QB Troy Smith - 2006 Heisman Winner - (Baltimore Ravens)

[BrutusBobcat]

I agree with you guys. It's very, very important that our fans not boo our own team, players and coaches. Granted, that's not just an OSU thing -- it happens at a lot of places, but as one of the great programs and traditions in college football, we should be above that here.

Sadly, too many people at the-message-forum-that-shall-not-be-named must have tickets.

[trufan]

I've always felt like Zwick was gonna be one of the best quarterbacks that we've had in a long time. And that very well still could be the case. But the guy needs some time to develope. I think his biggest problem right now is with his decision making. Granted the o-line isn't doing the best job in providing protection, but he simply can't take that many sacks. If nobody's open then he's got to get rid of the ball. As for Troy Smith getting more of an opportunity, I do think that he definately should have been given a shot in Saturdays loss to Wisconsin. Towards the end of that game when we were constantly 3 and out, was the perfect opportunity for Tress to give him a shot and see if he could provide a spark to get the momentum going in our favor. It would also allow the fans to see that Smith might not be the answer to all of our problems on offense. Which would take some of the heat, and pressure off of Zwick. Bottom line is that Smith at least deserves more of a chance to prove what he's capable of in an acutal game environment. Especially since Zwick hasn't been able to keep the offensive unit on the field.

[horseshoe1]

The worst feeling I have with not giving TS a chance is not wheather JZ is better or not because I believe he will be later on if not now.
The problem I have is if TS can't get a chance now with the way JZ is looking, how is this going to look to any chance we have of getting a top notch high school QB next year.
If Tressel won't give a backup QB with nearly two years in the system a chance to see what he can do, then it looks like it is going to be JZ for the next 3 years like it or not.
This isn't the only position on the team that needs to be looked at ( although it is the most glaring because of position). Loyalty is a great thing, but if you get to loyal it could cost you your job.

[Oh8ch]

What I don't understand is why Zwick has not been sat down for a series or two and using it for instruction.

This is an area I haven't seen discussed much, but I don't think JT has given up on this season or any game we have been in. There has not been a situation where a game has been out of reach so we could say 'what the hell let's see what Troy can do' (with the arguable exception of the very last moments of the Wisky game - but in todays world even an 11 point deficit with 2 minutes left is not insurmountable).

Did Zwick not march these guys down the field in the 4th Q vs. NU and send the game to OT? IMO you can fire any coach who doesn't go with what he absolutely thinks is his best shot when the game is on the line. It is only after the fact that we can make bold statements about giving Smith a try just to see what he can do or to sit Zwick to give him some instruction or motivation.

The argument that Smith would have done better is pure Monday morning QB wishful thinking.

[DCBuckFan]

Originally Posted by Brutus1

Heck, let all 3 of them get pt. No this one series and out bs. Give Smith and or Boeckman a legit shot. I don't give a crap if he's a good practice player, he's a [censored]ty game player. It's as simple as that !!!

Personally I don't think that it makes any sense giving Boeckman a shot this year, and taking off the redshirt he is using this year. That makes last year nearly a waste with his 'gray shirting'.

Also, everything on him that I have heard is that while he looks like he may become the real deal, he is stil very very raw.

On to Smith, I am starting to agree with most of the rest of Buckeye fans that maybe he needs an extended shot... maybe not this week vs. Iowa, maybe vs. Indiana, but he should get at least a quarter under his belt where we let him do his thing... not running the ball every play like the end of Cinci.

[FKAGobucks877]

I have to say, after reading all this speculation about Smith v. Zwick, I am sick and tired of the "coaches see him in practice" argument. The fact is, nobody here knows how Troy practices, all we know is he hasn't been seeing any time in the games. Is this because he hasn't been getting the job done in practice? Maybe, maybe not. From what he has said himself, he sure seems to believe he is. My point is, there are a million other potential reasons for him not seeing the field. Maybe he has had a poor attitude. Maybe he has had off the field problems. Maybe he has had problems in the classroom. Who knows? What I do know, however, is that Troy, from all accounts, is a good enough QB to be neck and neck with Zwick in the spring and fall, and he was a good enough QB to be picked before Zwick in the last two spring games by his fellow players. That right there tells me he must practice pretty well. For all we know (and this is what I personally believe), Zwick and Smith were neck and neck, and JT went with Zwick because he felt Zwick was more "his style", and gave them a better chance. Tress is inherently loyal, and it may well be that he can't bring himself to give Zwick the yank. FWIW, I agree with those here that Smith deserves a legitimate shot. The few balls he has thrown this year have been very impressive, and the fact is, he really can't do any worse than Zwick did against Wisky.

