Brandon Zimmerman
Guest
Miller Time
Brandon Zimmerman via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
During a week of highs and lows for the Buckeye football team, there was one shining moment that made my heart go pitter patter. It all started during the Monday press conference when Urban Meyer said the number two quarterback for Saturday was Braxton Miller.
Urban Meyer said Braxton Miller is Ohio State’s No. 2 quarterback this week.
— Tim Shoemaker (@TimShoemaker) November 2, 2015
Sometimes, it is hard to remember how good he was because it feels like it has been five years since he played quarterback. Coming out of high school, Miller was the number one ranked dual-threat quarterback in the nation, a five-star recruit by most services, and an Ohio boy. Based off that information alone, the expectations around Ohio immediately began to rise. Even the most casual Buckeye fan knew of the 18-year-old coming into the program at a time where things were pretty dim. The sky was the limit when you have talent like this coming into a program.
Times were supposed to be great at Ohio State going into the 2011 season. The Buckeyes were coming off a Sugar Bowl win against SEC foe Arkansas and they returned a big time offense lead by all-everything quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Miller could watch and learn behind Pryor before being unleashed during the 2012 season at the earliest. But things change quickly and the Buckeye football team was in a complete free fall from greatness. In a matter of months, the football team was being led by Luke Fickell and Miller found himself in a heated QB battle with Joe Bauserman to start the 2011 season after Pryor left to enter the NFL supplemental draft.
Ultimately, Miller lost the starting job to Bauserman but it would not stay that way for long. After playing well against Akron, Bauserman began his descent down the depth chart with a rough game against Toledo. This was followed by a historically bad performance against Miami where he completed two passes for 13 yards. After getting out-quarterbacked by Jacory Harris, Fickell had no choice but to hand the reigns over to Miller to start against Colorado. In his first collegiate start, Miller led the Buckeyes to a 37-17 victory over Colorado. He ran for 104 yards and added 83 through the year. Miller would finish the season with 1,159 yards passing and 13 touchdowns. On the ground, he added 715 yards and seven touchdowns. The year would be one to forget for Ohio State fans but it was hard not to see the potential with Braxton Miller during his freshman season.
Coming into the 2012 season, the Buckeyes had a new head coach by the name of Urban Meyer and the Buckeye train was moving forward fast. Meyer had been at the helm when quarterbacks Alex Smith and Tim Tebow ran wild on college football teams around the nation and Miller appeared to be the perfect fit for his style of offense. Miller would find himself on a few pre-season Heisman lists and poised for a great year but would the Buckeyes, coming off of a seven-loss season, be good enough to support his Heisman run. Many did not believe this was possible.
Big Ten predictions from @Andy_Staples. Has Buckeyes finishing 9-3, 5-3. http://t.co/Uq467G8D
— Kyle Rowland (@KyleRowland) August 21, 2012
Miller and the entire Buckeye football team would set out and prove everyone wrong as they guided themselves to an undefeated record. Unfortunately, the Buckeyes were unable to take on the Notre Dame in the championship due to the sanctions from the Jim Tressell era. Miller would begin to show what he was capable of in an actual offense as he threw for 2,039 yards and 15 touchdowns. His real damage would be on the ground though as he ran for 1,271 yards and 13 touchdowns. Think about that for a second, as a true sophomore he led his team to an undefeated record and combined for over 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns.
The 2013 season was supposed to be the year that Miller and the Buckeyes were to bring the championship to Ohio. Miller was firmly on everyone’s Heisman watch-list and the Buckeyes had enough fire power to hang with anyone around the nation. Miller lived up to his hype during the 2013 season as he guided the Buckeyes to a 12-0 regular season record where the offense averaged 48 points a game. The season was going perfect until they ran into Michigan State in the Big Ten championship game where they lost 34-24 ending any hope they had at going to the National Championship. As a consolation prize, Miller and the Buckeyes were awarded the opportunity to face the Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl. During the Orange Bowl, Miller sustained an injury to his shoulder which would lead to where we are today. Miller played through injury and scored four touchdowns but it was not enough as the Buckeyes fell to the Tigers. For the 2013 season, Miller once again combined for over 3,000 yards of total offenses and 36 touchdowns.
As we all know, the 2014 season was a complete loss for Miller as he recovered from a shoulder injury. Miller would watch as the Buckeyes, led by J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones, brought the coveted National Championship back to Columbus. With Barrett, Jones, and Miller coming back for the 2015 season many speculated Miller would go the graduate transfer route which has become all too common around the nation. Florida State was convinced he was coming to Tallahassee and sent out their big guns to make sure it happened.
Mia Khalifa is continuing her pursuit of Braxton Miller to FSU. Don’t worry guys, I’ve got this story covered pic.twitter.com/As06AVJ51c
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) January 26, 2015
Not surprising to anyone in Columbus, Miller decided to stay home and continue being a part of the Buckeyes. I think people really underestimate how important this decision was. This is a young man who had offers to be the starting quarterback and many big time programs and stuck with his heart.
We have sat and watched this season as he has grown into a wide receiver right in front of our eyes. But it has always been in the back of our minds that he would someday still be a part of the passing game. Whether it was on a trick play or lined up as QB, Miller was going to be a part of the passing attack once fully healthy.
Ed Wariner "Braxton Miller is fully healthy and ready to go."
— Jim Davidson (@JimDPhoto) November 2, 2015
Since the beginning of the year, I had dreams of watching Braxton Miller run this version of the Buckeye offense. Through thick and thin, Braxton Miller has remained a Buckeye even when people around him weren’t too sure about his future. Depending how the Barrett situation plays out, the fact that Miller is now fully healthy is not something to take lightly.
