Ohio State Football: A Few Ideas to Help the Ohio State Buckeye Offense

Fire Jim Bollman! Hire Urban Meyer! Hold on till the Calvary comes, Calvary being Herron, Adams and Posey.

The short of the long is that OSU has too many inexperienced people playing at key positions.  Announcers at last year’s Sugar Bowl commented on the lack of experience returning. This was before Terrelle Pryor bolted for the Raiders.  OSU will be starting three new offensive linemen, new running backs, and the most experienced receiver would be Corey Brown, who has been lost to an injury.  There are just not enough horses in the stable to start the season. 

Expectations of another Big 10 championship were unrealistic given the prowess and depth of Big Ten teams like Nebraska and Wisconsin and the many returning starters on teams like Michigan.  47 players are on Ohio State's two-deep chart, 29 are freshman or sophomores. Only three seniors are starting on the offense, and two on defense.  There is not much experience for now.  But we still can’t wait around, and there is also that team up north that OSU will face at the end of the year. So what can be done?

First, Jake Stoneburner  is the only receiving threat. Why not play him some at flanker/WR, insert Reid Fragel more at TE and also play Jordan Hall at Flanker/WR for some plays.  This will give the QB three options instead of one for passing.

Second, start Braxton Miller.  Thursday, Luke Fickell made this decision.  Remember 2004, when Justin Zwick and Troy Smith were vying for the QB job?  Our offense had a similar learning curve.  OSU played some poor ball games and even got blown out by Iowa. OSU’s offense could not get running because just like this year’s team, they were inexperienced and needed time.  Both QBs were green and needed time.  Smith eventually won the job when Zwick got hurt. By the end of the season in 2004?  OSU beat Michigan despite UM being up to a nine-point favorite from Las Vegas.  Troy Smith got the needed reps and experience, and Anthony Gonzalez had a breakout game.  Hopefully, Braxton Miller will improve to the point where he will be able to do more, and one or two young receivers will break out. 

Just a few simple suggestions, but ultimately, the OSU offense needs time.  Does Jim Bollman need to be fired? Does Urban Meyer need to be head coach? It is too early to tell; let us see if the Bucks get better by season’s end and beat that team up north again.  I would take a repeat of 2004 in a heartbeat.