2016 tOSU Offense Discussion

[ScriptOhio]

LACK OF OFFENSIVE EXECUTION A POINT OF FOCUS FOR OHIO STATE COACHES AHEAD OF GAME AGAINST NORTHWESTERN

Urban Meyer and Ed Warinner need to be on the same page for Ohio State to move the ball, pick up first downs and put points on the scoreboard. As an offensive-minded head coach and offensive coordinator, such a simplistic statement seems like an afterthought.

Both men felt like they were during Ohio State's shocking 24-21 loss at Penn State last Saturday, a game in which the Buckeyes struggled to push the ball down the field vertically. Issues like Curtis Samuel's lack of rushing attempts, J.T. Barrett's willingness to check down to running back Mike Weber (eight receptions), tight end Marcus Baugh (five, including a touchdown) and Samuel (eight) plus an overall lack of creativity is a point of frustration for fans this week as the Buckeyes prepare for Northwestern.

“That comes with the territory,” Warinner said after practice on Wednesday. “You get a lot of positive things said when you win by a lot of points and you get criticism when you lose.”

Warinner is wise to understand that as criticism dumps in from those outside the program for the steady regression in Ohio State's offense over the last month. He did point out, however, that Ohio State did lead by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter against Penn State. He is right, as two special teams mistakes helped shift that game in favor of the Nittany Lions.

But the Buckeyes had plenty of opportunities to put the game on ice when they had the ball. It never happened.

“We have to play better. I have to do a better job,” Warinner said. “We have to do a better job coaching, play better, execute better and that all starts with the coaching staff and the preparation and give our kids a chance.”

Entire article: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...te-coaches-ahead-of-game-against-northwestern

I think special teams (i.e. blocked punt and field goal) should a concern too.

 

[brodybuck21]

LACK OF OFFENSIVE EXECUTION A POINT OF FOCUS FOR OHIO STATE COACHES AHEAD OF GAME AGAINST NORTHWESTERN

Urban Meyer and Ed Warinner need to be on the same page for Ohio State to move the ball, pick up first downs and put points on the scoreboard. As an offensive-minded head coach and offensive coordinator, such a simplistic statement seems like an afterthought.

Both men felt like they were during Ohio State's shocking 24-21 loss at Penn State last Saturday, a game in which the Buckeyes struggled to push the ball down the field vertically. Issues like Curtis Samuel's lack of rushing attempts, J.T. Barrett's willingness to check down to running back Mike Weber (eight receptions), tight end Marcus Baugh (five, including a touchdown) and Samuel (eight) plus an overall lack of creativity is a point of frustration for fans this week as the Buckeyes prepare for Northwestern.

“That comes with the territory,” Warinner said after practice on Wednesday. “You get a lot of positive things said when you win by a lot of points and you get criticism when you lose.”

Warinner is wise to understand that as criticism dumps in from those outside the program for the steady regression in Ohio State's offense over the last month. He did point out, however, that Ohio State did lead by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter against Penn State. He is right, as two special teams mistakes helped shift that game in favor of the Nittany Lions.

[/QUO

(smh)

(SMH)

 

[MaxBuck]

Didn't really go all that well today, although JT looked better throwing the ball.

 

[ScriptOhio]

OHIO STATE'S WIDE RECEIVING CORPS STILL VERY MUCH A WORK IN PROGRESS DESPITE SOME BIG PLAYS VERSUS NORTHWESTERN

The weakest positional link on the 2016 Buckeyes, the self-dubbed "Zone 6" has looked more like "Zone Sicks" through the balance of Ohio State's first seven games.

Last weekend in the loss to Penn State things came to a head as the true wide receivers on the roster (e.g. I'm not counting the slot guys) recorded just five receptions on a day in which J.T. Barrett logged a career-high 28 completions.

Remarkably, accounting for just 18% of Barrett's completions versus the Nittany Lions was only slightly worse than the 22% of Barrett's completions they hauled in versus Indiana (2 of 9).

In today's 24-20 win over Northwestern, however, the true wide receivers took a very modest step forward recording nine receptions out of 21 Barrett completions, or 43%.

As usual, it was Noah Brown leading they way tallying a career-high-tying five grabs for 51 yards on eight targets.

Brown showed intense fight on his first two opportunities catching balls in traffic and fighting for tough yards highlighted by a 13-yard grab on 2nd and 14 to get Ohio State back on schedule during what became a 15 play, 80-yard drive capped by a Mike Weber 23-yard run giving Ohio State a 17-7 lead.

Entire article: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...ss-despite-some-big-plays-versus-northwestern

 

[Hstead]

Personally, I do not think it is lack of talent at the WR position that is the problem. I can't wait to see how many of these guys play on Sundays because I think most will, meaning it is NOT a talent issue.

I believe the issues stem from the QB development and coaching, multiplied but the predictability of our routes that are not intelligent and lack imagination. I am not talking about getting out of breaks etc that are skills and technique, I am talking about plays where you have three guys running some predictable route because the other team has scouted the piss out of us and the DB is jumping the out route because "that is what they do" type of stuff.

 

[matcar]

Personally, I do not think it is lack of talent at the WR position that is the problem. I can't wait to see how many of these guys play on Sundays because I think most will, meaning it is NOT a talent issue.

I believe the issues stem from the QB development and coaching, multiplied but the predictability of our routes that are not intelligent and lack imagination. I am not talking about getting out of breaks etc that are skills and technique, I am talking about plays where you have three guys running some predictable route because the other team has scouted the piss out of us and the DB is jumping the out route because "that is what they do" type of stuff.

