2017 tOSU Offense Discussion

[Hstead]

I have said many times a big part of the OLine problem was the offensive scheme and predictability. Anthony Munoz would have had a hard time blocking in that shidt we called an offense the past two seasons. I think buchtelgrad hit on part of it, the Herman offense kept defenses off balance and that plays a huge part in helping the OLine out. It won't be a shock to me if the Wilson offense is as balanced and creative as we all expect that all of the sudden the Oline play will appear stellar again.

 

[ScriptOhio]

FIVE OHIO STATE FRESHMEN PRIMED TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN 2017

With the way Ohio State is shelling out players to the NFL, Mark Pantoni's job gets more secure with each passing season he works for Urban Meyer.

“There's some pressure to make sure when you lose a Darron Lee, you'd better bring in someone just as good or the team is not as good,” Pantoni said on National Signing Day. “You always have to try to equate the talent that you lose with what you bring in. And then every year, there may be one or two guys that leave that you're not projecting to leave.”

Sound familiar? Meyer echoes that mutiple times every football season. It becomes redundant but remains timely, with how 15 players have left Ohio State early over the last two seasons. In all, the program saw 19 players get drafted over the same span and more than a handful signed with pro teams as free agents.

It adds pressure to Pantoni, Meyer and the assistant coaches to sign recruits who don't need much mentoring in Columbus before they can be depended upon on Saturdays in the fall. Ohio State's 2017 recruiting class finished No. 2 in the country behind only Alabama according to 247Sports composite, with 21 commitments and nine early enrollees. That number grew to 10 when junior college transfer Kendall Sheffield made his way to Columbus in March to participate in spring drills.

How many actually make an immediate impact remains to be seen, however, despite their position coaches speaking highly of the early enrollees in March and April. Ohio State's roster is loaded no matter how you slice it and the expectation to return to the College Football Playoff isn't changing.

Here are five(ish) players who could—and frankly, Ohio State needs them to—see considerable time in 2017. This list differs a bit from the one Andrew wrote in December, two months before Signing Day, because the class wasn't complete yet and it wasn't known who all would leave for the pros.

WIDE RECEIVER TREVON GRIMES
All signs point to Grimes being prepared for training camp despite tearing his ACL in September, really the only thing that would potentially hold back this big-bodied and fast wide receiver. Wide receivers coach Zach Smith wouldn't defiantly say this spring that Grimes was an instant impact player because he wasn't on campus yet. But ...

“Obviously, on film and recruiting, evaluation, he is,” Smith said. “But rehab is going really well. He's killing it. He's doing really well. It's gonna be about when he gets here, how he transitions and how mature he is. And if he's one of those kids that comes in with the mentality to play as a freshman. Because they all want to. They all think they're going to but some kids come in and they can't seem to feel the speed of the game at this level. The offense feels fast. For whatever reason, we're going to have to see where he's at. I anticipate he makes a push for it, though.”

To say Ohio State needs explosive playmakers at receiver is an understatement. With Curtis Samuel and Noah Brown headed to the NFL, the opportunity is certainly there. Parris Campbell appears to be the guy at H-back and Binjimen Victor is still growing into his frame. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Grimes has all the tools to become an immediate impact player.

Entire article: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...ate-freshmen-primed-to-make-an-impact-in-2017

 

[ScriptOhio]

Buckeye Breakdown: Putting the “Six” Back in Zone 6

Last week we brought you a breakdown of the strongest and deepest unit of the 2017 Buckeyes -- the defensive line. That's a tough group to follow, but the Ohio State wide receivers appear to be up for the challenge after a much-improved spring under the new offensive umbrella of Kevin Wilson and Ryan Day.

The bulk of the production from last season has departed, totaling over 130 receptions and 1,600+ yards from Curtis Samuel, Noah Brown, and Dontre Wilson alone. If the Spring Game was any indicator, however, Zone 6 has a corps of receivers ready to fill important roles in the high-powered offense.

Redshirt sophomore K.J. Hill (North Little Rock, AR) and fourth-year junior Parris Campbell (Akron, OH) had limited success a year ago, but with the new emphasis on the short “Mesh” concept installed by Wilson, the elusive duo will be heavily relied upon as an initial read for J.T. Barrett in the middle of the field. There they will also be able to utilize their abilities to gain yards after the catch.

The key, however, lies in the ability to stretch the defenses that are crowding the box, looking to stop the run. The Buckeyes faced a lot of Cover-3 a year ago -- a defense designed to bring an extra defender near the line of scrimmage in run support. If the Buckeyes are going to be a passing threat in 2017, they will have to improve their success in attacking the intermediate and deep levels.

Redshirt junior Johnnie Dixon (West Palm Beach, FL) showed this spring he is primed for a breakout season in 2017 after putting up 108 yards and two touchdowns in the Spring Game. Showing no ill effects of previous knee injuries, Dixon has the speed to separate outside and the suddenness to work the intermediate routes, proving he is a versatile weapon who will complement the other receivers nicely.

