The Buckeye Losses Stop Here: Five Things Ohio State Must Do To Beat USC

It was a cool, breezy, November night in Columbus, Ohio. Scarlet clad fans stormed the field after watching the top ranked Buckeyes defeat the second ranked Wolverines.

It was 986 days ago, and it was the last time Ohio State won a “big game.”

It was the last time the Buckeye’s weren’t “outclassed” by equal competition.

It was the last time Jim Tressel was called “The best play-caller in College Football.”

After two National Championship defeats and an embarrassing performance against USC last season, Ohio State’s reputation has taken its lumps. And although the Buckeyes played both Penn State and Texas (top five teams) down to the wire, a loss is a loss, which gains no respect.

The next chance Ohio State gets to repair it’s image is September 12, when the USC Trojans visit Columbus for part two of their non-conference series. And regardless of how much I hate this term (because every game is a must win), this game is as close to a must win for Jim Tressel as he’s going to get.

And it’s not just the Buckeyes reputation that’s at stake; the Big Ten conference is at risk as well. The country has grown weary of watching Penn State, Illinois, and Michigan get blown out of the Rose Bowl. The conferences 1-6 bowl record last year didn’t help the way people view the league.

Not to mention how this game will affect recruiting, momentum, and the perception of the Buckeyes remaining opponents.

The Buckeyes can regain some of the trust from college football fans that they’ve not-so-elegantly lost the last three years with a win against USC.

I’ve put together a list of five things Ohio State must do to beat the Trojans come September 12. Let’s get started!

Protect the Quarterback

The glaring difference against Florida and LSU in the National Championship games and against USC last season was the Buckeyes inability to protect the quarterback.

The offensive line must do a better job at staying in front of whatever defensive lineman they are responsible for:

If that means Bryant Browning (last year’s right tackle and this year’s probable right guard) has to do the tire drill until he passes out to improve his lateral movement and foot speed, so be it.

If someone has to frame Offensive-Line Coach Jim Bollman for insurance fraud (or any crime, for that matter) so he can finally be fired, so be it.

If Jim Tressel makes all the offensive lineman eat the nails of an alligator and wash it down with a gallon of dragon tears (or whatever Justin Boren does that makes him so angry all the time) to teach them how to play with an attitude, so be it.

Ohio State must do whatever it takes to keep Terrelle Pryor on his feet. I’m tired of seeing Ohio State’s quarterback looking like he wrestled a bear (and losing) after all their big games.

Protecting the quarterback is imperative. If the Buckeyes can do it, it will allow Pryor to get through his reads and move the offense down the field. If the Buckeyes can’t do it, it could be another long night for Ohio State.

Open up the Playbook and Execute

The look on Jim Tressel’s face in this picture embodies all of the frustration stewing in the hearts of Buckeye fans. You can almost hear the coach’s thoughts:

“Should I put five wide receivers in and let Terrelle Pryor take over the game with his natural ability to run the spread? Or should I send a couple tight ends and a fullback in to run the off-tackle play for Beanie that we just ran nine times in a row?”

A moment’s pause follows as he weighs his options…

“We should just go with the off-tackle play again. I mean, Beanie hasn’t hurt himself in a good three days, and I know that he’s gonna break a big one soon. I just know it.”

All kidding aside, Jim Tressel kept the offensive game-plan simple last year. He created a playbook that would maximize the unique talents that Beanie had and limit any potential mistakes from a freshman quarterback. If I were in his shoes, I would have done the same thing.

Of course, after last year’s OSU-USC game, there were Trojan defenders who said they knew exactly what Ohio State was going to do on offense and that nothing surprised them. I would have an issue with that if it mattered.

You can’t tell me that teams didn’t know what Ohio State was going to do in 2002 when they won the National Championship.

Execution is just as important as, or even more important than, a variety in play-calling.

