The present. The future. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato) Thoughts on Pryor All in all, it was obviously an impressive debut for Pryor though any objective fan can see there's still plenty to work on. I think the best news is that the kid realizes this and will undoubtedly do what it takes to get better. Plus, he's got that 'it' factor that special leaders bring to the table. You see him on the sidelines constantly pumping up his teammates? L-E-A-D-E-R.
Focusing on the good, TP certainly helps make one of the worst offensive lines OSU has ever had look a little bit better. Besides the fact we had seen Todd's ceiling and knew it wasn't good enough, this was the other main reason I wanted Pryor out there. At times he was a little quick to scramble but overall I was pleased with his desire to move in the pocket to buy time versus moving with the intent of always turning the play into a rushing attempt.
The best example of this was the 3rd and 17 play early in the 2nd quarter where Pryor took the snap, immediately spun to avoid an unblocked blitzer, rolled to his left, pump faked an oncoming defender and fired a strike to Robo that would've been good for the first down had Robo not drunkenly stepped out of bounds before finding space to make the catch (more on that later). What a big time play for the freshman QB to buy time while still scanning receivers downfield.
Pryor also did a nice job of spreading the ball around. Looking at the numbers, it's pretty amazing that with only 10 completions, he was able to hit six different receivers including at least one to a tailback, fullback, tight end and wide receivers.
On the "areas of opportunities" side (for all you corporate slaves), Pryor got caught trying to do too much at times, most notably that horrible decision in the waning seconds of the first half. From the OSU 28, instead of throwing the ball away to set up a 45 yard FG try, he zig-zagged his way to a 16 yard loss that erased any chance to score before intermission.
Examining his actual passing, I thought he threw a couple nice balls, especially the TD to Nicol in the back of the end zone, but he also displayed a tendency to float the ball and he stared down receivers on a couple occasions. That said, I have no doubt that as he gains confidence in his decisions to throw the ball, he'll be less tentative (at least two instances of unnecessary double pumps) which will automatically improve the zip on his throws. The future is certainly bright.
The Crowd vs. Todd Boeckman Let me preface my comments here by saying I agree the home crowd should not be booing its players. That said, I don't really think the majority of fans were booing Todd. Think about it, the fans can't exactly call Tress on his cell and communicate their thoughts so they do it from the stands. In my opinion, the first round of boo's were a message to Tressel that he was making a bad decision by putting Boeckman in the game. Then, after Boeckman's first-bounce-fly "pass" to Hartline, those boos were essentially a "We told you so!" directed at the Vest.
To his credit, I thought Boeckman handled like he should've as evidenced by his post game comments when asked about basically losing his job:
First of all, after getting a win like this against a great team, that's great, and I'm really excited about that. I'm happy for Terrelle, he had a great day. He did some great things out there. He's getting better every time he's out there and he made some great plays out there. I'm excited for this team and for him.Pretty good stuff coming from a guy who's been here since just before fire was invented and now he's on the outside looking in after being an all-conference performer last year.
What's the Story with Robo? Through four games, I'm struggling to wonder why we were concerned about him possibly turning pro after last season. Sure, the terrible O-line and muddied QB situation hasn't helped the passing attack, but he has yet to have a receiving game better than 41 yards.
First, if he's hurt, he needs to sit and heal. If he's not hurt, then he needs to step it up. I don't want to beat a dead horse, but what the hell happened on that bomb that would've been a sure 89 yard TD? In the postgame, he would only say it was a drop. It wasn't even close to a drop. You can't "drop" a ball that you only extend one arm out to grab. The ball didn't appear to tail away on the replay so what gives? I almost hope he's hurt because anything short of that is not a valid excuse, especially from a freaking captain.
Injured or not, Robo also hurt the offense with appeared to be a big mental error on Pryor's aforementioned fabulous scramble on 3rd and 17 in the 2nd quarter. The replays weren't that great but I didn't see any reason other than lack of awareness for Robo to step on the sideline and negate a great play and key third down conversion. Dude needs to wake up or move over. With his obvious problems of gaining separation, I'd love to see what some of these other kids can do.
Boom vs. Saine vs. Tressel Hats off the Boom Herron for another solid performance behind an ineffective line that's already in patchwork mode four games in to the season. I've said it a thousand times but I just love how he commits to a hole and hits it quick. No Lydell pussy-footing out of this kid. Even better, when there is no hole, he's now exercising a little patience as he did on a little 11 yard burst in the 4th quarter. Yesterday's season highs of 20 carries and 94 yards proved he's the best back on this team not wearing #28.
