Ohio State spotlight: Terrelle Pryor
Thursday, October 15, 2009
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
PHOTO (top): Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor will look to improve on the Buckeyes' passing game this week. OSU ranks 108th nationally in passing offense. (Neal C. Lauron, Dispatch)
Late in a practice this week at Ohio State, there was a roar. Through a crack in the screen that hides the field, Terrelle Pryor could be seen in the midst of the hoopla, celebrating with his teammates after a touchdown against OSU's defense.
"He had a great day today throwing," center Michael Brewster explained later.
If only that had been the case a few days earlier in the 31-13 win over Wisconsin. Pryor was just 5 of 13 in that game
After a very slow start, he did hit DeVier Posey on a 32-yard touchdown pass just before halftime. But the offense didn't get a chance to play again for another hour, and most of that spark was gone by then.
Going into the game today at Purdue, critics have again lined up to question OSU's offensive prowess in general, and Pryor's in particular. Six games into his sophomore season, he's already thrown two more interceptions - six - than he did a year ago, and his accuracy has been intermittent.
But if the criticism is getting to Pryor, it's not apparent.
"He's fine," Brewster said. "People are going to try to put the blame on him, but that's what they do everywhere when the offense didn't put up the points they expect. He's going to be fine. I trust him 100 percent."
Not that Pryor was content with what happened last week, especially as Wisconsin sold out to stop the run, leaving opportunities for the Buckeyes to make some big plays down the field.
"It was pretty tough on him," receiver Ray Small said. "He wanted to go deep every play. He was hollering at the coaches, 'Let's go deep! Let's go deep!'
"Terrelle, he's an emotional guy."