Michael Brantley Looking Good Thus Far
September 8, 2009Clip Show: Looking Back on the Tribe’s AAA Squad – 2009 In Review
September 8, 2009I know that since Jim Tressel led the Buckeyes to a surprise National Championship victory in 2002 it has been almost sacrilege to criticize him. Combine that feat with the gaudy record over Michigan and it is an easy argument that it should be sacrilege to criticize the sweater vest. But even Tressel would admit that everyone, himself included, always has room for improvement. After this week’s near debacle vs. a scrappy Navy team, I think I am justified in voicing some concerns.
In the second quarter the Buckeyes had the lead at 17-7 when Jim Tressel decided it was time to give his backup quarterback some playing time. I recognize the fact that Bauserman drove the Buckeyes to the Navy eight-yard line where Pettrey kicked a field goal to take the score to 20-7. I hope that this won’t come across as Monday Morning Quarterbacking because I was just as perplexed the moment I saw Bauserman’s jersey on my television. Why would Tressel do that?
The backup quarterback is important, I guess, but how important? If Bauserman takes meaningful snaps for the Buckeyes next week against USC would you agree that the Buckeyes are in big trouble? With an early test like USC coming up there was only one purpose during the Navy game. Well, two technically. The Bucks had to first win the game and then do the best they could to get timing and chemistry in a game situation with their starting offense, defense and special teams. Getting some work for your backup quarterback takes place sometime in the second half when the team is up by more than two scores, preferably three.
I won’t criticize Tressel for going for it on 4th and 2. The team didn’t execute and Navy made a play when they had to make a play. Still, I will support Tressel in trying to maintain possession and work on the clock on a 4th and 2 at the Navy 15-yard line. That is a judgement call that didn’t work on this day as Navy bombed an 85-yard touchdown pass on the next play. Certainly you have to expect that the Ohio State defense should be able to keep every Navy pass play in front of them for the entire day. Then again, in college football you always have to expect the unexpected. That is the center of my main issue with Tressel.
Tressel has an insane level of respect for his opponent and the game. Sometimes it feels like he might have a little too much respect. You have to wonder if the team feels him subconsciously pull his foot off the gas when he goes to Joe Bauserman in the second quarter. I am not trying to change Jim Tressel into the next Urban Meyer who is going to go out and beat teams by 50 points per game. Then again, if you truly respected your opponent and their abilities, wouldn’t you want to amass a four-touchdown lead before you call off the dogs?
This is college football. You need to go undefeated. We all know this and most of us wouldn’t put anything to chance. Makes you wonder why Tressel would.
40 Comments
Well said Craig. I agree with you 100%. Even with the 4th and 2. The only thing I question is the play call. I mean on 3rd and 2 you ran the same play with the same result, what made him think it would work when there were 9 in the box.
I too was confused when Bauserman went in. Unless it’s a ploy to show top recruits that they too would get snaps if they play behind TP, I want nothing to do with it.
Disagree completely with the 4th and 2. 17 points is the magic number there, thus ending the game.
*2002 National Champions
Tressel is a decent game manager in the grand scheme of things. Ohio State’s problem is twofold in my opinion: 1) Bollman and Tressel are a decade behind the curve in terms of their offensive scheme, and 2) they insist on playing lesser talents like the Bryant Brownings and Austin Spitlers of the world ahead 5 star talents like Etienne Sabino and JB Shugarts.
As long as Tress & Co. continually refuse to run an offense that centers on Pryor making plays, OSU will never enter that top tier. They will never beat USC or Penn State. Get interested. Show me some wildcat. Can anyone find me the Pat White playbook? White was given the ball and a few simple sets and made that team top 5 material. The Bucks are not currently top 5 material.
I hope to God they were just keeping their new offense in the bag until next week; because if the Bucks run the offense they did against USC, we can expect another nationally televised embarrassment.
The 4th and two on it’s own isn’t a huge deal if you look at it as one play.
But in the context of that series, they got stuffed on 3rd and 2, then went for it on 4th and 2. Not too wise.
Granted, the same play worked later when running out the clock at the end of the 4th, but I really think they should have taken the points. Impossible to say though, being that I’m looking back at it.
Either way – he needs to worry less about breaking hearts of other teams and more about keeping the pedal to the metal. These are big kids, they can handle a big loss.
Agreed with the last point Denny. Tressel has always worried a little to much about running up the score, and this time it came very close to biting him. I don’t think we learned anything about the defense, this week other than they get confused by the triple option. We did, however, learn a lot about the offense. The offensive line on average outweighed Navy’s D-Line by about 50 pounds but still got beat time and time again. The line has been a disaster the last two years, and if the Navy game was any indication, we may be well on our way to another disastrous year for the big guys up front.
@#8: Well put. The line didn’t look any better from my seats in C-deck either.
