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Bitching about the 2004 Season

I think some of you arent' seeing the real problems..

:osu:

I think some of us aren't seeing the real problems with the Ohio State football team. For the past 3 weeks I've heard numerous complaints on this website and a few others about Zwick, Zwick, and Zwick and occasionally Lydell Ross. Yes Zwick isn't lighting it up with the passing stats. His numbers and performance isn't what the Buckeye nation expected from the all-world recruit from Massilon. Even I thought he'd be a better QB as a senior in high school than Bellisari was his senior year at OSU. Yes Lydell Ross isn't running the ball like an OSU back is expected to. His two fundamental problems are lack of speed and vision. But at the same time Antionio Pittman who does have good speed and vision isn't tearing it up either. Even the powerhouse Branden Joe can't eek out any yards on the ground.

I see that our biggest problems are up front on the OFFENSIVE LINE. Zwick can't complete passes because he has no time to throw. Even on 3 step drops he can't find recievers because he has a defensive lineman in his face almost immediately. And all of you Smith backers have to admit that even he didn't have time to hit an open reciever or release the ball. Smith had to hit the RB on the swing pass most of the time b/c he had no time to look downfield. If you look at defensive stats under QB be pressure its divided into Sacks, Hurries and knockdowns. I'd like to see the sacks, hurries and knockdowns Zwick has had this year. I really don't care who you put back at QB ... no one could succeed or survive. You could put Leinart, Jason White, Kyle Orton, or Drew Tate behind our O-Line and they couldn't get the job done either. The line looks like this as far as size goes- 295, 290, 303, 290, 310. So they do have size and they're not fat and pudgy. So whats the problem?
Ross, Pittman, Hall, and Joe don't have a chance back there at finding holes because there are none. I read a story in the Springfield New-Sun today that stated the OSU coaches in the press box were repeatedly heard saying "WE CAN'T RUN THE BALL" Yes opposing defenses are putting 8, 9, 10 guys in the box b/c they know if OSU drops back to pass they can't handle the rush for more than 2 seconds and if OSU is gonna run they know they'll have every hole plugged up. Its almost too easy for the opposing defense. I know there isn't a quick fix for the time being, but what is this offense gonna be able to do to stop the bleeding?

Other problems I see that I won't elaborate on right now:
1. Defensive line
2. Defensive secondary
3. Punter
 
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O-Line, D-Line, & punter....

Blaming the secondary, although they have had mistakes, is like blaming Zwick or Ross. If the guys up front aren't getting it done, the DBs are left hanging.

Its all one big chain reaction this year...
 
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The bottom line have we had issue with secondary coverage, wide receiver routes, running back running the wrong way --- YES but the main problem is we are getting our asses beat in the trenches. Our DLine is not taking over games and our OLine could not push around my 4 year olds soccer team.

Old adage - You must win the battle of the trenches...
 
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Jim Tressel while at YSU had a guy named John Klacik as his offensive Co-Ordinator. He is still there. His offensive strategy has never changed. He brought this strategy to Ohio State. He always played it close to the Vest even while at YSU. He never developed a "Blow-Out theory" like the buckeye fans in Columbus would like to see. Youngstown had two bad seasons in 95 and 96 but in 1997 they came back for thier 4th N/C in 1-aa. Tressel is a very hard person to understand and his calm demeanor is one thing that people in Columbus are now questioning. But he always said that he would only leave YSU, if he was offered the job at Ohio State. They called him and he accepted. While at Youngstown we all accepted his way of thinking but I am fearfull that Columbus will not buy it and run him out on a rail if he does not change. Plain and simple at that.

One more thing that i forgot to add. Bob Tucker is the Director of Football Operations at Ohio State. He was also the defensive Co-Ordinator at Ohio State for Earle in the 80's. Jim Tressel was the QB coach for Ohio State back in the 80's also for Earle Bruce. When Tressel was awarded the Job at YSU he asked Bob Tucker to come with him. Bob Tucker served many coaching positions while at YSU for Jim Tressel. He was the D/C for YSU when they won thier last 1-AA in 97.
Bob Tucker has been with Tressel ever since. He is Jim Tressels right hand man. Bob Tucker knows alot about Ohio State football. Jim Tressel relys on him with deep regard.
 
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Yes there are "some" people complaining about the O-line, but the majority wants to blame Zwick.

Tressel said it also.... "When you don't run the football well, it affects everything. " " It affects the defense. It affects the offense obviously. And it affects the passing game."
 
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OSU now 111 in offense out of 117 teams! Question:

Who are the six teams that are WORSE than OSU's offense?

Think about how hard it must be to be a fan of them next time you think we have it so bad.

SARCASM is in effect!!:smash:

If you don't laugh, you'll cry!!
 
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LightningRod

I've read on the Ozone where Bobby Carpenter said that the problems aren't with the coaches or the scheme, but with the character and attitude of some players who aren't going all-out all of the time and maybe voicing their opinions when they aren't needed. I think some people on this team have been spoiled the past couple of years because the leaders in the 02, 03 classes led this team to so many victories and now they think these wins will just happen or come easily. Every game is a dogfight and until some players realize they have to give it thier all like every game is mich, then this team will continue to falter.

Come on Bucks! You've had 3 wake-up calls in a row. Wake up and start playing like CHAMPIONS!
 
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Here's the biggest problem I have observed. OSU is 3-0, and a certain QB decides to cry to th epress that he isn't being treated fairly. Now OSU is 3-3 with no end in sight. IMO fixes first need to be made in the locker room.

I see where you are going... I think the bigger issue about a divided locker room is that we're hacking on the Defense... but the reality is that, if we take the last game... The Defense had given up only 10 points in the first half... the offense had put together one drive... that ended in a pick... and then they come out in the second half... and instead of putting points on teh board...we gave them the ball with a short field.

I know that as an OSU defensive player, that kind of thing comes with the territory... but how many times can they answer the bell with the O giving no help.?

Also... any divisiveness over the QB issue... be it in the locker room... or based on players comments stems from the same kind of frustrations that we've had on here... they just want to do better... I think at least now they know that Troy isn't the answer... even if they suspected it before.
 
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I would agree that there are probably some huge underlying team chemistry/attitude problems but that all gets back to my main concern.

These were Tressel recruits all hand picked, according to the coach speak we here in recruiting, for their talent, versatility and charachter. This is his first all JT team and it looks to be short in all 3 categories.

Thinking that JT and his system could be a fundamental problem would have never entered my mind 3 weeks ago, but seeing this team regress instead of improve (and to the degree we have seen) has just shaken my belief to the core.
 
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