Dixon adds to an already athletic unit with his ability to make defenders miss and create additional yards after catch. He appears to be interested in blocking downfield, though has some big shoes to fill after watching Noah Brown last season. To fully maximize his potential, Dixon will need to improve his catch radius and functional strength to catch the ball away from his body with his hands, not his forearms.



Entire article: http://theozone.net/2017/06/buckeye-breakdown-putting-six-zone-6/

 

[ScriptOhio]

Buckeye Breakdown: Can Tight Ends Translate Improvement to Production

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer stated earlier this Spring that the Tight End unit was the most improved unit in the off-season, which is good news coming on the heels of a season-ending knee injury to A.J. Alexander. With Marcus Baugh rehabbing a shoulder injury, Spring drills proved to be an opportunity for the young guys to prove their worth and compete for playing time come Fall.

Among those who made the most of the opportunity is redshirt freshman Luke Farrell (Perry, OH). At 6’6” 250, Farrell has good height with a somewhat slender frame. After sitting out last year, Farrell added strength and weight to his 240-lb frame on Signing Day.

Farrell showcased his abilities during the Spring Game, showing good awareness to locate and “sit down” in the zone when working the middle of the field.

As a blocker, Luke was effective at lining up outside zone blocks and blocks occurring on the second level, using his agility and length to maintain the block. Where Farrell will need to improve is blocking at the point of attack. As you will see in the video below, Farrell is a fraction late when striking, causing him to be pushed off balance, resulting in a sack.



Entire article: http://theozone.net/2017/06/buckeye-breakdown-tight-ends-translate/

 

[ScriptOhio]

 

[ScriptOhio]

Buckeye Breakdown: ‘Tote Nation’ Looks to Carry the Load in 2017

As we continue our positional breakdowns of players who could step into prominent roles this season, it is now time to take a look at the Ohio State running game. With last year’s leading rusher Mike Weber returning, the Buckeyes will look to replace the production left from the 700+ yards Curtis Samuel contributed.

Make no mistake, with much of the offseason focusing on the Unicorn that is Kevin Wilson’s offensive prowess, the 2017 Buckeyes are still a power running team first and foremost.

The leader of the unit is Redshirt Sophomore Mike Weber (Detroit, MI), who last year became only the third freshman Running Back in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards. Only Maurice Clarett (1,237 yards) and Robert Smith (1,126 yards) were more productive than Mike Weber and his 1,096 yards as first-year “toters.”

Weber will likely see an increased workload as he only surpassed 20 carries in a game once last season. He also saw his touches dwindle once November came, culminating in a five-carry performance versus Clemson.

With an increased focus on ball security this off season, Mike has looked confident in bouncing back from two fumbles against the Tigers in the playoff game.

As Tony Gerdeman wrote about earlier this week, there will be a fair amount of carries up for grabs this season. The obvious leader for those carries is Sophomore Demario McCall (North Ridgeville, OH), who carried the momentum created in 2016 with an impressive Spring campaign.

McCall displays very good speed and elusiveness in the open field, but also runs very well between the tackles due to his vision. As you will see in the compilation below, Demario has superb instincts and is very good at setting up his blocks to maximize gains, and proves to be an effective pass blocker as well.

Demario McCall at Work



Entire article: http://theozone.net/2017/06/buckeye-breakdown-tote-nation/

 

[ScriptOhio]

One Thing We Must See From Each Buckeye Position Group

The Ohio State Buckeyes are the most-talented team in the Big Ten, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t question marks.

No team is perfect. In fact, it’s overcoming their flaws that makes great teams unforgettable. Did the 2002 Buckeye offense have any business winning a national title? No. Did the 2014 OSU defense? Certainly not early on.

They overcame those deficiencies, however, and now those two teams have been adorned on more Ohio walls than Farrah Fawcett in her prime.

How do the 2017 Buckeyes do the same? By turning question marks into exclamation points.

They don’t have to have an answer for every question, but they do need a solution for most of them.

What kind of concerns are we talking about? I’ll give you one for each position group to mull over. Feel free to add your own.

Quarterback
Trust in the receivers. J.T. Barrett’s receivers want him to trust them to make a play, and Barrett really, really would like to. I still want to see him do it, however. He is not the kind of quarterback who wants to throw a pass up for grabs, but he does need to have faith in his receivers that they will meet the ball at the window he chooses.

Running Back
Break the big ones. Mike Weber needs to hit some home runs. The Ohio State offense needs easy yards on the ground, and easy yards doesn’t mean six or seven yards every single carry. It means there are a couple of 30 or 40-yarders thrown in each week. Over the course of a season, that will ease the load on everyone, and it will also keep a defense a bit more worried about the explosion of the running game.

Entire article: http://theozone.net/2017/06/must-see-buckeye-position-group/

 

[ScriptOhio]

Ohio State should utilize both Parris Campbell and Demario McCall to replace Curtis Samuel

OSU might have an easier type replacing the versatile Curtis Samuel with two players vs. one.

