Despite a 5-1 start and just four points separating the Buckeyes from a 6-0 mark, there's still plenty of concern from members (you said members) of the fanbase who continue to struggle with the notion that a team with so many big time recruits can struggle to consistently move the ball both through the air and on the ground, especially against stiff competition.
Obviously, most of the criticism the last two years has fallen upon the offensive line and Terrelle Pryor, so much so that the less objective members of Block O Nation cling to reasons/excuses like a security blanket but the bottom line is the Buckeye offense hasn't gotten it done consistently enough to be considered competitive on an elite scale.
Trying to set aside preconceived notions, I decided to throw together some data comparing last season's offense to the current one to see if anything stood out. The numbers are as follows:
| Year | Rush Off | Rank | Pass Off | Rank | Total Off | Rank | Sacks | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 192.46 | 24 | 150.23 | 105 | 342.69 | 76 | 2.23 | 83 |
| 2009 | 172.17 | 42 | 166.17 | 108 | 338.33 | 86 | 1.33 | 37 |
As you'd expect, the running game misses Beanie's production but I'm actually a little surprised the drop off hasn't been more severe. Maybe that can be attributed to the number or carries Beanie missed due to injury but another factor is the emergence of Brandon Saine. He's stepped up to the tune of 5.5 per carry while TP has increased his YPC from 4.5 last season to 5.1 thus far in '09. Meanwhile, Boom has added nothing in comparison to last season as he's seen his yards per carry drop from 4.9 to 3.7 making him probably the biggest bust on the team thus far.
Changes in personnel on the line have also likely had an impact on the rushing attack as most 'experts' would agree this year's o-line is opposite of last year's in that they are much better in pass pro than creating running lanes for Pryor and the RB's. It's hard to overlook just how much Beanie meant to the running game but my eyes say Beanie excelled despite the efforts of his line, not necessarily because of it. Obviously, Saine and Boom simply aren't in Beanie's league making it more difficult for the line to look good. Conversely, the pass pro has yielded one less sack per contest through six games this year which is mighty impressive when you consider Pryor is attempting almost 9 more passes per game. Interestingly, those 9 extra passes aren't helping the passing yards much, adding just 16 yards per game to the bottom line.
Add those extra passing yards to the rushing game deficit and the '09 offense finds itself 4 yards per game shy of the '08 season average. Staying virtually flat to last year's total offense at this point, the Buckeyes are still struggling to find an offensive identify, as their ranking of 86th clearly suggests.
Obviously, the main difference in these two offenses is the key cog in the machine. Last year, Beanie was the guy whenever he wasn't on the sidelines whereas Pryor is the man tabbed to carry the offense on his back this year.
Not surprisingly, Pryor's play has been a weekly lightning rod as critics blame everything from a possible prima-donna attitude, to hype greater than substance, to a lack of coaching while the folks in his corner cite youth and experience while reminding us of Troy's slow growth and the fact Pryor is just a true sophomore who has shown flashes of brilliance amidst rage inducing mental breakdowns and sporadic accuracy. Knowing this offense can only go as far as TP and his development takes it, let's scan his '08 season numbers in comparison to the first six games of 2009:
| Year | Pass Eff | Total Off | Comp | Att | Comp% | TD/INT | INT% | Rush APG | Rush YPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 146.5 | 149.38 | 100 | 165 | 60.6% | 12/4 | 2.42% | 10.7 | 48.5 |
| 2009 | 132.3 | 213.50 | 72 | 128 | 56.3% | 9/6 | 4.69% | 10.8 | 55.5 |
A few of these numbers jump off the page. First, the argument of regression with regard to his passing seems to hold water. Pryor has thrown just 37 less passes than he did all of last season however his completion percentage has dropped from almost 61% last year to 56% thus far in '09. In his defense, he doesn't have the same experience at wideout, especially without Robiskie but I'd be willing to bet TP suffered from more dropped passes last year. I simply struggle to come up with a good reason to explain this drop in accuracy. The word all off-season was how TP had made such progress in his footwork, release and confidence. I don't see it consistently when I watch his mechanics and the stats sure don't show it. In fact, I want to say most instances in which he really looks fluid stepping into a throw occur when the primary receiver is wide open. If the primary is covered, he often looks timid, feels pressure too soon and throws off his back foot abandoning mechanics.