Tressel has gone conservative ever since that 2002 title game, and it’s beyond frustrating. Time and again in the games that have mattered since then (save for the 1 vs 2 game against the school up north) the team has showed up with vanilla playcalling and shrunk at the first sign of fight from the other team. The team seizes up in the face of adversity rather than fighting through it, and that to me reflects on the coaching staff, from Tress on down the line. As fun as it is to dominate the rivalry, it’s the spineless playcalling and apparent lack of real leadership that is giving the Buckeyes a bad name everywhere outside of their home state. I think Tress is a good college coach and a great judge of talent, but he needs to man up, quit worrying about hurting feelings, and get a fire lit under this team when it matters. If he can’t change and go back to being the guy who led that last title team, maybe he’s not the guy to be in charge anymore.
I think it’s unfair to say Tressel has gone conservative since the title game in 2002. He actually was very conservative in that game, but he had a defensive line that dominated Miami’s offensive line. He wasn’t conservative in 2006. The problem is that they either cannot recruit or develop a dominating offensive line. It makes no sense to me that OSU doesn’t have an excellent line every year, given their recruiting advantages.
This past weekend has made me more uneasy going into this weekend, thats for sure. Hopefully Tressel will see how this can come back to bite you in a$$ when you don’t finish off a team. I don’t want to see him go Urban Meyer and beat Navy by 75, I would just like a substanial enough lead that would be enough to warrant Bauserman some player time. 10-points is not enough to pull your starters at any level.
I don’t understand Tressel’s stigma with running up a score (yes I know the class act argument), but no one else is afraid of it in college football. And in a situation where the human votes count for the polls, its not just that you win, but how you win, you need to win big (especially against lesser programs).
@#5, I disagree on your second point, I think the coaching staff has a handle on who is and isn’t ready for the game situations, yes we have some highly rated young talent but that doesn’t mean they’re going to out perform 3rd and 4th year guys. When it comes to who should start I’ll take the coach’s choice over rivals.com.
Should Ohio State suffer another 35-3 type thrashing Saturday night, I think ALL Buckeye fans will officially begin to wonder whether Tressel can still get it done or not. And it will be totally justified. We simply have too much talent to keep losing these big games.
im still angry @ Tressel for getting visually upset on the sidelines after we scored against Northwestern last year. it’s not running up the score, its winning. i like my presidents to be conservative, not my football coaches!
@ #6 – Could it be possible at all that Tressel wanted to see what he had in Bauserman in order to play some wildcat with Pryor? Or is that totally implausible?
@ Chris M – fairly implausible. I know they went to that look last year in the Fiestada Bowl, but I doubt it. Wildcat makes me want to vomit.
Denny, NEVER use the words Fiestada and vomit within one line of one another. They are delicious and deserve better.
To everyone –
FYI – the “taking the foot off the gas pedal” issue may not be Tressel’s ability entirely. Navy plays the kind of football that makes you execute very well all game long. They eat up clock (and therefore extra possessions) by gaining 3, 4, and 5 yards per play all the way down the field. Their patience and discipline is what keeps them in games where talent and size are imbalanced. But I guess you already know that.
@13, I disagree with you. I KNOW that Bryant Browning and Austin Spitler don’t belong on the field with USC. They just don’t possess the god given ability to match up against the elite athletes on the other side of the field. No matter how smart they play, over four quarters, they can’t compete.
Now, take guys like Sabino and Shugarts. They’re as big, fast, and strong as the guys in the Trojan helmates. They may be inexperienced but at the very least, they’re capable of running with USC’s horses. I’d rather take my chances with those guys coming of age on a big stage than with more local project guys or smart veterans that are invariably going to get waxed by top-flight opponents because they just can’t match up.
You can mock the scouts and rivals of the world all you want, and yes, I know that for every Reggie Bush, there’s a James Laurinaitis, but on the whole, if you look at the guys that are starting for the Floridas and USCs of the world, they’re predominately guys who were so obviously talented that they were identified as being elite all the way back to high school. On most days, those are the guys that are going to win big football games. There are exceptions, but your best chances are generally with your best athletes.
@ Matt C – they’re so delicious, I want to taste them twice.
@ biff – I’m going to use the word “helmates” at least once a day in conversation. Thanks so, so, so much.
I can understand the gag reflex re: the Wildcat. Still, could we not see some direct snaps? Can we not have some more play action plays designed solely for Pryor to run around the weak side (see Pryor’s TD score). They TOTALLY AND DISGUSTINGLY under use his speed. He’s faster than White was, yes? Faster than Young was, yes? Nearly as quick as Vick? Can we see a couple direct snaps? Can we see a back cross his path for QB option?
Granted, after that quote, who can trust his decision-making ability.
