Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel enjoyed considerable success in his first 18 seasons as a head coach, employing a staunchly conservative "three yards and a cloud of dust" offensive philosophy, while relying on his defense to win close games.
But can you teach an old dog new tricks?
After an anemic offense led to a poor start in 2004, Tressel diverged from his conservative ways by opening up the offense. Sophomore wideout Ted Ginn Jr. and junior quarterback Troy Smith emerged as the team's go-to playmakers propelling the Buckeyes to a 4-1 finish and a season-capping 37-21 win over Michigan.
So hopes were high for what many hoped would be a spread offense that would overpower opposing defenses this season. But the offense has sputtered thus far, piecing together only one scoring drive of more than 32 yards last week against a porous San Diego State defense in a defensively dominated 27-6 Buckeyes win.
Has Tressel, who calls a majority of the offense's plays, failed to adjust?
"I think it's an evolution and a transition for everybody," Tressel said Tuesday. "Coach Bollman keeps reminding me that it's OK to pass on third and two, which the old-fashioned part of me says, 'How can we pass on third and two?' Woody (Hayes) would be killing me."
Maybe so, but with the team's undoubted talent at the skill positions, it's a necessary transition, but one that has not gone to plan.
"This past weekend, we were just terrible," said sophomore wideout Anthony Gonzalez. "We have so many weapons that there is no reason we should not be putting up huge points. But it's just not happening."
The weapons Gonzalez spoke of are there. Behind a veteran offensive line is Smith, a mobile quarterback with a strong arm. Ginn, junior wideout Santonio Holmes and senior tight end Ryan Hamby are on the watch list for awards given to the nation's best players at their respective positions. And after showing glimpses of potential in the backfield averaging more than five yards per carry in 2004, sophomore Antonio Pittman was supposed to be the answer at tailback.
But so far, the offense remains the team's most glaring question mark.
Smith has been inconsistent, throwing for only 227 yards and one touchdown on 19-of-37 passing during two games. Ginn has hardly shown signs of the expressiveness he exhibited last season, catching only 10 balls for 121 yards. Holmes, Gonzalez, Hamby and senior wideout Roy Hall have added another 406 yards, a number fans were hoping would instead be a one-game total. Pittman has been effective in the backfield, netting 233 yards and averaging 4.8 yards per carry, but it has done little to open up the passing game for the Buckeyes.
The Buckeyes offense has consistently lined up three or four receivers in the spread, but it only disguises Tressel's inclination to revert to his old play-calling ways.
"We just haven't progressed as much as I thought we would," said senior guard Rob Sims. "I can't really figure out what's going on out there. We're playing hard but we've got to get a lot better."
Now that Smith has secured the quarterback job over fellow junior Justin Zwick and the controversy is over - at least for now - there is hope the Buckeyes can establish an identity and continuity with Smith and deliver on early expectations.
"We think we have a lot of guys from an offensive standpoint that can help us win," Tressel said. "As we grow to understand how we can attack ... I'd like to think we can become a dangerous offense."
Be the first to comment on this article!