Even with the high-school line, Boom has averaged over four yards per carry in each of the last three games (4.2, 4.6, 4.7) and though it's unscientific, he seems to settle into a groove helping the offense achieve a little flow every now and again.
Lost in Herron's emergence is the fact Saine is shaping up to be a bust. I know he missed 20+ fall practices but at this point I don't see much other than a track star attempting to wear shoulder pads. Sure, he might evolve into a specialist catching passes out of the backfield but I just don't see much else in his future and this is admittedly after I had him pegged as Tressel's first choice to fill in for Beanie immediately after the injury. He might be fast, but I just don't see any burst and I damn sure don't see much elusiveness. What do you all think? What's Saine's ceiling in a no-Beanie world?
One last thought on Boom..What's the deal on Tressel not letting him get 100 yards? On the last possession, he gave Boom a first down carry that was negated by a false start but then he gave Rasta back to back carries to run out the clock. I thought that was weak as hell. Boom earned the right to try for the century mark and I don't want to hear about avoidance of injury.
The Most Important Play in Football As Tressel has told us over and over since 2000, the punt is the most important play in football and the statement proved prophetic yesterday.
Everyone's got a quarter-chub over Trapasso's three punts pinning Troy inside the 7 paving the way for the 4th quarter surge created by short fields however the phrase also rang true as Troy was able to hang with OSU in the first thanks in part to some terrible punting from AJ.
His four first half punts were all crap including a touchback when punting from OSU's 45 yard line, a 36 yard shank out of bounds with OSU backed up to their own 11 yard line, a lucky bounce on a 43 yarder setting up Troy at their own 25 then another unnecessary touchback on a punt from the Troy 44 yard line.
So, while we're all glossing AJ for the big second half, just remember this aspect of OSU's game is just as inconsistent as other facets. Plenty of room for improvement. It certainly isn't a coincidence that Troy was able to stay with OSU when they had some room to operate versus when they were pinned deep.
I'm out of room for Five Things but just one more quick observation: Ben Person might be the worst offensive lineman in the history of the school. His man made at least three successful swim moves to blow up plays, none more obvious than the 3rd and 4 option play around the eight minute mark of the 3rd quarter resulting in a four yard loss. Seriously, if you have DVR go back and watch that play and tell me how dude belongs on the field. There, just had to get that off my chest.
Comments
I think you are right on with all of this. I especially agree with your thoughts on Saine. He reminds me of J. Wells, takes the handoff and looks for a nice soft spot to fall down. Herron is a horse and he always falls forward for an extra couple of yards when tackled.
As for Ben Person, the only positive for him was I think this was his first game when he didn't have multiple false starts. The guy is much worse than useless.
Pryor is absolutely a team player .I think with more experience and maturity this OSU team will have a great QB and leader.
How many game recaps include the phrase "quarter-chub"?
Brilliant!
The scariest part? Pryor isn't even running at full speed most of the time. I think he'll learn when to use his speed.
There was an option at the end of the second quarter where TP actually was running at full speed, and he was flying. Unfortunately, he cut outside looking for a block rather than trying the seem. Hopefully, he'll learn from it.
He will be truly scary.
I agree that Boom again put in another solid performance. The kid has simply stepped up and been a great back up in Beanie's absence.
That being said, I really miss Beanie in the back field. I could be completely off base here, but I haven't seen anything that suggest Boom can take it to the house on any given snap like Beanie could. Thus not making our running game a "must stop" by the opposing D.
Maybe I am just spoiled by Beanie getting to that 2nd level and doing something special to turn a 7 yard carry into 35+ yard carry and 6 points. It's almost as if Boom isn't fast enough to blow by the secondary and not strong enough to run through'em.
It's tough to get on a guy that has 94 yards in a game...and I'm really not trying to do so! The kid is doing his job and keeping us ahead of the chains by ave. 4.4 yards a carry, but that fact that his longest of the season is 14 yards concerns me a little.
Just to compare... Boom's longest run against Troy was 11 yards - Pryor popped one for 18.
100% agree re: the booing of TB. I know it's bad for TB and I know it is smells of classlessness, but I gotta say that part of that is Tressel's fault. If JT had clearly said on, say, Friday, that Pryor is the Man and TB was in to "keep TP fresh" or some such, there would be no need to express our opinion. I, for one, would not have booed if I had known, for sure, that the QB change had taken place and TB was "out" as a starter. But JT said, 50-50 on the QB snaps during the game; it was early on in the game when TB showed up; he did NOT immediately impress; the crowd said "No, Pryor all the way" by way of saying "booooooooo."
