OSU 26 v. OU 14 Offensive Scouting Report
Against the Green of
OU, the Buckeye's offense was—offensive. The optimist would say that the
Bucks were looking ahead past the OU Bobcats to the “big” game at USC. Pessimist fans might well schedule a root
canal for next week’s game. Given how
the Bucks played today, the root canal may be a lot less painful than the game
itself.
By Bill Smith
The basic
problem was the lack of a running game up the gut. The offensive line was not able to push the D
off line to open holes. The OU defensive
linemen were able to keep both blockers on a double team dealing with them
leaving the linebackers absolutely spotless to make tackles. The line must be able to block the D-line
then scrape off to clear the second level if runs up the middle are going to
work. We are not able to move the line
let alone the backers or safeties at the second level.
FB Brandon
Smith did a nice job particularly on runs off tackle getting a block on the
second level.
The only
way that the running game is going to generate the kinds of runs that will
regularly keep us out 3rd and long situations is to get decent
yardage on the ground. We can not just
run outside. No team can maintain
control of the ball facing 3 and 8 or 9 consistently. Getting Beanie Wells back will help
because he has the power to break the first tackle. Given the struggles we have had blocking the run;
his average per carry is outstanding.
The running
backs that played today were not hitting the hole with abandon. They try to make a move behind the line to
avoid a tackler in the hole. Failing on
a 4th and inches against OU is not acceptable.
The pass
protection was not good either. We gave
up 2 sacks in the first half. We don't
ever seem to be able to block a corner or linebacker coming off the open edge
of a shotgun formation. We have seen
that same problem since the first Championship game against Florida.
We saw it again against LSU last year.
We need to shore that up if we will have any chance against USC.
The first
three series on offense were three plays and out. One way to improve protection is to slow down
the rush with screen passes and delay draw plays. Terrelle Pryor was able to run QB
draws late in the game against a very tired D-line. We need to do that earlier in the game to
make the passing game go. We also need
to be able to audible out of a run if there are 37 defenders in the box. A bubble screen or quick pass to a WR will
help.
Todd
Boeckman was under a lot of pressure most of the game. He was inconsistent in part because of the
pressure and in part because he was just missing open receivers. The play calling had a lot to do with it
because he was usually throwing on 3rd and forever. He also had more dropped passes than
usual.
Boeckman
has developed some bad habits. Too often
he stares down the receiver. That brings
the safety over to provide double coverage on our receivers. He also needs to improve the footwork. Both of these bad habits go back to the
pocket breaking down way too often. He
needs to get time to read the coverage before he can avoid throwing into double
coverage.
Boeckman
ran the ball very well given the pressure he was under. He had a couple of good runs that got first
downs but that was out of desperation rather than part of a game plan.
The
receivers must also be more aware. We
can not complete the pass only to be just short of the line to gain. Coming back to the ball is great but you have
to run far enough past the line that when the receiver comes back he still has
the first down.
I hate to
be negative but given the way the offense played, I owe it to you, our readers
to be as honest as I can. The Buckeye's
defense and special teams saved the day with turnovers and scores. The time will come when the Offense needs to
carry the team if the D is struggling.
Bill Smith is a
former coach of several semi-pro teams and has scouted talent. He is a senior writer for http://BrutusReport.com. He has
also published several novels on http://ebooks-library.com/index.cfm and edits http://fryingpanpolitics.blog.com