RB Antonio Pittman (Official Thread)

[ScarletBlood31]

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."

yeah, i havent "heard him" as in i havent heard his show, i didnt say i havent "heard OF him". i mean i know who he is but i mean he played way before i was even born so its more of what ive heard of him, instead of what i remember.

 

[DDOTT]

It is kindof like the Steelers with the bus. All those other guys rack up the yards and Bus gets the TD's. He can move the pile better, just like the coaches thought Schnit could earlier in the year until he had his fumbles. Pitt has gotten carries on the goalline and he has not produced.

Lets not throw Schnitt entirely under the bus. His first fumble was due to effort trying to stretch the the ball over the goal line.

 

[BuckeyeInTheBoro]

Lets not throw Schnitt entirely under the bus. His first fumble was due to effort trying to stretch the the ball over the goal line.

I just don't like using phrases like "his FIRST fumble" (which implies there were more to follow) about guys with just 18 carries. Fumbling 10% of the time is not good!

What is up with the Buckeyes putting the ball on the ground this year anyway? Do we lead the BigTen in fumbles? If you count muffed punt/kick returns we might be near the leaders in the nation.

 

[lvbuckeye]

yeah, i havent "heard him" as in i havent heard his show, i didnt say i havent "heard OF him". i mean i know who he is but i mean he played way before i was even born so its more of what ive heard of him, instead of what i remember.

he's on local Columbus radio on 1460 The Fan.
they have a web site.
go to it.
click on 'listen live.'
listen to Speilman on Sports.
get back on topic.
you're welcome.

 

[ScarletBlood31]

I just don't like using phrases like "his FIRST fumble" (which implies there were more to follow) about guys with just 18 carries. Fumbling 10% of the time is not good!

What is up with the Buckeyes putting the ball on the ground this year anyway? Do we lead the BigTen in fumbles? If you count muffed punt/kick returns we might be near the leaders in the nation.

yeah that definitely has to be our achilles heel, fumbling, but also turnovers in general. TS has thrown picks in the worst situations (goal line, key points in game), but also between a good part of the guys that handle the ball for us, we've had several fumbles. its fundamental breakdowns like this that can cost us the game when we play good teams.

 

[timBUCK2]

These stats only go back to 2003, but Pittman has the most yards w/o a TD that I could find.

ESPN Source
<table class="tablehead" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"> <tbody><tr class="stathead"><td colspan="7">2005 Rushing Statistics</td></tr><tr class="colhead" align="right"><td style="width: 14px;" align="left">
</td><td align="left">NAME</td><td>CAR</td><td>YDS</td><td>YPC</td><td>LONG</td><td>TD</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"><td align="left">1.</td><td align="left">DeAngelo Williams, Memphis</td><td>195</td><td class="sortcell">1309</td><td>6.7</td><td>76</td><td>12</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">2.</td><td align="left">Jerome Harrison, Wash St</td><td>185</td><td class="sortcell">1163</td><td>6.3</td><td>80</td><td>11</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"><td align="left">3.</td><td align="left">Laurence Maroney, Minnesota</td><td>208</td><td class="sortcell">1133</td><td>5.4</td><td>93</td><td>8</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">4.</td><td align="left">Brian Calhoun, Wisconsin</td><td>219</td><td class="sortcell">1021</td><td>4.7</td><td>42</td><td>14</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"><td align="left">5.</td><td align="left">Tyrell Sutton, N'western</td><td>157</td><td class="sortcell">970</td><td>6.2</td><td>62</td><td>14</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">6.</td><td align="left">Dontrell Moore, New Mexico</td><td>203</td><td class="sortcell">968</td><td>4.8</td><td>49</td><td>10</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"><td align="left">7.</td><td align="left">Brandon Murphy, Miami (OH)</td><td>179</td><td class="sortcell">921</td><td>5.1</td><td>67</td><td>7</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">8.</td><td align="left">Albert Young, Iowa</td><td>151</td><td class="sortcell">868</td><td>5.7</td><td>36</td><td>5</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"><td align="left">9.</td><td align="left">Justin Forsett, California</td><td>106</td><td class="sortcell">867</td><td>8.2</td><td>57</td><td>5</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">10.</td><td align="left">Brad Smith, Missouri</td><td>136</td><td class="sortcell">865</td><td>6.4</td><td>79</td><td>9</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"><td align="left">11.</td><td align="left">Garrett Wolfe, N Illinois</td><td>136</td><td class="sortcell">864</td><td>6.4</td><td>76</td><td>7</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">12.</td><td align="left">Michael Bush, Louisville</td><td>148</td><td class="sortcell">813</td><td>5.5</td><td>73</td><td>18</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"><td align="left">13.</td><td align="left">Reggie Bush, USC</td><td>94</td><td class="sortcell">812</td><td>8.6</td><td>76</td><td>10</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">14.</td><td align="left">Yvenson Bernard, Oregon St</td><td>174</td><td class="sortcell">798</td><td>4.6</td><td>51</td><td>10</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"><td align="left">15.</td><td align="left">Chris Barclay, W Forest</td><td>158</td><td class="sortcell">794</td><td>5.0</td><td>65</td><td>7</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">16.</td><td align="left">Quinton Ganther, Utah</td><td>147</td><td class="sortcell">771</td><td>5.2</td><td>63</td><td>6</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"><td align="left">17.</td><td align="left">Kyle Bell, Colo St</td><td>152</td><td class="sortcell">763</td><td>5.0</td><td>49</td><td>5</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">18.</td><td align="left">Ontario Sneed, C Michigan</td><td>131</td><td class="sortcell">725</td><td>5.5</td><td>80</td><td>6</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"><td align="left">19.</td><td align="left">Trinity Dawson, Toledo</td><td>119</td><td class="sortcell">720</td><td>6.1</td><td>25</td><td>3</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">20.</td><td align="left">Kenny Irons, Auburn</td><td>114</td><td class="sortcell">719</td><td>6.3</td><td>74</td><td>6</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"><td align="left">21.</td><td align="left">Kalvin McRae, Ohio</td><td>128</td><td class="sortcell">713</td><td>5.6</td><td>50</td><td>3</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">22.</td><td align="left">Kenneth Darby, Alabama</td><td>135</td><td class="sortcell">699</td><td>5.2</td><td>48</td><td>2</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"><td align="left">23.</td><td align="left">LenDale White, USC</td><td>107</td><td class="sortcell">698</td><td>6.5</td><td>46</td><td>11</td></tr><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">24.</td><td align="left">Antonio Pittman, Ohio St</td><td>136</td><td class="sortcell">696</td><td>5.1</td><td>29</td><td>0</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" align="right"><td align="left">25.</td><td align="left">Darren McFadden, Arkansas</td><td>86</td><td class="sortcell">682</td><td>7.9</td><td>70</td><td>8</td></tr></tbody> </table>
2005 Next Most Yards w/o a TD
<table class="tablehead" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"> <tbody><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">60.</td><td align="left">Micah Andrews, W Forest</td><td>95</td><td class="sortcell">523</td><td>5.5</td><td>44</td><td>0</td></tr></tbody> </table>
2004 Lowest Yards to TD Ratio
<table class="tablehead" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"> <tbody><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">38.</td><td align="left">Antonio Warren, Arkansas St</td><td>195</td><td class="sortcell">1036</td><td>5.3</td><td>80</td><td>2</td></tr></tbody> </table> (All Top 100 rushing backs had at least 1 TD)

2003 Most Yards w/o a TD <table class="tablehead" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"> <tbody><tr class="evenrow" align="right"><td align="left">82.</td><td align="left">Derron Parquet, Memphis</td><td>95</td><td class="sortcell">487</td><td>5.1</td><td>31</td><td>0</td></tr></tbody> </table>

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

10/27

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Football report

OSU back hungry for TD

Pittman very eager to end year-long drought

[SIZE=-1]By Marla Ridenour[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Beacon Journal sports writer[/SIZE]

<!-- begin body-content --> COLUMBUS - Ohio State tailback Antonio Pittman craves the end zone so desperately that his teammates tell him that he'd better be working on a celebration dance.
Just for the sideline, of course. A spontaneous demonstration would draw a penalty and the wrath of coach Jim Tressel.
Asked Tuesday if he was planning anything for the drought's end, Pittman said, ``Got to watch it. No, I'm not working on any dance.''
While his mouth said no, his eyes and his expression said yes.
The sophomore from Buchtel has carried 157 times in two seasons without a score. His most recent touchdown was Oct. 23, 2004, against Indiana, when he rushed over left end on his final carry for 28 yards.
Going into Saturday's game at Minnesota, Pittman ranks fifth in the Big Ten and 27th in the country in rushing with an average of 99.4 yards per game .
He's one of just three of the NCAA's top 100 rushers who are scoreless. All are sophomores -- Pittman, Wake Forest's Micah Andrews and Oklahoma State's Mike Hamilton.
``It really is a focus for us,'' senior center Nick Mangold said. ``I would love to see him get in the end zone just to solidify the great job he's been doing. When you see he doesn't have any touchdowns, an outsider could think maybe he isn't that good or hasn't been working that hard.''
One career touchdown has to be a strange feeling for Pittman, who recorded 17 as a senior at Buchtel.
``I feel when I get down there I say, `I've got to get in the end zone,' it's like (I'm) losing some focus,'' Pittman said. ``I've got to keep my head and just play.''
Last week at Indiana, Pittman carried the ball six times inside the Indiana 20 and gained 12 yards. On consecutive series in the second quarter, he took the ball on first-and-goal from the 9 and managed no gain and a 1-yard loss.
``We didn't help him out,'' Mangold said. ``As we got down there we shot him in the foot by not having the right assignments and not picking things up. It's nothing he's doing.''
Pittman's best chance at Indiana came on a 1-yard run by quarterback Troy Smith, the first of his two scores on the ground that gave him eight for the season. Smith could have pitched to Pittman, who looked alone on the right side, but Smith kept it.
Tressel doesn't believe that Pittman has ``recognizable problems inside the 20.''
``We need to find a way -- the guys designing it, the guys blocking, and then he's got to do his part,'' Tressel said. ``I'm sure Antonio will have his days.''
Pittman said the comments are all in fun and make him laugh. At this point, Pittman doesn't care whether he runs somebody over or walks into the end zone.
Even a touchdown reception will do.
Asked if that would be just as fulfilling, Pittman said, ``Great. Great.''
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[jwinslow]

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?

