WR Terrelle Pryor ('10 Rose, '11 Sugar MVP)

[Poe McKnoe]

A year from now in November we'll know if we've found the next Vince Young...

They cloned Vince Young!?!?!

 

[jlb1705]

But if you can't get away and are not going to pick up yards tucking and running, THROW THE BALL AWAY. It doesn't do any good to run out of bounds 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage taking 4-10 yard losses.

Yes. We've heard over and over the same Vince Young-Troy Smith argument - and by now most of us get the point. Even so, there are things he can be doing RIGHT NOW - like the thing listed above - that can make him a better player.

The people who make that VY-TS argument want us to wait - but I think Pryor and this team are good enough to do something special THIS YEAR - but I think he'll need to take care of some of those things that don't come with experience and reps and film study to get there. You can do those things against teams like Toledo and IU and it doesn't matter because you were also able to put up 4 TDs. What happens if he's still doing those things against a team that won't give up as many points or can really make him pay bigtime for mistakes?

 

[Buckskin86]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdQHCmoDQM4]YouTube - Terrelle Pryor talked to media members Wednesday evening after practice.[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnmlV3Q8OnA]YouTube - Terrelle Pryor talks about the Michael Vick eye-black[/ame]

 

[Meyer]

Yes. We've heard over and over the same Vince Young-Troy Smith argument - and by now most of us get the point. Even so, there are things he can be doing RIGHT NOW - like the thing listed above - that can make him a better player.

The people who make that VY-TS argument want us to wait - but I think Pryor and this team are good enough to do something special THIS YEAR - but I think he'll need to take care of some of those things that don't come with experience and reps and film study to get there. You can do those things against teams like Toledo and IU and it doesn't matter because you were also able to put up 4 TDs. What happens if he's still doing those things against a team that won't give up as many points or can really make him pay bigtime for mistakes?

We probably lose...

 

[mendensa]

Yes. We've heard over and over the same Vince Young-Troy Smith argument - and by now most of us get the point. Even so, there are things he can be doing RIGHT NOW - like the thing listed above - that can make him a better player.

The people who make that VY-TS argument want us to wait - but I think Pryor and this team are good enough to do something special THIS YEAR - but I think he'll need to take care of some of those things that don't come with experience and reps and film study to get there. You can do those things against teams like Toledo and IU and it doesn't matter because you were also able to put up 4 TDs. What happens if he's still doing those things against a team that won't give up as many points or can really make him pay bigtime for mistakes?

Thanks for reiterating my point. Just took me a lot longer to get there. It is the little things that keep the chains moving and keep the offense on the field. It isn't the spectacular that is going to make this team a title contender this year and next, it's the routine. But if they are going to beat Wisconsin, PSU in Happy Valley, and Iowa @ the end of the year, the offense must improve and get more consistency from the QB position.

 

[Buckskin86]

Caught in throws
Pryor knows he has a lot to learn about quarterback position, but he is making progress
Thursday, October 8, 2009
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Kyle Robertson | Dispatch
Footwork continues to be an area that Terrelle Pryor strives to improve on.
OSU football chat

Terrelle Pryor is the first to admit he is a work in progress as a passing quarterback. But the Ohio State sophomore said progress is being made.

"The best word is, I feel I could hold my own on the quarterback position," Pryor said yesterday. "I'm not saying I'm the greatest; I'm not saying I'm bad.

"I feel I could hold my own, I could get the receivers the ball, and I feel I could take the team down the field. I feel confident in doing that."

What's still lacking, offensive coordinator Jim Bollman said, "for lack of a better term, and for the offense in general, is consistency. Play after play after play, to make great reads, make great decisions.

"But I think you're seeing more and more of that. And I do see a lot of consistency in his play, in how he handles himself on the field, how he's operating the show, a lot of good things."

Pryor was asked what being more consistent means to him.

"I don't know, it's an opinion question," he said. "I guess maybe throw 300 (yards) and run for 150, 200 yards. I don't know."

Pryor came closest to a game like that three weeks ago in a 38-0 win over Toledo. He passed for 262 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 110 yards and a TD.

"I just do what the coach needs us to do," Pryor said. "If it comes out that I need that kind of a breakout game, and I get the ball in my hands a lot, then we'll go from there. But we've got pretty good athletes, and we can all touch the ball, and they can do something with it, too."

Receiver Dane Sanzenbacher thinks Pryor is more analytical than he was last year as a freshman starter learning on the fly.

"The thing I have really noticed is he kind of isn't as hard on himself this year," Sanzenbacher said. "He obviously is a competitor, so he wants to take all the blame on himself. But I think he has taken it from being hard on himself to really analyzing what actually happened and trying to get it fixed.

"Now he understands, 'OK, if I made that mistake, where can I get it better?' "

Pryor said it proves he is listening to coach Jim Tressel and quarterbacks coach Nick Siciliano.

"They always talk about never telling your teammates they did something wrong or anything like that, just take the heat on yourself, and I try to take it on myself," Pryor said.

BuckeyeXtra - Caught in throws

 

[dragurd]

I'm not sure I agree with the last sentence. You want to tell them what they did wrong so they don't do it again in the same game. I get the idea that they don't want Pryor laming the receiver and getting into an argument or just going off on them. However, when done constructively it can be very haelpful in getting the QB and the WR or whoever on the same page.

 

[daddyphatsacs]

I'm not sure I agree with the last sentence. You want to tell them what they did wrong so they don't do it again in the same game. I get the idea that they don't want Pryor laming the receiver and getting into an argument or just going off on them. However, when done constructively it can be very haelpful in getting the QB and the WR or whoever on the same page.

