Level of Expectations (Merged)

[crazybuckfan40]

Originally Posted by AKAKBUCK

First... as always... great post 21.

To me its not scheme, play calling or personnel... though I would argue that we might have some maturity issues with said personnel... to me its attitude.

The D goes out there to kick ass... and they do... top to bottom.

The Offense... I don't know what the hell they are doing most of the time... the play tight most of the time, it seems.. and they just don't-- as a unit-- have "it."

I would jsut prefer that we took the attitude that we're going to go out and kick peopl's butts... knock them in the mouth and see what happens.

Its not gong to matter who's the Quaerterback or who's calling the plays or who's going deep or who's running the ball if we play like a bunch of pansies every other week.

As far as blame... it always starts with the coaches... this is college football... but... the players have to be held accountable (by the coaches... not the fans) for their performances... but if I had to criticize one thing... its just an overall lack of intensity/urgency by the staff and players on the offensive side of the football...

The talent will take care of itself... but if we're going lose on the scoreboard, at least win the fight...

Just to give an opposing view point. When Coop was the coach we came out and kicked the snot out of lesser opponents and then froze up in big games.

I too would like to see a little more excitement, but I think they just take on the coaches calm demeaner, which isnt always a bad thing. A cooler head down the stretch is better than just being fired up and not ready to make the play.

[kaligula]

Originally Posted by crazybuckfan40

Just to give an opposing view point. When Coop was the coach we came out and kicked the snot out of lesser opponents and then froze up in big games.

I too would like to see a little more excitement, but I think they just take on the coaches calm demeaner, which isnt always a bad thing. A cooler head down the stretch is better than just being fired up and not ready to make the play.

OSU under Coop won plenty of big games, including beating 2 AP Top 5 nonconference opponents on the road. True, 95,96 against Michigan and 98 against MSU were the 3 games that turned what would have otherwise been an excellent legacy (costing 2 likely NCs) into a "couldn't win the big game" legacy. But those 3 losses were against inferior teams.

Coop lost a lot of meaningless bowl games to SEC teams down in Florida, but won the ones that counted: the Rose Bowl and the BCS Bowl(Sugar Bowl).

By all rights, OSU should have least shared in the 96 NC with 1-loss Florida, who got the AP and Coaches nod by winning a revenge game (remember Big 10 was not in the so-called Bowl Coalition, which created a bias against the Big 10; the same bias which cost PSU a NC in 94).

In 1998, by all rights, OSU still should have been selected to play Tenn. in the Fiesta Bowl over FSU. That year, except for one inexplicable quarter (that started with a fluke bounce off Clement's back on a punt return), that team clearly was the best team by far. Dominating team. Great defense and a great offense.

[BUCKYLE]

Originally Posted by kaligula

OSU under Coop won plenty of big games, including beating 2 AP Top 5 nonconference opponents on the road. True, 95,96 against Michigan and 98 against MSU were the 3 games that turned what would have otherwise been an excellent legacy (costing 2 likely NCs) into a "couldn't win the big game" legacy. But those 3 losses were against inferior teams.

3 LOSSES? I see what you are saying, but 2-10-1. scUM is a big game too.

[kaligula]

Originally Posted by Cicero

When is the last time you saw our offensive line knock a decent defensive line off the ball?

Don't get me wrong, I love what Tressel has done here. We have great skill players and the best defense in college football. We have a top ten class of recruits every year, but without a smash mouth offensive line we will lose one or two games a year to speedy defenses.

Look at our NC season, we ran the ball with authority. We ran at and over teams because our line was able to get a push. Imagine what this team could do with just a good offensive line.

BTW, if you disagree with me fine, I love a good debate. I will not give you bad reputation points simply because I disagree with your view points. I hope in the future to get the same kind of treatment.

It's not a man, drive blocking scheme. It's more of a lateral, create seams or gaps in the defense and requires a RB with good vision to find the gap and then make the quick cut. In 2002, when healthy, Clarett excelled in this scheme. But Ross and Hall never seemed to fare as well.

Bollman brought this scheme with him from the NFL. It's certainly not designed for a behemoth, smash mouth lineman prototype. Rather it requires agile, mobile (usually smaller players) with good lateral movement.

The NFL is the copycat league and unless the NFL outlaws the cut-block, the zone blocking scheme will be the trend, which means if you use it at the college level, your lineman that go on to the NFL will be prepared to make early contributions, since this scheme typically takes more time to fully grasp. And, of course, that's exactly what you want quality OL recruiting prospects to see when they are considering Ohio State.

[kaligula]

Originally Posted by BUCKEYESTUCKNGA

3 LOSSES? I see what you are saying, but 2-10-1. scUM is a big game too.

Of course, that also implies 4-8-1 rather than 2-10-1. Considering the first 4 years or so during the Cooper era, OSU was not at the same talent level as Michigan, I believe Buckeye Nation could have tolerated 4-8-1 with a National Championship or two.

[BUCKYLE]

Originally Posted by kaligula

Of course, that also implies 4-8-1 rather than 2-10-1. Considering the first 4 years or so during the Cooper era, OSU was not at the same talent level as Michigan, I believe Buckeye Nation could have tolerated 4-8-1 with a National Championship or two.

so, with that logic, 1-3 with 1 NC under JT would suffice? I somehow think that wouldnt be so.

[kaligula]

Originally Posted by BUCKEYESTUCKNGA

so, with that logic, 1-3 with 1 NC under JT would suffice? I somehow think that wouldnt be so.

Cooper had to rebuild the program, Tressel did not. The cupboard was bare when Coop took the reigns and it took him about 4 years of quality recruiting to rebuild the program to the same talent level as Michigan.

If Coop had won those 3 games I mentioned, I'm saying that most reasonable people would readily forgive the early domination by Michigan for a rebuilt program with the talent that was competing for and winning National Championships.