How Ohio State's Offense Set the Game of Football Back a Century
by Jonathan Franz on Oct 2, 2011 12:47 AM CDT
in Ohio State
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The 1906 college football season saw the introduction of the forward pass. In the some 100 seasons since, a number of teams have struggled to integrate this new-fanged dimension into their offensive attack. To be sure Ohio State's anemic performance Saturday (143 yards passing) falls well short of the statistical low water mark. But if you're anything like me -- unfortunate enough to witness four quarters of Jim Bollman's prehistorically pathetic offense -- you can't help but feel like you were just transported back to the nineteenth century.
Okay, I'm being melodramatic, but let's face it. Out of the 120 some odd offenses in college football, 75 could have won today's game -- a game in which a visiting opponent scored just a single touchdown in over three quarters of play. Buoyed by the home crowd, and a tough-as-nails defensive effort, all but the most impotent cellar dwellers could have shown some semblance of a pulse and put together one drive. One lousy freaking drive.
But we couldn't do that. At least not until the final seconds. Why? Because we have one of the worst offenses in college football. I'm not talking about statistics. I'm talking about the look test. And God help us, we look awful.
To be sure, Michigan State boasts a terrific defense, and guys like Jerel Worthy and William Gholston deserve a ton of credit for shaking our confidence -- for suffocating the small embryo that is our offensive identity. But at the end of the day, the buck stops here, and responsibility begins and ends with Mr. Bollman.
Of course I'm biased. I've never liked Bollman. But not because he can't call plays, because he can't develop a consistent offensive line. That -- not the reluctant play of a freshman quarterback or the inability of young wideouts to get open -- is what killed Ohio State's offensive mojo Saturday. it's not a lack of talent -- the Buckeyes have one of the best centers in the country in Michael Brewster and the kind of size and speed up front that coaches like Oregon's Chip Kelly dream about. It's a lack of leadership.
That lack of leadership was counteracted in the Tressel era by a host of veteran play-makers. Now, it's up to the freshman to improvise.
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OK, I know Sparty's offense looked anemic
But that defense was pretty badass…. at least, all the plays I saw as I flipped back and forth from the Tigers game (ugh).
And that flying sack was AWESOME.
"I believe in a good kick in the ass. This— I believe. " -- Walker Percy
I tweet about stuff sometimes @jackhitts.
Scratch that, we were watching the Cardinals first and flipping back and forth. Maybe it’s for the best that I missed most of it though.
"I believe in a good kick in the ass. This— I believe. " -- Walker Percy
I tweet about stuff sometimes @jackhitts.
I don't know if that's a product of Ohio State being epically awful, or MSU playing extremely well.
My vote goes for a mix of the two, with MSU’s D having an outstanding day.
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by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Oct 2, 2011 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions
blah blah blah
I really wish Minnesota played you guys this year so you’d see what a horrible offense looks like and stop complaining about OSU finally falling back to earth as a middle-of-the-pack B1G team. To me, this article reads like complaining to a homeless man about how much it sucks to settle for Subway at lunch and being forced to drink PBR every night. OSU has had a hell of a run over the past 10+ years and my guess is that you haven’t seen what one of the worst offenses in college football truly is, if you really think OSU is one of the worst in college football
When we get the Pig, the Jug and the Axe, we'll have one hell of a picnic
by Marshmoose on Oct 2, 2011 1:13 AM CDT reply actions 12 recs
I think you beat Nebraska
if you brawl with them in the trenches and hold on to the ball. They don’t like to wrap up, they don’t seem comfortable with contact, they have an unreliable passing game (far easier to defend than MSU’s), which will allow you to zero in on the option game and potentially shut them down. Of course, you need to score somehow, but I can’t imagine a worse showing than yesterday. Or can I?
"I wish you luck with a capital 'F'" - The Real Elvis.
i think you nailed the problem
when you said we need to score somehow. after watching our offense yesterday i’m not even worried about nebraska, i’m just trying to convince myself we’ll be bowl eligible.