The Buckeyes will have to mix it up against USC this year. Pete Carroll will be replacing nine starters on his defense. With this being the second week of the season, it would be the perfect time to hit them with some trick plays and a diverse, hurry-up offense. But the priority here is execution. Ohio State must execute whichever offense they choose to run when the Trojans come to town.

Create Pressure up Front

If you look at the defense for the National Championship Buckeyes in 2002, you’ll notice that they consistently created pressure on the opposing teams quarterback.

As previously mentioned, creating that pressure upfront disrupts everything an offense is trying to accomplish. And since that championship team seven years ago, the Buckeyes have been unable to create such havoc (with a slight exception given to the 2003 team).

It seemed as though the blitz packages, the nasty attitude, and the attacking defenses left when Mark Dantonio did in 2003. Jim Heacock took over as the Defensive Coordinator (in ‘05) and implemented his I-don’t-care-if we’re-getting-picked-apart-we’re-still-sticking-with-this-zone…defense.

But half way through the 2008 season, something clicked. Whether it was Nader Abdallah’s out-of-nowhere realization that he was a man child, Thad Gibson’s opportunity to play after Wilson’s leg injury, or Heacock’s sudden willingness to blitz more often, the Buckeyes started creating that pressure.

Ohio State must continue to get after the quarterback. Buckeye fans are holding their breath, crossing their fingers, and sacrificing small animals (chill out PETA, that was a joke) in hopes that Jim Heacock doesn’t give up on that attacking mentality they displayed late last year.

Whether it’s Aaron Corp or Matt Barkley behind center, this will be the first big game either quarterback will have played in. Pressuring him would be a very good thing for the Buckeyes.

Get Mad

A recent article pointed out the difference between Marcus Freeman’s reaction to the Texas loss in the Fiesta Bowl to Terrelle Pryor’s reaction.

Freeman’s reaction was one of…relief. As if he was relieved that his team wasn’t blown out of the water by a good opponent. He was happy with the effort, and came away with the moral victory speech that losing teams often defer to.

Terrelle Pryor was upset. He was already looking ahead to the 2009 football season, saying the Buckeyes were going to put more points on the board. He told the media that there were some “teams we owe some stuff to.” He was angry.

The Buckeyes need to take a nasty attitude into this football game.

They need to be-someone just spit in my mother’s face and I’m mad-angry.

They need to be-Samuel L. Jackson, yelling his lines unnecessarily in every one of his movies-angry.

They need to be-Britney Spears strangling a paparazzi photographer with her man thighs-angry.

The key to playing with an attitude is to keep that anger in check. Tim Tebow plays with an attitude, but he controls it and redirects it toward the field and toward his opponents.

If the Buckeyes want to stop being the end of bad “big-game” jokes, they must get nasty. This is THE Ohio State University, and NO ONE comes into our house and pushes us around!

Wear Red and Be Very, Very, Very Loud

This last one is for the fans.

If you are in possession of a ticket that gives you admittance to this game, you must do two things:

One, you must wear red. The three gentlemen in the middle of this picture are breaking my first rule. This makes me so mad; I could kick a puppy (again PETA… a joke).

There is nothing cooler than seeing the bleachers in Ohio Stadium glowing a florescent red under the lights. If you’re a buckeye fan and didn’t get goose bumps from the birds-eye-view of the Shoe when Ohio State played Penn State this past year, you need to check your pulse.

I’ve sent Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith 318 letters demanding that any Ohio State fan who tries to attend a game wearing anything “not red”, they will be required to wear a scarlet poncho and a matching sombrero. So if you don’t want to look ridiculous for the game…wear red, it’s intimidating and looks cool as heck.

Two, you must be very, very, very loud. “The Shoe” is arguably the loudest stadium in the country, and that is disorienting for the opponent. You already know that Aaron Corp or Matt Barkley will be making their first meaningful start. Your one goal in this game is to make whoever ends up being the starting quarterback to soil themselves.