The post Miller Time appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...
Brandon Zimmerman via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
During a week of highs and lows for the Buckeye football team, there was one shining moment that made my heart go pitter patter. It all started during the Monday press conference when Urban Meyer said the number two quarterback for Saturday was Braxton Miller.
Urban Meyer said Braxton Miller is Ohio State’s No. 2 quarterback this week.
— Tim Shoemaker (@TimShoemaker) November 2, 2015
Sometimes, it is hard to remember how good he was because it feels like it has been five years since he played quarterback. Coming out of high school, Miller was the number one ranked dual-threat quarterback in the nation, a five-star recruit by most services, and an Ohio boy. Based off that information alone, the expectations around Ohio immediately began to rise. Even the most casual Buckeye fan knew of the 18-year-old coming into the program at a time where things were pretty dim. The sky was the limit when you have talent like this coming into a program.
Times were supposed to be great at Ohio State going into the 2011 season. The Buckeyes were coming off a Sugar Bowl win against SEC foe Arkansas and they returned a big time offense lead by all-everything quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Miller could watch and learn behind Pryor before being unleashed during the 2012 season at the earliest. But things change quickly and the Buckeye football team was in a complete free fall from greatness. In a matter of months, the football team was being led by Luke Fickell and Miller found himself in a heated QB battle with Joe Bauserman to start the 2011 season after Pryor left to enter the NFL supplemental draft.
Ultimately, Miller lost the starting job to Bauserman but it would not stay that way for long. After playing well against Akron, Bauserman began his descent down the depth chart with a rough game against Toledo. This was followed by a historically bad performance against Miami where he completed two passes for 13 yards. After getting out-quarterbacked by Jacory Harris, Fickell had no choice but to hand the reigns over to Miller to start against Colorado. In his first collegiate start, Miller led the Buckeyes to a 37-17 victory over Colorado. He ran for 104 yards and added 83 through the year. Miller would finish the season with 1,159 yards passing and 13 touchdowns. On the ground, he added 715 yards and seven touchdowns. The year would be one to forget for Ohio State fans but it was hard not to see the potential with Braxton Miller during his freshman season.
Coming into the 2012 season, the Buckeyes had a new head coach by the name of Urban Meyer and the Buckeye train was moving forward fast. Meyer had been at the helm when quarterbacks Alex Smith and Tim Tebow ran wild on college football teams around the nation and Miller appeared to be the perfect fit for his style of offense. Miller would find himself on a few pre-season Heisman lists and poised for a great year but would the Buckeyes, coming off of a seven-loss season, be good enough to support his Heisman run. Many did not believe this was possible.
Big Ten predictions from @Andy_Staples. Has Buckeyes finishing 9-3, 5-3. http://t.co/Uq467G8D
— Kyle Rowland (@KyleRowland) August 21, 2012
Miller and the entire Buckeye football team would set out and prove everyone wrong as they guided themselves to an undefeated record. Unfortunately, the Buckeyes were unable to take on the Notre Dame in the championship due to the sanctions from the Jim Tressell era. Miller would begin to show what he was capable of in an actual offense as he threw for 2,039 yards and 15 touchdowns. His real damage would be on the ground though as he ran for 1,271 yards and 13 touchdowns. Think about that for a second, as a true sophomore he led his team to an undefeated record and combined for over 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns.
The 2013 season was supposed to be the year that Miller and the Buckeyes were to bring the championship to Ohio. Miller was firmly on everyone’s Heisman watch-list and the Buckeyes had enough fire power to hang with anyone around the nation. Miller lived up to his hype during the 2013 season as he guided the Buckeyes to a 12-0 regular season record where the offense averaged 48 points a game. The season was going perfect until they ran into Michigan State in the Big Ten championship game where they lost 34-24 ending any hope they had at going to the National Championship. As a consolation prize, Miller and the Buckeyes were awarded the opportunity to face the Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl. During the Orange Bowl, Miller sustained an injury to his shoulder which would lead to where we are today. Miller played through injury and scored four touchdowns but it was not enough as the Buckeyes fell to the Tigers. For the 2013 season, Miller once again combined for over 3,000 yards of total offenses and 36 touchdowns.
As we all know, the 2014 season was a complete loss for Miller as he recovered from a shoulder injury. Miller would watch as the Buckeyes, led by J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones, brought the coveted National Championship back to Columbus. With Barrett, Jones, and Miller coming back for the 2015 season many speculated Miller would go the graduate transfer route which has become all too common around the nation. Florida State was convinced he was coming to Tallahassee and sent out their big guns to make sure it happened.
Mia Khalifa is continuing her pursuit of Braxton Miller to FSU. Don’t worry guys, I’ve got this story covered pic.twitter.com/As06AVJ51c
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) January 26, 2015
Not surprising to anyone in Columbus, Miller decided to stay home and continue being a part of the Buckeyes. I think people really underestimate how important this decision was. This is a young man who had offers to be the starting quarterback and many big time programs and stuck with his heart.
We have sat and watched this season as he has grown into a wide receiver right in front of our eyes. But it has always been in the back of our minds that he would someday still be a part of the passing game. Whether it was on a trick play or lined up as QB, Miller was going to be a part of the passing attack once fully healthy.
Ed Wariner "Braxton Miller is fully healthy and ready to go."
— Jim Davidson (@JimDPhoto) November 2, 2015
Since the beginning of the year, I had dreams of watching Braxton Miller run this version of the Buckeye offense. Through thick and thin, Braxton Miller has remained a Buckeye even when people around him weren’t too sure about his future. Depending how the Barrett situation plays out, the fact that Miller is now fully healthy is not something to take lightly.
The post Miller Time appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...