2008 tOSU Spring Game (4/19) & Practice Discussion

[krazeyk]

Boeckman is the same as he was last year.:crazy: Hangs on to the ball, far to long. The WR is open and he waits to throw the ball. This allows the DB to make up the yards. Boeckman has not progressed as a QB and he will be our weakness this year. He also has serious tunnel vision. Only has eyes for certain WRs. In this game it was Hartline, with no Robo. Completely stared hartline down every time.

 

[ScriptOhio]

6.) There may be some reason for believing that Todd will never have to face a defense as good as the one he faced in spring practice.

Did we drop USC off the 2008 schedule?

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I have seen so much criticism of Todd after a freakin' scrimmage...I guess I just don't understand why we aren't excited to have Todd leading this championship caliber team...

These are Troy's numbers and Todd's numbers...

2006 203 311 2542 65.3 8.17 58 30 6 18 161.91
2007 191 299 2379 63.9 7.96 68 25 14 18 148.95
A wash on the completion %, yards per catch, The only place Todd has struggeled is his interceptions vs. Troy's interceptions...

Troy's problem was he took off too much during his junior season, Todd's is the INT's, but he still has the experience of leading his team to a NC, he has played a full season of big ten ball, played in big games on the road, 1-0 against Michigan, and had a pretty solid NC game until the pressure started to get to him...

His line will keep pressure off of him this year, he has a great RB behind him, and a very good group of versatile receivers...

His ball is fine, his deep ball is at times instructed to be thrown underneath, for the receivers to make a play on it, watch when he struggles it is when he has pressure on him, and he rushes a little bit...But you would rather have a guy that has been thru the fire and now knows how to adjust to that...

Todd is the man, like OhcH said that is why he had the black jersey on...For one that used Troy only playing one series to Todd's what 3 or 4, meaning he needs more improvement, do you really think that playing in two more series in a spring game is going to improve his game that much...

Todd is the man at QB and I for one am a buckeye fan that is elated to have him back there, and also elated to have Pryor coming in to present a little different look at opposing teams defenses for about 10-15 plays a game...

 

[matcar]

[

All I think alot of us is saying is Todd will have a short leash this yr. ( if his INT's keep increasing)

If you think that you don't know this coach and haven't been watching how he operates.

Actually, we have been watching and listening to Coach for several years now. He's made it clear that decisions and ball security are job #1 for the QB. So yeah, if the INTs continue, his days are numbered. I'm hopeful they won't and I didn't think he'd have any during the spring game, but I was, unfortunately, mistaken.

 

[Taosman]

You better not or Taosman might go crazy.

What is wrong with trying to be logical about the QB situation?
Boeckman has better command of the game than the other QBs.
Bauserman did impress, though! Henton looks good running the ball. :tongue2:
The one positive I see that impresses is that all 3 have started directing traffic and adjusting on the move.
We are way ahead at the QB position than this time last year and it comes at a great time.
I am much more hopeful about the possibilities this season than last because of QB play.
Is that a crazy thing to say?

 

[NP_Buckeye]

What is wrong with trying to be logical about the QB situation?
Boeckman has better command of the game than the other QBs.
Bauserman did impress, though! Henton looks good running the ball. :tongue2:
The one positive I see that impresses is that all 3 have started directing traffic and adjusting on the move.
We are way ahead at the QB position than this time last year and it comes at a great time.
I am much more hopeful about the possibilities this season than last because of QB play.
Is that a crazy thing to say?

I have to say Taos...you have a good logical side when you decide you use it.

 

[Bleed S & G]

The only place Todd has struggeled is his interceptions vs. Troy's interceptions...

1. We shouldn't compare anyone to Troy..
2. INTs is the one CRUCIAL category.

his deep ball is at times instructed to be thrown underneath, for the receivers to make a play on it,

Really? I really hope not.. maybe Grad or Wad can correct me.. why would we want to turn a homerun into a jump ball?

If I can hit a receiver in stride, so only MY receivers outstretched hands can reach the ball - why would I want to under throw it intentionally and give the DB a chance to make a play?

I always thought, the best deep ball is one where either my receiver or nobody can catch it.

watch when he struggles it is when he has pressure on him, and he rushes a little bit...But you would rather have a guy that has been thru the fire and now knows how to adjust to that...

The adjustments remain to be seen IMO. This has been the knock on Todd all off-season.. he chokes/makes mistakes under pressure by forcing shit.