[AKAKBUCK]

Some Various thoughts.

First- I'm really tried of this "Fair Chance" or "Legitimate Shot" stuff too. Simple fact of the matter is that neither Justin nor Troy Nor Todd is owed any more 'chance' than they earn. The rest of the Team deserves the best QB out there... each of them individually deserve nothing. So let's get to what the team deserves.

I lifted this quote from Mili, just because it outlines some things that I heard addressed earlier:

Did you watch the game? Zwick missed several wide open guys...the one I remember the most was the one were Ginn was streaking over the middle in full stride about two yards ahead of his man and there was absolutely no one else in the middle of the field. If Zwick hits him in stride, Ginn is gone. Unfortunately, he didn't even throw it close enough for Ginn to touch it, let alone catch it. It looked like quail season out there.

Yeah- I think we all saw that play and some one on one's down the sideline that he flat missed.

So Gary Danielson was on Herstreit's show yesterday, and basically said (and Danielson really doesn't have any reason to point this out.. and he wasn't even asked the a question.. he just offered it) and basically said that he was surprised that Zwick missed all these passes, because he was hitting them without any problem in the Practice that he watched Thursday. And then said that he thought, considering in his words "that we're trying to do all this without a Running Back" (pretty scathing) that the gameplan was pretty good and if we hit one or two of those passes then you might have a different game. He addtionally implied thatn while he liked th gameplan, it would have been hard to succeed because that's not who we are right now.

(As a side note, he feels like Tressel needs to adjust his offense to be *gasp* more like Michigan's and run More Screens and more creative running plays in addition to an efficient QB.. whatever... we'll see)

Okay... so I guess that all means that Justin isn't getting it done, but he's got no running game... and at least big OL questions... and we're running an offense.. at least in this last game.. that I imagine we didn't practice as much as we'd like.

Which brings us back to Troy. Obviously the analysis is going to be a bit less robust, given that the Body of work is not as shall we day... as extensive. I suppose the first question we need to ask is do we think Troy can do any better with the RB/OL situation as it is? Well... hmmm... I really don;t know the answer to that... but I can think of palenty of Athletic Qb's that didn't succeed without a good running Game. What's Atlanta surviving on right now? Who Carried John Elway to the Super Bowl? Randall Cunningam even win a playoff game with the Eagles? (I don't remember for sure... but he sure didn't win a Superbowl.) I find it ironic that people would want the Next Michael Vick, when Michaal Vick hasn't done much of anything.

So.. sure... Let Troy Play some.. But for those of you who think he's going to add this incredible wrinkle... I can say two things. First, the wrinkle might not win us a single game. And second, the minute the kid goes outside the parameters he's been given... he will be back on the bench... and he would deserve to be there in that case. (Bernie Kosar's career in Cleveland essentially ended because of an 80 yard touchdown pass... We called Belichik a fool... back then... but is there any coach at any level who exemplifies no player above the team that this guy now?)

[exhawg]

It will be intersting to see how Purdue does against Wiscy this weekend. I don't think Orton will have as good of a game as he's used to. I'll put my vbucks on Wiscy. If Orton has a bad day and Zwick plays better everyone might see things a little differently next week.

[KillerNut]

He lost his starting role with Purdue and came back as a much better QB in a year where PU had a rough year. Smith could also prove to be a better QB long term.

I know it is not the game, or a game situation, but I saw him warming up with the WR's before the game, (one of the things you get to do as an usher). Similar to what Peyton Manning and his recievers do before the game, they would run all the basic routes, and this was no pads on just shorts and that underarmor stuff, but every pass was crisp, out in front of the WR, even the deep balls. All were sprirals and the only misses were flat out drops. There was one pattern he did throw a little behind the recievers, but it still was very catchable. Zwick didn't do the same thing so I can't tell you the difference.

