RB Antonio Pittman (Official Thread)

[buckeyeboy]

Pittman will get his TDs as soon as Troy learns that there is an option when you run the option.

"OK fellas. Me on three! Break!"

Has any back ever rushed for 1000 yards without scoring a TD?

I think this post is right on the mark. I also think that Pittman will reach 1000 yards this year, but he still might not have a TD. While I'd like to see him get in the end zone, and I'm sure he would like to as well, my guess is that Antonio is a team player and is glad anytime we score a TD (evidenced by the fact that he was one of the first people to greet TS after the TD in which TS kept the ball himself, but could have pitched it to Pittman, who could have then walked into the end zone b/c there wasn't a defender within 8 yards of him).

Your second point is equally valid. TS usually is rather effective with the option, but thinking back, I'm not sure I've seen him actually pitch the ball even one time this year -- he always fakes it and then keeps the ball himself. Sooner or later teams are going to figure this out about him, and I hope for our team's sake, he's ready to pitch the ball at that time. :osu4:

 

[CleveBucks]

Don't you think Smith is probably coached not to pitch the ball near the goalline if he has a clear shot at the endzone? Seems pretty obvious to me. Wasn't it last year's Purdue game where they fumbled an option pitch inside the 10? Why risk the pitch if you have the TD in hand?

The fact is, Pittman has had numerous chances to score TD's, from both in and out of the redzone. For whatever reason it just hasn't happened. Maybe he's a better runner when he has some space to work with. Maybe he doesn't have the mentality to just pound it straight into a 10-man front. For whatever reason he does seem tentative on the goalline. He tiptoes around like a certain former #30 would at times.

I think this post is right on the mark. I also think that Pittman will reach 1000 yards this year, but he still might not have a TD. While I'd like to see him get in the end zone, and I'm sure he would like to as well, my guess is that Antonio is a team player and is glad anytime we score a TD (evidenced by the fact that he was one of the first people to greet TS after the TD in which TS kept the ball himself, but could have pitched it to Pittman, who could have then walked into the end zone b/c there wasn't a defender within 8 yards of him).

Your second point is equally valid. TS usually is rather effective with the option, but thinking back, I'm not sure I've seen him actually pitch the ball even one time this year -- he always fakes it and then keeps the ball himself. Sooner or later teams are going to figure this out about him, and I hope for our team's sake, he's ready to pitch the ball at that time. :osu4:

 

[Dryden]

Don't you think Smith is probably coached not to pitch the ball near the goalline if he has a clear shot at the endzone? Seems pretty obvious to me. Wasn't it last year's Purdue game where they fumbled an option pitch inside the 10? Why risk the pitch if you have the TD in hand?

If I'm a defensive coordinator I tell my players to not even respect the pitchman (Pittman) until Troy proves he can pitch the ball. I tell my LBs and CBs to stay at the line of scrimmage and wait to gang tackle Troy when he fakes the pitch and cuts it inside.

If an option pitch without any pitch is a designed play, than it's a waste of Pittman's presence in the play to not send him upfield to throw a block and seal off the edge. In last nights MNF game Vick ran a sweep to the right that resembled the option, but Warrick Dunn cut underneath of Vick on the rollout to blow the Jets LB out of the play. Vick walked into the endzone untouched.

 

[BuckeyeInTheBoro]

I agree with the original poster. At times this year it seemed like Pittman was being "punished"... getting inside the 5, then getting yanked... then watching his backup get stuffed and fumble. Wells backed him up a few times inside the 10 as well when Pittman seemed to be getting momentum (is it just me or does Tressel not believe in momentum?). This would be one thing if it was working, but it is not. Schnittker has 2 TDs... officially 0 fumbles, but I seem to remember at least two. Why are these not listed in his stats?

Of course, there have been several times where Pittman seemed to pull himself out of the game right after a big run, so maybe it is (or was) a nagging injury thing?

I'd love to back up the "Pittman isn't getting as many chances" theory with facts. Does anyone have or know how to get the number of carries inside the X for each of our backs?

 

[jlb1705]

I don't buy the premise that Pittman has been given ample chances in the red zone, but has failed. Yes, on the few opportunities he has had, he hasn't punched it in yet. JT hardly pulled Lydell Ross for being a poor runner on the goalline though, yet he got plenty of chances and eventually put a few in the endzone. JT isn't the type to change overnight, so I think the deal with Pittman is more a matter of overall playcalling philosophy, and a proverbial puckering of the butthole when the team reaches the red zone.

All year, we've seen Mr. Pittman carry for tough yards. He gets hit by Big Ten LBs, and more often than not, falls forward. And it isn't always about being big enough to "move the pile". Sometimes (even on the goalline) it's enough to be able to find a way to "move through it".

I'm not so much worried about Pittman's stats or Pittman being rewarded. I do think though that he needs to develop in to a legitimate red zone threat, and that This team needs to develop a credible running threat in the red zone apart from the QB position. Pittman is only a sophomore. If he gets more carries where it counts most, he stands to get better, and so does the team - not just this season, but in subsequent seasons as well.

 

[Buckeye1]

Pittman will get his TDs as soon as Troy learns that there is an option when you run the option.

"OK fellas. Me on three! Break!"

