My Buckeye themed office calendar has a glorious field level picture of the the marching band this month. I see it every weekday and unfailingly the glint of the sousaphones make me fall into a temporariy haze where I think about the upcoming season. This calendar also tells me, as I’m sure yours does as well, it’s near mid-July meaning next month, practice will be revving up to full throttle and we’ll soon being listening to Jim Tressel talking a lot without saying much. Nevertheless, the Vest does have a big decision on his hands when fall practice wraps up and I’m not talking about whether to allow LeBron a sideline credential. The depth chart will feature Terrelle Pryor as the starting quarterback but curiosity wants to know who will be the backup. Obviously, we are thinking positive here and hope for an injury free season for Pryor but clean up time should be plentiful allowing the backup to get quite a few snaps this year. By all indications, Joe Bauserman is the leading candidate to relieve Pryor when called upon. It’s a position he held last year where he saw action in six games so he has the experience angle on his side. He’s also a natural quarterback in the sense it’s the position he’s best suited to play with his strong arm and decent mobility despite being a squatty 6’1”, 233lbs. From a throwing techique perspective, he reminds me somewhat of Scott McMullan with a little side-arm, gunslinger motion that looks groovy but, unless perfected, results in a lot of batted balls at the line of scrimmage or off target throws. We saw this bear out in his 32% completion rate last year. He has better movement than one thinks at first blush but the proclivity to rely on it too much rather than stand in the pocket and find the checkdown. However, he is capable, putting the skills on full display in the 2008 spring game where showed as much shine as we’ve seen from him to date.
While Bauserman is the leader in the clubhouse, the slender sophomore Kenny Guiton is doing some damage closing the gap. His spring game performance had everyone all a twitter in what was the most action fans have seen of him since he arrived on campus. That fact alone is surprising to many since Guiton was, if we are honest with ourselves, an afterthought addition to his recruiting class that saw other coveted quarterbacks, namely Tajh Boyd, spurn the Buckeyes. Guiton essentially picked Ohio State over Praire View A&M, but he’s ours and we love him. His throwing motion is smooth, he keeps the ball near his chest on the drop while using a pretty standard two-finger, across the laces grip. Perhaps what is most interesting about Guiton is he has above average athleticisim but he rarely looks to run first. His mentality is to go through all his progressions, even going so far as taking a few coverage sacks when he probably could have turned upfield for positive yardage. The unknown on Guiton is how much of the offense does he have available to him? It would be easy to not care about the backup spot but the reality is it matters a great deal. Terelle’s own preposterous running skills are also the same ones that by nature have him taking on more hits and, sometimes, injuries. So, it’s not good enough to just have a backup by name. They need to be able to win on the field, not just run out the clock. Plus, looking ahead, whoever wins the spot - Taylor Graham included - will have a leg up next year when Terrelle may not be around and Braxton Miller arrives. My crystal ball retired long ago but, pin me down, I think Guiton will end up winning the spot, athough I wouldn’t be surprised to see Bauserman listed on the depth chart as the backup initially. Kenny may just be one of those special, unheralded, underrecruited players who makes the coaches look like geniuses. If the confidence of the team is any measure, he seems to have the edge as we saw him being selected ahead of Bauserman in the spring draft. It won’t be a spotlight battle but it may be one of the more important decisions to come out of camp. What’s your take and why?
Comments
I said it before and I'll say it again: Bauserman throws a football like he's still trying to make it to the majors...low, hard and outside. My vote to Kenny G.
First of all, we need to drop the Kenny G stuff. Please.
Secondly, simply based on what I saw during the Spring Game, my choice would be Guiton. But then, I'm not at practice everyday.
The G-Man should be the back up. Troy Smith was a late addition to the recruiting class too, even though he was a Tarblooder.
I'm actually interested to see how Taylor Graham does this year. Maybe it's just because he's a smart, white, pocket passer, but I get a little Krenzel vibe from him (or at least from his high school highlights). I think that Graham might not have a strong enough handle on the offense to be the number two guy just from fall camp, but anyone who reminds me of Krenzel seems like a winner.
It seems like Guiton should have number two locked by the end of camp, however.
Also, I know Verlon Reed is already officially listed as a WR on the roster, but didn't he say that he came to OSU because we'd give him a shot as a QB? So is there still a possibility that he'll start camp there?
I wonder how many people showed up at the Cane fest? Whats funny is they are selling tickets. Could you imagine a Buckeye fest during the summer?
KG is the backup. He's mobile and like someone else said has a nice throwing motion.
