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Zwick vs. Smith (official thread)

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Just wanted to clarify that Smith's last game was all-world... and I don't expect him to continue to be. You can't ask for a better game than the one he played that day. He clearly still has a lot to prove as a QB, but his last chance to prove himself could not have gone better.
 
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BuckeyeFROMscUM said:
Just wanted to clarify that Smith's last game was all-world... and I don't expect him to continue to be. You can't ask for a better game than the one he played that day. He clearly still has a lot to prove as a QB, but his last chance to prove himself could not have gone better.
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True. I think that beating Michigan earns him the right to start the next game he can. I said the same when Krenzel/McMullen were coming in relief for Bellisari. Krenzel beat Michigan. Therefore, he's the starter the next year.

Of course, it's more complicated than that. But I think that beating a heavily favored opponent, especially Michigan, gives someone the starting job, even if that someone is a 74-year old man, who wants to be known as "Grandma Pete." I think I'd be curious why he wants to be known as "Grandma" Pete, but I'd still support Tress's decision to start him.
 
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OSU ponders platooning QBs

plaindealer

OHIO STATE FOOTBALL

OSU ponders platooning QBs


Wednesday, April 13, 2005 Bruce Hooley
Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus- Ohio State couldn't win a college football national championship employing it in 1990, '91, '93, '96 or '97, but the two-quarterback platoon hasn't exhausted its life with the Buckeyes.

Quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels will not rule out the possibility of alternating both Justin Zwick and Troy Smith this fall, once Smith serves the last of a two-game NCAA-mandated suspension in the season opener against Miami of Ohio.

"If they both have ability, I'm not opposed to that at all," Daniels said. "I think I used to be [opposed], but not anymore, because I also see what [Zwick and Smith] can bring to the table."

Daniels' consideration of a two-quarterback platoon continues a fascination Ohio State had with that system during the John Cooper era.

Cooper alternated Greg Frey and Kent Graham, then Kent Graham and Kirk Herbstreit, Bret Powers and Bob Hoying and finally Stanley Jackson and Joe Germaine, only to have potential national championship seasons go up in smoke near the ends of the 1993, '96 and '97 seasons.

OSU coach Jim Tressel dabbled with a Smith and Zwick rotation in the first two games last year. Tressel settled on Zwick in week three, but then switched to Smith when Zwick struggled and was injured.

OSU was later forced back to Zwick when Smith was suspended from the Alamo Bowl.

Now, Zwick is sharing half the first-team snaps with Smith, whose 4-1 record as a starter coincided with the rebirth of the OSU offense.

After a 33-7 loss at Iowa, the Buckeyes were 3-3 and 111th among 117 Division I teams in total offense. That Iowa loss also marked the day Zwick separated his right shoulder and was the second straight game he failed to direct OSU to a touchdown.

In another earlier game, the only offensive touchdown the Buckeyes scored came after the defense returned a fumble to the 1-yard line.

"We weren't a very good football team then," Daniels said. "Is that [Zwick's] fault? Look around. Watch the tape and see what was happening. . . He was the focal point [because] he was the quarterback. But he did a lot of good things."

OSU averaged 20 points per game in Zwick's six regular-season starts. That total includes 17 points scored in two games when Smith came in and directed the offense. The Buckeyes averaged 27.4 points in Smith's five regular-season starts.

OSU averaged 347 yards of total offense in Smith's starts, compared to 285 when Zwick started.

Tressel has been noncommittal on the long-term plans at quarterback, but hasn't ruled out the possibility that Smith could start Sept. 10 against Texas in the first game he is eligible.

Smith hasn't given any details about accepting cash from booster Robert Q. Baker, beyond expressing remorse and accepting responsibility.

"The decision I made [to take cash] affected my community and it affected my family and that's the hard part," Smith said. "Guys who come from any organization to a major university, they are a reflection of the organization they just left. We're trail blazers for the people who come behind."

Smith will be one of six Glenville players on OSU's roster this fall, but whether he will once again be leading the Buckeyes' offense isn't a matter he's willing to predict.

"I can kind of be biased toward myself, but I always say there is something bigger than me," Smith said. "It's not all about me."
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I am not in favor of a two quarterback system and never have been. I think the team responds better with just one quarterback.
 
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I hate the idea of platooning two qb's. I did not work perfectly with Germaine & Jackson, so why would it work now?

I would much rather see a rotating foursome at qb. Let Smith start the game (give him the start based on his performance in The Game). Periodically, we should then rotate in Ted Ginn to run the option and a myriad of other misdirection plays. When the 2nd quarter comes around, Smith might need a nap, so we let Zwick play the 2nd quarter with Ginn still taking the occasional snap. After the half, we make the decision to let Smith continue his little nap. A growing young man needs his rest, you know. In fact, we even send Zwick back for a nap also, to make sure Smith doesn't get lonely. We let Boeckman play the third quarter so he doesn't get his feelings hurt by not being allowd to play at all. Ginn continues to step under center occasionally. Once the 4th quarter rolls around, we wake up Smith & Zwick and let the best of the four play the fourth quarter. On occasion, we even put all four on the field at the same time to keep things interesting. I don't see how we could possibly lose!
 
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Maybe Zwick has really come on strong in the spring. From the sounds of it this is Smith's team, but anything could happen. I guess I would only like a rotation if the pocket passer were headed to the pros in the first day. I don't feel like Zwick is that kind of passer.

Considering how much team speed we possess, and the added versatility of Teddy Ginn as a triple threat (WR, RB, QB)... it just makes more sense to me to stick with Smith unless Zwick is ahead of him in practice.
 
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I say the only 2 QB system we should enact is Zwick/Smith (pick one) and Ginn! Fake a reverse and have him throw ala the Reggie Bush 40-something yard TD pass last year. OR, direct snap to Ginn, and have him take off the glove of his throwing hand to screw everyone up, and just run with it.
 
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Finishing 2nd in the country with a Rose Bowl win is not working?
It worked in 1996. In 1997 Germaine was clearly better.
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I did not say it didn't work. I said it didn't work perfectly. A lot of people seem to feel that the 2 qb system hurt us that year.
 
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