I tend to agree with you here, especially the seeing the first rushing TD for Smith during the Indiana game. I was actually booing Smith when he ran it in for the TD...Pittman would have cruised in untouch has Smith pitched him the ball. Instead, Smith kept it and got a decent lick on himself. IMHO, Smith seemed selfish on that play (I am sure there are more instances), and I booed him for the next 30 minutes ;-)
:osu:

 

[exhawg]

Pittman will get his TDs as soon as Troy learns that there is an option when you run the option.

"OK fellas. Me on three! Break!"

I tend to agree with you here, especially the seeing the first rushing TD for Smith during the Indiana game. I was actually booing Smith when he ran it in for the TD...Pittman would have cruised in untouch has Smith pitched him the ball. Instead, Smith kept it and got a decent lick on himself. IMHO, Smith seemed selfish on that play (I am sure there are more instances), and I booed him for the next 30 minutes ;-)
:osu:

Don't forget the Troy Smith football moto: "Why have somebody else do it when I can do it myself"

 

[BB73]

I was actually booing Smith when he ran it in for the TD.[/B]..Pittman would have cruised in untouch has Smith pitched him the ball. Instead, Smith kept it and got a decent lick on himself. IMHO, Smith seemed selfish on that play (I am sure there are more instances), and I booed him for the next 30 minutes ;-)
:osu:

Mark me down as being somebody that doesn't believe we should boo our QB on plays where he's scoring a TD and not risking an option pitch.

I can also be marked down as somebody who doesn't think our QB should be booed when he gets stuffed for a loss instead of pitching the ball to a wide open TB. I might grumble, but I wouldn't boo.

In fact, mark me down as somebody who doesn't believe that tOSU fans should ever boo our players for their efforts on the field.

 

[ScarletBlood31]

First of several things....

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=unjustice

yes, it is a word.


second of all..

Sounds to me like someone was listening to Speilman on Sports at Lunchtime.

(If you weren't they were talking about this very issue, is all)

is that an Ohio guy? cus im in virginia and havent ever heard him.

another thing..

In 1975 Archie Griffin won his second Heisman Trophy, and scored a whopping 4 TD's. Pete Johnson that year had 25, Corny Greene had 8. 30 Years have come and gone and I've never heard anyone pitch a bitch about Archie getting "shafted" out of the end zone by Coach Hayes, so I can't say I agree at all with this point of view posted.

You want "unjustice" look to the Chicago Bears and Mike Ditka, giving the ball to "Phat Phuck Phridge" at the one yard line in the Super Bowl instead of Walter Payton. THAT was "unjustice" at it's highest point. Peace.

I'm sure that Archie Griffin wasn't fighting to prove himself or needed to boost up his stats to get noticed after winning the Heisman trophy.


But yeah ive heard some pretty good arguements from everyone so far, but about having Troy Smith run on the goal line to not risk losing yards, I think that running that option or a QB sweep isn't any less of a risk than Pittman up the middle or off tackle.

and yeah, i think that getting the TD does matter because its kind of a sense of accomplishment, as in closure to the drive. And plus its really the one play you can go celebrate with your teammates about and you can kind of take with you. i'm sure a 2 yard TD run can be more exciting than a 15 yard run in the middle of the field.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

is that an Ohio guy? cus im in virginia and havent ever heard him.

another thing..

Spielman... Chris Spielman... yeah, I guess you could say he's an "Ohio guy" :p

Odd coincidence then, Spiels was talking about this very thing an hour before you posted it. Didn't mean anything by it, just sayin.

 

[Buckin' A]

You can NOT have Scarlet blood and NOT know who Speilman is. That is damn near dingable.

 

[ScarletBlood31]

You can NOT have Scarlet blood and NOT know who Speilman is. That is damn near dingable.

Yeah well i know he was one of the great buckeye linebackers and wore #36, i just meant i havent heard his show if he has one. and i wasnt even sure if it was the same guy. i knew he commentated on the OSU-Indiana game but didnt think about him havin his own show, because i dont ever hear it down in virginia.

 

[Buckin' A]

Aren't search engines great? Because I believe your exact words were, "is that an Ohio guy? cus im in virginia and havent ever heard him."

 

[timBUCK2]

My wife and I are patiently waiting for the first Pittman TD this year. He's gotten so close and he's had a few goal line shots that ended up losing yards.

TS - like it or not - is by far our most dangerous weapon within the 10. I'm not sure what his goal line keeper % stats are, but I'm sure they're way up there.

The one thing to not overlook is that Pittman doesn't try to force a touchdown. How many times this year have you seen TS and Schnittker fumble it away trying to reach the ball across the plane or make something out of nothing?

Pittman's primary focus has been on ball protection - as evidenced in the Indiana game where he got shoestringed at the 5, secured the ball and went down at the 2. To me, this ball protection is worth a lot more than a dangerous TD.

He'll get in there - I'm thinking Illinois. VBet anyone?

 

[buckeyeboy]

I'm not sure if I agree with those posters that claim Pittman can't get it done in the red zone. I think it's more a problem with him not getting the chances. What's more important (and much more impressive) is his attitude throughout the season. Not once have I heard a report of him complaining about not scoring any TDs, and I actually read an article on the Ozone in which it didn't seem to bother him. What a great attitude. I think we should all recognize how lucky we are to have a tough runner in there at RB who will end up the year with over 1,000 yards, and who isn't selfish or a distraction to our team (remember how LenDale White was complaining at the beginning of the season about not being the go-to guy in the red zone). I haven't been this excited about our running game since MoC was here. I look for big things from Antonio the rest of this season and for two more. :osu3: