QB/WR Braxton Miller (B1G POY, National Champion, OSU HOF)

[Gatorubet]

Or you can do what Fickell did and adapt. Losing out on one drive is not going to affect Miller long term...heck look at Tebow's freshman year where he did nothing but act as a goal-line fullback. There was a 9-game stretch with five <7 point wins and a loss for the Gators, and TT threw 11 passes in that time. For an offense averaging 22 ppg.

Passing, Yes. But he played 122 snaps in 2006. 33 passing and 89 rushing.

Giving Miller zero snaps does not get him to 122 snaps, nor does it allow him to score 13 TDs.

 

[TheStoicPaisano]

Passing, Yes. But he played 122 snaps in 2006. 33 passing and 89 rushing.

Giving Miller zero snaps does not get him to 122 snaps, nor does it allow him to score 13 TDs.

QB dives didn't teach Tebow anything about the art of quarterbacking, I brought him up in part to show that regular QB reps are not a prerequisite for success the next year.

The second point is that Leak was an average QB at best in 2006 but Meyer kept playing him because the team kept winning. Gatorubet, I'd appreciate your insight as to what the general attitude of the fans was.

As long are the Bucks are winning, I'd rather see Braxton get 100 snaps vs. Colorado/Indiana/Purdue/UM and chart the damn plays the other games instead of force-feeding him a series per week.

Either get Miller actual chunks of time (by this I mean 3+ consecutive drives, damn the results) or let him sit. If we lose with Bauserman at the helm (whether or not it's Joe's fault), I'm all for giving Braxton every snap the rest of the year to prepare for '12. Just don't think giving him one series serves anyone well, and sticking to the script because--well, it's the script!--would've compounded the situation. Really happy Coach Fickell was flexible given how the game had gone so far.

Tebow could come in cold at anytime and benefit UF because you knew he was coming A-gap and couldn't do [Mark May] about it. Miller's not that type of player and I don't think one series serves his future, or more importantly, the team's future well.

 

[Steve19]

Joe has always struggled mightily when the opposing team applies any measurable pressure. Today was consistent with his past performances. I'm very disappointed we didn't see Miller in the game.

The problem is he doesn't deliver the ball that quickly or accurately when he does have time. He is solid sometimes, mediocre other times (see those deep balls today), but he often takes a really long time figuring out what to do with the football. Even in practices without a pass rush.

Todd had to be replaced because of the turnstiles upfront. That was unfortunate because he could throw a great deep ball and had far better accuracy underneath than Pryor.

Joe understands the offense a lot better than Braxton, but doesn't really possess many of the advantages that a veteran should have over a rookie.

He may know where the routes are going, but he takes as long as Braxton to pull the trigger.

When things do break down, he's often a sitting duck, as he is limited athletically and doesn't sell pump fakes very well, nor relocate in the pocket to set up a dumpoff pass or broken play.I agree.

That's why I think it's imperative that you script certain snaps for Braxton so that his skillset is a compliment to Joe while he is the unquestioned starter rather than a challenger.

What they said.

 

[SEREbuckeye]

Didn't that happen today?

Not even close, Zwick had a few L's under his belt before Troy unseated him for the remainder of the season.

 

[lvbuckeye]

Oh Im sorry - I didnt know you KNEW that about Craig Krenzel going into his first starting season.

My comparison was that this isnt a video game man, Joe will make mistakes just like Krenzel and every other QB did. An off day shouldnt warrant a change in the system.

i did. he did it in prior spring games.

 

[Bill Lucas]

Passing, Yes. But he played 122 snaps in 2006. 33 passing and 89 rushing.

Giving Miller zero snaps does not get him to 122 snaps, nor does it allow him to score 13 TDs.

Tebow was a battering ram, particularly as a freshman. To even subtely suggest that Miller be used like Tebow is absurd. He'd be in a full body cast in 5 weeks.

 

[Gatorubet]

Tebow was a battering ram, particularly as a freshman. To even subtely suggest that Miller be used like Tebow is absurd. He'd be in a full body cast in 5 weeks.

I was not suggesting that, subtle or otherwise. I was rebutting Stoic's implication that Tim played sparingly in our offense that year, which is what I took from his use of Tim's meager passing stats.

Miller can be used in a Wildcat offense without being a battering ram. Hell, we played Chris Rainey in that role last night and I doubt he weighs 170.

 

[bukIpower]

Ive always hated critizing our coach (especially tress) but having a night to think I think the blame has to lie soley with Fickel. Bauserman just kept playing as he was instructed to do, and although he didn't perform that well he was told to go out there and thats what he did.

I'm very bothered to the point of actually getting kinda angry that Fickel keeps insisting we have two quarterbacks and that we don't really have a starter per say. THEN ACT LIKE IT. Having played football, college included, if a coach told me I was like a starter and I was in the game plan and then forgot about me for a whole game I would be mad, I would wonder what I did, and most importantly I would have a hard time believing him. I think for his sake and the teams he should stop trying to give credit to backups by saying they're also considered starters. If you want to boost they're morale as a player then just PLAY them.

Just say "Bauserman is the starter, but that doesn't mean we won't TRY to get Braxton some time".

not "We have two quarterbacks that can start and do well" You take away from Bauserman having the confidence of the staff and you are ultimately lying to the backup.

Bauserman is not as talented as Braxton maybe even as a thrower and Braxton is just a freshman. However, anytime he's on that field I will believe in the guy.

I really do have a problem with how they're saying one thing and doing the complete opposite. Wouldn't make me happy at all if I was Braxton.

 

[Gatorubet]

The second point is that Leak was an average QB at best in 2006 but Meyer kept playing him because the team kept winning. Gatorubet, I'd appreciate your insight as to what the general attitude of the fans was.

