Credit where it is due.....

NewYorkBuck · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 11:58 AM

As some may recall, as recently as a few seasons past I was part of a somewhat vocal group of fans here who were rather critical of the play calling of the OSU offense. In our defense, I do believe that some of the objections were valid - for example - we only had three WR routes, we always ran out of the I on first down, we always ran the QB draw out of the spread, etc. I also remember many claiming (me included) that we could call the play most of the time right before the snap. Things went as far as JT needing to address publically if he would hire an OC or not.

Fast forward to 2007. I just cant believe what Im seeing now. We are calling the offense that I always wished for - even w a raw QB and an entirely new receiving corps. We now have almost perfect balance. Through six games - 1276 yds passing - 1221 yds rushing! 13 different receivers w a catch. Seven different receivers w a TD. Three with ten or more receptions. The balance is very difficult to defend against. Just look at the Purdue game. We knew exactly how'd they come at us and VERY effectively put in the 3-3-5 to defeat it. All of a sudden the high flying Purdue spread was grounded, and their predictibility was their undoing - we figured out just how to beat it. In the same light - I will fully admit I am wrong much more often than now when trying to call OSUs plays now. I cant tell you how many times Ive called out "run" this season, and it was play action. (Good thing Im not an opposing LB!).

I will fully admit I am critical at times, but on the flip side I cannot stand people who are never happy and whine just to whine. Given what I have seen this year, as much as I was critical a few years back, it is now time to give JT his due as an OC. He has been calling a great game lately.

BB73 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 01:08 PM

They need to bring back the blocking sleds.

Hey, if NYB isn't doing the job as "chief contrarian", somebody has to!

lvbuckeye · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 01:20 PM

i think a lot of the unpredictability comes from the personnel packages that Tressel is employing this year. the silver package lends its self to great diversity.

AKAKBUCK · #4 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewYorkBuck

(Good thing Im not an opposing LB!)

For you maybe.

Yertle · #5 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 08:43 PM

I think it might speak to how green (or clueless?) some of the players were a few years ago. I seriously doubt if Tressel has all of a sudden changed his approach, and Bollman is still Bollman. So, it HAS to be JT modifying the offense to the personelle's ability level. Good to know that he has that ability.

With that being said, I think our passing attack has lost a little bit of its creativity from a year ago. I don't see as many crossing routes or screen plays, but it could also be stuff that Tressel is keeping in the bag until he needs it. Either way, I'm really being picky with that because in general, I agree 100% with your comments.

Dryden · #6 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yertle

I think it might speak to how green (or clueless?) some of the players were a few years ago. I seriously doubt if Tressel has all of a sudden changed his approach, and Bollman is still Bollman. So, it HAS to be JT modifying the offense to the personelle's ability level. Good to know that he has that ability.

With that being said, I think our passing attack has lost a little bit of its creativity from a year ago. I don't see as many crossing routes or screen plays, but it could also be stuff that Tressel is keeping in the bag until he needs it. Either way, I'm really being picky with that because in general, I agree 100% with your comments.

The passing game will grow. You can't just unleash thousands of play variations with all the new skill position guys, plus a new center and RBs in pass-pro. Boeckman needs time for his vision to grow also, because you can't entrust him to know every route combination against every defense. Think about it. Even Troy didn't fully grow into the QB he became until over about 18 games played with his receivers.

One of the words that JT mentions over and over again in his pressers is that the team wants to be "multiple." This is why they visit all the other top programs and find out how guys are used; In which plays are devised with which personnel, and what the matchup is that they're looking to exploit. Over the past few years they've visited (I believe) West Virginia, Florida, and the Saints. Coaches are notorious copycats, and JT and the OSU staff are no exception.

It's simply awesome that this team can run a 4-3 one week, then play nearly every play in the 3-3-5 the next when it's time for Purdue.

Similarly, based on the defense they anticipate they'll see, they can devise a game plan consisting of everything from ISO to 5-wide. In Michigan games, we've seen the Statue of Liberty ('06) thrown in during a game that was called mostly 4-wide, and the option ('02) during a game mostly called 2-back, 2-wide. I do not recall any other games in six-plus years we've seen either. Against Michigan.

This diversity on offense is part of the reason the defenses have been mostly spectacular under JT, regardless the revolving door at DC we've had in just the six-and-a-half years he's been here. OSU can run any play out of any formation, and similarly is prepared to defend any play from any formation.

The only weakness JT has, if you could call it one -- and Herbie has towed this line for a few years now on 1460 (never nationally on ESPN), -- is that JT's game-plan (maybe him, because he's just hard-wired to coach the surest way) has no solution or response when trailing a game by two TDs or more. Luckily, I can only think of about three occasions where that has come to pass. His teams are the better prepared team in 95% of the games he's coached, and without special teams snafus, OSU is not any worse than 9-3 in either '01 (UCLA, Wisky, PSU) or '04 (Northwestern, Purdue). To watch JT over the past six years, I believe it's incomprehensible to him that a place-kicker would ever miss a FG or an XP, or that a punter could shank a 15-yarder.

I don't pretend to know anything about his coaching days at YSU, but I am told he won championships running everything: spread, pro-style, and option.

Contrast this to say ... Michigan, that runs a pro offense almost exclusively, and -- most damningly -- only knows how to defend one as a result.

JT is a chameleon. At this point, anyone who would question him should be thrown under the wheels of the bandwagon, 'cause they just haven't been paying attention.

Steve19 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dryden

JT is a chameleon. At this point, anyone who would question him should be t