Quarterback recruiting

[Tbuck]

I was doing some thinking and I have some questions about the way this staff recruits this position. Lots of speculation that Tressel has changed his view on the characteristics that he looks for in a QB. I believe that you could dig up some quotes from him to confirm this. So my first question is how do you think that he weighs the following skills in his evaluation on who to recruit:

Athleticism/Mobility
Arm Strength
Game Management

This should be seen in strict recruiting terms. It's kind of funny, because it seems to me that we pursue it in that order, but when evaluating playing time, game management goes to the top. I just believe that he's confident in his and Joe Daniel's ability to teach the game to a recruit.

If others want to suggest skills that you think that are weighed in evaluation, I'd love to hear them. I started to include things like leadership and character. Leadership would probably fall under the broad category of Game management. Where does ability to read plays as they develop fall? Takes game management to be sure, but I believe that there's some athleticism involved as well. "Seeing the field" takes some physical ability as well as intellectual.

The second question revolves around Ohio High School football. It does not seem like we have taken a serious look at any Ohio prospects at the position since Rob S. It seemed like he was a conditional offer based on Sanchez at the time as well. If MS had taken the 'ship, I don't think that we would have offered RS.

There have been some good prospects that folks have been excited about in Ohio that the Bucks have passed on. Do you see us as being a predominant national recruiter for QBs given the skill set that the staff prefers? How often does OH football produce the type of athlete that we now seem to target for QB?

Thanks guys and I look forward to hearing everyone's take especially the guys that keep a close eye on recruiting (CBF40, Grad, Wad, 86, etc.) I don't post all that often but enjoy your insight.

 

[LordJeffBuck]

I was doing some thinking and I have some questions about the way this staff recruits this position. Lots of speculation that Tressel has changed his view on the characteristics that he looks for in a QB. I believe that you could dig up some quotes from him to confirm this. So my first question is how do you think that he weighs the following skills in his evaluation on who to recruit:

Athleticism/Mobility
Arm Strength
Game Management

This should be seen in strict recruiting terms. It's kind of funny, because it seems to me that we pursue it in that order, but when evaluating playing time, game management goes to the top. I just believe that he's confident in his and Joe Daniel's ability to teach the game to a recruit.

JT's first two QB signees were Justin Zwick, who was heavy on the "game management" side of the ledger, and Troy Smith who had excellent "athleticism" etc. See how that situation turned out? Just proving, once again, that you can teach kids the game, but you can't teach natural talent, atleticism, size, speed, whatever.... The same theory holds true for all positions, not just QB.

The second question revolves around Ohio High School football. It does not seem like we have taken a serious look at any Ohio prospects at the position since Rob S. It seemed like he was a conditional offer based on Sanchez at the time as well. If MS had taken the 'ship, I don't think that we would have offered RS.

There have been some good prospects that folks have been excited about in Ohio that the Bucks have passed on. Do you see us as being a predominant national recruiter for QBs given the skill set that the staff prefers?

Ohio State offers guys with Ohio State level talent. Period. There haven't been any in-state QB's with Ohio State level talent since Schoenhoft. "Good" prospect don't get Buckeye offers - only "great" ones do.

As far as being a "national" recruiter for QB's.... Two years ago, the Bucks signed Antonio Henton out of Georgia, who was the best QB prospect in that state. They signed no QB in 2007. In 2008, the Bucks' only QB target is Terrell Pryor, the undisputed #1 QB prospect in the country, and tOSU seems to be the leader there. With the success of Troy Smith and the Buckeye offense in general during 2005 and 2006, I think that "national" QB prospects, especially the so-called "dual threat" prospects, will seriously consider Ohio State, just like the "drop back" passers will be high on USC, Michigan, and Notre Dame, who have been successful with "pro style" QB's like Palmer, Leinart, Henne, and Quinn. If the Buckeyes' recent success with a "spread" offense didn't open some eyes nationally, then nothing will.

As far as people being "excited" about certain prospects, I can only tell you that JT & Co. didn't share that "excitement", and their "excitement" is all that counts.

How often does OH football produce the type of athlete that we now seem to target for QB?

I'm good, but only god can answer that one....

 

[cincibuck]

I'm anything but an expert in this area, but it's my understanding that Tressell won with dual threat QBs at YSU. His success at OSU is mixed in that regard. He inherited dual threat Steve Bellsari with less than pleasing results. He won the whole enchilada with Krenzel and then had a miserable year with Zwick until he finally turned things over to Troy. I don't know about Boeckman, but Schonehoft will surprise you with his running ability and he's a big kid. My hunch is that Henton is closer to being the pick than any of us know or than Tressell will ever show until he has to.

