The good that will come from last night

I wanted to post last night but I was worn out. I needed to sleep. I needed to think. So close again. I am so proud of this football team. They played their hearts out. The USC offensive line, the one with four NFL draft choices on it, the offense that Lee Corso said could score on an NFL team, scored 11 points. No, I don't count the first 7. When you get the ball on the 2 yard line that is not scoring. They did not have to work for it so I'm not giving it to them. The defensive line needs Buckeyes plastered all over their helmets for never getting pushed off the line of scrimmage all night. Rolle and Homan played great games. We lost another football game because the offense scored 13 points. 13 points at home.

When do the powers that be get tired of watching this happen? I think last night may have been it. For the first time the support for Jim Tressel has reached a point that his job can be threatened. I don't think most fans want to see Jim Tressel go. I know I don't. But I think I speak for a large percentage of Buckeye Nation when I say I am finally to the point that if he will not agree to bring in an offensive coordinator that can bring us into the modern age of football on offense, that he can leave. That thought troubles me, but there it is. This is not a pro franchise. This is college. We still want men who are looking to mold young men and be role models in our coaches. JT is a leader, and plain and simple, a good man. He is the kind of man that is good for a community. He is a great recruiter. He has been great as the head coach in a defensive sense in the fact that he stays out of it. Best case scenario is he agrees to bring in a young dynamic offensive coordinator and stays as head coach. I believe that has been broached with JT in the last couple of years. Now the powers that be have the ammunition and the support of Buckeye Nation to go to him and say this time it is not a suggestion. We are changing offensive coordinators here at Ohio State. Whether we are changing head coaches is entirely up to you.

That is the good news that comes out of last nights loss. Another piece of evidence that Jim Tressels way is not working. I think we are looking at the dawn of change. I believe we will see something different. This is a program that expects to win championships. We will not accept anything less. I like the idea of Jim Tressel with an offensive coordinator who can take the talent JT has assembled and turn it into the potent force it could be. No, I love the idea. To me getting rid of JT is throwing out the baby with the bath water. I don't like it. Another season with this offense is something I like even less.

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Comments (32) Add Comment

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written by TheMinnesotaBuckeye, September 13, 2009

Agreed that JT with an excellent o-coordinator would be fantastic.

I wonder if JT's ego/need for control will allow him to give up the O? If not, then it will be his downfall at OSU.

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written by Good Points, September 13, 2009

http://firejtressel.com/2009/0...uture.aspx

-2

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written by dumbme, September 13, 2009

I have said this for years. The biggest challenge is for someone to be able to accept their shortcomings. I do not believe Tressel has the gift of being introspective. There is no shame in not being gifted in an area (offense) to be in denial and put the kids at a disadvantage is a terrible flaw. At some point, his defenders will say it is execution. Well, who is in charge of getting them to execute?

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written by Buckem, September 13, 2009

For the first time I agree. I have lost faith in this coaching staff on the offensive side of the ball and I don't think I am alone. OSU is at such a tactical advantage when playing against national powers woth similar talent that if nothing changes we see 0-6 become 0-7, 0-8, 0-9, and so on.

Mental Errors
written by leroy, September 13, 2009

I guess I may be in the minority, but I really didn't have to much of a problem with most of the play calling. It did bother me that we didn't try more play action of first down and that we didn't a better scheme in the redzone, but it seems to me that the biggest problem was once again mental errors. I think that so far this year it has been about three intances of delay of game after a penalty. How does that happen? We had a couple of penalties last night that happened on first down putting us is long yardage situations. I'm not sure if those things can be fixed by the staff, but the players can definately do something about it. Not only that, but if we don't start scoring touchdowns in the redzone, we will never win the big games. I also want to say that the defense and special teams played an excellent game last night, especially the defensive line. Hats off. All-in-all I'm proud of the way we fought, but our offense needs to step it up.

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written by Zonabuck, September 13, 2009

We have been down this road before with Troy. I think if we continue, we will see a dynamite offense with Tyrelle -- in 2011 when he is a Senior. I understand that you need trust in the execution of the offense by young players, but can we afford to shut it down for two our of every three years (at best)?

We have the talent here to reload. We should have the mentality to develop young talent rather than playing only first stringers - a rotation to develop next year's stars should be in place. There is no need for them to learn on the job unless we have devastating injuries. The kids get so few opportunities to truly shine in this offense that it is impossible to build trust -- they would have to be perfect every time we loosen the leash.

