Quarterbackalypse Now
by Sam @ WWAHT on Jun 17, 2009 8:00 AM EDT
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Whether we would like to admit it or not, the best quarterbacks in the country are looking at Ohio State and are trying to see what exactly our quarterbacks are asked to do in the games that matter. If they like what they see, as Terrelle Pryor almost assuredly did when he watched Ohio State in 2006, then they'll sign up. But what exactly is motivating Nick Montana, or Andrew Hendrix to sign up and play quarterback for the Buckeyes these days? Why is it that Justin Siems was taking snaps as a third stringer in the spring game?
Because the quarterbacks of the 2010 and 2009 classes' most recent memories of Ohio State are passing-game flops against Texas, USC, Penn State and LSU. Their consciousnesses are permeated by visions of Todd Boeckman and Terrelle Pryor fleeing from oncoming defensive ends milliseconds after the snap. A good-to-great year from Pryor will undoubtedly restore some lost confidence, but in many ways, sub-par recruiting may be endemic in a Jim Tressel system that is simply not a guarantor of anything more than fleeting success at the college level. It could end up taking a bit of an offensive overhaul for Ohio State to begin attracting needed recruits to provide at least adequate levels of depth at the position. Pryor's performance as a sophomore this year may end up being one of the most important by any true sophomore in the last thirty years at Ohio State. Let's hope he takes the opportunity, and runs (in a figurative sense) with it.
Anyway, I tried to account for the biggest factors here. Am I missing something obvious? What else do you think might be affecting, or even causing, the trend?
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Another thought...
What about location? Overall, the Big Ten is a conference that has big offensive lines and big running backs that run the ball. This isn’t a coincidence.
Big Ten teams have one thing they MUST keep in mind when they recruit – come November, the weather is going to be awful. High winds, temperatures in the 30’s-40’s, wet fields, wet balls (yeah, I just said wet balls), sometimes we even get snow. I’m not holding my breath to see Mike Leech bring his ‘70 passes a game’ offense to operate in this kind of weather. Games in these conditions are gritty, hand in the frozen dirt, grind ’em out affairs. Games in this weather look like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWCQzB77S_c
If I were a highly touted high school quarterback who didn’t have an attachment to a big ten team, I wouldn’t get excited watching this game.
I'm not sure this is that much of a factor
After all, Kyle Orton isn’t burning it up on the Pros circuit, but he and Drew Brees did play in West Lafayette for college. Also, while the 2007 game was a snoozefest, that was largely a factor of Michigan having a one-armed QB, and Sweatervest in turn playing it close to the, uh-forgive me- vest. The previous year (#1 vs. #2).
Yeah, I think it was 1999 when Brees set a then-NCAA record with a 50-of-83 attempts game against Wisconsin.
As for the original question, I think the national perception of the bigten and Ohio State is hurting the recruiting. In accurate, but I think the perception is affecting the recruits.
See, I didn't want to play the "national perception" angle
because Ohio State is pulling in top-notch recruits at almost every other position but quarterback. I want to know what it is about Ohio State that is keeping quarterbacks from pulling the trigger, outside of having to play behind Pryor for a few years.
Now as far as location goes, I agree, that is a factor for some kids. But no high school recruit is deluding himself into believing that he won’t be playing at least some games in similar weather should he make it to the NFL. Some of them have to know they have to be ready for Lambeau, Soldier Field, and Heinz field in late January. While I lean toward location having a larger impact than most think, I don’t think it’s seminal in anyone’s final decision.
www.wewillalwayshavetempe.com
Braxton Miller
I think you’re underestimating the importance Braxton Miller plays in all of this. Recruits are definitely aware that his is out there and a heavy Ohio State lean. Assuming he commits (obviously an assumption, but from the looks of it, not a big one), he would spend his freshman year as an understudy to Pryor and then potentially have the reins handed to him as a Sophomore or Junior depending on how long Pryor stays.
Even if he doesn’t end up panning out as planned, why wouldn’t a potential recruit (eg Boyd, Montana, Hendrix) hedge their bet and go someplace with a bit more of an opportunity for playing time?
Even if Miller commits
Recruits at other schools are lining up to play behind legendary quarterbacks – Tebow has Newton and Brantley, McCoy has Sherrod Harris and Garrett Gilbert, and Bradford has Landry Jones and to a lesser extent, Drew Allen. For two out of those three quarterbacks, at least one or both of their highly touted back-ups committed during the legend’s freshman or sophomore season.
Now, Pryor hasn’t been as productive as any of those quarterbacks but Ohio State is still struggling to pull in recruits simply for depth purposes. I think that Miller will eventually commit if only to become Pryor’s heir apparent, but nevertheless, that still doesn’t actually solve the depth problem.
www.wewillalwayshavetempe.com
More Thoughts on B Miller
Yes, the QBs you mentioned all agreed to follow a “legend” (or potential legend), but they all did so under the assumption that after that legend left, the starting job would be up for grabs in some capacity. They all could see a time in a couple years when they would have a very real chance at a starting job.
My point was that Boyd, Montana, et al could potentially be signing on right between “legends” (Pryor and Miller…I recognize that calling them legends now is an enormous stretch, but let me run with this for a second). Even if both Pryor and Miller leave after 3 years, the two of them could potentially start in the ‘08, ’09, ’10 and ’11, ’12, ’13 seasons. That would completely encompass a 2009 or 2010 recruit’s career.
I think your comment was driven at “why can’t we recruit someone to follow in Pryor’s shadow like a Brantley or L Jones.” My comment was that some recruits probably feel that position as already been filled by Miller.
But when you think about it...
With Hendrix, I don’t think the Pryor Legacy is what would prevent him from committing. He has OSU and Notre Dame as his top two schools right now. Look at Notre Dame’s depth chart at QB. They’ve got Clausen, obviously, for this year and most likely next year. Dayne Crist looks like he’s next in line. Obviously, Dayne isn’t guaranteed the starting position, but some say Dayne looks better then Jimmy, so…
If early playing time was a factor for Hendrix, I don’t think he’d be considering ND or OSU.
You’re right Sam; I wouldn’t think location/weather would be a deterring factor for every recruit, but definitely some. And dakotapalm, you can’t tell me the weather didn’t affect the game plan in 07. Mario (usually sure-handed Manningham) dropped 5 passes in that game, most of them in the first half. Any ball thrown with decent power probably felt like a twenty pound rock with tiny needles fastened to it. The 1 vs. 2 matchup the previous year was different. It was so nice that day I watched the game in a pair of cargo shorts and my Troy Smith jersey. I’m not saying every game in November is nasty, but some can be.
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