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''Sounds good to me,'' Jenkins said. ''But that would take away from that running game he loves so much.''
If the Buckeyes really do plan on balancing things out more next year, that responsibility will fall on Jenkins and quarterback Craig Krenzel.
The Buckeyes return all 11 starters from an offense that was 10th in the conference in total offense at 364 yards a game and fourth in scoring at 29 points a game. But it's the fact that Ohio State has all 11 starters returning that has fans -- and the players -- thinking big things for next year.
''Our pass efficiency last season was higher than its been in five or six years, which is what we strive for,'' Krenzel said. ''Now obviously we'd like to establish a little more consistency. We would like to open it up and throw the ball down the field a little more and that's going to be up to us to prove we can do that consistently.''
When tailback Maurice Clarett went down with a shoulder injury halfway through the season, the entire offense struggled. Krenzel's highest single game passing total after Clarett's injury was 176 yards against Illinois, a number that's far below the goal Tressel has set for the offense.
''Our standard is to average 40 points a game, run for 200 yards and throw for 250,'' center Alex Stepanovich said. The offense reached all three of those lofty goals just once last year in a 50-7 win over San Jose State.
''A lot of people said last year that defense won games for us,'' Stepanovich said. ''That just makes us hungrier this year.''
The key to a powerful offense begins with a healthy Clarett, who is still battling his way back from last year's shoulder injury. He is practicing in a blue ''hands off'' jersey, but Tressel said yesterday he was close to being cleared at the beginning of the week and expects the medical jersey to come off by next week, although he won't compete in tomorrow's scrimmage.
''It's a strength thing,'' Tressel said. ''We have a series of goals the trainers and doctors and strength guys have set.''
Tressel said last week Clarett's bench was at 360 pounds, still shy of the 400-plus bench he had in August. But the medical team isn't just monitoring the heavy weights.
''It's various movements,'' Tressel said. ''The lateral raise (with) a certain amount of pounds, we're doing a lot of dumbbell work ... There's just a lot of things you do after you have stingers, it doesn't matter what position you are.''
jlloyd@morningjournal.com