 

[leroyjenkins]

why would I want to under throw it intentionally and give the DB a chance to make a play?

The only times I can think of are on a fade route (smetimes), or if you see your WR late on a BOMB and would have to throw it out of the endzone to hit them in stride, so then the WR will fake like hes running hard and stop, leaving the DB to run past him.

 

[buckeyes_rock]

Really? I really hope not.. maybe Grad or Wad can correct me.. why would we want to turn a homerun into a jump ball?

If I can hit a receiver in stride, so only MY receivers outstretched hands can reach the ball - why would I want to under throw it intentionally and give the DB a chance to make a play?

I always thought, the best deep ball is one where either my receiver or nobody can catch it.
.

I agree completely. I think that underthrow thing is crap. When your guy has two steps on the defender you get the ball to your guy. Maybe in certain situations the coaches wanted him to underthrow it, but not EVERY deep ball. That just wouldn't make sense.

 

[Oh8ch]

What is wrong with trying to be logical about the QB situation?

The biggest problem I have with the so called logic being applied in the wake of the Spring Game is that folks are looking at one game with 45 passes shared among three quarterbacks. A game played in the rain with make shift lineups.

We don't know what routes were being run, who the primary receivers were, if/when routes broke down, what coverages were in place, if/when coverages broke down - we don't know a damn thing that a knowledgeable football coach would consider in evaluating that game.

I don't know how many times I have heard JT answer post game questions with the refrain "I will have to look at the film." And nobody on this board who watches the film of this game is doing anything remotely comparable to what JT is doing when he looks at film.

I respect (and share) the opinion that Bauserman was impressive and that Boeckman's picks were disappointing. But when you take that to the "logical" conclusion that Boeckman is backsliding or will not last the year as starter - I cry "poppycock". Even the seeming consensus that Bauserman has clearly passed Henton is woefully unsubstantiated.

That of course is just my opinion.

But having read some of the contrary opinions in this thread my logic suggests I am correct.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

These are Troy's numbers and Todd's numbers...

2006 203 311 2542 65.3 8.17 58 30 6 18 161.91
2007 191 299 2379 63.9 7.96 68 25 14 18 148.95
A wash on the completion %, yards per catch, The only place Todd has struggeled is his interceptions vs. Troy's interceptions...

Troy didn't regress over his last three games (actually four, seeing as Todd led us to all of 10 points against Wisconsin in 2 1/2 quarters until Beanie told JT, "Gimme the ball"). This is a classic example of stats meaning jack squat.

 

[billmac91]

1. We shouldn't compare anyone to Troy..
2. INTs is the one CRUCIAL category.

Really? I really hope not.. maybe Grad or Wad can correct me.. why would we want to turn a homerun into a jump ball?

If I can hit a receiver in stride, so only MY receivers outstretched hands can reach the ball - why would I want to under throw it intentionally and give the DB a chance to make a play?

I always thought, the best deep ball is one where either my receiver or nobody can catch it.

The adjustments remain to be seen IMO. This has been the knock on Todd all off-season.. he chokes/makes mistakes under pressure by forcing shit.

Because there is no play to be made on an overthrown ball. Against 1 on 1 coverage, you trust a playmaker like Robiskie to either catch it or get an incompletion. Underthrown balls are taught in the NFL and college. I don't know if Tressel teaches it, but it is a common strategy, especially when you have players like Robiskie who play the ball so well in the air. And Brian plays the ball as well as anyone in the air, i.e. Minnesota last year. I do know Tressel alluded to it last year after the Purdue game, saying something about the deep ball strategy.

The problem last year was, Todd wasn't accounting for a second defender. Multiple times he saw single coverage without recognizing help, and lofted a pass downfield thinking it was a 1 on 1 fight. Not the case if you don't look off a safety or put so much air under the ball that another player has enough time to come over and make a play.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

1. We shouldn't compare anyone to Troy..
2. INTs is the one CRUCIAL category.

1. Why not his numbers are comparable...
2. Well obviously, but if he takes care of that which very well could happen, then his numbers are just as good...I don't think it is crazy talk to think that Boeckman could end next season with only 6-10 interceptions...

Not making excuses for TB and the interceptions but look at his picks last year...Akron he had 2...No one played well that game, we only 20-2...If I remember right, one of them someone ran the wrong route on an out...It was his second game as a starter and first against a 1-A team...He had 3 @ Purdue, his first night big ten national tv game...Not a good game from him...But look at his 2nd big time game on national tv in happy valley, had probably his best game...Wisky at home no picks...