Scream when they have the ball. Scream when they are in the huddle. Scream when they’re trying to call an audible. Scream during the timeouts. And when your voice is shot, just clap. Give everything you can. Practice screaming with your friends two weeks before September 12 so you will be better at it.

If you have tickets to this game, do not sit on your hands in a white “away” jersey. Wear red and SCREAM!

Bollman out-takes

Emptying my notebook from Sunday’s interviews before another round tonight…. I thought these tidbits from offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Jim Bollman were interesting. — On the repeated questions about growing pains last year with Terrelle Pryor and the offense in…
Continue reading at Blogging the Buckeyes

FB Audio/Video: Bollman, Linemen Meet with the Media Sunday

Coach Jim Bollman and offensive linemen Bryant Browning and Jim Cordle met with the media after Sunday's practice at Ohio Stadium
Continue reading at Ohio State Women’s Basketball Headline News

Recapping the Big Ten coaching changes

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Purdue's hiring of defensive coordinator Donn Landholm on Monday likely marks the end to the major coaching moves in the Big Ten this year. 

There have been no head-coaching changes — Danny Hope was named Purdue's head coach-in-waiting last year — and unless Iowa's Kirk Ferentz bolts for the Kansas City Chiefs, which isn't likely, all 11 teams will have continuity on top. But there were several key changes among coordinators and key position coaches. 

Here's a summary. 

ILLINOIS

Offensive coordinator: Mike Locksley left to become New Mexico's head coach. Illinois hired TCU offensive coordinator Mike Schultz as his replacement. 

Defensive line: Ron Zook fired Tom Sims and hired Cincinnati's Keith Gilmore. 

Offensive line: Eric Wolford left for the same post at South Carolina, and Zook hired Houston's Joe Gilbert as his replacement. 

Notes: Arguably Illinois' biggest coaching move was one that didn't happen. Zook offered Penn State defensive line coach Larry Johnson the chance to be Illinois' defensive coordinator, but the ace recruiter opted to stay in State College. 

INDIANA

No changes.

Notes: Despite a 3-9 season that saw regression on both sides of the ball, head coach Bill Lynch said he didn't expect to make any staff changes for 2009. 

IOWA

No changes.

Notes: Ferentz is being mentioned as a candidate for the Chiefs' head-coaching vacancy because of his ties to new general manager Scott Pioli, but it appears likely he will remain at Iowa for an 11th season. He will hold a signing day news conference scheduled for Feb. 4 and has talked with athletic director Gary Barta about a contract extension.

MICHIGAN

Defensive coordinator: Scott Shafer resigned and later took the same job at Syracuse. Michigan hired former Syracuse head coach Greg Robinson as Shafer's replacement.

Notes: Head coach Rich Rodriguez took his time with the search, and Robinson actually reached out to him about the defensive coordinator vacancy.

MICHIGAN STATE

No changes.

Notes: Offensive coordinator Don Treadwell was in the mix for several head-coaching spots (Miami University, Boston College) but will stay put for 2009.

MINNESOTA

Offensive coordinator: Mike Dunbar resigned Jan. 6 to pursue other professional opportunities. Minnesota hired former Denver Broncos wide receivers coach Jedd Fisch as Dunbar's replacement.

Defensive coordinator: Ted Roof resigned Jan. 6 to take the same post at Auburn. Gophers head coach Tim Brewster hired former Nebraska and Wisconsin defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove, who will share coordinator duties with defensive backs coach Ron Lee.

Notes: Fisch will call the offensive plays, but he must collaborate with Tim Davis, the team's new offensive line coach and run game coordinator. Davis, who replaces Phil Meyer, was hired in late November to transform Minnesota's run game and return the team to its roots as a dominant rushing attack.

NORTHWESTERN

Offensive line: Bret Ingalls left for the New Orleans Saints. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald told me he's not concerned about naming a replacement until after signing day, but indications are Adam Cushing, the H-backs coach and recruiting coordinator, will be promoted to line coach. 

