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Home > Blogs > Buckeyes Beat > Archives > 2008 > September > 13
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Tressel facing tough decision
Ohio State emerged from a 35-3 blow-out at Southern Cal game with its pride wounded and confidence shaken, and the Buckeyes also left the L.A. Coliseum with another thing no team wants: a quarterback controversy.
Todd Boeckman deserves kudos for his stellar showing last season, leading the Buckeyes to an outright Big Ten title (how many OSU QBs can say that?). But he had another sloppy outing while playing on a big national stage, and back-up Terrelle Pryor proved against the Trojans that he isn’t a typical freshman that needs time to develop.
Pryor’s dual-threat ability even had USC’s snarling defense looking a little uneasy at times. He can turn a broken play into a 12-yard gain quicker than anyone the Buckeyes have had in decades, and his poise, competitive nature and, yes, even his occasional jawing with the opposition shows he wouldn’t be intimated if he were asked to lead a veteran team the rest of the season.
ABC’s Kirk Herbstreit noticed a difference while the Buckeyes were alternating QBs, saying late in the first half that the offense had a better rhythm with Pryor under center.
Given the uncertain status of Beanie Wells and the continued disappointing play of the offensive line, coach Jim Tressel is in a difficult position. He’s loyal to his seniors and no doubt would want to stick with Boeckman, but a suspect running game, a porous O-line and an immobile quarterback are a bad combination.
Other observations from USC’s rout:
* The Buckeyes lost their composure again while facing an elite team. Three false start penalties — two by senior All-Big Ten tackle Alex Boone. Ray Small drops an easy first-down pass. Two holding infractions after driving inside the USC 5-yard line. A makeable field goal gone awry.
And that was just in the first half.
But the truth is, the Buckeyes need to play practically a perfect game to compete with the best of the best, and that’s just not going to happen.
* Could Beanie Wells have made an impact? Probably. Enough to keep the Buckeyes from getting whipped. Uh, not likely.
ABC’s Brent Musberger said midway through the first half: “From what I’ve seen, I don’t think one man could make that big a difference. This is a very, very good USC team.”
Agreed.
* For Buckeye fans, the most disappointing aspect of the night might have been the breakdown of the highly touted defense. Again. The absence of a pass rush and relative lack of speed were glaring.
* Last thing. Not that it would have mattered, but didn’t linebacker Rey Maualuga step out of bounds on the 5-yard line while returning an interception for a TD?
Oh, well. That probably only would have delayed the inevitable.