Honestly though, our offense is designed to make Pryor a pass-first QB. If we’ve learned anything from Tebow and Young it’s this: if you’re QB can run, you let him run – thereby making the secondary bite. Let the kid dominate with his athleticism; it’s college, not the NFL. When you’re a pure athlete, you can dominate. He’s never going to be Bradford, Stafford, or McCoy. He just isn’t.
PRYOR SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST A SMATTERING OF PLAYS DESIGNED FOR HIM TO RUN ON EACH DRIVE. HIS LEGS SHOULD NOT BE USED SOLELY AS ESCAPE PODS – HE IS NOT BEN ROETHLISBERGER. They should be used to give shape and dynamism to our play-calling, forcing those over-zealous Trojan linebackers to bite and leaving the secondary vulnerable. THIS OFFENSE IS STALE AND GROSSLY UNDER-UTILIZES HIS ABILITY (Reiteration = Venting)
@ Rob – I agree that they should take advantage of his athleticism. But if you look at the past, Troy Smith was quite mobile for a QB and never had many designed plays to run (aside from the platoon system his soph. year where he nearly always ran). He just made the most of the scrambling chances. His senior year he didn’t run much at all and was mainly pocket passer (albeit one that could run). Tebow’s runs were mainly bull-rush type runs. He’s a fullback and has a heck of an arm. Also, McCoy has quietly become quite a rusher – much like Tebow (he’s a big kid too).
I know that we all want to see it happen – the problem is until TP develops his arm more we’re not going to see it happen. That’s the reality of a Tressel offense. The problem with the designed run plays in my opinion is they’re always called at obvious times, which doesn’t bode well for actually gaining yardage – at least that’s what I’ve traditionally seen from Tressel offenses. I do like the fact that they had a series where they went no-huddle option. That excites me a lot. I’d love to see that at the very least installed and taken advantage of.
And technically, he gets direct snaps every play.
@ Denny – Haha, truth on the direct snaps. In the midst of this frustration and my other work here my sports vocabulary went out the window. I am inclined to share your excitement re: the no-huddle. I think that could be a nice wrinkle. I was also wondering if anyone would call me out on throwing McCoy in there.
As far as the predictability factor, I guess that is where the heart of my frustration lies. It shouldn’t be obvious. There should a package or two that is more dynamic, giving Pryor more freedom in the offense. I obviously don’t want to see those sicking situations in which all 100k+ at the Shoe and the millions viewing (and those who don’t are clued in by the commentators) know what’s coming. It was far more beneficial to get Troy’s arm going than for Pryor’s because of the difference in receiving corps. Troy had a lot more going for him. The deep threat was always there, stretching defenses. We don’t have the same kind of speed, size, or playmaking ability on the outside this season (any foreseeable improvements – Carter has potential).
More simply, if the Bucks really hope to go undefeated, or at least meet PSU undefeated, then they need to abandon this dedication to developing Pryor’s arm. There is no time. The timing and chemistry was nowhere close. And I don’t think a week does it. Solution? Make timing, tightness, and accuracy less an issue for Terelle by allowing him to run more.
And, c’mon, 4th and 2 and you don’t give Pryor the ball? Is it even possible to stop him for less than two yards if you have a receiver running the flat right in front of him and a running back opening up? Those three easy options make for simpler execution than people think. What is the fear of that kind of action? No one pounds the ball anymore. Until we wake up, spread it out, and get athletic with it, we will never beat these top tier teams. And right now, we have a player than can, much like White, be an offense unto himself. We must let him.
And sure, we don’ t know how good exactly Navy is. But look at it this way – the blame falls on the coaching staff and our game plan because OSU has AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT CLASS OF ATHLETE. The only thing stopping them is a game plan that does nothing to capitalize on their unique abilities.
if you’re going to go 4-2 it isn’t going to be Noah off tackle. Beanie maybe. A simple QB draw or rollout would have done the trick. Either way I don’t run the play without pryor being a bigger part of it….
I don’t think Tressel owes me anything. He took a dysfuntional program that went 0-11-1 against Michigan that had serious program problems to what we have today. I won’t ever be able to thank him enough. If you don’t think so go ask the people in Michigan.
That doesn’t mean he isn’t above critisium…but I really don’t think he owes us a thing.
I’m glad Tressel doesn’t run up the score on teams, he doesn’t need too. If OSU goes undefeated, they will play for a national championship. It’s the same with Florida and all those other SEC teams, yet for some reason they feel the need to do it – drives me crazy. I don’t mind when teams like Boise State do it because they NEED TO beats teams by 50 pts to get BCS respect. I’m glad he shows class and other programs appreciate it too.
Lots of people are upset by the playcalling of Tress and I can see their point. And I totally agree that putting in the backup QB was HIGHLY questionable. But that wasn’t the most glaring problem in my opinion against NAVY. If you are going to play a quasi-NFL style game and not one of these gimmicky 8 receiver spread offenses, you HAVE TO CONTROL THE LINES OF SCRIMMAGE. OSU didn’t do that at all – and so they almost lost.