I'm 100% okay with that.
Honestly, I feel for TB and what an incredibly classy and mature young man for handling his "firing" with such calmness and dignity.
But he had plenty (indeed 16) starts and a whole bunch of practices to prove he was the Man. He was NOT up to the task in 3 (or 5? -- MI was not great and OU was scary) of the last 6 games (prior to Troy). When you can't do the job, you get benched. Tressel is, IMO, overly concerned about his starters and their "feelings." LSU, for example, won its game against Auburn in part by yanking the starting QB, etc. Personally, I think a bit more Les Miles and less Jim Tressel in that regard. But, take your coach as he is.
My view: Why are we feeling so bad for TB? If you su** ... okay, I'll be polite... If you are not up to the task, then you need to get off the field. This is Ohio State; this is big time College Football; this is NOT the Be-Nice-To-Our-Starters Club.
I was not at the Troy game, but I WOULD have booed. If that makes me class-less, so be it. I don't care if he's not a professional; he's the starting QB at a well-known power CFB program; getting booed is part of the job potentially; you don't get booed if you are adequate; you don't get booed for a single bad performance or a dropped pass here and there; you don't get booed UNLESS you lose multiple games with your interceptions, your fumbles and general ineptitude. Sadly, in the last six games, TB has been far from adequate and frankly, IMO, booing was appropriate.
And there are no excuses. Same coach for TB and TP; different results. Same O-Line for TB and TP; different results. Even in the USC game; same everything, different results. So these bad results lie with TB; he gets rattled under pressure; the moment he gets rattled, he loses precision and then the mistakes happen. This is no secret and every team we have played knows this. Not every game can EVER be the perfect storm of precision and protection he received last year at Penn State.
I don't understand this coddling. These guys are basically apprenticing for the NFL; if you can't handle it at the college level, then get your degree and move on to another career.
To be clear, there are NO circumstances where you boo ANY member of your team on an opposing field. I was at the Colliseum (sp?) and there was NOT a single "boo" for TB or any Buckeye on the foreign field. And rightly so.
But you come home and proceed to throw passes into the dirt, you're going to hear it. And if TB is too fragile to here some booing (a la Vince Young), well ... come on!
Do any of you honestly think we would have won the game against Troy with TB as QB? Didn't think so and ... 'nuff said.
Again, cudos to Mr. Boeckman for handling all of this with dignity and without any public complaining. Very mature and he will be loved by the Buckeye Nation for bowing out with grace. That will bring him many rewards in his future.
I wish him all the best in his future endeavors. If he is a true OSU homer, like I know he is, he wishes the best for the Team. The best for the team is Pryor as starter and TB as mop-up.
Tress need to let his nuts hang and get the ball in the hands of Posey, and Thomas
Let me first comment on an absolutely awsome website, Its so nice to see true fans giving an honest accurate adult opinion on the subject matter. I will start off by saying that TP is a true freshman making his first start and I was BLOWN away not just by his athletic ability but by his total on the field presence. The scary thing here is that he is going to get better and better, he is a kid that his competetivness rises as the difficulty does. The sky is the limit with this kid. As they say in sports he has the " IT " factor. As for BOOM he did everything asked of him and did a tremendous job, I think he fits the spread better than Beanie, he's very quick and does run with purpose. Its going to be very exciting to see this offense once Beanie is back, defenses will stack the box opening up that outside run and play action for TP. Grammar NAZI be easy on me .LOL.
"I was not at the Troy game, but I WOULD have booed."
Then you are despicable.
I don't agree with the booing either. I can't say that I believe in him, but he is still a Buckeye. If there is displeasure with him being in the game, take it up with Tressel. That being said, we have to improve our run blocking. I don't know what the deal it, but it seems that after too many plays our offensive lineman are looking at the guy getting tackled or getting up off the ground. I'm sure they can do their jobs, but something isn't right. Yesterday I thought they did a pretty decent job pass blocking. TP had good protection throughout the game, but run blocking was another story.
I booed him from home, I hope he heard me. What is the big deal with booing? It isn't lethal. Give me a break. If you suck...you get booed. If you do not suck...you do not get booed.
I want to boo the offensive and defensive lines. I'm getting tired of saying it, but they are the weakest links on this team. Boo linemen! Hooray beer!
Funny sh!t, Harold. I don't remember if I booed him but I do recall his pass to Hartline making me gassy.