Show them Ohio's here.
by slidingscrapes on Oct 2, 2011 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions
Oh, good lord.
The Big Ten is awful this year. OSU might not compete for the league crown but I think it’s a bit premature to start canceling bowl plans.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Oct 2, 2011 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions
i don't think i'm overreacting.
where do the wins come from? we need 3 more. we don’t get to play minnesota. starting with next week, nebraska’s defense doesn’t look good but they certainly know how to blitz every down, which is enough to keep yesterday’s offense in check. wisconsin will eat us alive, along with everyone else they play. illinois certainly looks better than we do to this point. if it were just up to the offenses, we’d probably go into overtime with penn state tied 0-0, so it comes down to how many points each team gets from defense and special teams—winnable but not one to count on. we can count on indiana for a win, and probably (maybe? hopefully?) purdue as well. beating michigan will be strength-versus-strength (our D against their O) and weakness-versus-weakness (our O against their D), and even though we’ve been here before with the “michigan is back!” meme, it’s not a stretch to think hoke will have them more prepared for this game than they’ve been since 2006, and playing in ann arbor will give them an extra edge. 7 wins suddenly seems to be the ceiling for this team, and 5 wins doesn’t seem out of the picture.
Show them Ohio's here.
by slidingscrapes on Oct 2, 2011 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions
OSU, the USC of the Big Ten
“you mean we WONT win the title? then fuck this game!”
"Your spelling and grammar errors belie a seriously skilled thought process"- therealCatnuts
by justsomehawkeyefan on Oct 2, 2011 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions 6 recs
look, i'm not jumping ship
i’m just saying we are a terrible team that doesn’t seem to have any identity or plan for getting one, and the rest of this season is going to hurt.
Show them Ohio's here.
by slidingscrapes on Oct 2, 2011 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions
That's a pretty terrible comparison.
"Many people need desperately to receive this message: 'I feel and think much as you do, care about many of the things you care about, although most people do not care about them. You are not alone.'"
by U-God on Oct 4, 2011 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Check out winning percentages
Shocking that you would disagree with me! The grumpy, too smart for the rest of us routine is not surprising.
How far back would you like to check these winning percentages?
All time? Iowa: .532. Kansas: .489. Fairly different, no?
Perhaps we should go back and just look at the past decade you say?
Starting in 2001, Kansas finished the season with a record above .500 a whopping three times. Three. They finished .500 once, went to four bowl games, and had 5 seasons with 5 or fewer wins.
In that same time frame, Iowa has had a losing record at the end of the season once. They have been to nine bowl games, only missing out on the 6-6 season that was 2007. They have won more bowl games (6) than Kansas has been to.
It shouldn’t be shocking that I disagree with you. I actually use facts to back up arguments.
"Many people need desperately to receive this message: 'I feel and think much as you do, care about many of the things you care about, although most people do not care about them. You are not alone.'"
Well, going into last night's game
I thought after NU got past Bucky – win or lose – NU would just roll over OSU and MSU because of their lack of offense this season.
That is obviously not the case anymore.
by Fake Pelini on Oct 2, 2011 8:54 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
When that game ended
I didn’t know whether or not it was a credit to OSU that as awful as they played, they were one onside kick (that they almost, and should have, recovered) and one hail mary away from winning, or that it was a knock on MSU that they didn’t win that game by at least 28. Maybe both.
GO IOWA AWESOME, now and forever
Except Saturday
Beat Iowa
Bad day from Cousins
MSU should have had at a minimum 6 more points, and if he makes a couple easy throws a touchdown or two.
Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude
Except this isn't the first time Cousins has shown terrible judgement in hostile environments.
He has a Cutler-esque tendency to let his brain overwhelm his instincts in high-pressure situations.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Oct 2, 2011 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
you all don't seem to understand
OSU has no offense. And the coaches have no idea how to use either of the quarterbacks. They don’t roll Miller out, which would help exponentially. They don’t diagram screen passes or short crosses or sit down routes for Bauserman, which are probably throws he could vaguely sort of make.
