2010 Ohio State Buckeyes Offensive quarterly report

[JCoz]

Ohio State - a quarterly report

Here is your quarterly report for the 2010 Buckeyes Offense -

QB - Terrelle Pryor has cemented his position as the Conferences' best Quarterback - unless you are buying and drinking the Rich Rod/Shoelace Robinson kool-aid - which I know you are not.

His mechanics are improved, as is his Deep ball accuracy. His knowledge and control of the offense is improved, and he is displaying a calmness and confidence we have not seen from him previously. His accuracy on short throws is an area that needs improvement, and though his decision making is improved, we still have head-scratching plays from him from time to time.

All and all the bottom line is he is a player few in this country have the smarts and personnel to counter. He is a legitimate Heisman contender and has had a spectacular quarter to start the season.

Overall Grade 1st Q 2010: A-

RB - Started the quarter off with a bang and ended with a whimper. The OSU rushing attack is still developing and early reports of Saine's vision improving were greatly exaggerated. Boom has looked solid at best, and Hall appears to be the best back in the stable in his 30 carries. In addition, Jamaal Berry's status with the team can be legitimately called into question after rumors of unhappiness with the split in carries was followed by him receiving 4 carries in a game that was 34-0 at the half. Something doesn't smell right there, and the amount of carries he receives over the next 3 games will tell the story of his season.

Overall Grade 1st Q 2010: C-

Receivers - OSU has a very good pair of Wideouts in Posey and Sanzenbacher, and have indeed worked the TE into the offense. Dane and Devier are each on pace for more than 800 yards receiving and Stonburner is on pace for more than 400. There is a clear lack of players ready to be the #3 receiver, but Stoneburner can go a long way in being that player himself if this trending continues.

The outlook is positive but without a huge amount of upside. Generally speaking the starting WR's are very good but not going to get much better, and any talk of improvement as the season progresses must focus on the TE and #3 WR.

Overall Grade 1st Q 2010: B

Fullback - Zach Boren is monster at this position, only my lack of knowledge concerning other FB's around the county stop me from declaring him the best nationally, so let me know if you can find a better one. He spends every Saturday making opposing LBers wish they woke up late and missed the bus to the game. Nuff said.

Overall Grade 1st Q 2010: A+

Offensive Line - The offensive line, and particularly the pass protection, has been one of the pleasant surprises of the first three games. Tackle was a question that ranked high, if not first among buckeye concerns and question marks entering the season, and they have responded with excellent at best, solid at worst protection, including a game against possibly the most talented Dline on the schedule in Miami. Adams looks like he is ready to take the next step and start to realize his vast potential at LT. Shurgarts has been lights out at RT, and with the exception of 2-3 breakdowns, this appears to have gone from a concern to a strength of this years buckeyes. The run blocking has taken some knocks but has been better than most would conclude, with mediocre RB play being the culprit for this misconception. Make no mistake, through 3 games this has the makings of Jim Tressels best Offensive line in a decade. Browning and Boren have been playing at an All-Bigten level since the starting gun and Adams, Shugarts and Brewster are not far behind.

Overall Grade 1st Q 2010: B+

Offensive Overview -

The offense through 3 games is averaging 460 total yards (20th nationally), 41.3 points per game (16th nationally) and 206 yds rushing per game (24th nationally), while committing only 2 turnovers in 3 games.

The passing game has featured completions to 6 WR's, 3 RB's, 2 FB's and 2 TE's, showing the diversity of this offense and the ability to attack defenses from a seemingly endless array of different angles. This combines with the inside/outside running attack with Pryor and the RB's making this an extremely difficult offense to prepare for and stop, as this offense seems fully equipped to take whatever you decide to give them and run with it.

In reality the offense is still marred with inconsistency at times, never is that more evident than in the red zone, however overall no buckeye fan could have predicted a better start through 3 games. The most exciting part of this offense is that it still has the opportunity to improve exponentially in terms of efficiency as the season progresses, which should scare the ever living shit out of the opponents with late season dates against this team.

Overall Offensive Grade 1st Q 2010: B+

Strengths: QB, Diversity of attack, Offensive line

Weaknesses: RB, #3 WR, consistency, red zone efficiency

I'll come back later with Quarterly reports on Defense and Special Teams.

Fire away with comments, questions, criticisms.........all welcome.

[tired]

Love it JC !!! Saine is a big issue with me. He has to much talent to keep him off the field but what do I call it his vision ? running the ball just hasn't improved and if it hasn't by now it's not going to.
Through three games (using Troy's Heisman season--since he didn't play much the beginning of his junior year, and Vince's redshirt sophomore year of 2004.)

Pryor
51/81, 715 yards (63%)
36 rushes for 165 yards
8 total TDs
2 INTs

Smith
56/81, 769 yards(69%)
12 rushes for -14 yards
7 total TDs
0 INTs (would get 2 the following week vs. Penn State)

Young
36/61, 464 yards (59%)
30 rushes for 169 yards
6 total TDs
2 INts
I can see Pryor shattering the record books.

[furls]

Love it JC !!! Saine is a big issue with me. He has to much talent to keep him off the field but what do I call it his vision ? running the ball just hasn't improved and if it hasn't by now it's not going to.
Through three games (using Troy's Heisman season--since he didn't play much the beginning of his junior year, and Vince's redshirt sophomore year of 2004.)

Pryor
51/81, 715 yards (63%)
36 rushes for 165 yards
8 total TDs
2 INTs

Smith
56/81, 769 yards(69%)
12 rushes for -14 yards
7 total TDs
0 INTs (would get 2 the following week vs. Penn State)

Young
36/61, 464 yards (59%)
30 rushes for 169 yards
6 total TDs
2 INts
I can see Pryor shattering the record books.

I agree, Saine does have too much talent to keep off the field, Track and Field. I think it is time we accept Brandon Saine for what he is, a guy that is super fast. A running back without vision is like a porn star without a ... ummm, you get the point. Brandon Saine holds the WHAC record for the 40 yard dash (4.29) and the Ohio High School Record for the 100m at 10.31. Unfortunately it takes him 4.37s to cross the line of scrimmage. I am sticking a fork in this one, admitting I was wrong and I am now pulling for his carries to go to Boom, Hall or Berry.

[furls]

Great Work JC, I agree with all points, but I think RB grade is inflated.

Ill go ahead and write your ST and defensive review for you...
Defense:
All areas: Fuckin A.

Special Teams:
Special Teams Coverage: Fuck.
Special Teams returns: A.

[danwismar]

I am now pulling for his carries to go to Boom, Hall or Berry.

I'm okay with that too at this point.

But if he's on the field, why not take advantage of what he can do? You're looking for a #3 receiver...he's got good hands...he's fast...put him in the slot and throw him the ball. Meanwhile one of the other tailbacks is in the game.