Wait, did we win this game? Instead of dogging Robo and Saine, what about the emergence of Kurt Coleman and Jermele Hines as playmakers?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/...
Speaking of booing, has anyone seen this article? I think there is a happy-medium. Texas is certainly on the soft-side, and we're certainly on the harsh side. I went to that OSU-UT game in 06 and witnessed how Texans behave and treat opposing schools' fans, it was amazing and I learned a lot from it. I understand that these players are 'apprenticing' for that other league and they need to be hardened, but we can still do better as fans. Players know when they're not performing, and if for some reason they don't the coaches let them know. It's far from our role as fans and spectators to try to send that message to players. Anyone who thinks otherwise is suffering from a case of self-importance - good coaches and players don't make decisions based on the boos or cheers of fans, to think otherwise is absurd.
Buckeyebeau,
not calling you out but you say the TB is incredibly classy and a fine young man for handling his "firing...." but then say that you would have booed him if you would have been at the game. then there's "cudos for bowing out with dignity...wish him the best in all his endeavors....very mature....bowing out with grace and will bring him many rewards in the future. All of this after pointing out every fault you could muster and reminders of bad performances and relegating him to mop up. If this isn't a "left-handed" compliment and a slap at the same time, I don't know what is. Would that you could be as classy. By the way, Miles pulled his starting QB because they thought he might have suffered a concussion.
The only person I booed while watching that game was when RichRod's dumbass mug appeared during that Big Ten Network commercial with all of the coaches.
Wow! I think we're really getting hung up on the "booing" issue, no?
"Harold" and "Principle Skinner": you make some funny points. :D My personal opinion? I think Ohio State fans are by and large more "football educated" than most team's fans, and really didn't think about the fact that they may have been "booing Tressel and his decision to bring Boeckman into the game," as stated earlier.
It IS too bad that the booing couldn't be directed at the Offensive and Defensive lines, because they deserve more blame for the loss to LSU and USC than Boeckman.
I also agree about Brandon Saine. Unachieved potential thus far. One never knows how these kids are going to pan out. He still has a lot of career in front of him to turn it around.
What number is Ben Person? #63? I'm watching the OSU/Troy replay and focusing on him and Boone's missed blocks. If it's the one I'm thinking...man he looks slooooooow! and is getting beat every play.
For $62 a ticket, $10 to park, $4 a soda/water, $7 for a personal pizza and freakin' $6.50 for chips with runny cheese, I'll booo if I want to. Seriously, it cost my wife and I a minimum of $150 per game. When OSU pays me to come to their games, then I won't boo.
As Chris said, it is the only way to communicate with coaches and players. Those booos were directed at Tressel and not Boeckman.
Booing makes me cry. Wuss-bags.
I dont know if I felt gassy after Boeckman skipped his pass to Hartline on a 8 yard hitch or if I just wanted to throw up. That was disgusting. The guy can launch a 60 yard pass and hit a dime if he really wants to but, cant complete a 8 yard pass. I'm also disgusted with our Brian's at receiver. I know our QB's need time to throw and our line really isnt doing anything to help but TP's pass to robo should have been caught and should have been a 90 yard TD. He was being lazy and may have performed a small bit of mutiny as far as I am concerned. We have two burners playing as our 3rd, 4th, and 5th receivers. Why not change that up a bit. Why not put Small(where was he Saturday??), Taurian Washington, or Posey outside and have Robo and Hartline play inside as possession receivers. That would get them off of corners since they dont play physical anyway and maybe get them open in the middle of the field. Let our burners run off the corner and a safety and we could get 15 yards over the middle. Of course if our o-line cant block then this doesnt matter anyway. One last thing and I will probably get a comment or two about this but, I am tired of Bollman. If I remember correctly he is our o-line coach. Now I know players must perform but I dont see him instilling in these lineman a killer instinct that Pace used to have. As far as I'm concerned I hope Bollman leaves and we get ourselves a new o-line coach that has a little fire in him that will translate to the players on the field. This is getting pathetic and sad to watch. Person looked lost on that option he got blown up on. Thats really sad. We have played one legit d-line in USC and they destroyed us. The other 3 werent even close and yet we are struggling against mediocre talent.
Listen. If Person is the worst, then Boone is the most overrated. (He has already won one of my awards for the season...The Tyson Walter Award). I was at the game and was underwhelmed by Boone's effort. I Tivo'd the game with the intention of watching a couple of underachievers specifically (Boone being one of them). There was a play where Boom gained about 9 yards running to the right side. Boone completely whiffed his assignment wiffed again downfield and then fell over the pile (Whiffed the pile too) and landed on the ground. I'm not sure what is up with the returning seniors, but the only one that is anywhere near where he should be is Jenkins.
