From: demon@desire.wright.edu (Stupendous Man)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college
Subject: Re: Deja Vu all over again (OSU, Wisconson, putrid play calling)
Date: 6 Oct 92 05:17:44 GMT
Organization: Demonic Possesions, Inc.

In article <1992Oct5.172346.261@alc.com>, stassen@alc.com (Chris Stassen) writes:
> In article <1992Oct4.012845.4519@desire.wright.edu> skip writes:
>> My major gripe is the "let's run, run, run, run,..." play calling. 
>> Cooper does it.  The Big 10 is different now, and trying to establish
>> a running game at all costs is useless.
> 
> What?!?  Were we even watching the same game?  Here's my own unofficial
> accounting of Ohio State's play-calling in the first half:

	Maybe not.  I didn't get to a TV until the interception (start of 2nd
quarter?)

> 15 pass plays				21 rushing plays
> ==-==============================	==-==========================
>  6 complete for 93 yards		 5 Smith for 18 yards
>  5 incomplete				 5 Cothran for 20 yards
>  4 sacks/scrambles for -35 yards	 5 Harris for 20 yards
> 					 4 By'not'e for 9 yards
> 					 1 George for 2 yards
> 				 	 1 broken play for -2 yards
> 
> This is quite a good mix -- as promised, far more passing than Ohio
> State attempted last year.  In fact, the target for this year was
> 60/40, and outside of the Badger ten-yard-line Ohio State was 55/45
> running/passing (17/14).

	The stuff I was witness to was mostly runs.  Now I admit I'm a passing
fan, so my version of "not passing enough" may be different than the average
Buckeye fan :).

> Further, the running game was working *better* than the passing game
> in the first half.  They had two backs averaging four yards per carry
> (and might have had three if Smith hadn't tried to play after spraining
> his ankle), while a full 60% of the pass plays were split between no
> gain and seven-to-ten-yard losses.
> 
>> When Herbstreit was finally allowed to direct a passing series, BOOM!
>> OSU scored.
> 
> One wonders why Cooper didn't try to talk the Wisconsin coaches into
> running the "prevent defense" for the entire game.  :-/

	Yeah, they were in prevent.  But Herbstreit was completing passes in
the 9-14 yard range.

> I've heard a lot of people say that neither team played too well, but
> I'd disagree.  Other than a high snap on a punt and *five* stupid
> personal fouls, Wisconsin played a fine game.  In particular, their
> QB was extremely sharp, and their defensive line played an outstanding
> game.

	They played well until the final 7 minutes or so, when they appeared to
run out of steam.  The personal fouls were stupid, no-brainer mistakes.  As one
TV commenter said "they keep looking at the clock wishing the game would end".

> Ohio State didn't play too badly either.  Herbstreit was a little off,
> but not terribly so.  The play calling was not as bad as some have
> claimed.  The botched pitch inside the Badger 10-yard-line was probably
> Ohio State's only really unforgivable error in the game.  And against
> a fired-up, solid Badger team, it might have made the difference.

	Okay, so I'm spoiled.  I expect OSU to play at the same level as
Michigan (if not better :) every year.  After suffering through Bruce's
under-achievements, I hate to see OSU descend into a second-tier level of play. 
They shouldn't be playing it safe, or even trying to establish a running game
(especially against Wisconson!).  OSU needs to become pass oriented.  Period. 
That's the Enormous Eleven's biggest weakness.  Inability to compete against
strong passing teams.  Or even mediocre teams with good QB's.

	There are exceptions, to be sure.  But every time OSU get's it butt
kicked in a bowl game trying to "establish the running game" I wish the gods of
football would erase Woody Hayes from the collective Buckeye memory.

	OSU is indeed passing more.  But they are still pretty predictable. 
Even Earle Bruce would run a halfback pass every now and then.

Brett                                                      
_______________________________________________________________________________
Proconsul Computer Consulting                                        CHA-CHING!
Better, Cheaper, Faster					       (Pick any two :)
Disclaimer:								   NOT!
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college