The defense played their hearts out last night. I wouldn't put it up there with the Miami or '05 Texas performances, but they were dominant. The DL more than held their own, and Johnny Simon bull rushing right through O'Dowd in the fourth had me jumping out of my seat. He could very well be our NT in the 3-4 if we choose to get more speed on the field at LB. I think this year's D, based on last night's game, will be special.

We have 10 games to go, and a lot of development that will be needed between now and PSU. I think we circle the Rose Bowl, count on playing USC, and make that our motivation. We should have beaten them soundly last night if not for giving up every first down with obvious running plays that USC was able to jump.

-1

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written by tophand, September 13, 2009

Same old story with the O. Herby said it years ago. I've been saying it for years. We can compete for the B10 title this way but you will not be a national power until the O is fixed. Duane, what you want has been the desire of rational Buckeye fans for years. I for one have serious doubts Tress can accept the needed change.

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written by Bukirob, September 13, 2009

The problem is that I believe that Jim will resign before he gives up control. I would hate to see him go as he represents the university and the program with such honor and integrity.

Some of the decisions made in the game are real head scratchers. I can see going for the FG on 4th and 1 at the 1 if your defense had been playing suspect. They were playing lights out though....

What is really disheartening is the decision to not attempt the FG from the USC 32. That is a 49 yard attempt Pettry is automatic from there! It was at the 7:39 in the 4th. How many more possessions are you going to get???? Make that its 18-10 even with the decision to kick the FG at the 1. It changes the dynamics of the game. Even if USC scores you're still tied. With 1:05 left now you are moving the ball to win the game and OT if you don't get off to a good start on the drive you simply run out the clock and go to OT.

Just really dreadful bad game called by Tressel.

-1

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written by Anonymous, September 13, 2009

I absolutely could not agree more. This man needs, and has needed, an offensive coordinator for YEARS

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written by hondo777, September 13, 2009

pryor is a long way from where he needs to be. I'm not blaming him, I blame the coaching.

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written by dvo45, September 13, 2009

Young squad...

I'm excited about the next 2 3/4 seasons...

I think the offense can get better...I think Pryor is trying to be a NFL quarterback...he needs to just go play football and everything will take care of it's self...

I think the defense needs to find a way to get off the field in the crunch...the game winning drive hurt...95 yards...

Now all they can do is watch the film...figure what they can do to get better...and then get back to work because Toledo looks like they can play a little bit of football...

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written by OSUProf, September 13, 2009

I agree with what you said about the O completely Duane. And I agree that the D played lights out in only giving up 11 points. But I've been watching Ohio State football for 60 years and I *knew* that when Tex...oops I mean USC got the ball that last time that they're were to score and not leave any time on the clock. I knew that the D would give up a touchdown. Period! Didn't you Duane? I knew that the football gods would punish "YSU Jim" for believing that a 5 point lead would do it.

And into the line for a yard on first down. How many times did we see that? I'd say a million, maybe two. :-(

Tressel gets one more chance
written by andyb, September 13, 2009

Tressel will get another chance at USC in the Rose Bowl...Gene Smith will probably wait until then unless we only score 13 at PSU.

-1

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written by Coolrahski, September 13, 2009

I have officially switched from a proponent of Tressell ball to hire an OC after last night. Although I believe that Tressell is a great coach and with better play of TP last night we could have won, the fact is we didn't. We are bordering on Cooper ineptitude concerning the big game. Try something new to try to get over the hump.

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written by RipsManifesto, September 13, 2009

For the first time last night I found myself saying "I just don't think Tressel has it". I've blamed the assistant coaches, I've blamed the players, but I have to blame Tressel. 13 points. I feel terrible for our defense. You couldn't have played USC any tougher. The last drive shouldn't have mattered.

In the first quarter I saw Tressel playing it well. With the first play of the second, the 4th and Goal from like the 1 inch line, he choked. I saw a coach who decided to play not to lose. 4th and Goal from within the 1yd line with a 240lb athletic QB and we kicked a FG. On that call I saw a coach afraid to chase excellence for fear of failure. How much did that 4th and 2 during the Navy game screw with Tressel's confidence? I think we saw how much on that 4th and Goal from within the 1.