Notes: Athletic director Jim Phillips wants to work out a contract extension for Fitzgerald and likely will announce one in the coming weeks or months.

OHIO STATE

No changes.

Notes: Some expected offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Jim Bollman to get the axe, and while it still could happen, head coach Jim Tressel is the primary play-caller and responsible for the unit's success. Co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Luke Fickell was mentioned as a candidate for the head-coaching vacancy at Bowling Green.

PENN STATE

No changes.

Notes: Penn State retained Larry Johnson despite Illinois offering more money and a coordinator position. Longtime defensive coordinator Tom Bradley also remains despite some rumors that he was a candidate for the top job at Syracuse.

PURDUE

Offensive coordinator: Ed Zaunbrecher was fired and replaced by Florida Atlantic offensive coordinator Gary Nord. 

Defensive coordinator: Longtime Boilers defensive coordinator Brock Spack left to become Illinois State's head coach. Hope hired his former Eastern Kentucky staffer Landholm as Spack's replacement. 

Running backs coach: Joel Thomas left for the same job at Washington, and Hope hired former Kansas State assistant Cornell Jackson as his replacement. 

Offensive line coach: Hope handled the line in 2008 and hired his former Eastern Kentucky staffer Shawn Clark to replace him. 

Special teams coordinator: Hope moved Mark Hagen from special teams to linebackers and promoted graduate assistant J.B. Gibboney to this post. 

Notes: Tight ends coach John McDonnell was not retained for 2009, and a replacement hasn't been named. Terrell Williams will once again coach the entire defensive line this fall after working strictly with the ends in 2008. 

WISCONSIN

No changes.

Notes: After firing veteran defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz and seeing offensive line coach Bob Palcic leave for UCLA last year, head coach Bret Bielema is keeping his staff in place despite a very disappointing 2008 season.  

Go to Source

Thursday Round-Up:Boyd, Early Enrollment, NFL Draft, and More

Well three days later and we’re still surviving. Here are some notes on what has gone on since the game and what to look for in Buckeyeland the next few weeks:

JimTressel, Jim Bollman, and Nick Siciliano made an in-home visit to Tahj Boyd just two days after the Fiesta Bowl. They visited…
Story By Dotting The "I"

Fiesta Bowl Press Conference – Offense

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Press Conference Thursday, January 1, 2009 with Rory Nicol, Brian Robiskie, Brandon Smith, Beanie Wells and Offensive Coordinator Jim Bollman.

Story By The Official RSS Feed of Ohio State Football Head Coach, Jim Tressel

Big Ten mailbag: Bowl leftovers, All-Big Ten talk

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

Let’s see what’s on your mind. 

Lou from Altoona, Pa., writes: Adam, I think the main reason the Big Ten is perceived as a weak conference (other than Ohio States recent failures on the big stage) is because they’re not flashy. The Big Ten doesnt have teams that put up 60 points a game. They play more of a defensive game that might not be as exciting and due to that they dont get the respect they should because they dont have the offensive numbers that other conferences have. Just wanted you thoughts on that theory.

Adam Rittenberg: There’s certainly some truth to your theory, Lou. People absolutely love offense and quarterbacks, and besides Penn State’s Daryll Clark and Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor, the Big Ten doesn’t offer much under center. The defenses in this league certainly are better this season, especially Penn State, Michigan State, Northwestern, Iowa and Minnesota. Those things go largely unnoticed nationally. I’ll admit it. Watching Big 12 football is a lot of fun. But I’m hesitant to make final judgment on Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State or Texas Tech until they face a formidable SEC defense like Alabama or Florida. 

---

Aron from Iowa City, Iowa, writes: Adam, I’ve been worried that Shonn Greene has been missing out on national media attention for his Heisman campaign due to the lack of a quality nickname. You’ve got guys like Beanie Wells and Juice Williams (although not Heisman contenders) who are more memorable because of their respective monikers. I’ve heard of the “Greene Monster” but it seems too stale unoriginal. People around Iowa City have been taking a liking to “The Love-Seat” as a reference to Shonn’s 235lb frame and his days moving furniture last year. What do you think? Maybe give it a test run in a column? Ha Thanks.

