Outdated, Slow, predictable, and boring. That is what some Buckeye fans would describe Ohio State’s offense the past couple of seasons. Would Ohio State benefit by switching to the spread style offense to throw opponents off, and ready the offensive schemes for incoming freshman Terrelle Pryor? Well Jim Tressel likes to do things in a systematic approach. What he will do without a doubt, is keep the same offense with Boeckman. However, we can expect to see some changes such as when Troy Smith was QB a couple years back. Coach Tress will systematically and slowly start implementing the spread style offense, although not completely shifting to it altogther. This will not be easy, and while Ohio State is expected to go back to for another run at the National Championship, this is not the year to completely overhaul the offense.

But don’t fret Buckeye Fans. This offense is going to be very dangerous. With Beanie Wells coming off a stellar sophomore season, he will no doubt be in the running for the Heisman this year. Todd Boeckman should in fact be much more solid, while having a year of starting experience under his belt. The Buckeyes will also be led by 18 of 22 starters coming back from last season, another reason why the coach should stick with the same old boring offense. Because this offense although not particular exciting; will be more fundamentally sound. Coach Tressel has been having players not lose sight of how important those basic fundamentals really are. The small things such as lineman staying low on their blocks, Running Backs patiently trusting those lineman to open holes in the ground attack is what makes a recipe of a champion.

While we would love for the offense to be led by pryor in a spread formation, this simply is not something that should be implemented entirely during one season. Tressel is in my mind the best coach in the game at doing things one thing at a time in a systematic approach. He will focus on the fundamentals of the game, and then build up. It will take patience on the part of fans to expect the spread offense to appear. No doubt, Coach Tressel will face some heat if this season does not produce a National Championship. His ways of coaching will called into question if certain expectations are not met. No doubt, teams will be stacking the box trying to stop Beanie Wells. That is why some creativity will be needed on Tressel’s part to keep them guessing. Like he himself said, “sometimes your opponents know you better than you know yourself”. Hopefully, he will remember that when big games are on the line. Anything less than the crystal football trophy being held up this season will be viewed as a failure.