Football
Buckeye Offense Still Disappointing
By John Porentas

Three touchdowns and two field goals add up to 27 points, a total that apparently isn't good enough despite the fact that the competition could manage just six points.

That is the situation with the OSU offense following last weekend's 27-6 win over San Diego State. The fans expected an offensive explosion against a weak SDSU defense and were disappointed, the coaching staff was so disappointed that it didn't award any offensive awards this week, and the players themselves are not happy about their performance either.

"This past weekend, we were terrible, no getting around it. I thought we were awful this past weekend," said wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez.

There is a lot of unhappiness going around over the OSU offense, but the Buckeyes insist that all is not lost. To the contrary, they see the offense as a unit that is still developing. They also see it as one that has to get better soon. Anthony Gonzalez went so far as to say that the offense is not playing well enough right now for the Buckeyes to win out, beginning this week with the Hawkeyes. Running back Brandon Schnittker agreed.

"I definitely do (agree), said Schnittker.

"Iowa is going to bring a challenge defensively. They have a great linebacking corps and a real strong secondary. They have a young defensive line, but it's Iowa, they're a well disciplined team and they're going to get after us. We've got to play better and we know we're definitely capable of that," said Schnittker.

The Buckeyes ended 2004 with an offensive flourish, then basically toyed with Miami of Ohio in the season opener, leading to visions of a dominant offense in 2005. Then came games against Texas and San Diego State in which the offense was sputtering at best.

Troy Smith

Much of the blame for the lack of offensive output has fallen on the quarterback position. Troy Smith was outstanding against the Wolverines in his last game in 2004. Justin Zwick was efficient in the bowl game and against Miami, but since then, the quarterback position has not been particularly productive. Troy Smith has now been named the starter at that position, but Smith admits that he has yet to settle in and regain the form he had in 2004 after missing two games with an NCAA suspension

"I don't feel totally comfortable, but comfortable enough," said Smith.

"Getting back to rare or top form is hard. A lot of people try to rush things, but it's not that easy at all," said Smith.

For Smith to regain his game-speed form, he has to be in the game, good or bad. The OSU coaching staff seems to have decided that any downside to Smith while he is getting his game legs back under him is worth the reward they might reap when that happens. Offensive lineman Nick Mangold says he sees evidence that that process is occurring.

"I think he's feeling a little bit more comfortable back there, more ready to get after it, more trusting of his arm and his receivers," said Mangold.

"He looked good today. He had a good practice and I thought he made some great throws and great reads," Mangold said.

Smith says he understands the process and also sees progress.

"We're an offense on the rise, an offense on the verge of doing some good things," said Smith.

"We're not quite there yet, we're not where we want to be, but we're on the rise. We're doing some good things and moving the ball and getting touchdowns in the red zone now.

"What I think that is missing is continuity," said Smith.

"I was absent for a while, so that's one big reason. There's no excuses now," said Smith.

Complicating things for the offense is the fact that while Smith is getting his game-speed legs back, defenses are catching up to what the Buckeyes are doing offensively.

"I think last year was a different year. Teams weren't really ready for what we were going to do," said Mangold.

"This year they have more opportunity to prepare and have a better idea of who we have out there. It makes it a little more difficult."

The Buckeyes still believe that the offense will come around.

"I think we're getting better. We're making improvements," said Schnittker

"Today we ran the ball really well. We were aggressive with the football as far as the running game goes which we're going to have to continue to develop as the Big Ten season comes on.

"I think the offense has to be a machine a little bit. What we showed in the last two games last year is that we have big game potential, we have guys who are going to make plays for us, but as far as the beginning of a season goes, you have to develop what's going to work at game speed.

"I'm happy with where the offense has come so far. We've got a lot of work to do, but we've been having drives and we're making plays. We're getting better," said Schnittker.

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