Virtues of Tressel Ball on display last week | BuckeyeXtra

Laws are like sausages, the saying goes -- it is better not to see them being made.

[Richard]

Tressel Ball is pretty when we win but it depends on everything going perfectly. One mistake, one opponents drive (USC) and it's a loss. Play to win, not to not lose..... Almost every BIG GAME we have lost is because we play not to lose and one drive, one mistake and it's game over.... Ken Gordon may kiss up to JT but the results speak for themselves... When we win, sure it's great but when we lose, JT's fingerprints are all over it!

[Richard]

In typical DISPATCH style (Don't make JT mad or we'll lose access)I find it interesting how Ken didn't mention the DOWNSIDE of TresselBall that we all see way too often, no offense, lose games because we can't score and our defense gives up ONE DRIVE or so. We'll see in the next three games how GREAT TRESSELBALL is KEN!

[ima idiott]

look. I pay $65.00 bucks to be entertained. So friggin entertain me. And trust me folks, Tressel Ball or Billy Ball or Goof Ball does not entertain me. 3 yards and a cloud of dust is to revert to the hyeinees (or however you spell the name of that animal)

[idbuck]

One game! Great win against a ranked opponent, but that was one game. I`m holding my breath, crossing my fingers. Who will show up today? Team of Perdue, or of Penn St? Defense is awesome, but will offense show up, will the old TP reappear? Hope they got it figured out and this team can be as great as it can be. GO BUCKS!!!!!!!!!!1

[Jeff]

Tresselball put up 24 points in Happy Valley. The team played great D, great special teams, and let fly a pass when Penn State least expected it. So what are people complaining about?

To Ima, don't sacks entertain you? Pick 6's and killer kickoff returns like we had against Wisconsin? Me, I love 'em.

[Old Buckeye]

I don't buy this rationalization. It is similar to Obama's "saved jobs" baloney. We lost to Penn State last year and to USC this year playing Tresselball, i.e. playing not to lose. We should have won both those games. It worked last week because Penn State was just not that good. If we do it today, we might lose to a team we are favored to beat by 17 points. That is the real Tresselball. Bah humbug. Lets play to win!

[Bobby Buckeye]

Ohio State is second in the Big Ten in scoring offense at 30.3 points per game and 35th nationally. MI is first at 32 points per game and 24th nationally. It isn't as bad as some of you make it sound. We do score points.

[pbj]

The reality is, while Tressel played "Tressel Ball" last week, he was FINALLY creative while remaining playing conservative. The majority of his runs were still up the middle, and typically in "Tressel Ball" ALL runs are up the middle. But he kept them honest by running outside, running out of the shotgun and running end arounds. Most passes were down field and along the sidelines (i.e. Posey's TD), and typically in "Tressel Ball" all passes are long and outside. But, again, he kept them honest by actually throwing short passes, throwing in the middle of the field and throwing screens.

I've always said I believe in "Tressel Ball" but that it lacks creativity. Conservancy does not require running the ball up the middle every play, and mixing in a few passes down field. Playing conservatively can mean short passes (hitches, screens, slants etc.) and running the ball outside the tackles. But far too often his offense remains predictable because he defines "Tressel Ball" as run up the middle on first and second downs and if you have to throw on third down, throw it 30 yards down field.

I'm all for playing conservative, but mix in some manageable, creative plays once or twice a drive and I feel like our offense will be far more effective.

[Buckeye Boy in Chicago]

Richard wrote:

In typical DISPATCH style (Don't make JT mad or we'll lose access)I find it interesting how Ken didn't mention the DOWNSIDE of TresselBall that we all see way too often, no offense, lose games because we can't score and our defense gives up ONE DRIVE or so. We'll see in the next three games how GREAT TRESSELBALL is KEN!

Five Big Ten championships in a row and three visits to the NC. Not sure what games you're watching Richard. Maybe we should go back to the 90s? OSU did score lots of points then, but not much to show for their offensive prowess. I am so excited to be living in this era of Tresselball. He plays to win on an off the field. Go Bucks! Take down Iowa.

[Dave in NC]

The problem with Tressel ball is the lack of adjustments when your opponent is able to do the same thing and then some. Works great almost all the time against inferior or essentially equivalent competition. Doesn't work against teams like Florida, LSU, Texas, and USC who have the same level of talent, the same defensive abilities, and do not make stupid mistakes.

I am not in favor of offenses which constantly put a team in a position for making the big mistakes if not executed well (see DickRod up north). But the teams that for the most part subscribe to what Tressel does but are able to add the wrinkles are the ones who will not just compete for the NC but will win the NC.

[Illinois Buck]

I'm sick of Tressel ball. He's allergic to scoring points. Points are like money--you can't have too much. Watching his teams is like watching some chronically broke chump trying to scrape by, scrape by at the Kroger, scrape by at the gas station, scrape by on the heat. Finally he goes home to eat his Ramen noodles--in other words, he punts. That's JT's biggest offensive weapon, the punt. Why any top flight QBs or receivers come here, I don't know.

[Buckeye in NJ]

Illinois Buck wrote:

Why any top flight QBs or receivers come here, I don't know.

I'd venture two/three reasons. 1) He very recently coached a QB to the Heisman. 2) In the same time, he has coached several wide receivers to the NFL. oh, and 3) Columbus is awesome and I wish I could move back.

How many reasons do you want? GO BUCKS!