Want to beat Osu this year? Stack the box and blitz every down. The buckeye coaches have no answer to that.
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by Graham Filler on Oct 2, 2011 9:50 AM CDT via iPhone app reply actions
I expect OSU to improve and I expect them to
become a more simple offense that is patient with the running game. Yes, they need to develop a screen game and they need to boot more. But, they have a defense that can win them games.
"I wish you luck with a capital 'F'" - The Real Elvis.
Truer words never spoken
Put Bauserman in the gun and have him run an option. Put Miller under center in the I and play-action fake on 3rd and 10+.
The entire offensive scheme is terrible.
by RedQueenRace on Oct 2, 2011 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions
Karma's a nasty bitch, ain't she??
To witness the pathetic sobbing of Bucknuts and to hear the lamentations of their overfed women is delicious!
Build your success on a foundation of fraud and the results when exposed will be eye-opening for all.
(I know, I know . . . *#$% Michigan. I know)
by Maize&BlueShoe on Oct 2, 2011 10:07 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
.
I’m crushed, and very humbled as a fan by last night’s terrible showing by the Nebraska. But I’m really glad OSU lost (its the only B1G team I really dislike, for personal reasons,) and can find solace in that they just look like a bad really team too.
by Fake Pelini on Oct 2, 2011 10:57 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
They looked like a really bad team
who will be coached by the Pelini’s next season.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Oct 2, 2011 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions
PSU v. OSU is going to be ugly.
Do we have another 6-4 coming up?
4-2 overtime "thriller"
Yes, a safety to win in OT. I call it now.
Both offenses could put up 30 on Northwestern if they keep trying a three man front on D.
Well, the over/under will be two
but I’m taking the under
"I'm crazy? Cyril, you're the one who killed a perfectly good hooker!"--Sterling Archer
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Seems like WRs have no interest in helping
their pathetic QB’s. Which I can understand but I still have too many memories of OSU wideouts being B1G beaters that I look at that group first. Then OC. Then OL. Then QBs.
"GO HAWKS!" - only cure for Hawkeye Envy
Probably sleeping that off in Madison
or it’s still going on
"GO HAWKS!" - only cure for Hawkeye Envy
by BentNotBroken on Oct 2, 2011 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions
Long line in the detox unit?
When we get the Pig, the Jug and the Axe, we'll have one hell of a picnic
Wisconites know not of any such unit
their solution: eat more cheese
"GO HAWKS!" - only cure for Hawkeye Envy
by BentNotBroken on Oct 2, 2011 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions
Oh yeah they do
Seen it with my two eyes. I believe they call it their “Alumni Center”
When we get the Pig, the Jug and the Axe, we'll have one hell of a picnic
by Marshmoose on Oct 3, 2011 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
As long as you can play tackle football, you're still relevant in the Big Ten
I absolutely detest OSU, but they still play tackle football. Anyone who sleeps on them deserves their fate. I also think they are the kind of team that will gas some teams who play them, so badly, they lose the next game from the hangover.
BTW, if Iowa takes care of Michigan and Michigan State at home this year, I think they are in Indy.
"I wish you luck with a capital 'F'" - The Real Elvis.
Iowa in Indy
How will Iowa get to Indy with losses to both NUs in the conference? :)
Ahhh jNW's fanbase
always looking to that next spoil. Something to be said for consistency.
"GO HAWKS!" - only cure for Hawkeye Envy
by BentNotBroken on Oct 2, 2011 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions
After Saturday, it feels like that's all we got
Although technically that’s not the case.
Yikes. Yeah that was a huge let down. 18 point lead?!?
"GO HAWKS!" - only cure for Hawkeye Envy
by BentNotBroken on Oct 2, 2011 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Two NU's?
