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tOSU has now been boiled down to one player. Might as well call the team tTPU. They will live and die by his playing. For TP's sake, I hope he does well because we have already seen how quickly sucknut fans will throw a player under the bus.

Why did it take Tressel 4 games to decide what appears to be quite obvious? Cost OSU any chance at a NC.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 10:55 AM ET  09.21 by BTD20

Why did it take Tressel 4 games to decide what appears to be quite obvious? Cost OSU any chance at a NC.

So that means you think had JT started TP at QB in the USC game it would have changed the outcome and that tTPU would have beaten USC?

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 10:55 AM ET  09.21 by BTD20

Why did it take Tressel 4 games to decide what appears to be quite obvious? Cost OSU any chance at a NC.

Is Tressel a slow learner or what? What did they do during training camp? Did he just discover that Pryor is the better player? The Suckeyes had NO chance at a National Championship, and it wouldn't have mattered who the quarterback was.

Of course at this point it's 20/20 hindsight but obviously Sweatervest made a huge mistake in not naming Pryor as the starter out of camp. As a USC fan, I am the first to say last weekend's mugging in LA would have been much much different (USC still wins though) if it was Pryor coming in with two starts under his belt and ready to face the Trojans. Now for Ohio State, it's a mess possibly too late to clean up. I am interested to see if how this group of seniors reacts to Boekman's time behind center essentially over. By the way Buckeye fans, I am already scared to death of 2009 when our teams meet again and the second coming of Vince Young is across the line...

I was at the OSU/Troy game and while I thought Pryor was impressive, I don't see any reason why Boeckman wouldn't have been the starter all along as planned. I think the bigger issues in the USC game were a) coaching (predictability and conservative nature of calls, etc.) and b) the porousness of the offensive line. Pryor would have definitely had some impact on the game, but not enough to win. That said, Pryor seemed pretty comfortable yesterday. If we can change the coaching (e.g., hire a coach for offense, become less predictable with play calling, etc.), get Beanie healthy, and firm up the O-line I think we've got a pretty formidable team.

Also, I'm not one for booing one's own players, and while I know it happens all over the place, I was pretty upset to hear people booing Boeckman after he underthrew (albeit it significantly) a pass. It was, I think, only his second play in the game and all things considered we should give him some more time to get into the game before we cast him aside. He's been a good team player and he deserves better treatment and respect than this. If you're reading this, Todd, know that lots of us respect you and are glad you're one of the team's leaders!

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 09:42 AM ET  09.21 by The Warden

tOSU has now been boiled down to one player. Might as well call the team tTPU. They will live and die by his playing. For TP's sake, I hope he does well because we have already seen how quickly sucknut fans will throw a player under the bus.

Hand it up to the D too. Georgia and Florida can't say the same about their 30 points allowed when they played Troy. Missouri is the only team to lose to them. Although we still had missed tackles, the D stepped up in the second half.

It seems pretty clear to me that Pryor, though he still makes freshman mistakes is a dramatic upgrade at QB. Boeckman didn't have the skills which was obvious in last year's Illinois game on. With TP, the line blocks better and the WR's catch better and get better separation. Mark my words....if/when Beanie returns OSU's offense will begin to dominate...this will also help the D. Starting TP from game 1 wouldn't have meant a victory over USC, but it would have been closer...and with Beanie even closer still.

As far as Tressel's decision to wait till game #4 to make the move...that is his style. He is a loyal coach and "protects" young players, waiting until they are ready to play. I agree with him and think that's why he gets such great recruits. If you agree with me and others that OSU would not have beaten USC with TP at QB, then it is a non-issue. If you somehow believe the opposite then I can see why you question the move.

Here's the good news for Buckeye fans (and bad news for you haters); TP will propel OSU to an elite team status by the end of November. I see a Rose Bowl trip against maybe Oklahoma or a BCS buster (USC will be in the NC game no Pac 10 team is good enough for an at-large BCS birth). Maybe we'll get lucky and an SEC team will be the opponent.

So why exactly did terrelle pryor choose "the university of ohio state" over michigan in the first place? he said he wanted to play a tebow-like role in the offense, and not start right away. this is essentially what he is doin now at ohio state, but at michigan he would have been the starter at the opener, and he would have more experience now. probably tre$$el had something to do with it...

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 01:18 PM ET  09.21 by sportSCenter360

So why exactly did terrelle pryor choose "the university of ohio state" over michigan in the first place? he said he wanted to play a tebow-like role in the offense, and not start right away. this is essentially what he is doin now at ohio state, but at michigan he would have been the starter at the opener, and he would have more experience now. probably tre$$el had something to do with it...

there i$ more to the $tory a$ to why TP went to tO$U. I am $till trying to figure out how TP paid for that really expen$ive QB coach during the $ummer. Anyone know how he did it $ince he doe$n't come from a family with much mean$?

Sportscenter, the $$ aside it's clear from Pryor's comments that he respects Tressel as a coach, and personal chemistry between a coach and top talent is always a huge issue. That, in addition to the returning seniors, other talent at OSU and probably how he felt during his visits would likely account for his decision.