No doubt routes can improve, but these guys aren't getting open. Some part of that is absolutely on the WRs.

 

[bukIpower]

Well look at our WRs for a second..

Brown is the prototype but other then that what? A plethora of 5 foot 11 195 dudes.

McLauren is a great story but if he had to earn a spot in camp he probably wasn't going to amount to dominating the WR position (please spare the D Lee comparison). Dontre is a shorter quicker WR who was supposed to be our Percy Harvin and isn't being used in that capacity. Parris Campbell who I think is our 2nd best WR has the size but again he is raw given he was a running back in HS. James Clark is fast but he's rather short and if we threw the ball to him on slants id be all for it but he isn't used that way.

Then you have KJ Hill who I feel needs to be on the field more and Johnny Dixon who's battled injuries but I feel also deserves more looks.

We took the approach of let's get speed and we can teach them how to be WRs... well there's no replacing years of reps catching the ball in traffic and tracking the ball deep there just isnt.

 

[RugbyBuck]

Does anyone think Austin Carr would be having the type of season he is if he was wearing S&G? Our offense is offensive. Much of the blame for that sits with Zach Smith. I think the sample size is sufficient to draw that conclusion now.

 

[Jaxbuck]

A plethora of 5 foot 11 195 dudes.

which is exactly the size Santonio Holmes was so the size of the guys doesn't bother me. The second part you mentioned is where I think part of the problem lies and they had this same problem at LB a few years ago. Too many athletes with poor instincts/lack of experience playing the position. It's why they had to convert Boren from FB to LB mid season 2012 and why he made such an obvious difference.

I honestly think they have fixed this with the '17 recruiting class but then again, I thought guys like Victor and Mack would be out performing a lot of the current WR corps by now as well.

 

[bukIpower]

I'd rather see Victor or Mack to be honest.. at least see if they can make a difference

 

[Systems_id]

Man watching the Minnesota and Indiana games again, that 2014 offense was light years ahead of where we are currently in play calling. Both the Minnesota and Indiana defenses were kept off balance almost the entire time. Only reason those games were close is because the team couldn't quit turning the ball over.

 

[Onebuckfan]

which is exactly the size Santonio Holmes was so the size of the guys doesn't bother me. The second part you mentioned is where I think part of the problem lies and they had this same problem at LB a few years ago. Too many athletes with poor instincts/lack of experience playing the position. It's why they had to convert Boren from FB to LB mid season 2012 and why he made such an obvious difference.

I honestly think they have fixed this with the '17 recruiting class but then again, I thought guys like Victor and Mack would be out performing a lot of the current WR corps by now as well.

Play Hooket both ways he had a a feel for the game

 

[Poe McKnoe]

which is exactly the size Santonio Holmes was so the size of the guys doesn't bother me. The second part you mentioned is where I think part of the problem lies and they had this same problem at LB a few years ago. Too many athletes with poor instincts/lack of experience playing the position. It's why they had to convert Boren from FB to LB mid season 2012 and why he made such an obvious difference.

I honestly think they have fixed this with the '17 recruiting class but then again, I thought guys like Victor and Mack would be out performing a lot of the current WR corps by now as well.

I personally don't see it working the same way on offense. Athletes typically excel on offense. There are probably 200 receivers in NCAA football with less athletic ability than these guys, and those schemes are getting production out of them. Go back and watch Terry McLaurin and James Clark's highlights from high school. They weren't down the field receivers. They were guys who you got the ball to on screens, slants, reverses, sweeps, and everything else within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. I don't expect them be able to have the same spacing in college, but they are getting jammed into positions and plays that they obviously aren't built for. Maybe the hope was that they have the skill to break tackles and make plays, and OSU could turn them into Z receivers. I personally don't believe Warinner and Beck have the skill to develop a passing attack against the defenses these DCs are playing. It's not that they don't want to, it's just not their core competency. You don't know what you don't know. Warinner is a spread offense wizard for the O line. That's why he literally has instructional DVDs on those topics. I can't seem to find his expertise in passing game concepts however. I sincerely believe that was supposed to be Beck's role in the offense, considering he was the passing game coordinator for Warinner at Kansas. Thus, my #firebeck rant.

 

[SEREbuckeye]

One aspect we haven't talked much about given the youth of our team is conditioning and stanina.

Unless you are a guy that has been starting a few years it's going to take some time to adapt to a season stretch. The young guys came out with so much vigor and intensity early on. I think the immaturity of weekly game speed is starting to wear on the guys. Even if you're a soph or junior, unless you're used to late night studying/all day school and first string practicing every day, and then a huge emotional and physical test on Saturday - unless that's something you've been exposed to for an extended time, it's going to wear you down eventually.

 

[bukIpower]

One aspect we haven't talked much about given the youth of our team is conditioning and stanina.

Unless you are a guy that has been starting a few years it's going to take some time to adapt to a season stretch. The young guys came out with so much vigor and intensity early on. I think the immaturity of weekly game speed is starting to wear on the guys. Even if you're a soph or junior, unless you're used to late night studying/all day school and first string practicing every day, and then a huge emotional and physical test on Saturday - unless that's something you've been exposed to for an extended time, it's going to wear you down eventually.

brought this up today with a co worker. Such piss and vinegar early in the season and now it's just like "can we just get the game over with" early bye week will do that