I love what Tressel stands for. Finding men of integrity in this game is difficult, and he's one of the few. But I want him, no, I *need* him to look each of his *defensive* players in the eye and say he's doing all he can for this team. If he can still do that then it's all ego at this point, and maybe it's time to hang it up.

He let this defense down, and (to be emo for a second) my heart breaks for those guys that stonewalled the "four first round pick OL" for all but the final drive. It's not fair that today people are crapping all over Homan for not being as fast as McKnight on one play, or people getting all over a tired defense for finally hitting the point where they just didn't have enough in the tank when Tressel punted instead of kicking from FG range and asking, "Once more into the breach dear friends."

When the game was tight, once again where was the offensive creativity that was practices all week? I saw one pass to the TE, that Pryor sailed over Ballard's head. Where was the screen? Quick slants? Any play designed to attack a defense that was so scared of Pryor they keyed on him on over single play. Scared of chasing excellence for fear of failure.

I'm sorry... after eight years of this I've just hit a wall. It's not good enough to ask for moral victories. Moral victories are for the Stanfords or Indianas of the world. This was the best chance we might've ever had to beat USC, and it was pissed away because we didn't have enough killer instinct (or math skills) to say five points isn't a big enough margin against USC.

-1

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written by Ron in LA, September 13, 2009

A killer offensive coordinator would go the way of Mark Dantonio: off to be head coach at another school. Anyone that good can't stay. That's just business at the college level.

Plotting a course to "Great" from "Very Good" is a path wrought with peril. That's our current dilemma.

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written by Duane Long, September 13, 2009

written by Ron in LA, September 13, 2009
A killer offensive coordinator would go the way of Mark Dantonio: off to be head coach at another school. Anyone that good can't stay. That's just business at the college level.

Plotting a course to "Great" from "Very Good" is a path wrought with peril. That's our current dilemma.

That is the reality of the coaching business. You are going to lose good assistants. That has been one of the points I have touched on with Bollman. Our defenses have been good. We lost two defensive coordinators because it has been so good. If Bollman has even interviewed for a head coaching job it is news to me. At big time schools your coordinators are going to get offered head coaching jobs if they are any good. You have to be ready to go get another one. It is the nature of the beast.

Couldnt agree more
written by ILbuck, September 13, 2009

Duane, I couldnt agree more. However, its not just the offense, its the philosophy as well. No matter how dynamic your offense, if your head coach wants to sit on leads and win games by 3-10 points your leaving little room for error. Its is VERY HARD to throttle down and then turn it up again in one drive.

I strongly believe in order to gain national respect back (not this year but maybe in next 2 years), this OSU team is going to have to go out an make a serious coaching change (dynamic/respected offensive coordinator would be it) and then go beat up on teams. They need to make a statement that we are good and we arent just making it through in a bad conference. We will have to blow some teams out as we dont play anyone the likes of Florida, Texas, USC, Alabama, LSU again outside of a BCS game. Think the Miami team could be good, but not sure they will get us the national respect beating a ACC team.

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written by O-State, September 13, 2009

This game was more on Pryor than Tressel/Bollman. All the runs up the middle on 1st down were ridiculous but they gave Pryor a chance to take over. He had 25 pass attempts. He just didn't play well. He was trying too hard.

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written by JFrank, September 13, 2009

Duane, and others:

I appreciate the sane and logical discussion goiing on here rather than the clueless, emotional babble being written elsewhere. Since there seems to be some intelligent fans here let me offer some thoughts for you guys to consider.

Last night's offensive struggles was about an o-line being dominated and a QB having decision-making problems and mechanical breakdowns. A trio of Offensive coordinators including Norm CHow, Don Coryell and Knute Rockne couldn't score with a dominated o-line and a poor QB performance. Credit must of course go to USC's defense but our QB is a looooong way away from being a good QB as his mechanics go to heck as soon as he feels pressure and he's STILL having problems with the play-clock and reading defenses. In all the big games it seems his mechanics have really failed him.

I'm not at all against a new OC but the fact is you could scheme for a decade and not be able to score against a defense with those athletes when your o-line is at best mediocre and your QB a liability.

Look at it this way, USC has at least 10-15 guys on their offense who will play on Sundays and yet they only scored 11 legitimate points last night. They have more talent AND experience than us and yet no one is calling for them to hire a new OC.

