Bill Curry, College Football 20y

Tiller, Tressel seek different kinds of balance

Purdue University will play football against The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio this Saturday. Ho-hum, because all smart football people know what happens to the Boilermakers in Ohio Stadium every other year. Twelve of the past 13 times they have been beaten, so why should this year be any different? Or so goes the conventional wisdom.

Let's do something strange and think about it this time. Stay with me here, because Jim Tressel of Ohio State and Joe Tiller of Purdue are talking about being balanced and they are serious.

We are going to examine the fact that these two men mean entirely different things when they use the word. We will define a variety of meanings and show how their thinking will affect the outcome of the big contest.

Balance -- football's buzz word for the new millennium -- is only a few years old as a football axiom and already in need of clarification. Try to think how many times you have heard, "We just want to be balanced this year."

Nebraska's well-known penchant for running roughshod over opponents has been altered by Frank Solich's insistence on installing a yet to be effective passing game. BYU, even with its legendary passing prowess, has changed since Lavell Edwards' retirement. It has become coach Gary Crowton's offense over the last three years and the goal, of course, is balance.

Listen carefully to commentary by stat-spouters and you will detect a robotic adherence to the term when very few actually understand it. There are a surprising number of subtle differences in virtually every coach's use of the term.

For our purposes I will offer four definitions:

1. Balance is the even distribution of play calls, with half being running plays and half being passes.

2. Balance is the even distribution of productivity, with half the yards being generated by the running game and half by passing.

3. Balance is the use of a team's less emphasized dimension in a simplified fashion to set up the aspect that is preferred. (Example: John Unitas was fond of sticking his head into the huddle and saying, "I'm going to call a couple of runs for you big guys. Then we will get down to business!" Translated from QB-speak that meant we would run the ball twice, and then throw it 40 or 50 times until we won. It usually worked, largely because we had J.U.)

4. Balance is the capacity and willingness to run or throw the ball from anywhere, anytime, in any situation. Implicit in this definition is the ability to execute either phase of the game in all situations. This is the best form of balance for most teams, the most difficult to master and the hardest to defend.

When Ohio State's Jim Tressel speaks of balance he seems to be utilizing definition No. 3 while Joe Tiller's teams lean to No. 4, and both coaches are wise in their approaches based on their personnel.

The development of offensive systems is based on a number of factors, the most important of which is personnel. Other factors include weather, schedule, and coaching expertise.

Tressel is smart to base his offense on a powerful ground game because he knows he can always recruit dominating offensive and defensive linemen, allowing him to play ball-control, field-position football. Add a well-coached kicking game and you have a time-honored method of winning, especially in a cold climate in which it may be difficult to throw effectively in the latter stages of the season.

Tiller knows full well that may never sign huge, fast defensive players in large numbers. He needs to be able to turn games into track meets if necessary, utilizing the width of the field, today's modern skill athletes and clever substitution packages. The relaxation of pass protection and holding rules has been a benefit to this kind of offense.

Ironically, the Boilermakers have even overtaken the Buckeyes in the Ohio State specialty. Not only does Purdue surpass Ohio State in passing yardage (221 ypg to 194 ypg) but actually rushes for more yards (160 ypg to 131 ypg) as well.

In the case of both teams a strong kicking game is essential. Tiller and Purdue learned that the hard way last season when the team led the Big Ten in both total offense and total defense but managed only a 7-6 record. Mistakes on special teams destroy field position, morale, and coaches' sanity. A renewed vigor and the staff's personal intervention have improved special teams this year. Tressel's team has its always powerful special teams performing well again as usual.

The game within the game for this one has two dimensions, the tactical and the emotional. The tactics involve Tressel Balance vs. Tiller Balance. The emotional factor is simply the Boilermakers' capacity to display poise in this setting, under this pressure.

Earlier in the season the heat of playing Michigan in Ann Arbor was too much for Purdue and the Boilermakers were easily beaten in a display of nerves replete with missed assignments and dropped balls.

Tressel will stick with his time-honored methods, hoping to crack the tough Purdue defense by pounding the ball at them on the ground, playing great defense and waiting for a mistake. He will rely on quarterback Craig Krenzel, receiver Michael Jenkins, linebacker A.J. Hawk and cornerback Chris Gamble for big plays at just the right times.

Tiller will preach poise and practice throwing and catching even more than usual. quarterback Kyle Orton and his receivers must perform at the highest level for Purdue to win

The most telling statistic coming into this game is the Buckeyes' prowess in stopping the run. Offensive units have been able to generate only 1.5 yards per rush against them and this will cause Purdue to limber up Kyle Orton's arm.

If successful, Tiller's variation on balance will have led directly to a win against Notre Dame in which his team ran the ball 59 times and threw it only 25, and a victory over Ohio State in which they will have thrown it perhaps 50 times. Purdue has proven it can win either way and the Buckeyes have shown no one will beat them with a preponderance of running attempts.

Hidden yardage is dominated by the most reliable statistic in football, turnover margin. Purdue is at plus-15 for the season (one-and-a-half per game) while Ohio State is at zero. The Buckeyes will be hard-pressed to win without prevailing in the turnover battle. Third down conversion rates favor Purdue on both offense and defense, further evidence of Purdue's defensive intensity and renewed running game.

Net punting favors Ohio State by exactly five yards, and that is half a first down on each exchange of punts. Both teams have excellent field goal kickers and will each be working to block or distract the other team's man. A blocked kick could very likely decide this game.


Game Plans

 

No. 10 Purdue

No. 4 Ohio State
Offense You must come out throwing and receivers must make each pass count! Offensive line, take the next step forward. Keep the ball and score.
  You have an enormous turnover advantage. Perfect ball security. Lydell Ross, the time has come to be a dominant back.
  Kyle Orton, your preparation and continued accuracy will likely decide this game. Michael Jenkins, when your opportunities come make big plays.
Defense Tight end Ben Hartsock is an emerging threat. Bracket and clamp him to get off the field on third down. Run defense, do not let them make an inch. The last four opponents have not!
  There must be no big plays allowed this time. Defensive line, you must run to the ball for four quarters. No letup.
  Shaun Phillips, you must be in their backfield all day. You can be the author of second-and-long. Secondary, this is your biggest test to date. Break on the ball and make sure tackles.
Special Teams Ohio State kicker Mike Nugent has great accuracy. Have a plan to disrupt his operation. Mike Nugent, you are not only a point producer, you are a morale factor.
  Ben Jones must have perfect snaps, holds and protection to match Nugent. B. J. Sander, the 41.1 net yards net per punt is key against this offense.
  Find a way to neutralize Ohio State's net punt advantage. Any big play allowed will be a huge morale boost for Purdue because of their emphasis this season.
Players Schweigert, Koutouvides, and Phillips, your leadership will be paramount Robert Reynolds, you must maintain your poise in emotional situations.
  Talk turnovers and create them. That is your biggest advantage. There is a reason you have won 12 of the last 13 here against Purdue. Maintain your dominance.
  Keep it close. You have a fourth quarter advantage as well! You must play better in the fourth quarter than you have this year.
Coaches Create the proper mindset for your fourth-quarter advantage. Somehow you must prepare the team to win the fourth quarter.
  Seize the moment on offense with your fast-paced passing game. Wear down their big men. Make sure of fresh legs. You will face a fast break offense.
  Preach ball security all week-you must keep the turnover edge. Work to improve third down offensive performance, by emphasis and tendency breaking wrinkles.

ESPN college football analyst Bill Curry coached for 17 years in the college ranks. His Game Plans for marquee matchups appear each week during the college football season.

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