Looking for other reasons to explain his accuracy dip, I checked to see if maybe he's throwing deeper routes but the numbers say his completions are going for 13.16 yards in '09 versus 13.11 last year. Add in the fact he's throwing INT's at nearly twice the rate this year combined with the aforementioned improved protection and I'm left scratching my head. So what's your take on the drop in accuracy?
In his defense, maybe it is unrealistic to put the load of the offense on a true sophomore QB's back and expect huge progression, especially from a kid who by all accounts already puts enormous pressure on himself to be the star of every play, let alone every game. Pryor has increased his passing yards per game from 100.8 last year to 158.0 thus far in '09, thanks mostly to an increase in attempts leading to an extra 4.31 completions per game. Maybe to the short term detriment, he's also staying true to the long term goal of trying to become a complete quarterback instead of a runner playing quarterback as evidenced by his rushing attempts staying flat to last year thus far.
With the Buckeyes at the halfway point of the regular season, how do you see TP and the rest of the offense evolving the rest of the way? With 19 games under his belt, will Pryor improve at a faster rate than what we've seen or will he continue to take baby steps?
Comments
What scares me most about the comparison between his full 2008 season numbers and his current 2009 season numbers is that we have yet to face the two best teams in the Big 10, and Michigan will give us a game as well. If he keeps on this course, his numbers will get much worse before they get better, given the upcoming opposition. I'm still holding out hope that the light will come on for him.
"who has shown flashes of brilliance amidst rage inducing mental breakdowns and sporadic accuracy."
How did Juice Williams get into this discussion?
I just read the following on a cleveland.com article:
"Pryor is not allowed to check out of plays at the line of scrimmage yet, locked in to calls that both Siciliano and Jim Tressel admit aren't always right."
There's your problem. What do you expect TP to do when he's been sent out with handcuffs on. He's got this in head now. "You're not allowed to make those adjustments yet." I can imagine this type of mentality by the coaching staff is also hindering TP from going through his progressions.
If the play he's locked into isn't there, mentality he's screwed. This also explains why he's looking so panicked out there. He's not allowed to run any play but the one given too him-and the plays he gets are often late. Also, if the opposing defense is in the right position to defend the particular play being ran, Pryor is hung out to dry and forced into bad decisions.
Plain and simple, it's the coaching. They have no confidence in him and/or they're way too concerned with mistakes. Maybe if they would have let him make his mistakes last year (instead of being partly responsible for them) we'd see the progression we have all hoped for at this point.
TP hasn't progressed because he's "not allowed" to.
I think one explanation for it is, last year, he was playing on natural ability alone, so they kept the plays conservative, and he was comfortable in his own skin. With all the work on his mechanics and such over the off-season, he is still trying to adjust and put it all together.
Hopefully he can put it all together by next year, he'll be more comfortable and be in tune with his receivers. Right now though, I think we're seeing a sophomore slump.
"I simply struggle to come up with a good reason to explain this drop in accuracy."
Decline in quality of passing opportunities. JT really handcuffed the kid last year and would not put him in a situation where he could fail. With Beanie, Tressel had a franchise back he could lean on and the defense knew it. The defense keyed on Beanie and Pryor could just be a back up to keep the defense honest. This year, Pryor really has to fully complement the running game and even act as the primary catalyst. His attempts per game average has shot up from 14.9 to 21.33 (leaving out the games TP did not start last year).
That attempts number is skewed considerably by the typhon game against the fightin' zookers and the 3 and out fest against the can't-fill-daddy's-shoes fightin' bielemas. leaving out those games, which is stupid, his attempts per game is over 25.
Maybe I'm too patient, but I believe that Pryor is doing about as well as I thought he would. He is a sophomore, with alot of self-imposed pressure, playing in one of the biggest fish bowls, and is the central character of that fish bowl. I don't believe his play has cost tOSU a game this year (debatable. I blame playcalling for the USC loss). Give him time to become a QB, not just a Pat White clone.
Great points, but you have to consider the "extra" passes for in-game practice against Toledo, and Indiana. In the Illinois game they kept passing even when the game was over to get in more reps.