I'm frustrated like all of you becuase that one hurt. But it wasn't the scheme that hurt us last night it was the execution.

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written by westbuck04, September 13, 2009

Nothing is going to change, Duane. JT's isn't to win National Championships; his job is to mold young men, graduate players, win the Big 10 and beat Michigan. He does all those things very well. There is absolutely NO pressure on his job, nor will there be unless we start losing 3-4 games a year.

I wholeheartedly agree with you that something needs to change, but no one is going to force him. Either he realizes that his way isn't working anymore, or he continues to ignore it. He's here as long as he wants to be here, provided he meets the basic goals of his position.

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written by Duane Long, September 13, 2009

written by JFrank, September 13, 2009
Duane, and others:

I appreciate the sane and logical discussion goiing on here rather than the clueless, emotional babble being written elsewhere. Since there seems to be some intelligent fans here let me offer some thoughts for you guys to consider.

Last night's offensive struggles was about an o-line being dominated and a QB having decision-making problems and mechanical breakdowns. A trio of Offensive coordinators including Norm CHow, Don Coryell and Knute Rockne couldn't score with a dominated o-line and a poor QB performance. Credit must of course go to USC's defense but our QB is a looooong way away from being a good QB as his mechanics go to heck as soon as he feels pressure and he's STILL having problems with the play-clock and reading defenses. In all the big games it seems his mechanics have really failed him.

I'm not at all against a new OC but the fact is you could scheme for a decade and not be able to score against a defense with those athletes when your o-line is at best mediocre and your QB a liability.

Look at it this way, USC has at least 10-15 guys on their offense who will play on Sundays and yet they only scored 11 legitimate points last night. They have more talent AND experience than us and yet no one is calling for them to hire a new OC.

I'm frustrated like all of you becuase that one hurt. But it wasn't the scheme that hurt us last night it was the execution.

The thing is, it keeps happening. It has happened 6 times in a row. Through many different players. We keep doing the same things over and over again expecting a different result. There is a saying that that is the definition of insanity. We have been doing this so often it qualifies as a habit.

Big Dog.....
written by RCoff(buckeyeinclemsonsc), September 13, 2009

This dispaly, is another feather in the cap, actually, the anti feather, of SWAGGER. Never can I remember when a JT team had it. 2006? That wasn't swagger, through and through, it was swagger that lead to being cocky and getting maleappendage beat. I want THE Ohio State University football team to get it. The swagger. The same that USC has. Under JT, and his "not to loose" conservative play style, you will never get it, ever. There was a glimpse in '06, but as the reigns got off the track on the Buffet Awards Tour, that was the chance.

Please get an O-Coord.

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written by Ray Stephens, September 13, 2009

Duane,

Do you really have inside info that a chance will be pressed upon JT? I feel like the game was just close enough to buy him one more try unfortunately.

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written by cassady, September 13, 2009

I think it insane to suggest "the powers that be" will have any say in this decision. Tressel in 8 years has won 81% of his games, 5 Big ten titles, 7-1 against UM, one national championship and two other appearances in national championship games. He runs a clean program and cares about molding young men. He is responsible for making OSU football nationally relevant for the first time since the mid 1970s. There is no pressure on JT, other than the pressure he places on himself. No one, not Gene Smith, not Gordon Gee, not Les Wexner will have any say as to whether OSU gets an offensive coordinator. Sorry Duane, I couldn't disagree with you more.

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written by Duane Long, September 14, 2009

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written by cassady, September 13, 2009
I think it insane to suggest "the powers that be" will have any say in this decision. Tressel in 8 years has won 81% of his games, 5 Big ten titles, 7-1 against UM, one national championship and two other appearances in national championship games. He runs a clean program and cares about molding young men. He is responsible for making OSU football nationally relevant for the first time since the mid 1970s. There is no pressure on JT, other than the pressure he places on himself. No one, not Gene Smith, not Gordon Gee, not Les Wexner will have any say as to whether OSU gets an offensive coordinator. Sorry Duane, I couldn't disagree with you more.

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written by Bukirob, September 14, 2009

It has occurred to me this morning actually, that JT has made the same mistake with game management 2 weeks in a row.

