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

[Dryden]

I'm going to reserve judgment on TP until his Sr year.

I didn't see anything in 2004 from Troy Smith that forecast he would dissect defenses with surgical precision in 2006, but somewhere midway through the 2005 season the light went on, and the tales of his taking film to Daniels and Bollman became the stuff of lore by the time his career was through.

TP has more physical ability than 90% of D1A starters. It's all in his head. He has to decide he wants to become a pocket passer and film room junkie, and when he does, if he ever does, he could be a great one. Right now, I think he thinks he knows what he's looking at when he's watching film, but he doesn't. Not yet.

One thing I saw against NMSU -- and I think it's significant even though it was NMSU -- was that he finally showed a true full-speed running gait on two of his scrambles, including a little stutter step/setting up the stiff arm on a LB, which I had never, ever seen from him before. I think he's beginning to turn the corner.

The question is whether the level of competition over these next three weeks allows us to see him blossom this year, or if we'll have to wait until next year.

I'm confident the OSU staff can get him there ... will get him there.

 

[billmac91]

I'm going to reserve judgment on TP until his Sr year.

I didn't see anything in 2004 from Troy Smith that forecast he would dissect defenses with surgical precision in 2006, but somewhere midway through the 2005 season the light went on, and the tales of his taking film to Daniels and Bollman became the stuff of lore by the time his career was through.

TP has more physical ability than 90% of D1A starters. It's all in his head. He has to decide he wants to become a pocket passer and film room junkie, and when he does, if he ever does, he could be a great one. Right now, I think he thinks he knows what he's looking at when he's watching film, but he doesn't. Not yet.

One thing I saw against NMSU -- and I think it's significant even though it was NMSU -- was that he finally showed a true full-speed running gait on two of his scrambles, including a little stutter step/setting up the stiff arm on a LB, which I had never, ever seen from him before. I think he's beginning to turn the corner.

The question is whether the level of competition over these next three weeks allows us to see him blossom this year, or if we'll have to wait until next year.

I'm confident the OSU staff can get him there ... will get him there.

2 things:

1. Terrelle the last 2 weeks has made a conscious decesion to finsish runs. Against Minnesota and NMSU he lowered his shoulder and accelerated all the way through his runs.

2. He's run with more frequency and more decisiveness. Against NMSU, it was as if the ball pats were a count in his head. If you go re-watch the tape, if Terrelle taps the ball 3 times, he looks upfield and is gone.....I've never seen that before out of him. Maybe I'm over analyzing, but I think its a coaching decesion to take pressure and decesion-making out of Terrelle's hands. If you've sat in the pocket for 3 ball taps, its time to move.

Again, I think Terrelle ha sthe potential to be a Heisman QB and lead the Bucks to a title. Just not in the current package.

And while nothing in 2004 would have made you jump on the Troy bandwagon, Troy, bottom-line had way more natural QB skills than Terrelle. He had better mechanics, a better release point, and I think a better understanding of QB reads/knowledge/defensive coverages/football saavy.....

This really isn't a knock on Terrelle, I just think the system hasn't utilized his skillset. Terrelle has the ability to be one of the most dynamic players in college football history....

 

[Merih]

2 things:

1. Terrelle the last 2 weeks has made a conscious decesion to finsish runs. Against Minnesota and NMSU he lowered his shoulder and accelerated all the way through his runs.

2. He's run with more frequency and more decisiveness. Against NMSU, it was as if the ball pats were a count in his head. If you go re-watch the tape, if Terrelle taps the ball 3 times, he looks upfield and is gone.....I've never seen that before out of him. Maybe I'm over analyzing, but I think its a coaching decesion to take pressure and decesion-making out of Terrelle's hands. If you've sat in the pocket for 3 ball taps, its time to move.

Again, I think Terrelle ha sthe potential to be a Heisman QB and lead the Bucks to a title. Just not in the current package.

And while nothing in 2004 would have made you jump on the Troy bandwagon, Troy, bottom-line had way more natural QB skills than Terrelle. He had better mechanics, a better release point, and I think a better understanding of QB reads/knowledge/defensive coverages/football saavy.....

