Urban Meyer and Ed Warinner need to be on the same page for Ohio State to move the ball, pick up first downs and put points on the scoreboard. As an offensive-minded head coach and offensive coordinator, such a simplistic statement seems like an afterthought.
Both men felt like they were during Ohio State's shocking 24-21 loss at Penn State last Saturday, a game in which the Buckeyes struggled to push the ball down the field vertically. Issues like Curtis Samuel's lack of rushing attempts, J.T. Barrett's willingness to check down to running back Mike Weber (eight receptions), tight end Marcus Baugh (five, including a touchdown) and Samuel (eight) plus an overall lack of creativity is a point of frustration for fans this week as the Buckeyes prepare for Northwestern.
“That comes with the territory,” Warinner said after practice on Wednesday. “You get a lot of positive things said when you win by a lot of points and you get criticism when you lose.”
Warinner is wise to understand that as criticism dumps in from those outside the program for the steady regression in Ohio State's offense over the last month. He did point out, however, that Ohio State did lead by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter against Penn State. He is right, as two special teams mistakes helped shift that game in favor of the Nittany Lions.
“Do I evaluate everything? What do you think? That's what I do all day long. There's a lot of things we need to do better.”– Urban Meyer
But the Buckeyes had plenty of opportunities to put the game on ice when they had the ball. It never happened.
“We have to play better. I have to do a better job,” Warinner said. “We have to do a better job coaching, play better, execute better and that all starts with the coaching staff and the preparation and give our kids a chance.”
Both Warinner and Meyer combined to mutter some derivative of the word "execute" 10 times while they answered questions about the offense for roughly 10 minutes apiece after practice on Wednesday. It is clear that is a point of emphasis before the Buckeyes host the Wildcats on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
“I looked at everything. I'm not going to do it in here, we don't play the blame game but we have to execute better and we have to get in the right plays better. All the above,” Meyer said. “We don't have time to do that. Do I evaluate everything? What do you think? That's what I do all day long. There's a lot of things we need to do better.”
Ohio State has issues starting the game on offense, scoring only three points on seven opening drives so far in 2016. Recently, issues are prevalent in the red zone as well. The problems are on players not carrying out their jobs and finishing plays properly. The wide receivers need to create separation. The offensive line must protect Barrett better and create more holes for the running game. Barrett needs to get the ball to his skill guys on time when they are open.
And the coaches need to be better too. Ohio State's issues on offense do not fall on just one individual or group.
“We're a running team, play-action pass, but when we need to drop back and throw we have to be able to do that and execute at a high level,” Warinner said. “There's a lot of variables. Some are the defense, some are protection, some are execution, throwing and catching and all those things are part of being effective on offense.”
The Buckeyes threw the ball 43 times against Penn State and the battery of Warinner, Meyer and quarterbacks coach Tim Beck called for even more passes that didn't happen due to Barrett getting sacked six times and scrambling a handful of other plays where he escaped pressure and ran. Penn State's defense dictated that but so did the fact the Buckeyes also couldn't get anything done on the ground.
If you remove Samuel's 74-yard sprint around right end in the third quarter, Ohio State ran 39 times for just 94 yards. That is an anemic 2.4 yards per carry average.
“We want to have some balance. Balance in the run game, balance in the passing game,” Warinner said. “That's pretty high for us (43 pass attempts) but again, trying to take advantage of them playing a lot of people close to the line of scrimmage and trying to stop the run.”
Meyer said no young player has caught his eye this week enough in the receiving corps or on the offensive line to merit more playing time as the Buckeyes enter the back half of their schedule. Warinner said there isn't going to be any drastic change in the play calling process like last year after Ohio State lost to Michigan State when Meyer shoved him up in the box alongside Beck for the final two games of the year.
It sounds like there aren't going to be many differences, at least when it comes to the offensive structure. Which is why both Meyer and Warinner kept bringing up the importance of execution—from everybody.
No matter how much fans shower their hate and frustration after their favorite team loses just their fifth game in five seasons.
“That's just the nature of the beast. That comes with the territory. That doesn't affect me or how we do business or what we think,” Warinner said. “We're going to have a plan, we're going to go in, we're going to do it together as a staff and as a team. We're going to go out there and execute what we need to do and execute at a high level. It's our responsibility.”
