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Smith's not Young, but he ages well
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Bill Livingston
Plain Dealer Columnist
Austin, Texas
- The roads around the Univer sity of Texas are named for rivers that run through the state. It is perfect for a watershed game that will be a turning point in Ohio State's season.
Guadalupe Street, also known as "The Drag," is home to the University of Texas Co-op, a Scientology church, bars, and tattoo parlors, all huddled in the shadow of the Texas Tower.
Nueces Street is named for the river that bordered the lawless "Nueces Strip" in the Wild West. From its banks to the Rio Grande (another off-campus street), the Comanches and Texas Rangers fought over the land.
Red River Street is where Royal-Memorial Stadium stands.
Whatever route Ohio State's bus takes, the Buckeyes will be a different team by midnight.
And OSU quarterback Troy Smith still will not be Vince Young.
Smith played more like Young last year. Young beat the Buckeyes in Columbus on the banks of the Olentangy River with his arm. He beat Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl with his feet. He struck the pose for the Heisman Trophy he didn't win amid a blizzard of confetti. Then he turned pro.
Longhorns coach Mack Brown said: "One is taller [Young, by 3 inches], but they're the same guy. Troy Smith can make plays with his feet, but he's got a great throwing motion and is very accurate. He can take a bad play and turn it into a positive play, like Vince did so many times."
Young was a once-in-a-generation talent. Brown, a splendid recruiter, let his aides coach and "let Vince play." It was a stroke of genius in the control-freak world of football.
Texas curtailed Young's running after the OSU game to spare him big hits. But against USC, he just played. No one did so much by himself since maybe Lindbergh.
Smith is slippery, too. Ask Michigan, after his beat-the-clock, beat-the-Wolverines drive in the Big House. But Smith lacks Young's combination of elusiveness, size and speed. Not even Michael Vick had as many physical gifts as Young.
Rusty after the second game of a two-game suspension, Smith alternated at quarterback with Justin Zwick. Too often, he took off running against a swift Texas defense that pursued like a stampede on the Chisholm Trail.
Smith's maturation began after that 25-22 loss. When coach Jim Tressel gave him his trust as the starting quarterback, Smith no longer tried to thrill. He tried to think.
"You have to watch a game a few times before you become numb to the big plays," Smith said. "You find yourself watching their offense and comparing it to yours. But you should be watching their defense."
Smith is outgrowing the "scrambler" characterization. He no longer simply reacts to what he first sees.
Brown talks about Smith signing the same $50 million contract Young did. But at 6-1, Smith is not yet a top NFL prospect. Of course, Young's sidearm delivery offset his height, too.
"Troy is his own person," said OSU's other Heisman candidate, Ted Ginn Jr. "He wants to make his name for himself."
In Texas, the only legends they believe in are their own. Smith can river-dance, but he can't bust moves with the ghost of Vince Young. How many could?
It is the journey Smith has made since last year that will decide whose season ends and whose just keeps rollin' along.
To reach Bill Livingston:
[email protected], 216-999-4672
Previous columns online:
cleveland.com/columns
Smith's not Young, but he ages well
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Bill Livingston
Plain Dealer Columnist
Austin, Texas
- The roads around the Univer sity of Texas are named for rivers that run through the state. It is perfect for a watershed game that will be a turning point in Ohio State's season.
Guadalupe Street, also known as "The Drag," is home to the University of Texas Co-op, a Scientology church, bars, and tattoo parlors, all huddled in the shadow of the Texas Tower.
Nueces Street is named for the river that bordered the lawless "Nueces Strip" in the Wild West. From its banks to the Rio Grande (another off-campus street), the Comanches and Texas Rangers fought over the land.
Red River Street is where Royal-Memorial Stadium stands.
Whatever route Ohio State's bus takes, the Buckeyes will be a different team by midnight.
And OSU quarterback Troy Smith still will not be Vince Young.
Smith played more like Young last year. Young beat the Buckeyes in Columbus on the banks of the Olentangy River with his arm. He beat Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl with his feet. He struck the pose for the Heisman Trophy he didn't win amid a blizzard of confetti. Then he turned pro.
Longhorns coach Mack Brown said: "One is taller [Young, by 3 inches], but they're the same guy. Troy Smith can make plays with his feet, but he's got a great throwing motion and is very accurate. He can take a bad play and turn it into a positive play, like Vince did so many times."
Young was a once-in-a-generation talent. Brown, a splendid recruiter, let his aides coach and "let Vince play." It was a stroke of genius in the control-freak world of football.
Texas curtailed Young's running after the OSU game to spare him big hits. But against USC, he just played. No one did so much by himself since maybe Lindbergh.
Smith is slippery, too. Ask Michigan, after his beat-the-clock, beat-the-Wolverines drive in the Big House. But Smith lacks Young's combination of elusiveness, size and speed. Not even Michael Vick had as many physical gifts as Young.
Rusty after the second game of a two-game suspension, Smith alternated at quarterback with Justin Zwick. Too often, he took off running against a swift Texas defense that pursued like a stampede on the Chisholm Trail.
Smith's maturation began after that 25-22 loss. When coach Jim Tressel gave him his trust as the starting quarterback, Smith no longer tried to thrill. He tried to think.
"You have to watch a game a few times before you become numb to the big plays," Smith said. "You find yourself watching their offense and comparing it to yours. But you should be watching their defense."
Smith is outgrowing the "scrambler" characterization. He no longer simply reacts to what he first sees.
Brown talks about Smith signing the same $50 million contract Young did. But at 6-1, Smith is not yet a top NFL prospect. Of course, Young's sidearm delivery offset his height, too.
"Troy is his own person," said OSU's other Heisman candidate, Ted Ginn Jr. "He wants to make his name for himself."
In Texas, the only legends they believe in are their own. Smith can river-dance, but he can't bust moves with the ghost of Vince Young. How many could?
It is the journey Smith has made since last year that will decide whose season ends and whose just keeps rollin' along.
To reach Bill Livingston:
[email protected], 216-999-4672
Previous columns online:
cleveland.com/columns
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