Adam Rittenberg: I like where you’re going with this, Aron. Though I’m lukewarm about the love-seat nickname. It’s too open for misinterpretation, and most people don’t know about Greene working in the furniture store last year. Maybe Greene Party or Greene Machine, something along those lines. Any suggestions, Big Ten fans?

---

Dave from Philadelphia writes: Adam, Great job on the blog. I always enjoy it. Just a few comments about the All Big Ten teams. As a Penn State fan, you might be surprised to find that I agree with you on all counts. Paterno did not deserve coach of the year for all of the reasons you stated. Additionally, the loss at Iowa and some of the coaching decisions made in that game detract from everything else that was accomplished this year. Pat Fitzgerald is the clear choice in my book. [Aaron] Maybin was absolutely the defensive player of the year. If anything, you were too generous to Laurinaitas. The guy has been invisible in every single big game I have seen him play. Outside of Maybin, Mitch King was the only other candidate in my book. Laurinaitas seems like a decent guy and he has that media-friendly backstory but he isn’t even the best linebacker on his own team. Finally, I have a point to make about Derrick Williams. He certainly is not a better WR than Arrelious Benn but he does deserve first team All Big Ten recognition. An “all purpose” slot like they have for All American teams would probably fit him best. As a guy who lined up at WR, RB, and QB and returned kicks (3 for scores), he certainly was an elite Big Ten football player.

Adam Rittenberg: Thanks, Dave. I wouldn’t be so hard on the coaching staff for the Iowa loss. I hate to blame it on Anthony Scirrotto, but that penalty on third-and-15 sticks in my mind. Penn State was a play or two away from winning that game. You bring up a good point about Derrick Williams, and there should be a category for return specialist in the All-Big Ten list. Williams did it all for Penn State down the stretch, and though he’s not an All-Big Ten wide receiver in my view, he deserves a spot on the list. 

---

Read more

Two-Man Roundtable: What If Edition

1. If you could script the remainder of Ohio State’s season, what would it look like?

Poe McNoe: Beat Michigan and win a bowl game. Northwestern isn’t in Ohio State’s league and this isn’t 2004. Illinois is a toss up for me because bad Juice Williams torched us last year and good Juice Williams has been shining this year. Sure, Illinois isn’t a complete team, but they are athletic and dangerous and could very well beat Ohio State (see 2006 and 2007).

Michigan blows. Their fans know it, our fans know it, and even Toledo fans know it. They should have a singular win, over the MAC’s Miami. Let’s face it. Michigan should be able to line up and gain 3.5 yards every down and beat Toledo.

If Ohio State were to lose to Michigan this year, it would be gloom and doom for Ohio State’s 2008 season. Mass casualties all around. Grey skies and we wouldn’t even be able to remember the seniors’ names. I’m not kidding.

Unfortunately, it could happen unless OSU shows offensive life and learns how to stop the spread-lite. Michigan doesn’t have a bad defensive line (thus greater than Ohio State’s offensive line). Our defense played lights out against Penn State, but everyone forgets how to tackle in big games.

Win the bowl. I don’t care which bowl it is. It doesn’t matter. If you win a bowl game, things are already looking up for next year. You could win the Meinike Car Care Bowl and that earns you respect in this day in age.

Not only does it help the team, but it helps the Big Ten. Michigan’s Capital One Bowl victory over a 4 loss Florida team helped. But then again, hope Penn State doesn’t get blown out in the championship.

Massey: Finish 10-2 and beat an SEC team in a bowl game. The traditional part of me wants to see the Buckeyes travel to Pasadena and win the Rose Bowl, but I also have a strong desire to excise the SEC demons. In some ways, my script would be written for this season, but designe for the future.

