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Is Smith the man or a mirage?<!--EZCODE BOLD END--><!--EZCODE FONT END-->
By Jon Spencer
News Journal
COLUMBUS -- It's not easy being at the controls of the nation's 81st-ranked offense. Just ask Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith.
But proceed with caution.
Smith snapped at reporters this week when asked if he'll be looking over his shoulder during Saturday's Big Ten opener with Iowa.
It seemed a fair question given the way Ohio State's offense coughed and wheezed Saturday in Smith's first start of the season. The fact it came against a winless San Diego State team that surrendered 85 points in two games before coming to Columbus didn't seem to help the Buckeyes. The
OSU offense was so bad coach Jim Tressel didn't award an Offensive Player or Lineman of the Week after an uninspiring a 27-6 win.
Ohio State's longest touchdown drive was 32 yards, and that came against a defense decimated by UCLA (44 points) and Air Force (41 points). Smith rushed for 87 yards and scored two TDs, but he also threw an interception in Aztec territory, missed open receivers despite excellent protection and lucked out for the second week in a row when cornerback Donny Baker dropped a certain pick-six at the
OSU 30.
That performance came on the heels of the 25-22 loss to Texas in which Smith came off the bench to engineer five scoring drives. Four of them, however, started inside the UT 40, produced just 39 yards and only field goals.
Given that Justin Zwick started against Texas and was the quarterback called upon in crunch time against the Longhorns, Smith's grip on the job he now holds would seem to be a relevant issue.
He didn't see it that way and sneeringly voiced his displeasure.
"I haven't thought about (job security) ... that's a terrible question," he said.
When the subject returned a few moments later, Smith became more agitated.
"I don't think that's a good question; I don't think that's a smart question simply because we're facing Iowa and that's what we need to worry about now," Smith said. "Questions should go toward how does the team look and how are we getting ready for Iowa."
Whether he likes it or not, Smith's performance in the two games he has played since coming off a two-game suspension have given observers reason to wonder if his breakout performance last Nov. 20 against Michigan was an epiphany or aberration.
Overall, his record as a starter looks impressive at 5-1. However, he's just 1-1 against teams with a winning record, again that one win was his spectacular performance in a 37-21 win against Michigan.
A deeper look shows Smith was barely adequate in his four starts before that game.
He completed only 12-of-24 passes against hapless Indiana.
The Buckeyes managed just one offensive TD, and that came on a 35-yard drive in a 21-10 win over a 4-7 Penn State team.
Ted Ginn Jr.'s three touchdowns almost single-handedly beat a 5-6 Michigan State club. The Spartans were playing a backup QB but still dominated the Buckeyes in yardage (407 to 307) and first downs (22 to 12).
Smith committed four turn- overs, all in the second half, in a 24-17 loss at Purdue, a team that lost four straight before
OSU came to town.
Smith's punishment for taking money from a booster was sitting out the Zwick-led Alamo Bowl rout of Oklahoma State and the 34-14 season-opening win over Miami (Ohio). Smith realizes he can no longer use his layoff as a crutch.
"What is missing is continuity," he said. "I was missing for awhile and that is a big reason. But now I'm back and there is no excuses. We have to put it together now and get the ball rolling.
"Getting back to rare top form is hard. A lot of people are trying to rush things, but it's not that easy. The teams we play, they game plan all year, as do we."
The eighth-ranked Buckeyes (2-1) can't afford to be patient. A loss to No. 21 Iowa (2-1) would extinguish all hope of playing for a national championship and send
OSU into a bye week on a bad note. Never mind the Buckeyes then head to Penn State for a prime-time showdown, having lost five of their last six Big Ten road games under Tressel.
Infatuated with Smith's athleticism and the added dimension his running ability gives the attack, Tressel concedes his quarterback must do a better job of considering his options on pass plays before pulling the ball down and relying on his feet.
"It's having that calm relaxation and taking what the defense gives you," Tressel said. "A lot of games I've watched over the years, the unnoticed thing is the third-and-seven play where (receivers are) tied up and the quarterback ran for a first down and changed the complexion of the game. We don't discount the importance of that, but you have to do things in progression. Troy needs to be a little better from a progression standpoint."
Interestingly, Tressel is looking for the offensive balance
OSU struck in the opener behind Zwick. He completed passes to five different receivers on the opening drive alone, effectively setting the tone. Tailback Antonio Pittman rushed for 100 yards on 14 carries.
Granted, Miami is not in the same class as No. 2 Texas. But the RedHawks, across the board, were a stronger test than San Diego State.
Still, Tressel gave no indication he would turn things over to Zwick if Smith struggles against Iowa.
"I don't know that we've been consistent enough in the running game to take (defenses) out of guessing what we're going to be doing," Tressel said. "There was a point where Texas was running it well enough with both its running back and quarterback where we had to bring an extra (defender) in the box.
"All of a sudden that opens up (the passing game). You need that balance to be good and that's where we need to get."