Home Run or Bust! Ohio State's Offense Needs More Variety

Drew Thurman (5:45 pm)

If you just looked at the score from the Northwestern game, it would appear as if the offense has found its legs again. 45-10, that validates Tressel's play calling, right? Wrong. I don't care if the offense put up 45 points and gained 441 total yards—the play calling is still inept!

The Buckeyes came out with the usual game plan of trying to run up the middle with Beanie. I'm shocked that Northwestern actually thought to game plan for this stellar attack, but they did. So after Beanie had rushed four times for negative-four yards, Tressel decided to go to his typical "Plan B" of throwing the bomb.

I know what followed was a 44-yard reception to Brian Hartline, but this would be the start of what was a game of "home runs" for the Buckeyes. Not counting the last scoring drive (to bail out Northwestern's defense), four out of the five touchdown scoring drives were set up by long yardage plays. Here they are.

- Brian Hartline 44-yard reception (first scoring drive)

- Chris Wells 55-yard touchdown run (second scoring drive)

- Brian Hartline 46-yard reception (fourth scoring drive)

- Brian Robiskie 34-yard touchdown reception (fifth scoring drive)

This to me shows a real problem in the Buckeye offense. Tressel's play calling requires the big play to happen in order to score. Sometimes watching us is like watching someone play NCAA Football on a game system! The Buckeyes run and throw bombs. There never seems to be an in-between.

It seems as if Tressel refuses to have an intermediate passing game or a real variety of running plays. This is fine playing teams like Northwestern, but if the Buckeyes are going to get over the hump, the offense needs consistency.

On the totally opposite end of the spectrum, watching the Florida Gators the past several weeks just makes me plain jealous. They have such a great variety of quarterback reads, screen passes, slants, draws, and deep passes that I can barely watch them anymore. When the Gators have the ball, things seem to be fluid, even with a variety of players getting involved.

I am not saying the Buckeyes have to copy the Gators exactly, but emulating their rhythm is important. Instead of just running to run or throwing to throw, Tressel needs to have a real game plan. Run to set up a certain pass play, or throw a few balls to set up a creative running play. This is real offensive play calling that does not just count on "home runs" to win the game.

Beanie's absence at times this season has shown that we are sporadic at best without a home run hitter at running back. With the real possibility of his departure at the end of the season, better play calling is even more a must! It will be the difference between a two- to three-loss season and a National Championship!