If you guys did any research instead of running your mouth (computer keyboard) you would know that there was a big push by the 3 recruited freshman star O-lineman (Adams, Brewster & Shugarts) to convince Pryor to come to OSU. He bonded with those guys during his trips in and was in constant contact with them during the process. It was $$ alright, but the $$ was those recruits who just keep on giving (Brewster started at Center versus Troy). There is other type of $$ besides the green.

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 01:18 PM ET  09.21 by sportSCenter360

So why exactly did terrelle pryor choose "the university of ohio state" over michigan in the first place? he said he wanted to play a tebow-like role in the offense, and not start right away. this is essentially what he is doin now at ohio state, but at michigan he would have been the starter at the opener, and he would have more experience now. probably tre$$el had something to do with it...

The same reason other top recruits like Jamaal Berry (RB from FL) Pick Ohio State. They want exposure with a winning team. Currently Michigan isn't in that type of spot until the player get comfrotable witha new offense and new coach.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 01:05 PM ET  09.21 by _Janus_

Hand it up to the D too. Georgia and Florida can't say the same about their 30 points allowed when they played Troy. Missouri is the only team to lose to them. Although we still had missed tackles, the D stepped up in the second half.

Please! Please! Please! I beg you to refrain from attempting to compare and or liken
OSU's D to those of the elite SEC teams referenced. I think that I recall another fan
mentioning something about hindsight being 20/20....ummmmmmmm. Ah yes, my
memory hasn't failed me at all, OSU did come up short not once, but twice against
SEC powerhouses in the NC.

Ohio State has talent, what they don't have is the coaching staff on defense or offense that will get the most out of the talent. When do we see holes for running backs that you can drive a truck through? O-Line keep the D-Line from getting to QB. Defense players hitting their opponents so hard they don't get up? More than three stacks of the QB in a game? You have to coach your talent to be aggressive. OSU needs to play more of their young talent. They started the process with Troy State but it can not stop there. Let the young talent shine.

Hawk2 what are you smoking? OSU has always played their young talent. It has long been Tressel's policy to get reps for young players which is why his W/L record is so good. OSU has a ton of experienced and talented 2-3 & 4 year players. Besides the loss of Beanie, the biggest problem has been at QB. Boeckman is not an elite QB and it showed in those games. Pryor obviously will be....you figure it out. I think that had not Pryor came to Ohio State Antonio Hinton would have replaced Boeckman and not transferred. Last year was a rebuilding year for the Bucks, yet they ended up in the NC game. I think the Vest coaches the players just fine.

although i root for the tide i believe that osu has an outstanding defense and team overall, its just that the vest is too much of gentleman. as a player u have to wanna go out on the field and try to tear the other teams head off, whether or not u think its the coaches job to get the team fired up ready to play(personally i think the coach's demeanor plays a huge roll), a lack of intensity takes its toll on a time over a period of time. Look at the last several teams to win the nc. passoniate coaches who show lots of emotion and will lit a fire under a player.

BMathi, I agree with you. I think Tressel is a great coach and builder of character, but he's also relatively formal in a sport where I think you need emotion, especially if you're not in a really dominant position talent-wise. I'm not going to pretend I know what his locker room speeches are like, but I do believe that when the chips are down and you're behind, a coach with an emotional, inspirational personality can really help provide the spark(s) needed to get them back into the game, above and beyond what the team captains, etc. can do.

And, like some others have noted, I really think Tressel needs to be more nonconventional and unpredictable, and do a better job of in-game adjustments. I don't think it's just me that is failing to see these, not only in the USC game but the LSU game as well. Do that, and get a coach specifically for the offense, and get Beanie healthy...then watch out.

Good luck to all and to your teams!

QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 03:03 PM ET  09.21 by Hawk2

Ohio State has talent, what they don't have is the coaching staff on defense or offense that will get the most out of the talent. When do we see holes for running backs that you can drive a truck through? O-Line keep the D-Line from getting to QB. Defense players hitting their opponents so hard they don't get up? More than three stacks of the QB in a game? You have to coach your talent to be aggressive. OSU needs to play more of their young talent. They started the process with Troy State but it can not stop there. Let the young talent shine.

Oh how right you are my friend!!!! Todd Boeckman has been made the scapegoat for Jim Bollman the Offensive Coordinator and offensive line coach. Bollman is and has been the problem. Shame on you Tress. You threw the Boeckman under the bus for what? Coming to OSU as a grey shirt, paying for your own education, starting your first year replacing the Heisman winner, taking your team to a Big Ten Championship and then to a national championship.. Yep, that's all Boeckman has done and then to be thrown under the Bollman bus. I have lost all repsect for the vest and have just thrown his book in the trash. Back up your book with actions Tress.

It's gonna be sweet for the Buckeyes to play USC in the rose bowl with a healthy running back and a moblile QB. I think it's a forgone conclusion that USC will choke sometime during the year and play in the rose bowl