I would also script the extra practices during bowl preparations to include convincing Beanie to return for his senior season, searching for new coordinators, and learning to run the read-option offense. There is so much for the OSU offense to work on that they need to run two-a-days for all of December.

Finally, I would leave the recruiting exactly as it stands, which is to say no one de-commits.

2. If you could change one thing about the entire OSU program, what would it be?

M: Coordinators is very close to the top of my list, but what I really want is the swagger to return. My favorite player in the last 20 years is David Boston. Why? Because he talked a good game and played a better one.

Sure, he received taunting penalties and was probably using steroids the entire time, but he made Ohio State mean. With the exception of 2006, I cannot think of one Tressel offense the struck fear in an above-average defense.

I really think Pryor can bring that swagger back. Beanie could not do it, partly because he is always getting injured or sick. Even the wide receivers have lacked it with the exception of Holmes.

The defense held onto the swagger for a longer period but it disappeared after 2005. Do you remember the Texas game in 2005? The defense was totally badass. Take away Young’s big first quarter run and he had about 40 yards rushing! The Ohio State defense hit him so hard that the Longhorns called timeout in the fourth quarter to let Young get his wits together. Now, that was a defense.

The Buckeyes looked great against Penn State last week, but Vince was not in blue and white.

PM: Offensive and Defensive Coordinators. There, I said it. I still hate Jim Heacock even though he’s obviously kicked some ass, made some changes, and woke up the defense.

Call it his swan song and maybe it can continue until after the bowl game, but Heacock is still partially responsible for Michigan’s 39 points, Florida’s 41, Illinois’ 28, LSU’s 38, and USC’s 35.

How do you fire a guy that’s had one of the top statistical defenses over the past several years? Very carefully. You go hire someone better.

Offensively, Jim Bollman needs to go. How do you fire a guy that doesn’t even call the plays? Well, Jim Tressel calls the plays and no one would dare touch him with a 40 foot pole. That leaves Bollman. It’s not that you’ve been bad, it’s just that we’re not sure what it is that you do.

The offense is forgettable, the offensive line is amongst the worst in the country, and you only offer up plays that Tressel might call. If you get the sense you are expendable, it’s because you are. Ohio State needs an offensive coordinator that doesn’t necessarily need to have the final say in playcalling, but can make Tressel better.

Jim Tressel loves calling plays. It’s what he does. But someone needs to come in and kick the offense’s ass. Fans (and especially fans with money called boosters) don’t like not scoring offensive touchdowns in big games. Tressel is best in close games. He should have a ‘close game’ clause that allows him to assume play calling duties in 10-9 games.

3. If you were Beanie’s personal advisor, what would you tell him?

PM: Take the money and run. Beanie, I wish I could tell you to stay, and maybe you should if a new coordinator comes in. But as it stands with the offense (and the offensive line) and the lucrative rookie contracts that could go away after this year,

Beanie has to cash in and hope he’s ready. It’s all about the money. Sure he’d love to leave Ohio State equal to Archie Griffin, but injuries and poor offensive play have changed that.

Beanie may or may not be ready for the NFL. Adrian Peterson was NFL ready when he left college after an injury. I won’t debate who is better at doing what. Beanie might rumble into the NFL and put up 2000 yards, but he’s going to have to learn to fight harder at the line of scrimmage.

There are a lot of 3.0 YPC backs in the NFL that can’t get through a defensive line or linebackers. When Beanie has holes, he is golden, but he will need to run stronger and harder in the NFL every play, all the time.

But what if Beanie comes back? Beanie was out a few games this year. Then his backup, Boom Herron, was out a few games while Maurice Wells and Brandon Saine cause fans’ hopes to fall through the floor.

If Beanie comes back, it will be those mentioned (minus Mo Wells), Jamaal Berry, Carlos Hyde, and Jordan Hall. I know the term ‘Thunder and Lightning’ will be used for Berry and Hyde, but a backfield with Berry, Terrelle Pryor, and Beanie Wells is a Class 5 Hurricane.

Even Jim Tressel couldn’t stop them. Beanie’s touches might go down, but he production might go up. It’s an interesting proposal.

M: Go pro, young man. This is Pryor’s team and as talented as Wells is he is not built for the shotgun/pony/option offense. It’s the I-formation or bust.

Plus, he is injured far too often to insure that his stock will actually rise during his senior season. He was the top rated running back coming into the season, but I am not sure he still holds that distinction with NFL scouts. He will be one of the top-rated rushers in either the ’09 or ’10 draft so his wisest financial decision is to bolt for the League while the money is still big.

From Ohio State’s perspective, it is hard to argue that they would improve with the loss of Beanie but it may allow the new offensive coordinator to open up the playbook. After all, when you have a player as talented as Wells, you tend to play to his strengths.

Unfortunately, Beanie’s strengths are not completely commensurate with Ohio State’s offensive focus. The 2009 offense now needs to be build around Pryor’s abilities—QB draws, rollout passes, and spread rushing plays—and that will not benefit Beanie’s stats or draft stock.

Herron, Saine, Berry, and Hyde can fill the stat sheet (assuming there is an offensive line) and replicate Beanie’s limited production this season.

Go to Source

Coach States Obvious: Offense Needs Work

COLUMBUS, Ohio – After a second punchless showing by his offense, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel is taking shots from talk-show callers and letters to the editor for his supposed conservative play-calling.

Those detractors say Tressel isn’t loosening the reins to allow the offense to do much. And their voices have grown louder since the offense hasn’t scored a touchdown in two of the last three games for the 13th-ranked Buckeyes.

Tressel didn’t do much to defend himself on Thursday, other than to say he and his coaching staff are using a bye week to try to figure out why the Buckeyes are so ineffective when they have the ball.

“This is not a session hoping for a support system – you know, that we’re just fine on offense,” he said at a news conference. “Because we need to get better on offense. There’s no question about it.”

He even gave additional ammunition to those who say his outdated offense is dragging down the Buckeyes (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten).

“I don’t even go to a defensive meeting. I don’t even know where they meet,” Tressel said, half joking. “So that should tell you a little something.”

The offense’s numbers are putrid. It doesn’t rank in the top half of the Big Ten in any major category and is dead last in passing and 10th in total offense. Among the 119 FBS teams in the nation, the Buckeyes are 44th in rushing (169 yards a game), 107th in passing (150 ypg), 95th in total offense (319 ypg) and 67th in scoring (24.6 points a game).

The eighth-year coach oversees every aspect of the offense right down to approving all play calls.

He stressed that as bad as the offense has been, he does not have any plans to put sixth-year senior Todd Boeckman back into the starting lineup at quarterback in place of freshman Terrelle Pryor. Tressel said he never considered inserting a cold Boeckman into Saturday’s 13-6 loss to No. 3 Penn State.

“I didn’t have any inkling that way,” Tressel said.

Then, after Pryor had lost a fumble that led to the go-ahead touchdown, Tressel said he did not think of putting in Boeckman to change things up. Boeckman – who was the Big Ten’s first-team quarterback last year – is a much better passer than Pryor – who was the nation’s top quarterback recruit last spring largely because of his running ability.

Even though the Buckeyes had to go the length of the field to force overtime, Tressel stuck with the rookie.

“I didn’t know what (his) fumble had to do with what we now needed to do, to come from behind,” he said. “I didn’t really feel that it would be a fair thing to Todd to put him out there with 1:08 to go 97 yards or 93 yards away and say, ‘Sic ‘em.”‘

Pryor then underthrew a pass in the final seconds that was intercepted near the goal line.

Many of Tressel’s critics say he needs to fire Jim Bollman, the line coach who also carries the nominal title of offensive coordinator, and bring in an innovative thinker who can open up the field and try some new things. Those same critics say Tressel should give autonomy to the new coordinator by staying out of the play-calling.

But Tressel emphasized he has no desire to step away from calling plays or to be anything other than a hands-on offensive coach.

“I would have a hard time not having work to do,” he said.

The Buckeyes took Sunday and Monday off, will practice all week, and then get a 48-hour leave from Friday night until a team meeting on Sunday night. They play at Northwestern next week.

Before he began the news conference on Thursday, Tressel held up a white sheet of paper to help TV cameras set their lighting levels.

At one point, he glanced at the blank sheet of paper and cracked, “That’s my answers.”

Go to Source

Tressel says he knows offense needs work

COLUMBUS (AP) — After a second punchless showing by his offense, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel is taking shots from talk-show callers and letters to the editor for his supposed conservative play-calling.

Those detractors say Tressel isn’t loosening the reins to allow the offense to do much. And their voices have grown louder since the offense hasn’t scored a touchdown in two of the last three games for the 13th-ranked Buckeyes.

Tressel didn’t do much to defend himself on Thursday, other than to say he and his coaching staff are using a bye week to try to figure out why the Buckeyes are so ineffective when they have the ball.

“This is not a session hoping for a support system — you know, that we’re just fine on offense,” he said at a news conference. “Because we need to get better on offense. There’s no question about it.”

He even gave additional ammunition to those who say his outdated offense is dragging down the Buckeyes (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten).

“I don’t even go to a defensive meeting. I don’t even know where they meet,” Tressel said, half joking. “So that should tell you a little something.”

The offense’s numbers are putrid. It doesn’t rank in the top half of the Big Ten in any major category and is dead last in passing and 10th in total offense. Among the 119 FBS teams in the nation, the Buckeyes are 44th in rushing (169 yards a game), 107th in passing (150 ypg), 95th in total offense (319 ypg) and 67th in scoring (24.6 points a game).

The eighth-year coach oversees every aspect of the offense right down to approving all play calls.

He stressed that as bad as the offense has been, he does not have any plans to put sixth-year senior Todd Boeckman back into the starting lineup at quarterback in place of freshman Terrelle Pryor. Tressel said he never considered inserting a cold Boeckman into Saturday’s 13-6 loss to No. 3 Penn State.

“I didn’t have any inkling that way,” Tressel said.

Then, after Pryor had lost a fumble that led to the go-ahead touchdown, Tressel said he did not think of putting in Boeckman to change things up. Boeckman — who was the Big Ten’s first-team quarterback last year — is a much better passer than Pryor — who was the nation’s top quarterback recruit last spring largely because of his running ability.

Even though the Buckeyes had to go the length of the field to force overtime, Tressel stuck with the rookie.

“I didn’t know what (his) fumble had to do with what we now needed to do, to come from behind,” he said. “I didn’t really feel that it would be a fair thing to Todd to put him out there with 1:08 to go 97 yards or 93 yards away and say, ’Sic ’em.”’

Pryor then underthrew a pass in the final seconds that was intercepted near the goal line.

Many of Tressel’s critics say he needs to fire Jim Bollman, the line coach who also carries the nominal title of offensive coordinator, and bring in an innovative thinker who can open up the field and try some new things. Those same critics say Tressel should give autonomy to the new coordinator by staying out of the play-calling.

But Tressel emphasized he has no desire to step away from calling plays or to be anything other than a hands-on offensive coach.

“I would have a hard time not having work to do,” he said.

The Buckeyes took Sunday and Monday off, will practice all week, and then get a 48-hour leave from Friday night until a team meeting on Sunday night. They play at Northwestern next week.

Before he began the news conference on Thursday, Tressel held up a white sheet of paper to help TV cameras set their lighting levels.

At one point, he glanced at the blank sheet of paper and cracked, “That’s my answers.”

Go to Source

Next Page »