BoD,
I see where you are coming from on decline of 'quality' passing opportunities. Still, I feel like there's still plenty of short routes available that are poorly thrown / incomplete. Plus, we know his completions are going for almost the same exact yardage per completion as last year. I guess I'd just hope a kid would actually get better with accuracy if given more chances to practice throwing the ball in games. Not so with TP, though.
What could possibly be gained by such a strategy? The best teams in the country have such an adaptability as the game progresses, how will this plan EVER compete?
Would someone please get this kid a "real" QB coach?
But I am a glass half full kinda guy!
"With 19 games under his belt, will Pryor improve at a faster rate than what we’ve seen or will he continue to take baby steps?"
Baby steps backward, you mean?
pryor's mechanics and footwork are horrendous, until you see improvement there he is always going to suck
I seem to remember reading elsewhere that Pryor has the freedom to audible to a run play, but not a pass. Doesn't make the philosophy any less perplexing, but I wouldn't quite call that shackling his potential when he makes some pretty terrible decisions with his arm.
I think Pryor is going to be a great QB... I don't know why exactly, but the kid shows me enough to believe that one day the game will slow down for him and he will be a complete and consistent player.
That said, if the kid can't go through his progressions without stairing down his primary target, what makes anyone believe that he's ready to make adjustments at the line? That's all part of the mental game and I'm not sure Pryor is there yet...though it is better than last year, but is that saying a lot?
Agian, I wouldn't trade Pryor for anyone that was from his class or last years simply based on his ceiling and what I think he can become, but I don't know if I'd feel comfortable with him chaning the play at the line just yet.
Different year, same problems:
1. Underachieving offensive line.
2. Vanilla/bad play calling on offense.
I think he (TP) will "click" soon as many referenced in other posts before this. Patience padawans, patience. I did curse the mess out of him last Saturday......
I'm just suggesting that maybe it's the other way around. Maybe it's not that he's making too many mistakes and therefore cannot be trusted with the responsibility, but rather he's being so limited and not given the responsibility (trust from the coaches) that he's making these mistakes. It can't all be TP (if history is any indication).
I think the coaching staff is affecting his mental game by telling him he's not ready or by the limitations on him. So, maybe he's so locked into his receiver because of the locked into one play mentality.
I think they're both to blame but the staff needs to loosen up and let the man play.
That quote by the way was from QB coach Nick Siciliano.
I agree that they haven't used his God given gifts enough and that the staff has made the incorrect plays calls from time to time... I just don't know if I believe he is ready to make adjustments at the LOS based on what I've seen from him after the snap.
To take that a step further... With the way Tress runs this team and the way he controls his QB, I don't know if we will see Pryor make too many presnap reads (other than the read option), even when he does look ready to do so.
I found a link to the replay of The Big Show from Tuesday. I think Herbie and Spiels were right on with their discussion of the Offense and Pryor. It's hour 2 at the 30 minute mark, again on Tuesday.
http://www.971thefan.com/live/...
Good listen if you get a chance...
this where they say we need to run the hurry up?
Yes.
i agree. his accuracy is, um, underwhelming and that really has nothing to do with the 'quality' of the opportunity. good point. (un)fortunately, he has trouble getting to the accuracy problem away from the primary receiver as he does not seem to have the ability to scan the field for a non-primary receiver.
i guess that is also kind of what I was trying to get at with the 'quality' thing. last year, throwing was so infrequent (and consequently un-scouted) that Pryor could lock onto the primary receiver bc it was likely that the defense had never (or at most, once) seen Pryor run a particular pass play. by the end of the season (UM and UT) his numbers were falling off a cliff and i think part of that has to be because by that time there was a scouting book on Pryor and his limited passing plays. the defense could identify the primary and cut him off. and then no amount of accuracy is going to consistently get the ball into a guy with double coverage. no check down, no completion. discombobulation ensues. then comes angst among the locals. me, you, internet. and so it goes.
(but that might not make sense and/or be redundant bc i have not had caffeine or lunch yet. always a poor choice for me to think without food and caffeine. in fact, pretend 'anonymous' wrote that if it does not make sense)
I hear you. Makes sense to me, of course I've had my caffeine and lunch so maybe that's why. I think you are on to something with how easily end of year opponents could scout our "passing attack" last year. Probably was easy to recognize and shutdown the primary target.
