QB1 Will Howard (National Champion, Pittsburgh Steelers)

[CMic]

Love Howard, but …
For us to win the B1G and the Nati, he can’t make the kind of mistakes he did vs. PSU. For an aggressive team, TOs are inevitable: strip sack, tipped pass, deep ball to JJ that the CB makes a great play.
But can’t have INTs where he misread the defense or fumbles during a planned run.

 

[Captain Buckeye]

I had a chance to meet him over the summer, I asked him how he liked Columbus and the crazy fans - he lit right up. I'm sure most of you do in real time, but if not, go back and listen to his pressers and pay attention to when asked about what it's like being a Buckeye. You can tell he really loves it and enjoys being a part of the tradition and something bigger. I'm really rooting for him, I don't think he has as much arm talent as McCord, but, he's no slouch and if he can put it all together here... look the f*** out. Kid can play, the aforementioned 1-2 mistakes are totally off the wall crazy retarded hopefully it all comes together before IU and we make a run through everyone's chest.

He’s got a better arm than McCord and makes better decisions than 6.

 

[Captain Buckeye]

Love Howard, but …
For us to win the B1G and the Nati, he can’t make the kind of mistakes he did vs. PSU. For an aggressive team, TOs at inevitable: strip sack, tipped pass, deep ball to JJ that the CB makes a great play.
But can’t have INTs where he misread the defense or fumbles during a planned run.

I think he gets it though… this game it cost us twice but it generally Wills turnovers haven’t cost us like this.

He played completely clean game vs Oregon so he’s shown he can do it.

 

[RuGettinIt]

He’s got a better arm than McCord and makes better decisions than 6.wn.

I don’t know that he has a better arm than McCord. McCord could get the ball deep.

I think Will is calmer in the pocket and doesn’t panic. He’s quicker to take off and gain positive yards when it breaks down. Kyle had a propensity to do some strange things with the ball to avoid a sack.

INT wise they are about on par.

 

[BB73]

I don’t know that he has a better arm than McCord. McCord could get the ball deep.

I think Will is calmer in the pocket and doesn’t panic. He’s quicker to take off and gain positive yards when it breaks down. Kyle had a propensity to do some strange things with the ball to avoid a sack.

INT wise they are about on par.

Howard has thrown 5 picks this season, and McCord threw 5 picks in the game against Pitt earlier this year.

That seems statistically significant to me.

 

[RB07OSU]

One cannot bounce back from a pick 6 in happy valley that early in the game without having a real pair.

I reached a new level of respect for him today. Everyone on the offensive side of the ball just downright refused to lose that game today.

As bad as that pick was, memory of a goldfish and attitude of a veteran, champion leader. He put that behind him without flinching and just went back to work. Very hard to do that, but he did it.

 

[RuGettinIt]

Howard has thrown 5 picks this season, and McCord threw 5 picks in the game against Pitt earlier this year.

That seems statistically significant to me.

Sorry, I should have noted that I was referring to McCord at tOSU not this season at Syracuse. That way comparatively supporting personnel and competition are roughly equal.

Kyle never threw that much here and certainly Will doesn’t either.

 

[CMic]

I don’t know that he has a better arm than McCord. McCord could get the ball deep.

I think Will is calmer in the pocket and doesn’t panic. He’s quicker to take off and gain positive yards when it breaks down. Kyle had a propensity to do some strange things with the ball to avoid a sack.

INT wise they are about on par.

Yeah - I think McCord has a significantly better arm. He can make all the throws (I'm talking deep outs ...).
Will is better at everything else - leadership, nerves, running ... Will's accuracy has even been top notch.

 

[Captain Buckeye]

I don’t know that he has a better arm than McCord. McCord could get the ball deep.

I think Will is calmer in the pocket and doesn’t panic. He’s quicker to take off and gain positive yards when it breaks down. Kyle had a propensity to do some strange things with the ball to avoid a sack.

INT wise they are about on par.

Eh Kyle often under threw Marvin as well… the Maryland game comes to mind and some for the Western Kentucky game.

Both Kyle and Will tend to do 2 stupid things a game though. Then again so did Craig Krenzel and that turned out fine (Craig tended to not turn it over in the big games though).

 

[knuckifyoubuck]

As bad as that pick was, memory of a goldfish and attitude of a veteran, champion leader. He put that behind him without flinching and just went back to work. Very hard to do that, but he did it.

This. Howard "washed it off" and moved on. One of the best lessons sports can teach young people in practice on full display. E+R=O aka Learn The Lesson, Leave The Event.

 

[RB07OSU]

This. Howard "washed it off" and moved on. One of the best lessons sports can teach young people in practice on full display. E+R=O aka Learn The Lesson, Leave The Event.

Absolutely, so much of my lessons learned in athletics have carried over to my profession. There is a myth that some attorneys are undefeated but it never happens, everyone takes a defeat at points. You have to move on quickly and fight the next battle, not dwell on it but sure as hell you better learn from it.

As it relates to Howard, I was amazed on how quickly he shook that off. Obviously he was pissed at the mistake and we're down 10-0 early in a very hostile environment. Kind of reminds me of the JT Barrett comeback against PSU when we got down early in that regard. Howard is not in stratosphere of talent like Stroud or Fields, but he doesn't have to be on this team. He just needs to be that version of Will Howard after the pick.

 

[RugbyBuck]

I've gone back and watched the goal line fumble repeatedly. I don't think we have a fumbling problem. If we did, we would've seen it earlier. In this case, he had two hands on the ball and wasn't showboating. I think he should've dived for the line lower than the defender was coming in, but that's definitely barcolounger qb-ing. The defender just made a helluva play on the ball, at the correct angle. Maybe Howard can learn to shield the ball with his shoulder and side of his body from this. Other than that, I can't really be down on him. I don't see this as a recurring issue.

On the other hand, he's shown us that we can expect one stupid interception a game.

 

[ScriptOhio]

 

[Bestbuck36]

Big shout out to Will Howard today for the Hot Honey BBQ Grippos. They're wavy and fantastic! Keep up the good work.

 

[billmac91]

Howard has underperformed my expectations to be honest….a bit too turnover prone, not as explosive in run game as I was hoping for, and his arm talent lacks.

That said…..it’s obvious OSU is protecting him at nearly every cost to keep him healthy. An injury to Will ruins the season bc we do not have a backup that can take us to a Natty. No knock on any of the depth behind him, but it’s the truth.

I think Will is playing from an 80% deck of cards and they only give him 100% in the most critical moments.

I think OSU is a little hamstrung in the run game when Will is no threat to expose his body….its kinda why I’d like to see OSU incorporate a direct snap approach to Judkins or Henderson and let them run “zone read” (I wouldn’t actually have them read backside DE) but it takes the stress off of injury to the QB.

Howard is definitely a college upgrade over McCord but I actually think McCord probably lasts longer in NFL as a 2nd/3rd stringer just based on arm talent. I think OSU can win a Natty with Will but there’s also huge limitations based on his deep ball and arm strength….the problem is, the way to open up the deep ball is to make him consistent threat in the run game, but we can’t afford to lose him so OSU plays it safe 98% of the time…as they should…..