How bout cardale somewhere on the team? The boy loves the bucks! His whole facebook is laced with photos etc about Ohio state. I say someone into osu thAt much needs a chance.
I really didn't think Guiton was all that great in the Spring Game. Sure he was better than we were expecting and threw one great ball, but wasn't shockingly good by any means. Had ALL DAY to throw and still missed guys wide open.
From a guy I know who was on the team last year he said Bauserman was great at practice. I would want anyone else but him in there based on how he's done in games but if he's that good every day I figure it'll have to come to fruition in a game sooner or later...right?
After the spring game and reading Joshua Stueve's interview with Guiton (thebuckeyetimes.com) I am a full fledged Guiton fan. It will be good to see on the field this year and how he handles that. Hopefully the Buckeyes will be in a position to give him a good number of snaps late in games. Even with Graham, Miller and possibly Jones on the way, I think Kenny just might be the heir to Terrelle's position. Now wouldn't that be a great underdog story?
I know this won't be poplular, but my "Krenzel look-a-like" vote goes to Bauserman. He has experience. He's the safe choice. I think he turns 28 this year.
Wouldn't be surprised if Tressel can't make up his mind about them. I've seen that story before.
I agree with RBuck..I said Guiton all through spring, and he can only have gotten better.
I thought Guiton was a redshirt freshman?
Could you imagine a Buckeye fest during the summer?
Yes. :)
Kenny G is my choice! However, Bauserman at 25, is a leader and I appreciate his leadership!
hmm, somewhat of a tough call. guiton looked more athletic in my opinion in the spring game. he also seemed to be able to throw bullets in an aggressive manner (when he threw deep, he made sure the ball was deep, thrown hard with some accuracy, and never hung/floated in the air for 20 seconds....and if the ball was thrown too deep or too hard then it was incomplete or overthrown....which i will settle for it's every now and then). however, i don't mind the thought of there being 2 back-up qbs that are capable and decent.
I've said it before and I will say it again...
In situations where Pryor goes down, and we need points on the board; It is best to go with Guiton. The offensive playbook is designed to suit Pryor's abilities, and to be able to get the most full potential out of the playbook is through a back up like Guiton. Bauserman has the experience and leadership because he has been there longer, but I don't think he has the ability to utilize the playbook like Pryor and Guiton can.
i hate to say it, but living outside of buckeye country, everyone is looking at the miami game on 9/11 as the season so far. And while I love tp, the reality is we bette have a DAMN good backup, JUST IN CASE. all that said, I go with KG. he runs what the offense will know, be used to, and, from the spirng game, can do it better than anyone else we have. so, go bucks, tp, kick some arse, and if all else fails, kg, save us.
T Graham will very likely be redshirted.
Still, guessing 2010 backup between KG and JB is hard because there's other variables involved besides their respective performances. For example, will TP be around in 2011? If JB were a senior, the staff would go out of its way to get KG more reps, but it's still possible that JB could become one of those 1-year senior wonders in 2011, if necessary. But lately it seems like his play has plateaued or dropped off, whereas KG showed touch, nice arm, vision, good sense of progression/rhythm.
Coin toss?
If Bauserman was so great in practice why did the players draft Guiton over Bauserman. Based on what if seen I say Guiton should be 2.
Until we see major improvement in the offensive line. KG should get the nod for the backup spot.
Bauserman lost whatever it was he had. There's a reason the coaches didn't put Baus in when TP was fumbling away the Purdue game.
Give me Kenny G.
If Guiton plays, and gets sacked, I am yelling out, "OH MY GOD! THEY KILLED KENNY!!!"
I believe Kenny-G runs a 4.55/40 and shows abover average mechanics. Just like this article points, I see a side-armed 'Bernie Kosar-ish' throwing motion that is more fit for baseball. Bauserman has the best velocity on the team (something Terelle needs if he is going to throw in the middle of the field more), but beyond that, Kenny-G should wrap this up by week 2 in August.
I'm not interested in anyone with a 32% completion rate being my #2 QB. As Dennis Green taught us years ago, you are what your record says you are. And Bauserman's record in live-fire games is terrible.
I say, commit to Kenny as the backup, and pray to whatever god you believe in that Terrelle Pryor does not get hurt.
He is. My mistake. Not sure why I wrote that when my notes have redshirt frosh. Good catch.
It's hard to tell given that Guiton hasn't played against a true opponent.
But Bauserman's play against Navy (boy, what a momentum killer he was) and in the 2010 Spring Game combined with Guiton's play in the same game seems to tilt the scales in Guiton's favor. There is definitely more long term potential there.