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Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2009 > October > 21
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
OSU and Pryor — “Careful what you wish for”
So how’s Todd Boeckman looking now?
A lot of the Ohio State faithful were quick to trash the senior quarterback last season after he threw two interceptions against Southern Cal — and a Trojan defense that sent seven players to the NFL just seven months later — and some of the OSU coaches were right on board with them.
Benched during the USC game in favor of Terrelle Pryor, Boeckman — a true “team-first” leader, a respected team captain, a guy who led the Bucks to the national title game the year before — ended up in the Buckeyes’ version of Siberia. He rarely saw the field again. To me that was pretty shoddy treatment, but that’s water under the bridge.
Pryor’s ascension to the throne during the USC game lit up the blogosphere and talk radio lines. There was giddy speculation of coming Heisman Trophies and national championships and each and every Saturday watching Superman in his scarlet and gray cape.
To quote that tatted-up troubadour Eminem:
“So be careful what you wish for
‘Cause you just might get it
And if you get it then you just might not know
What to do wit’ it, ‘cause it might just
Come back on you ten-fold.”
Pryor has fallen back to earth this season. Landed with a thud. Done in not by Kryptonite, but a Purdue defense of all things. Two interceptions, four fumbles, two of them lost, five sacks.
A little time in Siberia for him after that loss to lowly Purdue, the Bucks second setback of the season? No way says Tressel. Is it that he thinks back-up Joe Bauserman is that ill-equipped for the job? Or is Pryor held to a different standard, as have been a couple of Tressel’s other heralded “stars” over the years?
The top-rated recruit in the nation two years ago — a mantle he flaunted with more than one press conference to announce which college he’d prep with on the way to the NFL — Pryor now ranks ninth in the league in passing efficiency and doesn’t look anything like the Big Ten’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
People are saying he’s regressed as a quarterback, I disagree. I think he had barely grasped the basic rudiments of his position when he took over, though he thought he knew more than he did.
I remember two players telling me last year how — on more than one occasion — he pushed Boeckman away from him on the sidelines, saying he didn’t need the senior quarterback’s suggestions. This was “his” team now.
That said, I feel for the kid. He’s never really known failure and I’m sure he feels pressure now. After one of his interceptions last Saturday against the Boilermakers, he slammed his helmet on the ground and laced into his intended target, receiver Duron Carter, who he thought should have broken up the pick.
Sure the offensive line is doing a poor job of protecting him, but it’s also obvious Pryor has trouble reading defenses, which is why he so often runs plays right into their teeth and why he’s also not comfortable calling an audible.
So what is OSU to do?
Bucks fans often rail at Tressel for his conservative play-calling, but I can’t see opening up the offense now. He has to make things even simpler, hope that Pryor grasps that and then build from there.
And if that doesn’t work?
Well, back to Eminem again.
I remember a few years back he travelled the country — including a stop in Columbus — with Ice Cube,. Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and a bunch of other hip hoppers.
They called it the “Up In Smoke Tour.”
The Bucks can only hope that doesn’t become their tag, as well.
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