually the side he's NOT heavily involved in. Curious no?

Yeah, and it's not like any of his QBs ever won a Heisman Trophy.

And it's not like his QBs nearly always lead the conference and are among the nation's leaders in QB rating/efficiency.

It's also not as if Tressel has been telling us every presser since he was hired that defense and special teams win games.

Oh, wait. Sorry. You were making a point about irony.

 

[muffler dragon]

Curious no?

No. It's not curious.

 

[matcar]

Judging by the fact that we have had a lot of defensive success despite there being multiple D-coordinators under Tressel, I would imagine that he is just as heavily involved in the defense, we just dont hear about it as much.

No, JT himself said that he leaves coach Heacock to that part and he stays out of it. And then proceded to make some self-depricating remark about how he wouldn't understand it etc...which obviously was a joke, but he made his point...he stays out of the defensive circles for the most part and lets them run the show.

 

[matcar]

Yeah, and it's not like any of his QBs ever won a Heisman Trophy.

And it's not like his QBs nearly always lead the conference and are among the nation's leaders in QB rating/efficiency.

It's also not as if Tressel has been telling us every presser since he was hired that defense and special teams win games.

Oh, wait. Sorry. You were making a point about irony.

Wow, funny hostility. The point was, and remains, that he has said himself that he isn't as involved in the other areas and yet those excel. Having noted that, JT has always said the punt was the most important play in football. So, we're aware of where his priorities are, but he isn't actually the one coaching them.

And yeah, I'm well aware of what he did with Troy, and how he helped Craig get the most out of the limited talent he had. Sheesh, even got Craig a cup-o-coffee in the NFL. Why the hostility over an interesting observation?

 

[Bleed S & G]

Wow, funny hostility. The point was, and remains, that he has said himself that he isn't as involved in the other areas and yet those excel. Having noted that, JT has always said the punt was the most important play in football. So, we're aware of where his priorities are, but he isn't actually the one coaching them.

Umm, it would be quite a challenge to individually coach every position.. JTs philosophy is what matters. Like others have said, multiple D coordinators have come and gone, yet every year we're tough as nails on the defensive side of the ball. I would credit recruiting if you must point fingers.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

If Boeckman hits a wide-open Hartline inside the MSU 10 for a sure TD in the 3rd quarter, we're not even talking about Tressels second half decisions...

 

[matcar]

Umm, it would be quite a challenge to individually coach every position.. JTs philosophy is what matters. Like others have said, multiple D coordinators have come and gone, yet every year we're tough as nails on the defensive side of the ball. I would credit recruiting if you must point fingers.

This isn't about pointing fingers, fanboys. And no you cannot coach each position...I merely pointed out a curiosity that the positions he DOESN'T coach are the cornerstone of the team. It doesn't make JT a bad coach, in fact, in light of the many coaching changes, it highlights some of his other abilities such as mashalling his staff, etc. It highlights something about his overall style of play coaching.

 

[matcar]

If Boeckman hits a wide-open Hartline inside the MSU 10 for a sure TD in the 3rd quarter, we're not even talking about Tressels second half decisions...

Or if we don't get 2 turnovers for 14 points in 3 plays.... This is the kind of stuff that coaches cannot coach for... Players make plays...sometimes not the ones we wish.

 

[muffler dragon]

This isn't about pointing fingers, fanboys. And no you cannot coach each position...I merely pointed out a curiosity that the positions he DOESN'T coach are the cornerstone of the team. It doesn't make JT a bad coach, in fact, in light of the many coaching changes, it highlights some of his other abilities such as mashalling his staff, etc. It highlights something about his overall style of play coaching.

How do you know that having an offense that doesn't make mistakes, takes care of the ball, manages time, and punishes the opposing defense AREN'T cornerstones to the success of tOSU? Just because tOSU aren't blowing people out of the water week in and week out doesn't mean that there is a lack of attribution to the success. What IF the quarterbacks are doing EXACTLY what Tressel wants them to do? Does this mean that we are weak in that position? No. As a matter of fact, I revert to the old adage: the best offense is a great defense. It's all a matter of keeping the opposing team from scoring. Both our offense and our defense (typically) do equally well in that regard.

 

[matcar]

How do you know that having an offense that doesn't make mistakes, takes care of the ball, manages time, and punishes the opposing defense AREN'T cornerstones to the success of tOSU? Just because tOSU aren't blowing people out of the water week in and week out doesn't mean that there is a lack of attribution to the success. What IF the quarterbacks are doing EXACTLY what Tressel wants them to do? Does this mean that we are weak in that position? No. As a matter of fact, I revert to the old adage: the best offense is a great defense. It's all a matter of keeping the opposing team from scoring. Both our offense and our defense (typically) do equally well in that regard.

The QBs ARE doing exactly what JT wants them to do (sans the obvious mistakes). So we agree on that. And I have already suggested that JTs style of offense does make the defense's job easier at times so you're not breaking any new ground there either. JTs "mistake free" management style is perhaps the reason why tOSU operates an offense which sometimes isn't "high powered", but on average, effective.

I've not suggested that we are "weak" offensively. But you'd need to have your head in the sand to think that defense hasn't, on average, been the strength of our program under JT. There's no need to get upset about it, it's simply the truth and I'm glad we have JT to lead us to the promise land so often, regardless of how we get there. I've beat this up enough and you've contributed little, so I'll leave the curiosity where it is.

 

[muffler dragon]

Jim Tressel Points For/Points Against

Year Points For Points Against Record
1986 223 288 2-9
1987 240 231 8-4
1988 190 267 4-7
1989 372 245 9-4
1990 340 146 11-1
1991 413 256 12-3
1992 448 295 11-3-1
1993 448 232 13-2
1994 418 152 14-0-1
1995 188 236 3-8
1996 261 131 8-3
1997 460 230 13-2
1998 250 261 6-5
1999 421 362 12-3
2000 296 189 9-3

4968 3521 194 games

Per game 25.61 18.1

2001 312 244 7-5
2002 410 183 14-0
2003 322 229 11-2
2004 290 219 8-4
2005 392 183 10-2
2006 450 166 12-1

2176 1224 76 games

Per game 28.63 16.10

Tell me something, matcar. When you look at the head coaching career of JT, do you think that averaging over 25 points a game is not a "strong point"?