O-Zone (Official Thread)

[LightningRod]

The very few pictures that were taken show a small portion of what goes on during conditioning drills. I am sure that these players do more than sack races, figure 8s, wheelbarrow races, and pony rides. The issue now becomes taking a few photos of a small piece of conditioning and without any analysis whatsoever arrive at the conclusion that conditioning is somehow hazardous to one's health. There is probably a greater risk of being injured on the way to the WHAC. Does this mean players should be given rides in tanks to practice? I hope that Tressel clamps down more on media access to practices because fans cannot seem to handle things that go on with this team in a rational manner.

 

[Flmarc]

Fresh-

With all the experience and accolades with respect to strength and condition that Johnson has accumulated, the question that begs an answer here is if you can see these exercises as "garbage" or rewards not commensurate with risk, why can't Johnson?

Your thoughts?

 

[daddyphatsacs]

Obviously anyone who makes dumbass comments like the freshprince has not played a whole lot of football in his day. Drills like the ones they were doing build on things that are greater than building strength, they build cooperation and teamwork.

I understand that you want to lock these guys up in a bubble so you can fulfill your own selfish requests, but until OSU hires you as the strength and conditioning coach.........deal with it.

So do you support eliminating all drills besides running until fall? Hell, they had better re-evaluate contact in the spring drills we wouldn't want any 300 pound defensive tackes hitting any 190 pound tailbacks.

 

[BuckBackHome]

I have never gone through any kind of weight training such as what these players do on a regular basis. If memory serves me, Coach Johnson has always been a little different in his approach to strength training. I believe it was his first year when he had them flipping tractor tires, or something similar, across the field. I know they have a sand pit they run in to strengthen leg joints.

I don't recall every hearing of these kinds of exercises before, but I could see the benefits of them. Everything from the right leverage and bull strength to move a lineman to having strong ankles for the quick turns these players endure on a daily basis.

It doesn't seem that the strength coaches are trying to have the strongest players in the weight room, just the most well conditioned players on the field. His techniques may be a little unusual, but I still think there is no direct correlation between his conditioning techniques and the rash of injuries we had last year. The year before we were pretty injury free, except for MoC who has a history of injuries. We should also give him credit for that good year.

 

[DiHard]

it also seems (since jt and johnson came aboard) that the Buckeyes are known as the one TEAM in all of CFB that you dont want to line-up against in the 4th quarter with the game on the line....

there are many reasons for this....but i believe johnsons conditioning is one of them....

 

[buckiprof]

prince - Do you have any training/schooling in kinesiology or physical therapy? If so, please share with us specifically why you think these exercises are "garbage". (This is a serious inquiry)

As for doing bicep curls with therabands, according to one of my best friends (who is a physical therapist) these are better for the body than traditional barbell curls. Less stress on joints and strengthens through the full range of motion due to the theraband resistance.

My two cents worth is that I trust the coaches and staff to do everything to get the team prepared to play the game on the field. As a fan, I may question JT's play calling, I may question blocking schemes on the O-line, I may question a prevent type defense late in games, and I may question other fans who always wear scarlet glasses or who always wear the hat of gloom and doom. But as someone who has coached football, I can't look at a few still photos and proclaim that such and such drill is garbage. Time is always at a premium and I don't think the OSU staff would have the team doing drills and/or exercises that didn't serve a specific purpose.

 

[FreshPrinceCBus]

Response.2

Flmarc: Maybe 2 reasons. 1. The other coaches have asked him to implement certain drills he may not have had in mind. 2. He doesn't know any better and thinks that since it is a rigorous exercise, it must be good. -Don't mistake activity for accomplishment.

buckiprof: 1. yes 2. Therabands are good for rehab, these were the large resistance bands. Again, activity for accomplishment.

Lightning Rod: did u say bling bling?

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

"First, Mili: I have never seen a DB carry another DB on his back and sprint 100 yards to make a TD-saving tackle near the goal line. But we do have Ginn coming, so he may bail you out on this one."

Hmmm, maybe you haven't seen too many instances where ball-carriers have had defenders literally on their back. However, the specific exercise not only helps develop strength (carrying a heavy load) and endurance (carrying that load a significant distance), but also camaraderie (the act of "carrying" your teammate). As far as the 100-yard distance is concerned, the point is not to prepare you to carry a defender 100 yards for a score, or in your argument "a DB carry another DB on his back and sprint 100 yards to make a TD-saving tackle" (what crack were you smoking to think that up?), but that it's a long but measurable and familiar length. Also, the distance is a "goal" and not a requirement (remember the kid that could only carry Rehring 20 yards)?