A good coach looks at how much time is left in the game when faced with should I kick the FG and take points vs should I go for a first down. In that process of evaluation things like what is the score right now? Against Navy, a FG puts your team up 3 scores. Not a decision you kick the FG. JT went for it and didn't make it and that decision came back in spades to haunt the buckeyes.

In essence what that decision really is about controlling your opponent. Forcing him to do things YOU want.

Against USC JT when faced with these type of decisions Failed both times. In the first half at the end of the half the buckeyes had the ball. Your FIRST priority is to NOT allow USC to have the ball back. That means A) No turn overs and B) run out the clock. You do that by running on first and second down. IF you obtain a first down then you make the decision about going for points. But what you can not allow to happen is for USC to get the ball and score right as the half expires.

The blunder at the 7 minute mark is unforgivable. Up 15-10 you MUST play what if when you are deciding to punt or kick the FG. We were at the USC 32 WITHIN Pettry's range. As a coach you have to factor in what happens if USC scores and converts? Realistically, I have MAYBE 1 more possession. Is my offense and explosive offense or a ball control offense? In other words how quickly can my offense move down the field? How has my QB managed the 2 minute offense is he comfortable at it?

I can not think of any logical reason to not go for points there. You MUST assume, as a coach, that USC is going to score and convert. If they do, you want the game to be 18-18 so that the pressure is off your offense and that IF you can get into position to kick a winning FG fine... if not FINE we go to OT.

If you do the right thing You're up 15-7 and kicking the FG to put USC in the position of having to score, convert, recover an onside kick and score JUST TO TIE the game!

Anyone who says this loss doesn't fall squarely at JT's feet, hasn't looked at those two thing and given me an answer to them that is reasonable.

Rivals Article
written by highlander133, September 14, 2009

Check this out. It's brutal, but I can't help thinking it's accurate.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Deconstructing-The-grisly-demise-of-Tresselbal?urn=ncaaf,189322

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written by tophand, September 14, 2009

highlanger133, yeah I saw that too. Very well done and very damning and it doesn't even cover some other weird play calls.

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written by dables, September 14, 2009

I don't know if JT can change..to be a football factory ..you need a CEO as head coach ..an absolute ruthless winner..changing coaches benching players..etc(See Saban Carrol Msyer Brown) Jt is almost to loyal to players and his coaches to a fault. Iwould love my son to play for him..but if all tOSU cares about is wins and NC"s at all cost than JT wont compromise his principles just to win a game. I'm not sure a NC and wins is worth selling out and being a borderline illegal program. ie. Reggie Bush fiasco,etc.

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written by cfabuckeye, September 14, 2009

Duane,

You sound really confident about a change being made. You sound like you know (or know someone that knows) the big time players that would make this happen.

Is that the case... do you have first-hand (or secod-hand, at the worst) information that this WILL absolutely happen.

Or are you making an 'educated guess' that this is the next logical step.

You sound sooo certain. But I also have a very difficult time believing it WILL happen.

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written by cassady, September 15, 2009

I like the way you approached this. It gives me the opportunity to have a discussion with someone that disagrees with my from a practical point of view rather than the wild eyed rantings of a large portion of the Tressel can do no wrong crowd.

Why do you assume the powers that be are not committed to winning a national championship as much as most fans? They are not football fans?

Lets say Jim Tressel is graduating 90% of his players. The stadium is a sellout every week. The NCAA has been around here so little that the administration does not know who the important players are off the top of their heads, but JT goes 0-12 for 3 years in a row. Think he would be fired?

Duane-

Yes he would be fired. OSU leadership would not tolerate, nor can it afford, for OSU football to become Duke football.

This is exactly my point. He wins to an extreme that keeps leadership happy. Yes, they do aspire to national championships but I think they are realists. In 118 years of football, OSU has won 5 national championships. One of those is Tressel's. He has what, a top two or three winning percentage in all of college football over his eight years. He wins 10-11 games, wins Big Ten titles and gets OSU in to an annual BCS game. Remember who was one of Coopers most ardent supporters during the early 1990s-our current president Gee. Cripes, if what Cooper was doing back then was good enough, certainly tressel is meeting that and then some.

Tressel is doing more than enough for leadership to leave him to his own devices.

Of note, I am a JT supporter. Do I think he should make a change-yes. the past 8 years clearly demonstrate his offensive philosophy produces below average offensive football (with the exception of 2006). But i think that change will only occur if JT wants it to occur.

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