Could a quarterback controversy be brewing in Columbus?
After two sub-par performances by Todd Boeckman against Ohio and USC, highly-touted freshman Terrelle Pryor has been getting the better percentage of the snaps with the first team this week in practice for the Buckeyes, ahead of this weekend’s game against Troy.
It hasn’t been decided as of yet who’ll start on Saturday either, though both will undoubtedly play.
Should a change be made this quickly?
We knew that Pryor would be a factor this season, though it seemed like only a colossal failure or an injury to Boeckman would see him inserted into the starting lineup, but plans change.
It could be that Tressel is looking at Ohio State’s final non-conference game as an excellent way for Pryor to get some extended playing time in case he’s needed in Big Ten play, but when it all comes down to it, you want to put the guys in there that you think are going to win you games, and from the way it looks, Tressel is seriously evaluating which guy he’s better with.
To be frank, Boeckman hasn’t exactly stepped up in big games. Against USC on Saturday, he was 14 of 21 for only 84 yards and two interceptions, but that wasn’t the first time he struggled in a big game. Just go back to the last three games of the 2007 season.
Vs. Illinois (Nov. 10, 2007): 13 of 23, 156 yards, 3 INT - 28-21 loss
Vs. Michigan (Nov. 17, 2007): 7 of 13, 50 yards, INT - 14-3 win
Vs. LSU (BCS Championship Game): 15 of 26, 208 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT - 38-24 loss
So to start the season with a couple of down performances isn’t exactly what he needed to do to show that he’s a big-game quarterback.
You want to be able to count on your quarterback to provide that lift as a leader in those situations when, say, your defense isn’t having its best day, or your star running back is injured (Beanie Wells is out this weekend, by the way), and with the receiving corps that Ohio State has, it‘s not outlandish to expect a little more, or at least enough.
Pryor has looked good thus far in limited action through the first three games, running for 129 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries and completing 11 of 17 passes for 87 yards. Not mind-blowing, but every performance is warranting more time on the field, and if his continued improvement coincides with Boeckman’s continued regression, that time on the field could come as early as say, the first play of the game.
Besides, he’s going to be the guy next year, so why not see what he can do right now? On that note, increased playing time could see the playbook opened up a little more, and we’ll get to see just how well he works with his receivers and how adept he is at making plays with his arm on a regular basis. And if he can click better with Robiskie/Hartline/Small than Boeckman is, well, you know where I’m going with this.
Maybe seeing that his job is anything but secure is what Boeckman needs to regain his confidence and show that he’s the guy to lead the Buckeyes this year, or maybe it’s just a matter of time before Pryor goes from being the future to the present.