TB...its all been said enough.
Boone...apparently needs to have a "Come to Jesus" meeting with his position coach.
Robo...Plays like he doesn't care.
Laurenitis...consistently out of position and caught overpursuing the play. Its like he has all the desire and skill in the world and no field awareness. Imagine if Beanie had no downfield vision and consistently hit the wrong hole (Can you say Lydell Ross?)
SO far, a vastly underwhelmng and massively disappointing season.
If I had booed, it would not be the kid i was booing, it would be the decision by the caoches to put the kid in. Don't boo the help, boo the management.
Just quick notes:
Boom Heron - One thing we have to remember, he is a freshman. However, three things he still needs to work on, Patience, Elusiveness, & Pass Protection. All of which Beanie had to develop, maybe not to the same degree.
TP vs. TB:
You perform you are suppose to play. TB has had a hangover from the Illi game last year. Some of this is not his fault, some of it is pass protection and some of it is scheme. I question his ability to pick up where the blitz is coming from and who his hot read is suppose to be.
Defense:
I liked the change up in the front four and I always believed in attacking gaps vs. controlling the line of scrimmage. However, I would like to see better blitz schemes including disguising them. This next idea ties into attacking vs. controlling the line of scrimmage scheme. Our linebackers need to start from 0-3 yards off of the line of scrimmage, instead of the 3-5 yards. 3-5 yards is necessary when a LB is trying to stay out of the wash that occurs when DT’s are blunting the middle of the OL. One last request concerning our OLB’s, when they see a guard pulling on a sweep, they need to crash down on his outside shoulder and force the ball carrier to make a decision sooner. They usually engage the pulling lineman ~3 yards down field on our side of the ball. This makes it more difficult for backside pursuit and allows huge holes to appear. There is something that Trent Dilfer said yesterday about the Ravens defense during the championship year and I saw the same mentality from USC on 9/13. They always seem to playing like they are coming down hill to attack the play vs. reacting. Being aggressive and forcing the offense to make decisions on your timeline (which I hope is faster) versus theirs is always advantageous.
Overall:
Only in the fourth quarter did I see any sense of urgency coming from the team. I have a real problem with this since there are so many seniors. They need to play like the champions that they are. However, I question that they believe the same in themselves.
Congratulations to Kurt Coleman. He has received the "Ski" award for the player of the game. #4 will be my background picture for the week. TP came in a close 2nd.
I think Boom Herron is defintely showing promise, I agree. He is roughly the same size as Javon Ringer(I believe he's an Ohio boy...how'd Tress let him get away?) of MSU, who might get the Big Ten player of the year, if MSU wins some big games.
I believe Herron could eventually be as good as Ringer.
CHAOSCRUSADER: I agree completely with your comments regarding the OSU defense. More of the "smaller but faster 4 defensive end front" for OSU, as mentioned by the announcers in the game vs. Troy.
Terry, Heyward, Rose, and Wilson were the front four when Troy was backed up on their own 2 yard line and we almost sacked them in the end zone because the D-line FINALLY GOT SOME PENETRATION!
What I like about Boom is that he hasn't put the ball on the ground, like other promising young Buckeye running backs did early in their careers (George, Wells, etc.). Not to say he's in the same league as those other two, but I love his ball security so far.
buckeyedude,
Javon Ringer is a Dayton product. Was kept from tOSU because of academics. JT tried to get him, went as far as talking to school president, but was a no-go.
"For $62 a ticket, $10 to park, $4 a soda/water, $7 for a personal pizza and freakin’ $6.50 for chips with runny cheese, I’ll booo if I want to. Seriously, it cost my wife and I a minimum of $150 per game. When OSU pays me to come to their games, then I won’t boo."
Right, you boo because it's expensive, and you wouldn't have done it if you had lucked into free seats. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiight.
"As Chris said, it is the only way to communicate with coaches and players. Those booos were directed at Tressel and not Boeckman."
Someone upthread said something about booing being "self-importance" on the part of fans. I didn't really get what that meant at first, but I sure do now.
Pryor will be sick with Beanie back there.
I saw Posey on the field but I don't think we tried to hit him once.
Thomas should get a look too.
The reverse to small might have worked if the line didn't miss a dt block. The offense is going to put up 40 a game once Beanie returns.