Historically QB has not been a strong point at OSU. I think it would be fair to say that the QB with the most NFL potential they've ever had would be Schliechter (sp?) and of course he never got the chance to prove it... well, yes, he got the chance, but you know what I mean... And as long as the Buckeye philosophy remains centered on a mobile QB we aren't going to see that change. For that matter, though Schliechter was a great passer, he could also tuck the ball in and run.

The only time I don't like the mobile QB is when it's late in the 3rd quarter and you're behind by more than 14.

 

[Buckeye86]

The only time I don't like the mobile QB is when it's late in the 3rd quarter and you're behind by more than 14.

I think that's the point of the first poster, you recruit a scrambler with athletic ability and turn him into a passing QB and then you don't have to worry about your worse case scenario with a mobile QB. Troy Smith was not a mobile QB at the end of his career, he was a passing QB that was hard to sack. You can teach a scrambler to pass, you can't teach a big arm with lead feet to scramble.

 

[Buckeye86]

Resurecting an old thread, but I figure this would be a good place to put all of the Hendrix/Miller talk in.

I just went through and broke down possible scenarios for Hendix in his thread, and I felt like doing the same thing here with Miller involved.

Here is my speculation on Hendrix (or any other '10 QB):

He won't be a depth guy if he comes to Ohio State, he will have the chance to compete for a starting job, and will most likely be the favorite to win the starting job, in 2012 at the latest, with the possibility of 2011 if Pryor leaves early. That means that he will have the chance to start anywhere from two to four years at Ohio State, depending on if he redshirts and if Pryor leaves early. That's hardly a depth guy.

There is a reason that the coaching staff wanted a more polished QB for this class, they won't have much time to develop them before they will likely be starting.

All of the following is assuming that the '10 QB (hopefully Hendrix) commits and doesn't redshirt due to the depth chart.

In 2011, if Braxton comes in, the depth chart will most likely allow him to redshirt, with the '10 QB, Guiton, Bauserman, and possibly Pryor ahead of him.

Assuming that the '10 QB doesn't redshirt and is the starter for the remainder of their eligibility, and Miller does redshirt, he would still have two full years of being the favorite to be the starter in '13 and '14.

In an absolutely ideal world, I would think that Pryor in '10 and '11, Hendrix in '12 and '13, and Miller in '14 and '15 would be the way that the staff would want things to shake out. That gives Hendrix and Miller 2+ years each to learn the system as a backup and two years as starters.

There are a million things that can happen to mess this scenario up, but I think that this is probably what the coaching staff would like to see, with a little overlap between Miller and Hendrix a possibility.

The real wild card in all of this is how much work Miller needs on mechanics and picking up the offense and that sort of thing, if it isn't much then obviously he will make a huge push for starting time way before 2013.

I am wondering if the coaching staff has some sort of scenario like the one above in mind or if they are just trying to bring in the best kids available who aren't afraid to compete. I imagine it is probably a mix of both.

Anyways, I realize it is beyond absurd to be speculating about kids that haven't even committed yet, much less signed a letter of intent, but like I said, I am just trying to work out the best case scenario from behind my scarlet glasses. If Hendrix and Miller both commit we still don't have a log jam at QB I guess is my ultimate point and both could have plenty of time to shine.

It will be interesting to talk about at the very least, and I didn't even involve Guiton in the equation. I imagine if things don't work out in '10 Guiton will become a much larger part of the equation, and because I don't want to take anything away from him, Guiton could work his way into the rotation regardless of who else is here.

Okay, I guess I am finished now. Thoughts (other than I am stupid for being so premature with all of this)?

 

[Hodgepodge]

I'm anything but an expert in this area, but it's my understanding that Tressell won with dual threat QBs at YSU.

Tressel had both dual-threat and more traditional drop-back passers at YSU. Ray Isaac was an option QB in HS and developed into an OK passer at YSU, Trenton Lykes, Jeff Ryan, Jared Zwick, and Demond Tidwell were all dual-threat guys. (OSU transfer) Nick Cochran and Mark Brungard were more drop-back guys who could do some running if need be. Tressel likes guys who can lead, manage a game, and not make many mistakes. The ability to run is an important component of this, as the ability to gain a few yards when a play breaks down beats forcing a pass or taking a sack. Overall, I'd say Tressel has had more success with dual-threat guys, but he won national championships with all three types of quarterbacks.