If they can’t control the lines against USC, they are going to get dominated.
This USC team has much more team speed than last year’s version. There is no question about Pryor’s athletic ability, but as a run first quarterback, he is going to find it difficult getting outside the defensive ends and linebackers. Add the amazing offensive line and slew of running backs the Trojans feature and the only thing that will keep USC from running up the score will be the fact that their running game will use up so much of the clock. It really doesn’t matter who plays quarterback for USC. They are going to ram the ball down the Buckeye’s throats.
Final score USC 24 OSU 10
I used to be a big Ohio State football fan. But for the past couple years I haven’t been able to stand Jim Tressel or the product he puts on the field. I have been asking for his job for a few years now. He just seems unable to play from behind (Nat Champ games and every other big game) and he doesn’t make the changes necessary during the game to be competitive in the second half of aforementioned games. For being such an ‘inspirational talent’ it seems like his teams come out flat after half. He’s a great guy and all; maybe he should start a book club like Oprah. He’s a good inspiration on how to live your life and he acts like a gentleman on and off the field. But I don’t think coaching is his calling. I’m not entirely sure how the whole recruiting season goes. But, if it’s permitted, maybe Tressel hangs up the headset, picks up a blazer and takes a job as an Athletic Director. If he is still allowed to recruit that would be the ideal position for him. He would also be able to impact the lives of non-football athletes. I’m not sure if A.D’s can or do recruit, but if they’re allowed OSU could promote him and go out and get a coach who is willing to do whatever is needed to win some football games…..
I’ve been giving that A.D. idea to my family and friends who are OSU fans and every time I do; they tell me I’m crazy. They swear that he’s a good coach. He may well be a good coach. But OSU football needs a Great coach to hope to win a National Championship game anytime soon. The college game is in a transition period and he is way behind in the progression.
Fiestada?
this writer is a complete moron for writing this article and obviously doesnt pay attention to any interviews or articles of the team. putting bauserman into the game sometime in the second quarter (regardless of score) for a series has been planned and stated by tressel for two weeks. hey blogger guy, pay attention and read some articles like real fan instead of just blowing smoke up everyones asssses with your criticle b.s. blogs!
LOL @ Criticle.
Is it possible that Craig was taking issue with the plan to put Bauserman in before garbage time? It’s OK to have a plan, but sticking to it was pretty disruptive for the offense.
Hey commenter guy, try spelling correctly like a real educated person and not sounding like a total doucccccccccche with your criticle b.s. comments!
I’m all for good sportsmanship but you don’t send in the Marines with rubber bullets and tasers. I heard one Marine say “Ya Kill’em, Ya Kill’em and Ya Kill’em again. Personally I like the Florida mentality of score early and often then you don’t have to worry about a comeback and your offense takes a huge burden off the defense. When I look at JT I see John Cooper. Alway able to bring great talent down to his level and Jim Bollman needs to go.
Apparently JE FORD comes from the Kellen Winslow Jr school of football thought.
#34 My thought on football is the same as my thought of life, you don’t succeed without a good plan and you don’t follow a good plan without good execution using the best materials. Like in snow country don’t plan to drive on ice without the chains.
[…] contest that will go down this Saturday night, a lot of the talk this week continues to be about Jim Tressel and the questionable decisions that went down this past […]
JE FORD makes sense. Another thing, if Florida, Texas and Ohio State are all undefeated at the end of the year.. guess who’s playing for the National Championship? The teams that roll over all of it’s opponents.. Not the team that barely slips out of an upset every week.
If you’ve ever actually watched a Tressel news conference, he always says he wants the 2nd QB to get MEANINGFUL experience. No pressure and handing off to the RB is not meaningful experience. And with how much TP runs, there’s a higher chance he could get hurt. Just look at OK, the 2nd QB wasn’t ready to step in. That’s why Tressel is the coach and you’re just typing bla bla bla.
OSU’s biggest problem in the last few years has been and still is their offensive line–overhyped, underperforming.
It’s a stupid plan to put in a backup qb at any stage of a “non-blowout” game, let alone in the 2nd qtr.
The decision to go on 4 & 2 is mind boggling…kick the chip shot FG, go up 18 pts (3 scores) with 6 minutes to go = ballgame. Ridiculous.
Until they prove otherwise in a game against the big boys, OSU is what the rest of the nation/media think they are = overrated.
#39 is right on the money, 1st game of the season your not sure of the OLines capability against the different schemes coming at you and you just failed to get the same yardage on the previous play with the same play where your guys just got stuffed, go for the 3 points thats why you get the big bucks. As for putting in your backup QB so early in the game Pryor and his OLine are still working on a rhythm for their game play. Its always better to wait for the starter to be comfortable with his offense before inserting the backup.