"Second, Mili: There is a rather large difference between "running" with your shoulders and arms vs. performing weight-training exercises with proper technique."

Gee, no shit? The looked the same to me. Hey, I have a new word for you...it's called "physics". Look at the angle the of the body of the player walking on his hands is at. Because he is at a near flat angle, and his partner is carrying a significant portion of the arm-walker's weight by supporting the lower body, there is no where near the stress that you imply. A player has more stress forces placed on his arm and shoulders when he takes a hit on them or falls on them when he hits the ground.

As bucknut11 mentioned earlier, it's quite obvious why you're not the strength and conditioning coach.

 

[coxew]

Name a player whose injury from OSU's conditioning program caused him to miss playing time.

Branden Joe

I know several top powerlifters in the state who reguarly use bands in their workouts on exercises such as the bench press, squat, and deadlift. They are very benefiical as they keep pressure on the muscle the entire exercise.

A 300 pounder should have no problem carrying another 300 pounder. We did this when I was in high school after practice for conditioning every once in a while. I weighted 240 (the fourth biggest on the team) and had to carry the biggest guy on our team who was around 290 because I was the only one on the team with legs strong enough to carry him.

 

[LightningRod]

Since Brandon Joe was injured lifting weights, I suppose that means that lifting weights is "garbage" and that all players must now abandon lifting weights. Also, I cannot remember which player lost the tip of his finger in a freak accident when his finger was pinched between two helmets during a contact scrimmage. I suppose that means that contact scrimmages are "garbage" and should be immediately abandoned.

 

[cincibuckeyenut]

You guys are pretty hard on the guy. He is a little abrasive, but he is countering his thoughts with more details as to why he believes what he believes. I would think a discussion on why these types of drills might be worth any additional injury risk would be in order rather than the old "In Tressel We Trust" line.

Why might you do some of these drills?

How about a little variety? One of the key ways to continue to build muscle is to attack the muscle with different exercises. If you only use the same series of exercises, your body gets used to it and tends to plateau.

How about a little mental variety? Which is more fun? Trying to throw a tire or push a truck or run through quicksand or carry a team mate? Or the normal benchpress and leg press and blah blah blah.

Any other reasons? Not sure but then again, this is definitely not my area of specialty.

 

[daddyphatsacs]

I do understand the concern for injuries, but I know from past experience that the drills he has them doing are excellent in many ways for the individual. Tire flipping and car pushing are ways to build that old term "farm strength". Growing up I knew many farm boys who didn't lift a weight, but were strong as hell just from doing work, those were the toughest guys to line up against. In many ways that is what coach Johnson is trying to implement.

 

[buckiprof]

daddyphatsacs usage of "farm strength" reminds me of Jim Lachey. Since I grew up in the western part of Ohio, near to where Lachey grew up, I know all about far strength. The "farmers" on the team didn't lift weights growing up. When you "work" on the farm and you have to wrestle cows to get them to go where you want to, you develop a natural strength that is great for the line. Some of the best o - linemen I saw in that part of the state were "farm boys"

I remember being at a friends farm and one cow was being stubborn. My friend, big guy played d-line, got pissed and punched the cow between the eyes. When I saw that cow drop to its front knees I about shit my pants.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

I wholeheartedly agree with "farm strength". I'd rather have an entire OL of "farm strong" kids than an OL of kids who have gotten string via weight training. Farm work and other similar "exercise" builds whole-body natural strength, of which you lose very little once you quit farm work. Conversely, someone who gets all their strength gains via weights will lose almost all of that gained strength if they quit lifting for an extended period of time (I know, because that's what has happened to me).

The exercises shown in the article are similar to the kinds of workload you'd face on a farm (hauling heavy loads on your back, pushing heavy wheelbarrows, etc.), and would probably provide more overall and persistent strength gains than weight-specific training does.

 

[Hubbard]

But improper ones can do a lot of harm.

Who are you to say they are improper? Have you been studying weight training for years like Johnson? Have you been recognized as one of the top in your field? I think before you go off making these accusations, soem insight as to why you think the way you do is in order.