I think as he ages and becomes the unquestioned leader of the offense, he will be able to get away with it. That being said, pointing fingers is never a good thing, it leads to infighting. Instead, I like the idea of using "we" instead of "you". People take that criticism much better.

 

[scarletngray]

I listened to one of his interviews and when asked what he could do to improve his game, he said, "I guess I need to stand in the pocket and be willing to take a hit. The coaches tell me that."

I would agree that this is the major area he needs to improve. Say what you want about Todd Boekman's mobility, the guy would stay in the pocket, knowing he was going to get hit, and wait till the last moment before throwing the ball.

If Terrell is going to run, then tuck it under the arm and take off, but when he is going to throw the ball, and he's inside the pocket, plant your feet, don't throw the ball falling backward, and be willing to take the shot as you wait for you reciever to come open.

Personally, I don't think it's so much that Terrell is afraid of contact (though that's maybe part of it) I think that mostly he is afraid of injury. Once he learns this part of the game, I think he will improve significantly.

:osu:

 

[jlb1705]

I listened to one of his interviews and when asked what he could do to improve his game, he said, "I guess I need to stand in the pocket and be willing to take a hit. The coaches tell me that."

I would agree that this is the major area he needs to improve. Say what you want about Todd Boekman's mobility, the guy would stay in the pocket, knowing he was going to get hit, and wait till the last moment before throwing the ball.

If Terrell is going to run, then tuck it under the arm and take off, but when he is going to throw the ball, and he's inside the pocket, plant your feet, don't throw the ball falling backward, and be willing to take the shot as you wait for you reciever to come open.

Personally, I don't think it's so much that Terrell is afraid of contact (though that's maybe part of it) I think that mostly he is afraid of injury. Once he learns this part of the game, I think he will improve significantly.

:osu:

I agree. I also think that being more decisive about when to pass and when to run will cut down on the number of hits he would take in the pocket when he does stay there. If teams have to pay even greater attention to his ability to get downfield with his legs (as opposed to just buying time) they might be less aggressive toward rushing the pocket.

 

[BuckeyeTillIDie]

It's evident he doesn't want to get hit in the legs. Which is smart, because he wants to keep them as fresh as possible so he can be a duel-threat.

He does need to stand in there and take a hit every now and then. But, I think we're all on the same page as him in regards to being scared of an injury.

 

[buckeyes_rock]

I listened to one of his interviews and when asked what he could do to improve his game, he said, "I guess I need to stand in the pocket and be willing to take a hit. The coaches tell me that."

I would agree that this is the major area he needs to improve. Say what you want about Todd Boekman's mobility, the guy would stay in the pocket, knowing he was going to get hit, and wait till the last moment before throwing the ball.

If Terrell is going to run, then tuck it under the arm and take off, but when he is going to throw the ball, and he's inside the pocket, plant your feet, don't throw the ball falling backward, and be willing to take the shot as you wait for you reciever to come open.

Personally, I don't think it's so much that Terrell is afraid of contact (though that's maybe part of it) I think that mostly he is afraid of injury. Once he learns this part of the game, I think he will improve significantly.

:osu:

I agree with you. But that's going to be tough for TP to do. I'm sure his whole life, he's avoided the rush and made a play. It's just his natural reaction. Standing in the pocket and taking a hit is not instinctual for him.

And I don't see anything in the world wrong with avoiding the rush and making a play...heck I watched old Favre make some amazing throws the other day off his back foot and totally off balance. But there's such a fine line with it all. I think it's just all about pocket presence. Troy had it...just that innate ability to know when to throw it and when to tuck it and when to take a hit. With TP, hopefully it's just going to take some more time, but that with every snap, he gets better and better at gaining that understanding.

 

[jlb1705]

I agree with you. But that's going to be tough for TP to do. I'm sure his whole life, he's avoided the rush and made a play. It's just his natural reaction. Standing in the pocket and taking a hit is not instinctual for him.

I'm not sure it's instinctual for anybody. Like I've been saying, there are some things he can get better at now and there are some that will take time, work and patience. I think that falls into the latter category.

 

[Mike80]

I think I may be noticing something with TP's play.

He plays better on the road then at home. He appears to be more decisive and plays more aggressively when he is on the road for some reason.

We'll see what he does against Purdidn't this weekend, but if my premise holds true, he'll play a decent to good game.

 

[Jaxbuck]

I listened to one of his interviews and when asked what he could do to improve his game, he said, "I guess I need to stand in the pocket and be willing to take a hit. The coaches tell me that."

I would agree that this is the major area he needs to improve. Say what you want about Todd Boekman's mobility, the guy would stay in the pocket, knowing he was going to get hit, and wait till the last moment before throwing the ball.

If Terrell is going to run, then tuck it under the arm and take off, but when he is going to throw the ball, and he's inside the pocket, plant your feet, don't throw the ball falling backward, and be willing to take the shot as you wait for you reciever to come open.

Personally, I don't think it's so much that Terrell is afraid of contact (though that's maybe part of it) I think that mostly he is afraid of injury. Once he learns this part of the game, I think he will improve significantly.

:osu:

Regardless of the name we want to give it, Pryor's contact aversion syndrome leads to him getting rattled by any kind of pressure. That leads him to make bad decisions. Bad decisions lead to interceptions, fumbles and bad sacks. Lather, rinse, repeat.

I really think this is the dynamic at work with Pryor and I also agree with those who question if it is something that can ever be "coached" out of a guy or goes away with experience.