I hear what you're saying, but I expect that most freshman and sophomore QBs aren't given a lot of freedom. Generally, they're expected to run the plays that are called and only when they master those plays are they gradually allowed to start calling audibles, etc. Even if TP's not in the best play, why can't he still read through the progressions (assuming that he's given any time to throw)? You make it sound like, if he were upset about the play call and was unable to change it, then he might sort of zone out as a form of passive aggressive resistance, or something?
Also, at this stage in TP's development, where would you put your money: on the coaches' initial play calls, or TP's audibles? Even with TP's first-hand vantage point at the line of scrimmage, I'm not sure that his audibles would outperform - on average - the coaches play calls.
The hurry up would kill oposing defenses.
This is the only area the defense has little problems on.
I believe this is the problem with the offense, not so much the option it's just the playcalling. We get going then we decide to slow down. GET IT GOING KEEP IT GOING STEP ON THROATS...!
With the no huddle, tressel wouldn't be able to slow the game down, and take 3 min to call a play. This will require an answered prayer.
meant to say in the second line (only area that our defense has little
problems with)
Sorry
The numbers don't lie. So far, the offense has been about as productive as it was last year. However, when the 2008 offense reached the mid-point of the season, there wasn't much room for improvement - except for TP. The 2008 OL, WRs, Beanie Wells had pretty much shown what they were by the Minnesota game, in which they gained 414 total yards and scored 34 points. They did keep getting better after that - culiminating with the NW, ILL, Michigan games - but the improvement was limited.
On the other hand, this offense has great potential for improvement - whether they reach it this year or later.
If I'm forced at gunpoint to choose between the 2008 and 2009 offenses with which to play the last 6 regular season + 1 bowl games, I'll take my chances with the 2009 unit. In fact, it's not even a close decision for me, regardless of how sketchy things have been so far this year.
I think everyone wearing Scarlet did...
even if your choice was a healthy Beanie in that '08 offense?
I don't think you can assume he'd be healthy making the '08 offense even more of a wild card.
That would make it a tougher decision, for sure. But the 2009 unit has been dealing with injuries, too, so that cuts both ways. I want to see what the 09 offense looks like after the young Olmen get 3 more tune up games (although I hope the team is not taking the victories for granted like I am, of course).
Forget scoring, I pretty much cheer for completions and first downs.
I'll bite. It doesn't look like anyone is even having fun on Saturdays. It's hard to watch.
Off topic: When will the TV plans be finalized for the Minnesota game? Tailgate planning must commence soon!
More like Great Shizzy:
http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/10218374/SEC's-reputation-suffers-in-two-horse-race
things to wonder about:
* will it suddenly click and Pryor advance very rapidly in one game?
* if that happens how many of us will be remembering Todd B's great game against Penn State which was amazing, and never duplicated again?
* Mack Brown said the secret of their championship year was they finally let Vince be Vince. hard not to wonder if that idea wouldn't help TP more than a little. of course VY can't play in the NFL now and TP seems determined to become an NFL QB.
Where are they getting their stats? 190th in the nation? Are they piling in I-AA schools in with those numbers? If so, that's not very good stat work.
Hmmm let's look at this in correct terms:
Pryor makes numerous read errors, has poor throwing mechanics even on the "one play he has to stick to" and you think the answer is to add in that he can check out of plays? Confoundingly stupid.
Wow, the Bearcat's D is HORRIBLE!
With a healthy Beanie (or even an 75-80% healthy Beanie) you'd be crazy to not take the 2008 offense over the 2009 offense.
I think Chris' article is an excellent reminder for us all that Pryor has far more on his shoulders this year than last year. We are all probably expecting far more from him than we should... But yeah, it's frustrating to see all that talent, and so relatively little production coming from #2.
I'd sure like to see the 2009 offensive line, our 2009 Pryor, and Beanie all on the field at the same time... with this 2009 defensive unit backing them up... THAT would be exciting.
I so want to see Cincinnati get their asses handed to them tonight.
Amen, Nothing lock being cocky and running your mouth when your team's biggest accomplishment in the past 100+(who even cares how long they've been around?)years is being bowl eligible two years in arow and getting thrashed by Va tech in your bowl game last year. Keep talking Isiah Peade................
