OHIO STATE Bucks' offense searching for answers

Through five games, OSU still hasn't found a consistent threat.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- It wasn't so long ago that when Ohio State faced a critical third down, it just handed the ball to Pete Johnson or threw the ball in Cris Carter's direction. Then the first-down markers were moved ahead 10 yards and play continued.
In 2002, the Buckeyes could give the ball to Maurice Clarett. Just last season, quarterback Craig Krenzel always seemed to find wide receiver Michael Jenkins on every big play.
Stuck in a two-game skid, the 2004 Buckeyes (3-2, 0-2) are still searching for a play or player to go to when they absolutely have to gain a few yards for a first down.
Quarterback Justin Zwick was at a loss when asked earlier this week what he considered the strength of the Buckeyes' offense.
After a pause of several seconds, he said, "I think we do, really, we do whatever we need to do to move the ball in certain situations. When you have a situation it's what you need to do to move the ball and we don't really say we throw the ball better [or] we run the ball better. It's whatever we need is what we're going to do."
If that sounds as if Zwick is confused, then he's not alone. Most of his teammates hem and haw because they don't have a handle on what they are capable of doing.
Struggling
Whatever the coaching staff is calling -- and however the players are executing it -- little is being accomplished. The Buckeyes are last in the Big Ten in total offense and 97th of the 117 teams in Division I-A.
When the Buckeyes run it, they're managing just 112 yards a game, 10th in the conference and 92nd in the country. When they pass it, they are eighth in the Big Ten and 70th in the nation at 195 yards a game.
"We need to get our act together," said Kirk Barton, who will make his first start at right tackle at Iowa on Saturday in place of Tim Schafer. "Honestly, I'm embarrassed that people like [ESPN analyst and local radio personality Kirk] Herbstreit say, 'Well, their defense is so great and their offense is like a big pillow fight and they can't move anybody off the line.' That's embarrassing. You have to have pride. If you have that, it makes you angry."
Tough challenge
The Buckeyes are dead last in the Big Ten in third-down conversions, getting first downs less than 30 percent of the time -- exactly half the success rate of unbeaten Purdue.
Iowa is tied for ninth in the country in rushing defense, permitting just 85 yards a game. Unless Ohio State finds a way to shake a runner free every now and then, it could be another long day for Tressel, Zwick, Ross and Co.
"We have a lot of things that with just one tweak here or there might be a good play for us," Zwick said. "We're continuing to work on those things. We're not going to set our goals on one play to get us four yards every time because it's not going to happen. So we have to continue to work on everything we have and hopefully we'll be able to find something that will help us move the ball."