So what are reasonable expectations to have when it comes to improving the offense? Lots of improvement happened over the course of 2014, but this feels like a larger problem that has persisted for 2 full seasons.
Even if Meyer is convinced that larger changes need to be made, that doesn't seem like something that can happen before facing PSU. Maybe I'm overestimating the time needed to make real changes.
On the offense, I expect better communication from the line as they get more experience and continued growth from the RBs but that's all I expect.
How many times can a philosophy completely fail to work before you take the stance that the problem isn't necessarily the execution, it's the philosophy. Is the execution bad? Sure, at times it's very bad. But there's a lot of failure with the offense that's simply inherent in what they want to do.
If the problem was simple execution, the losses would be close losses, but most of them have been losses where the offense has looked 100% ineffective. It hasn't been a matter of a drop or two or a fumble or an interception or wrong route, etc. Execution can be a reasonable excuse when you lose by a possession or so.
When you get completely destroyed in the same way in virtually every loss you've had over the last couple seasons, that's not an execution failure. There's something inherently flawed in what you're trying to do.
Elite teams don't base their strategies around what's effective against the basement dwellers on their schedule. They tailor their play to achieve their ultimate goal which is to defeat other elite teams.
Ohio State has a very clear way in which they would like to win games and they appear ready and willing to use performance against bad teams to justify the continued pursuit of winning with these proven flawed philosophies.
What they want to do might work with correct personnel, but it cannot work with the personnel they have currently committed themselves to using - most notably Barrett but also their Al Davis-esque need to use speedy receivers who can't catch as opposed to slower guys with more size or skill.
How many times do you have to see poor play from Campbell or McLaurin before you allow other people to take those snaps? And why does one catch and run against a completely gassed defense negate the drops, lazy routes, poor blocking, etc., that we've seen from Campbell.
I can understand Meyer's mindset in terms of being hesitant to bench Barrett. I get it. There's no one else with real experience to lean on. But something about the offense isn't working, so you have to try something new. Open up the playbook. Allow Victor & Mack to get more run. Do something.
As it is, they seem to want to continue the same flawed QB run-option oriented playcalling, continue to use Barrett AND continue with the same WR rotation and simply look at everyone and say "play better" as if that's going to fix the issue.
As a fan, I hope to God they win out, but if they lose another game (and at this rate, it's very likely), Urban deserves 100% of the blame.