Knowing what we know about his athletic ability I don't know why we don't give him a shot. Zwick has been as accurate as CK with out the scramble ability, and football smarts. I think a change is probably not be the answer, but I sure would like to see what would happen.

[StoRMinBrutus]

No matter who we the fans think. It all comes down to Coach Tressel and here are some quotes from him at his last Luncheon:

Tressel said in response to someone asking about Troy Smith getting playtime...

"And specifically in Troy's case, he would need to perform better than Justin and Todd Boeckman in practice and it's, again, the same way with all of our positions."

Another Quote:
"Once you see a separation between two people performance-wise, until there's not so much of a separation, you're set."

Translation: until Troy makes a huge effort in practice ... no changes !!! How may you ask do I know that ... well read the next quote .

He then added "Playing time is earned, earned by performance in the practice field and earned by do you do the things we need to do within the scheme we're going to use

Coach Tressel also commented on wether Troy Smith was being punished for making frustration remarks to the media :
"I don't hold things against people," said Tressel, then added "That's why I come each week (to the press luncheon). If I was that kind of guy, I wouldn't show up," he quipped, drawing a good laugh from reporters.

So in short we can yell and scream for Troy Smith, but in Coach Tressels' eyes he is not warranting playtime based on how he is practicing.

[toddmgrimm]

Originally Posted by gobucksBC

Troy Smith's fair chance is called practice. He's obviously not showing the coaches anything on the practice field to warrant being put in. The coaches believe JZ gives us the best chance to win, and I'll go with them.

Gary Danielson mentioned that on Thursday, Zwick didn't miss a pass all practice. Maybe Zwick is more of a practice quarterback and not a game day quarterback. Troy Smith, to me, just seems like a guy that lives for the gameday spotlight. What do you think, GOBUCKSBC? I think that Maagnum has a good point. Let Smith play more and definately give at least 85% of the carries to Pittman.

[StoRMinBrutus]

Originally Posted by toddmgrimm

Gary Danielson mentioned that on Thursday, Zwick didn't miss a pass all practice. Maybe Zwick is more of a practice quarterback and not a game day quarterback. Troy Smith, to me, just seems like a guy that lives for the gameday spotlight. What do you think, GOBUCKSBC? I think that Maagnum has a good point. Let Smith play more and definately give at least 85% of the carries to Pittman.

What does it matter when its not going to happen and basically Coach Tressel has stated as such until Troy shows it in practice?? He has made it clear if a player wants to start or even play... show it in practice !!! Clearly Troy Smith has not done that. You can wish for it all you want but logic and Coach Tressel states that its not going to happen because he is not showing it in practice !!! If he wants it so bad he needs to step it up in practice and show Coach Tressel.

Also, no disrespect, but to say Troy seems to live for the gameday spotlight is just speculation. Nobody knows how he will play full-time on gameday. Especially with the lack of a consistent supporting cast.

[Sdgobucks]

I would like to see smith and boeckman, and hell even ginn for pure entertainment. The seasons shot, we are out of the big ten, lets play around with somethings and see what we get. Im not saying don't play Zwick, I just would like to see what the other guys can do. I disagree about the "players need to show it in practice" argument, if practice were the same as the game Zwick would have hit every pass and we would have skunked Wisky. Again im not saying I know any of the other guys would do a better job than Zwick, but why not find out?

[Brammer98]

I am in belief that Mr. Smith's tyrant about transferring to another school has something to do with his not getting any PT. I know Zwick is the man in Tressel's eye but it seems that Smith's statements may get in his way of ANY time on the field.

[Def]

Originally Posted by StoRMinBrutus

You can wish for it all you want but logic and Coach Tressel states that its not going to happen because he is not showing it in practice !!! If he wants it so bad he needs to step it up in practice and show Coach Tressel.

One thing to consider is that the QB position is different in practice than other psoitions. You hear coaches in the NFL lament having so few snaps in practice for their backup QB's. They say they have very little time to prepare the starter for the scheme and defense they are playing. I don't usually hear this about the rest of the positions. I would imagine this translates to college as well. It's possible that the QB position takes so much of the Coaches and starters time in preparation that Smith may not even get the chance to impress the Coaches on the practice field at this point in the season.