This really isn't a knock on Terrelle, I just think the system hasn't utilized his skillset. Terrelle has the ability to be one of the most dynamic players in college football history....

I could do without the ball pats, however...kind of telegraphs himself abit. Here's the thing about Terrelle. It's all about running with authority when you do run. Vince always ran hard and ran with authority. TP is a bit reluctant to run, understandably. But if he runs hard he is as hard to bring down as any player in the country.

It all plays into the mentality of the defensive player. If (as a defender) you know your opponent is running hard and is going to make it hard on you to bring him down you fill the gap with alot less conviction and a little more anxiety. Leads to broken tackles and big time plays. Once you force a defender to defend the run mentally, it's over for them. Then the talent gap truly shows.

 

[MaxBuck]

I have no interest in Pryor "running hard" if by that one means taking on tacklers and dishing out punishment. He needs to protect himself, and if he gives up a few yards to avoid the big hit, so what? It's not like we really have a demonstrated backup at this point.

 

[Merih]

I have no interest in Pryor "running hard" if by that one means taking on tacklers and dishing out punishment. He needs to protect himself, and if he gives up a few yards to avoid the big hit, so what? It's not like we really have a demonstrated backup at this point.

No, not in that sense. As in fully sprinting. It's obvious, and Grad has noticed this along with me, that he is not sprinting in open field.

 

[Tlangs]

I have no interest in Pryor "running hard" if by that one means taking on tacklers and dishing out punishment. He needs to protect himself, and if he gives up a few yards to avoid the big hit, so what? It's not like we really have a demonstrated backup at this point.

I'm in aggreement, unless it is 3rd down. He finished a nice run up the left sideline on 3rd and 11 where he was hit 2 yards short and still got it.

Also, i think in some situations he could cut upfield sooner, then get down for a pick up of 3 instead of stretching the play and getting a 2 yard lost. 2nd and 7 is better than 2nd and 12.

Of course 2 times a game you wonder what the hell he is thinking then he picks up 15+ yards....

 

[BB73]

I have no interest in Pryor "running hard" if by that one means taking on tacklers and dishing out punishment. He needs to protect himself, and if he gives up a few yards to avoid the big hit, so what? It's not like we really have a demonstrated backup at this point.

I agree that he needs to protect himself at times. Saturday he made a great play at the left sideline near midfield, where he juked and cut past a couple of guys, and then took on a tackler to get the last yard needed for a first down. That was a good decision since it was third down and the tackler was just before the first down marker.

On first down, that contact's probably not worth it. If it's first or second down in the 2-minute offense, getting out of bounds becomes a more important consideration. Knowing the difference as he turns upfield is an important element in his progress.

 

[zincfinger]

I think Pryor is understanding that when you step into your passes you have way more Zip. Thats was the most ive ever seen him stepping into his passes.

Pryor understands that, and has understood that all along. Heck, anyone understands that you're going to throw the ball the best when your center of gravity is moving in the direction you're throwing the ball. I don't pretend to be remotely qualified as a QB coach, but it seems to me that the main obstacle Pryor has to overcome in order to improve his consistency throwing the ball is his natural instinct of self-preservation. And it's an instinct that every person has. When you're in the act of throwing a football, you're in a somewhat physically vulnerable position. And when a person is in a vulnerable position, and feels like he's about to get hit, the natural instinct is to protect oneself, to shy away from the contact. In the case of quarterback, to throw off his back foot. Sound, natural instinct of self-protection is at odds with sound quarterbacking technique. Two things need to happen: i) the tackles need to improve in pass-protection (and I think injuries/illnesses running their course will take care of some of that, hopefully continued development of the younger guys will take care of the rest). ii) Pryor needs to overcome his natural human instincts of self-preservation so that he can step into his throws even when he's about to get hit. Penn State and Iowa will probably bring more pressure than New Mexico State did.

