What To Work On: 2010 Offseason Edition
January 9, 2010
As I watch the final quarter of the Rose Bowl, courtesy of the Big Ten Network replay, I’m already looking forward to next season. This team has a lot of potential and I can’t wait to see what they do!
There’s always work to be done and improvements to be made. As such, here are some things I’m keeping my eye on.
1. Special Teams. Special Teams. Special Teams.
Tress puts so much emphasis on special teams play. Coverage, returning, punting, kicking, & the whole she-bang. It’s a key part to Tressel-ball and it was pretty terrible this season by Tressel standards. I excuse the return game of the Rose Bowl due to the absence of Ray Small. And being that Smally is a senior and Lamaar Flash Thomas has transferred, the staff must find a new return man in this off season. Preferably one that doesn’t make everyone hold their breath wondering if he’s going to muff it. I don’t care if it’s a freshman. Just make sure he gets as many practice reps as possible, so he’s ready.
Kick coverage was atrocious this year. Opponents had way too favorable field position and the defense shouldn’t routinely be placed in that type of position. Oregon’s return yardage was unacceptable at 199 yards. Losing senior Marcus Williams, early in the season, didn’t help the coverage unit. I could be wrong, but I also believe Tyler Moeller was a special teams regular. Whenever a longtime special teams contributor is sidelined, it’s going to hurt. But I don’t think that’s the sole reason they underperformed. The unit simply has to get better. Read the rest of this entry »
Kneejerk: Week 10, Penn State
November 7, 2009
Now THAT’S what I’m talking about, Bucks!
I’m not sure if anyone noticed, but I never really gave a prediction as to how the game would end today. I simply gave a list of what I wanted to see. I thought the teams were so evenly matched that, even with a loss, if some progress was made, I’d still kind of sort of be ok. (Maybe?) I just needed to see the team continue to improve. We saw them beat up on Minnesota and New Mexico State, but wanted to see them put in a solid effort against a good defense.
Well, we certainly saw that today with a dominating 24-7 win in Happy Valley. It’s pretty. It’s so, so pretty!
I said the trenches (lines) would decide this game, and that’s what happened. Ohio State’s offensive and defensive line owned Penn State. That was the difference. I expected pwnage from the Dline, but the Oline manned up and shut everyone up!
IN A NUTSHELL…
- My fave stat of the game? 0 turnovers.
- Sacking Daryll Clark on PSU’s first offensive play of the game was awesome. I’m sure that pumped the entire team up!
- I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Ohio State’s defense is amazing! It’s easy to see why they lead the country in forced 3-and-outs.
- Loved all the decisions TP made today. He played smart and made quick decisions. That was key to the team’s victory.
- Hearing TP say, postgame, that he was hurting yet still played very well should make everyone excited; not just for the remainder of the season, but for his 2 remaining seasons. I think the light has gone on for him.
- I’m not going to lie. I was beyond frustrated with the playcalling in the 1st half. Running on 1st and 2nd down was not putting the offense in a position to succeed. While the running game was indeed effective, the specific run plays called needed more variety.
- It was nice to see an OSU kicker make a clutch field goal. It’s a shame Tressel didn’t let him try that kick early in the 1st quarter. Couldn’t have ended up worse than the penalty/punt/touchback.
- Ray Small was great today. He and special teams really got the team going.
- Daryll Clark did not score a TD. I don’t care what anyone says. This was a shutout.
- Cam Heyward was beastly today. I hope he comes back next year…
- Chimdi Checkwa was great today. Did his receiver ever catch a pass?
- Still a little disappointed that Jordan Hall didn’t play much today. Thought he earned more carries than in garbage time.
- I’m glad the staff finally decided to let TP throw because we had receivers running free all day.
- Once Tress opened it up, we saw the future of this offense and I loved it!
- It was almost bizarro world in College Football this week. Bring on Iowa. I was confident in that game even before they lost and Stanzi was hurt. Our Dline was going to smother whomever was back there taking snaps.
- I’m not even mad at Mike Brewster for his throat slash towards the crowd penalty. Heard the fans were nasty and cussing at the team all game.
- The PSU fan the cameras kept zooming in on was classic. Nice shirt, ass.
- I smell roses. That is all.
TP’s final stats:
Passing: 8/17 for 125 yards and 2 TDs, No INTs
Rushing: 5 carries for 50 yds
PARTING SHOT:
Who Peed in Glen Mason’s Cheerios?
November 3, 2009
I was at the game Saturday, so I didn’t hear him get up on his soapbox for the New Mexico State game during the Big Ten Network’s coverage. I was going to watch a replay, but upon reading The Ozone’s weekly feature The Buckeye Watch, I’m not sure I want to.
We all know that he really wanted the job that Jim Tressel currently holds, but he seemed way out of line during the game. The way he pronounces “Ohio” doesn’t bother me, but it really does seem like he’s bitter he didn’t get the HC job here. Maybe that’s just me, but I think it’s really unprofessional. Jim Tressel can’t do anything right!
