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No ordinary Smith
By Terry Bowden, Yahoo! Sports
September 10, 2006
AUSTIN, Texas ? This is what I love about being a color commentator for college football. I get to go to all the great games and take in the great environments.
I should have known Texas was in for a tough night when I heard 40,000 Ohio State fans had come to town even though the Buckeyes were allotted only 4,000 tickets. I guess there was some great tailgating outside the stadium during the game.
Anybody who has been reading my articles on Yahoo! Sports the last 16 months knows that I place great value on having a veteran quarterback for national championship contenders. This game was a perfect example why.
Just as Vince Young was the difference maker for Texas last year, sensational senior quarterback Troy Smith looks to be the man who can lead Ohio State all the way.
As I sat after the game and thought about the differences between Ohio State and Texas, it was clear Smith is the main one. He's a great athlete who not only can throw the ball like a classic drop-back passer but also run with the legs of a tailback.
It seemed that no matter what happened on any play, Smith could get in position to make something good happen. With that kind of advantage over a redshirt freshman quarterback (Colt McCoy) at Texas, it soon became clear the Buckeyes ? not the Longhorns ? would have a chance to play for the ultimate prize.
Ohio State's game plan was to pass on an aggressive Texas defense, and Smith picked the Texas secondary apart. For some reason the Longhorns couldn't cover the inside slot receiver, and Anthony Gonzalez had a career night. Every time Texas tried to keep it close, Smith either kept the drive going and controlled field position or got another score.
The OSU defense that many thought would be suspect because of nine new starters showed its first game against Northern Illinois was not a true indication of how good it could be. The young, talented Buckeye defense kept a young, talented Texas offense from making any big plays the entire night. It's a different Longhorn offense from the one that averaged 50 points per game last season, but still ? no big plays.
Taking away the big play eventually put pressure on a young quarterback to make something happen.
Though Texas clearly is a lesser team without Young, the Longhorns still have enough to win the Big 12 championship and play in a Bowl Championship Series game. But it's Ohio State which now must stay focused every week as it tries to stay No. 1.
There are a few obstacles along the way to the national championship game Jan. 8, including Iowa and Michigan. But the Buckeyes will be favored in every game. They have a superstar in Ted Ginn Jr. who can score at any time and also have a tailback, Antonio Pittman, who gives them a solid run attack. More importantly they've got a defense that can stop the best of offenses. And oh yeah, a great veteran quarterback.
I'm not sure this OSU team is as talented overall as the title team of five years ago. But this Buckeye quarterback is far superior to Craig Krenzel, and because of that I believe Ohio State has to be the front runner for the national championship.
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;...=tb-noordinarysmith090906&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
No ordinary Smith
By Terry Bowden, Yahoo! Sports
September 10, 2006
AUSTIN, Texas ? This is what I love about being a color commentator for college football. I get to go to all the great games and take in the great environments.
I should have known Texas was in for a tough night when I heard 40,000 Ohio State fans had come to town even though the Buckeyes were allotted only 4,000 tickets. I guess there was some great tailgating outside the stadium during the game.
Anybody who has been reading my articles on Yahoo! Sports the last 16 months knows that I place great value on having a veteran quarterback for national championship contenders. This game was a perfect example why.
Just as Vince Young was the difference maker for Texas last year, sensational senior quarterback Troy Smith looks to be the man who can lead Ohio State all the way.
As I sat after the game and thought about the differences between Ohio State and Texas, it was clear Smith is the main one. He's a great athlete who not only can throw the ball like a classic drop-back passer but also run with the legs of a tailback.
It seemed that no matter what happened on any play, Smith could get in position to make something good happen. With that kind of advantage over a redshirt freshman quarterback (Colt McCoy) at Texas, it soon became clear the Buckeyes ? not the Longhorns ? would have a chance to play for the ultimate prize.
Ohio State's game plan was to pass on an aggressive Texas defense, and Smith picked the Texas secondary apart. For some reason the Longhorns couldn't cover the inside slot receiver, and Anthony Gonzalez had a career night. Every time Texas tried to keep it close, Smith either kept the drive going and controlled field position or got another score.
The OSU defense that many thought would be suspect because of nine new starters showed its first game against Northern Illinois was not a true indication of how good it could be. The young, talented Buckeye defense kept a young, talented Texas offense from making any big plays the entire night. It's a different Longhorn offense from the one that averaged 50 points per game last season, but still ? no big plays.
Taking away the big play eventually put pressure on a young quarterback to make something happen.
Though Texas clearly is a lesser team without Young, the Longhorns still have enough to win the Big 12 championship and play in a Bowl Championship Series game. But it's Ohio State which now must stay focused every week as it tries to stay No. 1.
There are a few obstacles along the way to the national championship game Jan. 8, including Iowa and Michigan. But the Buckeyes will be favored in every game. They have a superstar in Ted Ginn Jr. who can score at any time and also have a tailback, Antonio Pittman, who gives them a solid run attack. More importantly they've got a defense that can stop the best of offenses. And oh yeah, a great veteran quarterback.
I'm not sure this OSU team is as talented overall as the title team of five years ago. But this Buckeye quarterback is far superior to Craig Krenzel, and because of that I believe Ohio State has to be the front runner for the national championship.
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;...=tb-noordinarysmith090906&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
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