The most important conversation before Ohio State and Clemson square off in the Fiesta Bowl might happen before the game even starts and between a coach and the men wearing stripes.
“I know some of our coaches do, the refs and coaches have a little powwow before the game,” Ohio State guard Billy Price said Tuesday. “I don't know what goes on in that meeting but I'm assuming it's said then.”
"It" is Ohio State's desire and plan to use tempo within its offense. "It" is a conversation with Urban Meyer or any other member of Ohio State's offensive staff and the referees for the College Football Playoff which entails the Buckeyes informing those with the whistles how they want the ball set hastily so as to not allow the Tigers to substitute fresh bodies up front. "It" could be the difference between an Ohio State victory and one for the Tigers.
Price and Ohio State's offensive line often tell their coaches they feel confident in how they are moving bodies in the trenches to just run the ball every play, score points and win games. The Buckeyes ran wild against Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon in the postseason on the way to the national championship. Cardale Jones complemented things nicely with his ability to stretch the field vertically. But the reason Ohio State won it all was Ezekiel Elliott and the offensive line.
An uptempo approach sat absent often last year, until the Buckeyes trucked Michigan and then Notre Dame to finish the season 12-1. Taylor Decker, Pat Elflein and Price said after it all ended that their success came from wearing down the Wolverines and Fighting Irish by getting up to the line of scrimmage quickly play after play and whipping their counterparts to the tune of 254 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in those two games.
It is on Ohio State to let the officials know they plan to use tempo and thus set the ball at the new line of scrimmage rapidly. An offensive plan can backfire should the offense not get first downs and in return force its defense back on the field without much rest. But Price also brought up two teams that had success with tempo this year against Clemson.
“We watched NC State do it, we watched Pitt do it and some other teams that had some success with it,” he said.
“We like to play fast. We’re going to do that, we’re going to play fast.”– Pat Elflein
Pittsburgh served the Tigers their only loss this season, a 43-42 decision in Clemson on Nov. 12. It ultimately didn't hurt Dabo Swinney's team in the long run as they went on to win the ACC and make the College Football Playoff. The Panthers capitalized on three Deshaun Watson turnovers and hung around long enough to kick a game-winning field goal as time expired.
But they also ran for 156 yards and a touchdown on 33 attempts and finished with 308 yards passing on 22 completions. James Connor ripped off a 20-yard scoring run late in the fourth quarter to inch the Panthers closer, a play that finished an uptempo drive—three plays went for 30 yards in 25 seconds after Watson threw a pick—and helped them ultimately win the game.
When Ohio State's offense is rolling, it is doing similar things. Questions and issues with the passing game have been apparent all season but if Price, Elflein and the guys in front of quarterback J.T. Barrett can make room for him, Mike Weber and Curtis Samuel to pick up chunk yards and string together quick drives that end in points, they should see success.
“We’ve got that feeling a few times in the past and it’s a great feeling doing that,” Elflein said. “Just commanding the game pretty much up front. We try to do that every game.
“We like to play fast. We’re going to do that, we’re going to play fast.”
Clemson's defensive line is as massive as it is excellent, led by Christian Wilkins and Carlos Watkins. At 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-4 and tipping the scales at than 300 pounds apiece, they lead a terrific unit that is deep and makes plays in the backfield. The Tigers are third in the country with 112 tackles for loss.
“They've got some dudes, that's for sure,” Barrett said. “I think they're at the top as far as just disrupting things.”
Added offensive coordinator Ed Warinner: “This is one of if not the best defensive front we've played against. They stand out to you on film. They play a lot of guys up there. And then they challenge you because they're multiple up front.”
A way to combat that is pick up first downs and hurry to the line of scrimmage to force the Tigers to keep the same personnel on the field. Look for Ohio State to try and play fast in an attempt to keep them on the field and tire them out. Should that happen, bigger chunks on the ground such as Conner's last month will come.
“Every game we try to establish that dominance and there are other factors that go into letting us establish that dominance,” Elflein said. “That’s our mentality [to play fast] every game.”
Execution and avoiding silly mistakes like procedural or holding calls from the officials are essential when teams look to use tempo and get the defense out of position, cause them to overpursue and miss tackles.
So whether Meyer informs the referees that his team will look to run tempo and thus the offense will need to have the ball placed in the proper spot quickly, if the Buckeyes can continue it for four quarters falls on them.
“It's all based on execution,” Price said. “We're not Pitt. Pitt's not us. We're not NC state, they're not us. Just gotta make sure we execute on our half.”
