My .02
1. Bellisari was supposed to be a great practice QB as well. We all know that didn't often carry over to saturday.
2. After SB's DUI, Scott McMullen was named the starter and CK the backup due to their practice performance's. Once the smoke cleared from the '01 Illinois game it was clear that, much like SB, Scotty Mac was a better practicer where as Craig Krenzel was a better gamer.
3. From reading betwen the lines and just flat reading Barton's comments on the Ozone, it's pretty clear a lot of the guys have a lot of faith in Troy Smith. Some guys are natural born leaders and some aren't. I am getting the feeling the players might respect JZ because of his position and JT's backing. I think they may respect Troy Smith just because of who he is.
All in all, I am having a hard time believing that TS doesn't deserve a shot under game conditions. As we have all seen many times in sports, some guys come alive under game conditions and some guys regress.
I am afraid we are seeing a replay of the McMullen/Krenzel scenario but with the practicer getting the nod over the gamer. Give him some meaningful PT and we'll know for sure one way or the other.
Edit*****
Drive summaries of the PT Troy Smith has gotten
<pre> O 1-10 O46 OHIO STATE drive start at 14:46 (2nd).
#10 Troy Smith now at QB for OSU.
O 1-10 O46 Smith,Troy pass incomplete (RUSSELL, Jason).
O 2-10 O46 Smith,Troy rush quarterback draw for no gain to the OSU46 (HAGLER,
Tyjuan).
O 3-10 O46 Smith,Troy rush over right end for 9 yards to the CIN45 (ROBERTS, Adam).
O 4-1 C45 Ross,Lydell rush over right end for loss of 1 yard to the CIN46 (COLE,
Trent).
--------------- 4 plays, 8 yards, TOP 01:45 ---------------</pre>
<pre>O 1-10 O16 OHIO STATE drive start at 11:43 (4th).
Now at QB for OSU #10 Troy Smith.
O 1-10 O16 Ross,Lydell rush over left end for 9 yards to the OSU25 (HAGLER,
Tyjuan).
O 2-1 O25 Ross,Lydell rush over left end for 6 yards to the OSU31, 1ST DOWN
OSU (HARWELL, Tedric;WRIGHT, Mike).
O 1-10 O31 Ross,Lydell rush up middle for 8 yards to the OSU39 (MONAGHAN, Doug).
O 2-2 O39 Timeout Ohio State, clock 09:55.
O 2-2 O39 Ross,Lydell rush over right tackle for 1 yard to the OSU40 (RUSSELL,
Jason).
O 3-1 O40 Smith,Troy rush quarterback sneak for 1 yard to the OSU41, 1ST DOWN
OSU (WRIGHT, Mike).
O 1-10 O41 Ross,Lydell rush up middle for 13 yards to the CIN46, 1ST DOWN
OSU (HOLLY, Daven;HALL, JaJuan).
O 1-10 C46 Pittman,A rush up middle for 1 yard to the CIN45 (HAGLER, Tyjuan).
O 2-9 C45 Pittman,A rush over right end for 21 yards to the CIN24, 1ST DOWN
OSU (MONAGHAN, Doug).
#38 Juan Hall for UC is injured on play. Left field on own.
O 1-10 C24 Pittman,A rush over right guard for 2 yards to the CIN22 (ROSS,
Dominic;MONAGHAN, Doug).
O 2-8 C22 Smith,Troy rush left from shotgun for loss of 1 yard to the CIN23 (COLE,
Trent;ROBERTS, Adam).
O 3-9 C23 Smith,Troy deep pass complete to Holmes,S for 23 yards to the CIN0,
1ST DOWN OSU, TOUCHDOWN, clock 05:54.
Nugent,Mike kick attempt good.
===========================
CINCINNATI 6, OHIO STATE 24
===========================
--------------- 11 plays, 84 yards, TOP 05:49 ---------------</pre>
<pre>O 1-10 C49 OHIO STATE drive start at 04:58 (4th).
O 1-10 C49 Pittman,A rush over right tackle for loss of 1 yard to the 50 yardline
(COLE, Trent).
O 2-11 O50 Pittman,A rush over left end for 38 yards to the CIN12, 1ST DOWN
OSU, out-of-bounds.
O 1-10 C12 Hall,Maurice rush over left end for 2 yards to the CIN10 (MONAGHAN,
Doug;HAGLER, Tyjuan).
O 2-8 C10 Smith,Troy rush left from shotgun for loss of 2 yards to the CIN12
(HAGLER, Tyjuan).
O 3-10 C12 Smith,Troy screen pass complete to Ginn Jr.,Ted for 6 yards to the CIN6
(ROBERTS, Adam).
O 4-4 C06 Nugent,Mike field goal attempt from 23 GOOD, clock 01:51.
===========================
CINCINNATI 6, OHIO STATE 27
</pre>
<pre>O 1-10 O37 OHIO STATE drive start at 14:42 (2nd).
#12 Troy Smith at QB for OSU.
O 1-10 O37 Smith,Troy sideline pass incomplete to Hall,Roy.
O 2-10 O37 Smith,Troy rush right from shotgun for no gain to the OSU37 (Atkins,
Kevin).
O 3-10 O37 Smith,Troy sideline pass incomplete to Hall,Roy.
O 4-10 O37 Turano,Kyle punt 35 yards to the MARSHALL28, downed.
--------------- 3 plays, 0 yards, TOP 01:02 ---------------</pre>
That hardly looks like a fair shot to me.