Involving former Nebraska OC more paying off for Ohio State

Ohio State's offense benefited from more than just more effective quarterback play and better blocking in week four.

Both head coach Urban Meyer and offensive coordinator Ed Warinner credited help from quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator Tim Beck.

Beck is in his first season in Columbus after spending the previous seven at Nebraska. He was the offensive coordinator for the Cornhuskers the last four years, but his role with Ohio State is different.

While he crafted his own attack in Lincoln, he's been asked to assimilate his ideas into the ones Meyer has developed into his own unique version of the spread offense since becoming a head coach for the first time at Bowling Green in 2001.

"I think it's important to understand when we say offensive coordinator here, it's coordinating an offense that's in," Meyer explained Monday. "Does that make sense? Where if you hire someone and say, 'Okay, you're bringing your system, let's take two years.'"

Rather, Meyer expects his assistants to work within the confines of what he has already installed.

"So it's a very unique situation here," he continued. "We don't hire coordinators to come in and say, 'Hey, let's enhance it and make it better.' That's where I think (former offensive coordinator Tom Herman) was so valuable. Tom added a lot of elements. Ed Warinner has been phenomenal enhancing as a line coach co-coordinator, and Tim Beck is slowly bringing his added to make it better."

While they did not get into specifics, both Meyer and Warinner indicated another week of working as a triumvirate seemed to help the overall process for the Buckeyes.

"Went much better," Meyer said Monday. "I think Tim's just transitioning. And I knew it would happen. But Ed, I thought, did a really good job. The thing to always keep in mind, when I had Dan Mullen (as offensive coordinator at Florida), Dan Mullen always had Steve Addazio. When I had Tom Herman, Tom Herman always had Ed Warinner, and now Ed's got to have Tim, and Tim's doing a fine job. Just any time there is fluidity on your staff, you need more consistency."

From his perch in the press box, Beck is able to contribute certain things bits of knowledge that are harder for Meyer and Warinner -- both of whom coach from the field -- to acquire.

"He can see a little better," Warinner said Saturday. "So maybe having him help more in the passing game, and then his vision, making more suggestions and rolling with them. We involved Tim Beck a lot more."