Ohio State football notebook: Pryor's improvement draws praise
Saturday, April 3, 2010
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
When asked to name a fellow player who has improved since last spring, Ohio State senior guard Bryant Browning didn't throw out a name at first, just a position.
"Our quarterback, every time he gets a chance to be a better leader, he takes that step up," Browning said after yesterday's practice.
Of course he was referring to junior-to-be Terrelle Pryor, who led the Buckeyes to a win over Oregon in the Rose Bowl the last time the public got to see him play. He has improved since then, which was to be expected, offensive coordinator Jim Bollman said.
"It's experience. It's year No. 3," Bollman said. It shows "in all aspects; in the huddle, what he wants to try to do, how he's throwing the ball, how he's taking charge - just his knowledge of the whole picture."
Pryor's practice wasn't without flaws yesterday. Among them: He threw an interception to Aaron Gant in the right flat during a seven-on-seven drill.
But there is more to playing quarterback than throwing the ball, and Browning said Pryor has stepped up in those areas.
"I think that (comes with) time, him getting a better understanding of the offense, like understanding what his linemen are doing," Browning said. "I know over the offseason he did a lot of hard work in that area so we could have a better chance at protecting and things like that."
For example, giving the linemen tipoffs when he sees a potential blitzer creeping into the picture, things they might not be able to see.
"I just feel he is doing a great job overall studying harder to be the best he can be so we can be the best we can be," Browning said.