[Gator Gary]

TRESSEL BALL!!!is LOSER BALL!!! Just call it PEE WEE BALL!!! As long as OSU is coached by PEE WEE TRESSEL, they will never be a threat to win the National Championship. PEE WEE BALL will win the Buckeyes a lot of "WEAK 11" Football Championships, but PEE WEE BALL will not beat Top 10 football programs. The proof to that last statement is pretty evident. When did PEE WEE BALL beat a non-conference Top 10 Team? Please don't include your tainted victory over Miami in 2002. The Referee won that game for you and I believe that Clarett was ineligible to play in that game. QUESTION? If Cincinnatti would somehow play FLORIDA for the National Championship, what team does Buckeye Fan root for. Just think after the GATORS would crush the Bearcats, us GATOR FANS would brag that another Ohio team becam a doormat for the GATORS. We could re-name the Buckeye State... THE DOORMAT STATE... Buckeye Fan enjoy your victories against Iowa and Michigan using PEE WEE BALL, because PEE WEE BALL is not going to work in the Rose Bowl against Oregon. GO GATORS!!!

[Taps Buckeye]

Gator Gary, it's sad to me that your sense of self worth is so closely tied to the performance of a bunch of teenagers on a football field. If I remember correctly, a Michigan team (which OSU beat) crushed Florida in their bowl game and would have won by 4 touchdowns if Mike Hart could hang onto the football in the redzone. How about powerhouses like Ole Miss? I understand that you're excited about Florida's number one ranking, but all teams eventually lose and when the Gators do, where will you be then? Better stock up on some Zoloft.

[Bucknaked]

Chicago
I agree with a lot of what Richard, Old Buckeye and Dave wrote. Ask Tressle a critical question and you won't be called on to ask another. The Bucks outplayed Texas last year and USC this year. Both were classical Tressle ball losses. Watch a Brian Kelly coached Bearcats team and have some fun. Tressle ball brought humiliation to the Buckeye Nation in two consecutive N/T games. JT will continue to win in the Big Ten and consistantly go to a bowl. He will prepare young men for life and I admire those qualities. For those reasons we are lucky to have him. He will not win a N/T with the staff on board playing not to lose.

"Fire Bollman and hire a qualified QB coach".

[Godzilla]

ima idiott wrote:

look. I pay $65.00 bucks to be entertained. So friggin entertain me. And trust me folks, Tressel Ball or Billy Ball or Goof Ball does not entertain me. 3 yards and a cloud of dust is to revert to the hyeinees (or however you spell the name of that animal)

Your stupidity at paying $65 to be entertained just did it for me for free....

[Godzilla]

Bucknaked wrote:

Chicago
I agree with a lot of what Richard, Old Buckeye and Dave wrote. Ask Tressle a critical question and you won't be called on to ask another. The Bucks outplayed Texas last year and USC this year. Both were classical Tressle ball losses. Watch a Brian Kelly coached Bearcats team and have some fun. Tressle ball brought humiliation to the Buckeye Nation in two consecutive N/T games. JT will continue to win in the Big Ten and consistantly go to a bowl. He will prepare young men for life and I admire those qualities. For those reasons we are lucky to have him. He will not win a N/T with the staff on board playing not to lose.
"Fire Bollman and hire a qualified QB coach".

If you feel humiliation from two appearences in the NT game, I dont think Tressel's style is your issue. Humiliation is an attitude. Only winners make it to the NT. Concentrate onh thew positives dude. JT is the only coach to have a 14 - 0 season.

[Bill]

Tresselball works just fine against inferior opponents (the Big-10 & MAC schools that make up about 10-11 games per year) but it rarely works against equal or superior talent (Florida, USC, LSU). Tresselball worked once against a cocky, lazy, overrated Miami team in 02 but even that game had question marks. Never a dominating performance; sorry, Notre Dame, Kansas St, Michigan, Penn St dont count: even Texas in 06 was QB'd by not-ready-for-primetime-freshm an Colt McCoy. Texas finished outside the top 10 that year.

Ohio State has too much talent to be held back by Tresselball. I don't mind some variations of it but you gotta put some points on the board when the opportunity is there. They have a great defense so they can afford to gamble some on offense. I'm not saying I want to see the Houston Cougar "Run & Shoot" that David Klingler ran but some variation of run/pass/involve the TE & FB in the pass over the middle, out of the backfield, etc.. What Michigan ran under LLLLLLoyd Carr was a good offense that would work even better at OSU because of better defense & special teams. Of course we need a better O-line to move the ball.

If everyone's fine with winning Big-10 titles & losing the bowl games than I guess Tresselball is just fine. If the Big-10 ever returns to dominance like in the 80's & 90's then Tresselball might start resulting in 8-4, 9-3 records. Something to think about.

[Bill]

Penn St is 0-2 against top-25 teams this year. To put it mildly, they're slightly overrated. You ever think OSU just beat Indiana or Illinois last week?

[Red_Queen_Race]

This past game featured a lot of runs but the people complaining don't realize that generally we drop back to pass quite a bit on first down. My problem with the offense has been the type of pass plays and the emphasis on the wide receivers. We finally threw a short pass to the fullback for a first down on 3rd and 3 instead of looking for a WR 15-20 yards down field. I am still looking for us to run more quick slants, screens, wide receiver crosses with the "unintentional" pick, and use the TE more.