As long are the Bucks are winning, I'd rather see Braxton get 100 snaps vs. Colorado/Indiana/Purdue/UM and chart the damn plays the other games instead of force-feeding him a series per week.

Either get Miller actual chunks of time (by this I mean 3+ consecutive drives, damn the results) or let him sit. If we lose with Bauserman at the helm (whether or not it's Joe's fault), I'm all for giving Braxton every snap the rest of the year to prepare for '12. Just don't think giving him one series serves anyone well, and sticking to the script because--well, it's the script!--would've compounded the situation. Really happy Coach Fickell was flexible given how the game had gone so far.

Tebow could come in cold at anytime and benefit UF because you knew he was coming A-gap and couldn't do [Mark May] about it. Miller's not that type of player and I don't think one series serves his future, or more importantly, the team's future well.

We had a senior QB that a very good passer if not running for his life. We had a freshman phenom with a fullback physique who was not a polished pocket passer, but who had set the Florida H.S. passing record the year before. We also struggled against several teams that year. Beat the Vols by one, Vandy by six, Cocks by a blocked FG at the gun, and needed a muffed punt to beat Arky in the SECCG. The only real push for Tim was after LSU, which was because his passing and running was the difference in the win. People always call for the young savior QB. But the bulk of the fans knew that Leak was the best chance at winning, and was the best at reading defenses and going through his progressions.

We saved Tim for a limited set of plays to hi-lite his particular skill set. But he got significant playing time against our major opponents. In every game. I see no reason Miller cannot fill a similar role - meaning playing every game in plays designed to utilize his different skill sets.

 

[BUCKYLE]

I really do have a problem with how they're saying one thing and doing the complete opposite. Wouldn't make me happy at all if I was Braxton.

Right, because what Fick tells the fans/media is the same thing he tells Braxton. How do you know Braxton wasn't told before the game that he wouldn't be playing? I don't either, but my point is that you're accusing Fick of lying to Braxton, when in fact, the only evidence you have is of him double-talking the media.

People always call for the young savior QB. But the bulk of the fans knew that Leak was the best chance at winning, and was the best at reading defenses and going through his progressions.

What the fuck ever. "People always call for the savior", except the sophisticated, ultra-knowledgable Gator fans. GTFOH.

 

[Gatorubet]

What the [censored] ever. "People always call for the savior", except the sophisticated, ultra-knowledgable Gator fans. GTFOH.

No, we had lots of folks who wanted Tim to start. Tebow mania was in full force. But Leak was not sucking. And Tim was playing anyway.

What I meant was that every program - Florida included - has fans that call for the back up QB to be the savior whenever the starter struggles. It is a part of every football program from pee-wee to the Pros. "Put <insert back up> in!!! We did that with Tim too. But Tim was not so great in his one start that year against some cupcake, and other than the many many, fans that wanted the freshman to play - most fans had confidence that Leak was the best chance to win, because he was a better pocket passer. Leak was afraid to take a hit, and would slide short of the first down marker. That is what [censored]ed a lot of folks off. But most...most...fans thought that Tim was not able to master the entire playbook his first year, which is why we had "Tim" plays drawn up just for Tim's skill set.

 

[bukIpower]

So he tells Braxton "hey you're the back up and you may play" and then tells the Media "hey we had plans to play Braxton just our plans changed, but we still have two quarterbacks that are just as capable".... That's even more misleading then what he is doing.

Look is he wrong for playing Bauserman? NO, if he feels it gives us the best shot then cool. I don't agree, but I can honor that. Fine if Fick isn't lying then he's being misleading which IMO can be just as bad.

 

[Ted Haggard]

But Leak was not sucking.

That's actually why I supported Tim at the time.

 

[SEREbuckeye]

Bauserman is not as talented as Braxton maybe even as a thrower and Braxton is just a freshman.

Oh this is a fact? How do you know? You are judging Joe B with one very great game (Akron) as well as a so-so game (Toledo) against Braxton who played in only 2 quarters of a game. It makes no sense for you to say that one is better then the other at this point. There is absolutely no arguable defense to say Braxton is better.

Spring games are for the fans morlae and you cant judge players off of them. And if you are basing your OPINION off of some high school rankings then you are way off base as well.

 

[TheStoicPaisano]

We had a senior QB that a very good passer if not running for his life. We had a freshman phenom with a fullback physique who was not a polished pocket passer, but who had set the Florida H.S. passing record the year before. We also struggled against several teams that year. Beat the Vols by one, Vandy by six, Cocks by a blocked FG at the gun, and needed a muffed punt to beat Arky in the SECCG. The only real push for Tim was after LSU, which was because his passing and running was the difference in the win. People always call for the young savior QB. But the bulk of the fans knew that Leak was the best chance at winning, and was the best at reading defenses and going through his progressions.

We saved Tim for a limited set of plays to hi-lite his particular skill set. But he got significant playing time against our major opponents. In every game. I see no reason Miller cannot fill a similar role - meaning playing every game in plays designed to utilize his different skill sets.

Thanks for your input. I just feel quarterbacking as a whole is such a rhythm-based position like none other where one drive is rarely beneficial to any party involved. The caveat to that would be guys like Tebow or Shoelace who are MAJOR threats in the running game, to a level that Troy, Pryor or (I'm assuming) Miller can't reach.

It's kind of paradoxical that the guys who have outlier ability at one part of the game are more threatening in small doses than someone like Braxston who may have the best all-around skill set.

Full quarters, full games are where he'll shine, but we can't see that until we blow someone out or take a loss this season. I'm fine with the fact that if we see very little Miller, it's because this team still has a clean sheet.