Allow me to cite a few passages from Tony Gerdman’s piece.
11:55 Glen Mason is doing the game today. I can’t wait to hear how he would have done things differently than Jim Tressel. It’s like he’s still trying to interview for the job when security escorted him out of the building eight years ago.
That was apparently just foreshadowing the day…
12:20 Third and twelve. And Pryor finds Duron Carter underneath on the crossing route. Really? Needing twelve yards and you throw a pass a foot past the line of scrimmage? Glen Mason is almost hoping the crowd starts booing. I think I can hear him booing into his microphone and trying to pass it off as the crowd. [The boos start…then stop] Glen: “Hey, can you hear those boos?” [The boos start against immediately following Glen’s question, then stop] “Wow, they’re really unhappy with Coach Tressel right now–and I can’t blame them!”
FYI, from where I was in the stands, I heard no booing all day. Just saying. Read the rest of this entry »
Is Terrelle Pryor Captain Material?
July 28, 2009
Since winter conditioning, there have been frequent rumblings alluding to this being “Terrelle Pryor’s team” now. So, you knew this was going to come up, didn’t you? There are basically two schools of thought.
Some feel that despite tradition, TP is ready to be a captain. Regardless of his age, he’s already taking being a leader extremely seriously. He’s showing it on/off the field and in the classroom. He will be running the offense and, being a QB, having a leadership position pretty much goes with the territory. Plus, he’s not your average sophomore.
Then there are the ‘traditionalists’ who feel that the elected team captains ought to be seniors, and in rare cases (like James Laurinaitis) juniors. They believe that having been through multiple camps and knowing the inner workings of the team is critical to quality team captain. This often times despite their production (or lack thereof) on the field.
Coach Tressel was asked about if he’d “allow” Terrelle to be captain this season, and while he does have some say, the captains are pretty much selected by team vote. Here’s what he said:
“I don’t know about “allow”. I have a lot of votes but I’m not sure I have a hundred-some. I guess sitting here at this moment I’m not sure that that’s something you would want to add to a sophomore’s plate, but we’ll see how things evolve.”
He brings up a valid point. Something that I think is more important than simply “tradition”. TP has a ton of eyes on him right now. He’s already being mentioned in preseason Heisman prediction lists and he was just named the Big Ten’s preseason Offensive Player of the Year. This year also brought his first spring practice with the team, and first time getting full-time first team QB snaps in the offseason. From all accounts, TP’s absolutely flourishing this spring/summer and making strides in all areas, but perhaps being a captain would be a little too much this year?
All I know is that if there’s someone who could handle all of the expectations and responsibilities, it certainly would be Terrelle.
Most expect Kurt Coleman to run away with the votes. The second he announced he was returning for his senior year, I thought “he will be a captain for sure”. Judging from who attended this week’s media day in Chicago, we could likely see Jake Ballard and Doug Worthington get their teammates’ vote of confidence as well. That leaves one more person from the offensive side of the ball. I’d expect Jimmy Cordle to get the nod, provided there’s no upset with TP.
So, what do you think?
Loading ...I don’t know. If his teammates prove they have that much confidence in him and vote him captain, I’d have absolutely no problem with it. But if not, that’s fine as well. He’s a shoo-in for captaincy next season!
A Year Ago Today…
March 19, 2009
Exactly 1 year ago, Terrelle Pryor ended his extended recruitment and signed his LOI to play football for The Ohio State University. Remember that day? It was a great moment for Buckeye Nation, wasn’t it?
Terrelle Pryor Is Not a Wide Receiver
January 18, 2009
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I figured that, after the game, the chatter proclaiming TP2 nothing but a WR playing QB would be at an all-time high. It was. I was right. Those screaming the loudest originate mostly from other fanbases who have written him off as a signal caller. Always amusing to see who stocked up on Hater-aid this college football post-season.
And now that most of the racket has calmed down, I’d like to say that I am proud that TP is our quarterback. Yes, quarterback. We can’t help it that he’s such a freakish athlete whose size screams MISMATCH! You need to use your weapons to your advantage and that’s what Tress & Co. did in the desert.
I don’t claim to have any insight into TP2’s psyche, but I have noticed that he seems to thrive when people question his talents. Mark May, anyone? He then pushes himself harder to prove the doubters wrong. Remember these quotes?
I just want to show people that I can play.
and
Everyone thinks that I’m overrated and all that. Wait and see. The time will come and you’ll find out.
Oh, and this gem, too:
People don’t know me and don’t know what I can do.
So, having to listen to people say he won’t succeed as a QB won’t be such a bad thing if TP himself has also heard those opinions. It’s likely to piss him off a little. A pissed off TP is a determined TP on a mission. See where I’m going with this?
So keep talking about our “glorified WR” taking snaps in the backfield. It’ll all pay off, for us, this fall! Thanks, in advance!