 

[bukIpower]

That's the main difference to me the past two weeks since Purdue I've noticed. He's been taking off a lot sooner now, and when no one's open he's also taking off rather than holding back and waiting for someone to come open. Which, IMO, is great. For us to win in Happy Valley this weekend we'll need him to outrush Darryl Clark. Because we know that Clark at this stage of their careers is a better passer. Pryor's got to beat him on the ground for us to pull this off I think. If he approaches anywhere near 75-100 yards I think we'd be really hard pressed to lose.

 

[BuckNut65]

2 things:

And while nothing in 2004 would have made you jump on the Troy bandwagon, Troy, bottom-line had way more natural QB skills than Terrelle. He had better mechanics, a better release point, and I think a better understanding of QB reads/knowledge/defensive coverages/football saavy.....

I think one thing the fans have to quit doing (including myself at times) is quit comparing his development to Troy Smith's. He is not Troy, won't be Troy and we can only hope that he at least develops like Troy. There skills are different....I would agree that Troy had much more natural QB skills than TP coming out of HS. TP was looked at as an athlete by colleges his junior year and not necessarily a QB because his skills were so raw so his development is going to require a lot more time and patience.

We also have to be realistic and remember what happened the last time we tried to develop a tremendous athlete into a QB. His name was Steve Bellisari.

 

[RugbyBuck]

We all need to take a breath. If we hadn't had Troy, Pryor would be being hailed as one of our all time greats right now. We've had four regular season losses in his first two years (two against USC and I'm not even going count the first one). He's no Krenzel, but, JHFC, Krenzel was no Pryor. Purdue wasn't his fault alone and he damn near brought us back even with all of the mistakes.

He spent most of this season trying to stay in the pocket and throw first. Now we're beginning to see him run when it's necessary. I see us winning out and giving Oregon hell in the Rose largely because of Pryor's ability and week to week maturity.

 

[UpNorthBuckeye]

I'm not gonna jump on Pryor, either... but rugbyBuck, Purdue was a LOT TP's fault.

And that's not all bad, if it serves as his low point, and if the last couple of weeks were "bounces" back from the low point. Add to that bounce the inspiration he should have to beat PSU... and we have a good chance of winning out.

I'd also be somewhat satisfied with 2 out of 3, and then a bowl victory. That would make us 10-3 in a "bad" year... and having him back next year, and all our young OL more mature, 2010 would shape up to be a great year.

For those of us who are frankly trying to figure out just how good Terrelle is, the next three games, coming at the end of his second season, after starting 15 games or so... this should reveal what he really is.

If the roller coaster continues.... the coaching staff will have some decisions to make before next year.

 

[Zurp]

If we hadn't had Troy, Pryor would be being hailed as one of our all time greats right now.

I agree that Smith has spoiled Buckeye fans. It's similar to the way that we were all comparing running backs to Eddie George for a while. (Did we have ANY good running backs for a few years?)

But I really doubt that, without Troy Smith, anyone would be hailing Pryor as an all-time great.

Compare everyone's favorite buckeye, Steve Bellisari, with Pryor:
Bellisari's senior season stats (Since it was all I could find): 2001 Ohio State Statistics | Pro-Football-Reference.com
Pryor's stats: Terrelle Pryor Stats, News, Photos - Ohio State Buckeyes - NCAA College Football - ESPN

Yards:
Bellisari 1599
Pryor 1543

Yards per Attempt:
Bellisari 8.6
Pryor 7.45

Rating:
Bellisari 133.4
Pryor 129.2

TD-Int
Bellisari 8-6
Pryor 13-9

Of course, this is Bellisari's 3rd year of starting. No one was saying "see what he becomes next year" for him. People had already said that for 2 years before that for Bellisari.

I think that Pryor has a ways to go in his development. But I'm optimistic about it. I get the feeling that he is working toward improving, and I hope that we can do soon group Pryor with some of Ohio State's all-time greats.

 

[AKAK]

the coaching staff will have some decisions to make before next year.

Such as?

 

[BuckNut65]

If the roller coaster continues.... the coaching staff will have some decisions to make before next year.

uhhh...Did you see Bauserman on Saturday??