Exactly. Why exactly do we want to risk pitching the ball in the red zone? Sure, it would make some people obsessed with stats a little happier, but we definitely don't need it. most of the time.

I understand the mentality that we should get the touchdown with whoever, as long as we get it. And I agree to an extent. But I feel bad for Pittman when he literally drove the ball almost alone all the way down the field in the first half and when they get inside the ten, Troy does what he does best and throws a pick on that slant to Holmes, which by the way he was locked onto him the entire time because that play had work once earlier. Maybe if Troy would get his head out of his ass and read through his progressions I wouldn't be upset if he's the one who makes the play after Pittman worked hard for the last 70 yards.

you're right, we didn't see him start progressing thru receivers on saturday.

wells, as for your comment about Pittman lacking the power, how many times do you have to see him run over people 1v1 or elude them in the open field before he has enough power? The reason he doesn't get many carries in the red zone is that we have Troy, and he's a load to bring down and is shifty.

 

[buckeyeboy]

wells, as for your comment about Pittman lacking the power, how many times do you have to see him run over people 1v1 or elude them in the open field before he has enough power?

Right on. I've said it before, and I'll say it again--Pittman has me excited about our running game for the first time since '02. He has good speed, he can make people miss in the open field, and he can break tackles. He's already a great back, and he'll just get better from here on out.

 

[Onebuckfan]

Hopefully, Pittman will be here for a few more years and will get more TD's. Lack of TD's does not detract from a running backs career.(i.e.Barry Sanders) No one would say that Archie Griffin was not a great back and lacked power.He just shared TD's with Champ Henson as a freshman and later Pete Johnson. Football is the ultimate team game. One player cannot do anything without the contributions of others.That's why when fans obsess about a dropped pass, missed block or interception its unfair to those players. It takes 11 players to make a play work(i.e. an intrerception can be caused by a tipped ball, wrong route,poor protection,etc. but the only stat you see is the QB threw an interception. When individuals on a team begin to worry about individual stats it may hurt team unity.

 

[martinss01]

The reason he doesn't get many carries in the red zone is that we have Troy

thats about as accurate a statement as you can get on the situation. troy all but refuses to give the ball up when he has the option to take it upfield. be it a pass play or an option of some form. if he thinks he can get yards with his feet, thats the priority it seems. if the decision is between an open receiver capable of picking up 20 yrds + or him picking up 5 with his feet... hes getting the 5. whether or not that is what the coaching staff wants... thats up to them to decide. until i hear something to the contrary from them im going to assume it is and continue to disagree strongly with the mentality.

as far as whether or not ts should have pitched it at the 1 against indi... ts was covered, period. had the indi player been any better we don't score on that play. troy needs to pitch that one in the future. yeah, when you pitch there is the possibility that you could turn the ball over. but you play the game to win. you don't play the game to not turn the ball over. if your primary coscern is not loosing, take up nitting or something. my opinion on what should have happened aside, i would imagine ts did exactly what the coaching staff wanted him to do in that situation.

 

[Dryden]

OK, I've looked it up. Fewest rushing TDs in a 1000-yard season since 2000:
<pre>YEAR PLAYER SCHOOL POS CARRY YARDS TDs YPG RANK<br>2000 Reggie White Oklahoma St. RB 210 1049 4 #33<br>2001 Kevin Galbreath North Texas RB 264 1119 4 #27<br>2002 Fred Talley Arkansas RB 197 1119 2 #67<br>2003 Dwayne Wright Fresno St. RB 190 1038 3 #64<br>2004 Antonio Warren Arkansas St. RB 195 1036 2 #31</pre>
In fact, no player over the same period has ranked anywhere in the NCAA's D1A Top-100 Rushing Player Report and has failed to score at least one TD, regardless of yards, position (includes QBs and WRs) or number of carries.

At present, there are three players who could conceivably do both:
<pre>YEAR PLAYER SCHOOL POS CARRY YARDS TDs YPG RANK<br>2005 Antonio Pittman Ohio St. RB 136 696 0 #27<br> Mike Hamilton Oklahoma St. RB 110 513 0 #66<br> Micah Andrews Wake Forest RB 95 523 0 #84</pre>

 

[barlow1802]

JT just said on 1460 that troy is coached not to pitch, more or less: "there's just too many bad things that can happen when you pitch the ball."

 

[martinss01]

JT just said on 1460 that troy is coached not to pitch, more or less: "there's just too many bad things that can happen when you pitch the ball."

then why run the option at all?

*sigh*

 

[BuckNutty]

Did one of you guys just call JT on his show?

A caller just asked if the option might work better if Troy actually pitched the ball now and then. Too funny.