Oh, you were talking about UN-L.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Oct 2, 2011 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions 4 recs
Watching Nebraska secondary run into each other last night
made me pretty confident that Jimmy V will be able to have a field day in Lincoln.
Watching the Cubs piss it away for 31 years.
by CarolinaHawk on Oct 2, 2011 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions
And he's been dead from cancer for over a decade...
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Oct 2, 2011 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions
he is a realllly good coach
"Your spelling and grammar errors belie a seriously skilled thought process"- therealCatnuts
by justsomehawkeyefan on Oct 2, 2011 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions
OSU vs Nebby
im hoping for a double loss personally
"Your spelling and grammar errors belie a seriously skilled thought process"- therealCatnuts
by justsomehawkeyefan on Oct 2, 2011 11:54 AM CDT reply actions
I think I saw the worst offense in the Big Ten yesterday
in Ann Arbor. I know Gray was out and McKnight got hurt, but wow, was that bad.
Ah, EDSBS...
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog, and Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog
#FireCraigJames
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by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Oct 2, 2011 1:12 PM CDT reply actions
people are forgetting that OSU is going to get the 5 players back.
that will them more stability in their offense.
er, 4
Pryor isnt coming back.
besides, that sure sounds like Nebraska’s argument going into the Wisconsin game. just switch defense with offense and you have “But, but, we are getting a couple of players back, so we will totally have a better offense!”
"Your spelling and grammar errors belie a seriously skilled thought process"- therealCatnuts
by justsomehawkeyefan on Oct 2, 2011 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't think Posey is going to help so much that Bauserman suddenly completes 60% of his passes
The best WR on that team a year ago was Sanzenbacher; he could catch almost anything that Pryor threw his way. And no Sanzenbacher is on the Chicago Bears, Posey is suspended, and Ohio State is 3-2 through 5 games with much tougher competition ahead. An angry Nebraska team in Lincoln, a Wisconsin team that has almost always managed to stay tough with Ohio State for 4 quarters in Columbus…it’s not looking pretty.
I don’t know if 2011 Ohio State’s goal is to look more hapless than 2008 Wisconsin, but 3-4 after 7 games would not surprise me.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog, and Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog
#FireCraigJames
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by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Oct 2, 2011 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions
It's going to feel weird to root for Wisconsin and Ohio State
in back to back weeks. That being said, I thoroughly expect Nebraska to beat the daylights out of Ohio State.
And I’ll enjoy it. Immensely.
Watching the Cubs piss it away for 31 years.
Living In central IA I will always want UN-L to lose, bowl/noncon games aside.
"GO HAWKS!" - only cure for Hawkeye Envy
by BentNotBroken on Oct 2, 2011 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions
I will repeat this from ATO (I know you guys hate the place, so be it) …
1. If Fickell has given complete control to Bollman, including calling timeouts at the end of halves/games, he is in way too deep. He will not be back as head coach next year. Addendum to this, if Bollman is fully in charge of the offense (and I think he is) he needs to be let go. I wish it was now, but it won’t be until the end of the season.
2. There is absolutely no reason not to call a timeout just before halftime to throw a hail mary towards the end zone. I know Miller just got sacked on the play before, but why just waltz into the locker room with a TO on the board and a QB who can throw the ball 60 yards? Absoultely terrrible decision.
3. Another nail in Bollman’s corner …. the entire second half, Mich St was jumping the snap, leading to many plays where the OL was helpless as Worthy and Gholston jumped them for TFLs in the backfield. I can understand it happening once, maybe twice … but for crying out loud Bollman, tell the kid to change the snap count and get a few free 5 yard penalties.
4. Hey, one more nail in Bollman’s coffin. If you are going to sub in Bauserfail, STOP calling draw plays!!! Bausefail cannot run and is a sitting duck in the pocket, making him run draws is terrible. If you feel the need to bench Miller (and it was probably warranted), bring in Guiton instead. He is more of a runner than Bauserfail and would at least be able to run similar plays (probably poorly, but he might, just might have a fighting chance).
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