How about he learns to be a college QB first? That's the problem. TP is putting the cart before the horse. OSU should be renamed NFL U, he came to the right place to become a pro. But, like anything else in life, you have to earn it!
Memo to TP, remember you're a college sophomore and take care of business NOW! The spoils will be there for you!
I don't think the accuracy is really that much different than last year. At these numbers, the difference between the two seasons is around 1 pass a game. If you think he might have actually thrown a few balls away instead of taking a sack, then the overall numbers are even closer.
One stat I would like to see, but I have no idea how to get, is the number of passes over 20 yards attempted compared to last year. His yards/completion are about the same, but it seemed like he has let it rip down the field more often this year.
Overall, all I need to do is remember the looping, rainbow passes (even the ones that were caught) and I think he is improving.
Also, was the play getting to the field quicker last week? It seemed like they were consistently breaking the huddle with 20 seconds. Or was I on crack?
Tony Pike is hurt...
I'm going to start stabbing people if the USF offense keeps looking like Ohio State's.
I think Pryor will come around, but just more painfully slower than we thought.
But, we are 13-3 with him as the starter, so at least he isn't losing games for us. I just hope he can continue to take care of the football with upcoming big games. I think he is our best option for the next two years, as it looks like we won't pull any big QB recruit this year. All in all, I am still comfortable with him, he just won't have a shotr at Heisman until possibly his senior year.
Cincy and South Florida are both garbage. Our defnse would have a field day against both of them. And Pryors legs would fall off from all the rushing yardage.
They're both garbage? Umm, you pretty much just discredited yourself right there, pal. South Florida, with what they showed, would destroy Wisconsin...on both sides of the ball. Cincinnati's offensive mindset is lightyears, LIGHTYEARS, ahead of Ohio State's. I'd like to see Joe Bauserman go in there and do what the Bearcat backup did after Pike got hurt. You're looking at a team that will probably jump Ohio State in both polls no matter what happens in West Lafayette.
That's why you need to take advantage of the opportunities given to you, instead of looking like you've never played football before. Yes, the OSU defense is unquestionably the best in the nation. But just like USC and everyone else, it's only a matter of time before the defense doesn't get key turnovers, and the offense needs to win a game. Ohio State has about as much offensive guile as a banana slug.
Bucksfan says:
10/11/2009 at 11:31pm
No, the ones calling for his head after the Florida game…THOSE are fairweather fans. The ones calling for his head after being subjected to Florida, Illinois, LSU, USC 35-3, Penn State, Texas, and USC 18-15 over the span of 3 seasons…those are defenders of the program.
I'm going to post this every time you say something stupid, Bucksfan. I'd ask you not to give me too much of a workout, but I don't think you can help yourself.
Can we all just agree that Bucksfan is little more than a Michigan plant troll?
Fuck you.
50% of this fanbase would agree with what I wrote. Please, I beg you, go to the comments on the Columbus Dispatch articles. Just take a gander. You'll find all sorts of Buckeye fans displeased with this team. Your opinions aren't the end-all-be-all of anything.
http://www.topix.net/forum/sou...
Try reading.
Really? You cite the dispatch comment sections, notorious for being one of the most daft places in the entire Buckeye internet? I don't need you to tell me that the average sports fan is an unrepentant dumbass. If that's the level of discussion that appeals most to you, go over to Scout and Rivals with the rest of 40-year-old virgins and stay there.
What? It's the COLUMBUS DISPATCH. As in, the biggest Buckeye homer newspaper that exists in the entire universe! As far as an "acredited online comment section" you're going to have to find some sort of independent rating system to show me. Otherwise, their comment section is just as valid as this one.
If you think the Dispatch is a "homer" paper, you clearly haven't read it when Ohio State isn't winning 10 games a year.
Also, anything and everything said in any newspaper comment section is bunk, and you know it. That's like citing wikipedia for a dissertation.
Let's keep it PG Bucksfan...let's not let our emotions get the best of us in the heat of the moment.
This is a "reply" to BuckeyeTrack10, but it's here because of the nesting: Buddy, bad language is the LEAST worrisome thing going on in the comments here anymore.
lol
We have been asked to watch our our language before by the mods. Lets just obey their wishes.
