Comments on: Pregame thoughts

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 16:33:16 +0000

Personally, I like the play-action pass to start the game, but it all comes down to one question: How much confidence do you have that Zac will be calm enough to make the pass? If he’s a little too excited on the first play, there’s a good chance he’ll either overthrow the receiver or put it in the dirt – either way the play was a failure and your looking at 2nd and 10 (and possibly a turnover). This is why coaches often start the game with a run and make the first pass something simple, like a WR screen. Personally, I think that Zac is made of different stuff than most college QBs, and he could make the throw and start the game off right, but I’m not ready to bet on that.

By: Cody

Cody — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:27:38 +0000

Here is what will happen. Three Recievers right 1 left with a Wide reciever screen to the right to dez bryant. We pick up 10-12 yards on the first play of the game.

By: Clint

Clint — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:56:18 +0000

Artrell Woods!

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:57:48 +0000

I would like to see something like a counter or a slant right off the bat but I know it won’t happen. Most likely, the very first play will be a run, probably a Zone-Read. The first pass play will be a pass into the flat to Dez to test the physicality of the Cougars and to keep them honest when defending our receivers.

By: Danny

Danny — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:04:58 +0000

I like the cut of your jib, Scott>

That play would get the OSU offense off on the right track, but one must also think like a coach, “Do I want to risk turning over the ball on the very first play?”.

As an old coach said (depending on where you’re from — Ohio State fans attribute the coining to Woody Hayes. Texas fans attribute the saying to Darryl Royal), “Three things can happen when you throw the football and two of them are bad.”.

Being the first play of the first game on the road in an NFL stadium atmosphere on national TV, I’d like to think that Coach Gundy, gunslinger that he may be, would be smarter to chose a more simple handoff up the middle for several reasons.

One, if you’ve ever played ball, you’re nervous as heck. All you need to do to calm those jitters is to get that first hit in. Then, it’s a little easier to breathe after that.

Two, Gundy has an experienced line going against a suspect WSU defense that’s missing several key players. When a coach needs to establish a running game to set up the passing game, starting off with the run seems to be a “no-brainer”.

After all, OSU finished the season with equal run and pass yardage. So, there’s no need to take a risk right off the bat.

OSU has three very good backs carrying the ball. All three need carries to show what they can do.
We already know what Zac, Bryant and Pettigrew can do in the passing game.

My thought is to establish a dominate running game. Get the WSU line thinking run. Bring up their LBs and Backs to stop the run, THEN start clicking on the option and passing game when the OSU line has settled down, the ball exchange between Washington and Robinson is more secure and WSU’s defense is back on it’s heels.

Another reason not to go for the bomb or homerun early is that if it’s too easy, there’s a tendency for your offense to get an “easy” mindset.

This OSU team will need to work hard all year. Like a spoiled child, getting things too easy is not good.

Gundy will definitely open up the offense as much as needed, but I believe he’ll reserve as much as he can, too.
There’s plenty of time to sling it thruought the season, but for the first game, OSU needs to work on the line play and establish our RBs.

Running the ball also eats up the clock, keeping our team from having to rely on our suspect defense. We all remember how relying on our defense went last year.
The defense needs work, but it doesn’t need any pressure to win at this point. That’ll come soon enough.