Then the 3 game stretch at the end of the season that sticks out...He has 3 int against Illinois, 1 against michigan, and 2 against LSU...Once again the Illinois game sucked, it was bad all the way around and Illinois was pressuring him...Michigan, bad weather, and his thumb or finger was hurt if I remember right...LSU, the one pick was not all on him, and the other was in pressure when he forced it...

Now 14 ints is a high number, but will we see the struggling on the big stage at night like we saw in his first night game at Purdue or the more experienced PSU game...Don't think we will see a game like Michigan, hopefully because he won't be hurt...He played a good game against LSU other than the force under pressure...LSU was on him pretty strong and had a great defense and he had a good rating...

He had a very good rating...NFL scouts have him as the number one QB on the board, and like his arm and what they see from him...

Really? I really hope not.. maybe Grad or Wad can correct me.. why would we want to turn a homerun into a jump ball?

It was in an article last year...Remember the play Robo made against Minny last year...if he over throws it the play isn't made...The thing is we have big receivers both Robo and Hartline are bigger than just about any DB that will be covering them and you have to figure they can catch a jump ball, they are not the kind that will get behind their guy by 5 yards like Ginn did for Smith to hit him...It only makes since when you have a 1 on 1 opportunity to give your receiver the best opportunity to make the catch and not miss him...If you overthrow you miss him...If you underthrow the receiver has the best chance at the ball because he sees it coming and it is easier to get a PI call, and I take my chances with Hartline and Robo 1 on 1 in a jump ball situation...Much like Boeckman's second long throw to Hartline in the spring game...

If I can hit a receiver in stride, so only MY receivers outstretched hands can reach the ball - why would I want to under throw it intentionally and give the DB a chance to make a play?

I always thought, the best deep ball is one where either my receiver or nobody can catch it.

Obviously if they are clearly behind the defense, that is best, but see the argument above...

The adjustments remain to be seen IMO. This has been the knock on Todd all off-season.. he chokes/makes mistakes under pressure by forcing shit.

When were you going to see them...You saw him in action in the spring game and heard about his report or maybe saw his game at the jersey scrimmage when he went up against he first team D with first team O and didn't throw a pick...

Like OhcH said we have no idea what the read was, who the check down guy was, or anything of that nature...QB is hard to break down and you obviously need all that stuff to really do it...But to say that adjustments havent been made because we got to watch him throw the ball 18 times is kinda ridiculous IMO...

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Troy didn't regress over his last three games (actually four, seeing as Todd led us to all of 10 points against Wisconsin in 2 1/2 quarters until Beanie told JT, "Gimme the ball"). This is a classic example of stats meaning jack squat.

This is open for debate as well...Many will say they want a no interception, management type game, which is what you got in the Wisconsin game...

Illinois, yes it was a bad game...BUt I still think if the defense gets us the ball back that he makes something happen...

Michigan...Mentioned in my last post, bad hand, weather, and once Beanie took over and Michigan couldn't move the ball there was no reason to force anything...

LSU was not a regress game...He played well, yeah he had the 2 picks, but he played well enough for us to win this game...

 

[maximumblitz]

True but...
By the end of the season, some MAC schools defense's should be as good as our split squad spring game Ds.

In the time-honored tradition of a never-satisfied Buckeye fan, I do have one concern with our defense (which btw is never satisifed either). The defense forced too few turnovers. I suppose I should be "happy" that they got 2 interceptions. But what about forced fumbles? I have a hard time believing that those newer receivers and newer running backs are so well coached that they will never fumble in their careers. There were running backs out there that I had never heard of. Didn't Eddie George, Maurice C, and Beanie have to learn about fumbling the hard way? And if the interceptions were not on the number #1 quarterback, I would be a little happier.

The Columbus Dispatch said that causing turnovers was a major goal this year, but I would say that the objective was not achieved.

The only way I could be happy is if the defense taught a very good lesson to newer QBs, receivers, and running backs that turnovers are bad. In this case, the newer players humbled the defense.

We have got to stop making such perfect, clean tackles. Why not let them almost run by, and then at the last second, reach out an grab the arm they are carrying the ball with? Why not trip just before the tackle and stumble into the ball? Why not pretend that our guys cannot make a solo tackle and instead just hold on to one leg and wait till 5 other defenders get there.