El Cab,
I'm curious as to why you still visit the site? Unless I'm mistaken, it seems you really just end up frustrated everytime then proceed to bad mouth the board here as well as on other sites. Maybe it's just me, but I try to avoid things that make me unhappy.
everybody's so angry, can't we all sit down at the table of brotherhood and enjoy our d-line eating purdue's o-line for lunch?
everyone is angry -- H1N1, economy, healthcare reform, Buckeye banana slug offense (gotta admit that was funny)........what we need is TP to click this weekend and have his arm go all Joesph Berton Germaine on Purdon't. A healthy dose of scoring a boat load of points will cure all ailments. They must stop the "miserable" folks from finding something else to complain about.....
You raise some serious concerns. May I recommend Block O Nation? Its comment section is basically a bastion of progressive, intellectual football discussion. I'd describe the community favorably as a combination of McSweeney's, Salon, Football Outsiders, and Smart Football. WARNING: Their standards for joining the commentariat are subsequently enforced with an iron fist. Please have your graduate degree(s) and at least 3 X-and-Os-pedagogue reference letters ready as you enter.
Well, since you asked, Chris: I still visit the site because I think you and Jason and Alex and Luke and Joe are running the best Buckeye blog around. I'm not blowing sunshine up your ass here; I really, really love y'all's work. I will continue to visit and comment.
It's the THREADS that are problematic the last couple/few months - and I bitch because it didn't used to be that way. There's going to be a certain amount of stupid in any comments section; it's the nature of the beast - but there's just way too much of it here lately, to the degree where it's sometimes almost indistinguishable from, say, the stuff at Lesmerises' PD blog. I don't think I'm alone in feeling this way, even if I'm the only one saying so.
But I take your point - and I guess I've made mine. I can't promise to get all Kum Ba Yah like bupx3 below me seems to wish for, but I'll no longer bash the threads in general.
What we need is to start the game off in 5 wide with Posey, Sans, Carter, Thomas, and Saine.
Throw, Throw, Throw Touchdown... 7-0 repeat 14-0 repeat 21-0 repeat 28-0
Then go into half.
My wish tommorrow is to see an offense that we have never seen. To see creative plays, deep ball, screens, misdirection, and more deep balls!
I got pryor going 25-36 313 yds 3td's 7 carries 83 yds 1 td.
tOSU 44
Purdue 10
that would be a wonderful thing
someone remind the south this isn't cool...
http://www.buckeyextra.com/liv...
Right on, man. I mean, it is the internets right? It's one thing to be at a crowded bar, it's another to be at a crowded bar and to complain loudly about everyone at the bar around you. I mean, YOU'RE at the bar too, right? Anyways, thank you for your continued support of 11W.
Jaamal Berry will not make the trip, either, Tressel said. He had no concerns about Hall, though.
This is from the dispatch.
Why is berry not coming?
Is it because the flu?
Or is he still hurt?
This confirms for me this kid is not playing this year, and will see a redshirt!
Yeah, I get it...that's a pretty low bar you're setting, though. On a lighter note: "CHARACTERS FROM
HAMLET COMMENT ON
THE FISH ODOR COMING
FROM THE OFFICE
MICROWAVE"
http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2009...
Win
I think it's his hammy.
For what it's worth El Cab, I tend to agree with your sentiment. I think cats like you and I are dinosaurs, unfortunately. We are from the early 11W days when it would be impressive for an 11W post to pull down 10 comments, let alone 200. If you can remember a time when "Sam" was "Pogue Mahone" and didn't have his own SB nation blog, you've been around for a while.
And there's no doubt about it: with improved success and an increased internet profile for 11W, the Bucknuts forum type commenters have arrived en masse. The dead giveaway in identifying these types is to look for where one MAKES their OFTEN idiotic point in a FORCEFUL MANNER.
But yes, when on the internets, we're like old men sitting on the front porch, yelling at the kids to get off our lawns. I'll have to check out Block O Nation too, and OHD always provideds a very chill atmosphere of informed readers. At the same time, I also try to avoid bad language here, and avoid delving into any politics, lest it be in honor of the Whig Party Platform.
kind of random and out of place, but wow, I had no idea that could even happen today
El Cab,
Thanks for the kind words. To be clear, I have no interest in censorship and I think we all agree that some comments aren't as well thought out as others but I guess that comes with the territory of having a bigger footprint. Still, right or wrong, it's frustrating to see you going out of your way to bash the 11W forum on other sites. It's your right, though. Do your thing.