Curtis Samuel was arguably the most versatile, and explosive, college football player in the country last season. Lining up in both the slot and the backfield, Samuel converted his 97 rushes and 74 receptions into 1,636 total yards and 15 touchdowns. A dominant combine performance confirmed his elite athleticism and helped him get drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the 2nd round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Ohio State now must find a way to replace what was often the offense’s only “get out of jail free” card last season. Samuel’s combination of big statistical performances and timely plays in massive moments is unmatched on the Buckeyes’ current roster, and it’s hard to find a player with the skill set to replace everything he brought to the offense.

But do the Buckeyes really need to find just one player to replace Samuel? A look at Urban Meyer’s past Ohio State offenses shows that he’s historically leaned on more than one player to fulfill everything he asks of his H-backs. The desire to create explosive plays in both the air and ground game with the H-back resulted in the Buckeyes splitting touches from 2012-2015. One player has typically worked as the dominant receiver and the other as the rusher. Only in 2016 did Meyer trust and enable one player to do both:

Entire article: https://www.landgrantholyland.com/2...-football-curtis-samuel-replacement-breakdown

 

[Bestbuck36]

I can seriously see this offense averaging 50 points per game this season. I have no doubt we'll find a way to replace Samuel and the WR's will improve along with JT getting them the ball. The addition of Kevin Wilson is going to cause a devastating ripple effect across college football.

I can't wait.

 

[ScriptOhio]

I can seriously see this offense averaging 50 points per game this season. I have no doubt we'll find a way to replace Samuel and the WR's will improve along with JT getting them the ball. The addition of Kevin Wilson is going to cause a devastating ripple effect across college football.

I can't wait.

I'm thinking that averaging 50 points is a real stretch. I don't care how many points they score just as long as they go 15-0.

Here's the problem with getting a high average score. If you get out in front of the opponent by several scores there is going to be a desire to pull the starters earlier than you normally would in lieu of just trying to run up the score. You want to avoid getting the starters injured and to give the subs meaningful playing time. You want the younger players to get the meaningful game experience to evaluate them in game conditions, reward them for the efforts in practices, and keep their enthusiasm up. Any one of them might very well be the starter in 2018. Keep in mind that they're projecting that several underclassmen starters might be opting for the NFL at the end of the season.

Realistically however, I don't think an average above 35 is impossible. A strong running game is needed to take some pressure off the passing game. I think the key will be if Mike Weber is able to step up his game (i.e. rs-freshman year to rs-sophomore year).

Here's the problem

 

[ShowMeBuck]

Don't care how much JT or the receivers improve. Don't care how much creativity Wilson brings. Everything hinges on the O Line.

 

[greyscarlet]

Don't care how much JT or the receivers improve. Don't care how much creativity Wilson brings. Everything hinges on the O Line.

Part of the problem with the o line came from predictability of the offense and hesitation by jt. If those two things are bad the o line will be bad. All so interrelated. Sort of like saying I don't care if we score points, I don't care if we give up points, just want to win

 

[pnuts34]

I can seriously see this offense averaging 50 points per game this season. I have no doubt we'll find a way to replace Samuel and the WR's will improve along with JT getting them the ball. The addition of Kevin Wilson is going to cause a devastating ripple effect across college football.

I can't wait.

Not again with another year of talk of this offense setting scoring records. We heard that also before the 2015 season. And coming into this year, we have probably more unknowns. Wilson isn't going to solve everything in one off season though every OSU fan thinks so. Small changes will be made and play calling may be less predictable but WRs really need to step up and create some plays, blocking needs to be a lot more consistent against top teams and down right dominant against lesser ones. And JT must be more consistent throwing and not be relied upon to run so much. Samuel leaves a very big hole in this offense. I see an undefeated season(1 loss at most) and hopefully a heavier emphasis on balance

 

[sparcboxbuck]

View attachment 15683
Not again with another year of talk of this offense setting scoring records. We heard that also before the 2015 season. And coming into this year, we have probably more unknowns. Wilson isn't going to solve everything in one off season though every OSU fan thinks so. Small changes will be made and play calling may be less predictable but WRs really need to step up and create some plays, blocking needs to be a lot more consistent against top teams and down right dominant against lesser ones. And JT must be more consistent throwing and not be relied upon to run so much. Samuel leaves a very big hole in this offense. I see an undefeated season(1 loss at most) and hopefully a heavier emphasis on balance

I remain optimistic.

 

[Bestbuck36]

View attachment 15683
Not again with another year of talk of this offense setting scoring records. We heard that also before the 2015 season. And coming into this year, we have probably more unknowns. Wilson isn't going to solve everything in one off season though every OSU fan thinks so. Small changes will be made and play calling may be less predictable but WRs really need to step up and create some plays, blocking needs to be a lot more consistent against top teams and down right dominant against lesser ones. And JT must be more consistent throwing and not be relied upon to run so much. Samuel leaves a very big hole in this offense. I see an undefeated season(1 loss at most) and hopefully a heavier emphasis on balance

I only believe JT will be better than last year, not a world beater but if he is it will be crazy. With the defense, the new approach and the people stepping up, especially tight end, we'll light up the scoreboard like a pinball machine. The depth is the biggest reason they'll improve across the board. I've never seen a Buckeye roster this deep from position to position all around. The 2nd and 3rd string QB's have enough skill to win most games on our schedule, I'm confident of that.