If you call me a Michigan fan, that's worse than any swear word on the planet.
I'm not as concerned about Terrell Pryor's poor accuracy and passing struggles as I am by his lack of polish as a runner and manager of the pocket. Once TP has a seam and has committed to run, his natural skills allow him to profit.
What really concerns me is how uncomfortable he looks in the zone read offense. I mean, didn't he run this O his entire high school career? I'd expect a guy of this caliber to be able to master the reads and to be given full reign to execute against those reads. Instead, the offense has been artificially limited by coaches, who are clearly trying to protect him at this stage.
But my bigger concern is how uninstinctive (non-instinctive?) TP looks in the pocket under pressure. He seems to be consistently a beat late on his movement, as if he doesn't trust what he's sensing. He frequently runs back into pressure and fails to show discipline in moving the action north and south.
A guy like TP, if he's going to be a truly great mobile QB, has to possess that sixth sense. And honestly, I'm not sure if he has it. And that is what really worries me.
Forgive me if what I say isn't intelligent enough or lacks adequate witty sarcasm for some people in the comment section. But I think Pryor's asshole is way too tight right now. Plain and simple, I don't think he expected this much pressure to be the best player in OSU history by the 19th game is his friggin' career. Not saying he will be one day, but whats wrong with a QB who protects the ball and wins games? Oh, but it's that everybody just KNOWS he's gonna do something stupid. Well, tell me where I can get one of those crystal balls. Look, we are stuck with Pryor for at least two more years, I just think trying to find the silver lining and not constantly harrassing him for every TD he doesn't throw, is time better spent.
i always wondered what happened to Pogue Mahone.
Yes, they coached pryor to lock onto receivers and throw off his back leg. Coaching is not good, Ill admit, but can not coach "it" and Pryor does not have "it" from a QB perspective. Play calling may be an issue, but how many times has Pryor failed to see a wide open Duron Carter or Dane Sanz? Several times they were wide open and Pryor did not even see them, that is not a coaching problem. Pryor is not a QB and Tressel is not an Offensive playcaller, they both just play one on TV.
Are you sure about that? I was certain Pogue was on here recently referring to himself as "reality."
Nah, I'd rather not. I already feel dumber reading your constant complaining. I really don't care what the 12 y/o's have to say about my football team.
Block O Nation makes the baby jesus weep.
bucksfan is a proven douche
Clearly, bucksfan has issues. And he does remind one of a meatchicken "plant" or some sort of d-bag, shill.
His comment about the Dispatch was incredulous. The Disptach has been considered a hack source of news for many years. Let alone the infamous "defenders of the program" d-bag nugget.
Anyway, if bucksfan is an average sports fan (which seems to be the case) does that make him an unrepentant dumba__? Or, merely a man-child trying to work out his fears on an internet sports blog?
RC
I for one, could use some D-Line sack lunch accompanied by a pick 6 or two... to go along with my Mojito.
CBBMAB
I concur.
TP is progressing well enough and it (TP's Schema) will work itself out.
All the fans need, are some relaxing accoutrements to go with their gameday experience as well as any post game cogitations. FYI: some delcious Cane Rum, fresh Limes, and a tasty handmade cigar to merge into a blissful state with the gameday action. Perhaps, a sweet pair or two... of fragrant juicy juicy melons. Know what I mean?
Now, if you are like the infamous bucksfan (a sly and devilish Bon Vivant), then you might prefer sitting your bare arse on some fine corinthian leather while quaffing boone's farm and eating fruit loops out of a ginormous dog bowl for your gameday experience. Salacious!
Bon Voyage & Bon Appetit!
CBBMAB
OH
Why do I keep getting the feeling Berry will end up transferring. I mean, if he's really hurt, then he won't mind not playing and taking the RS, right?
IO!
Here, here. Well, I do fancy a boone's farm strawberry hill now and then. And I must say the bare arse on corinthian leather does sound quite titilating.
That Terrelle Pryor is qutie the whimsical chap, don't you say?
Watch the tape. Todd B should have had 2 interceptions in that game. He was good for at least 2 turnovers game.