Quarterback recruiting

[Tbuck]

I was doing some thinking and I have some questions about the way this staff recruits this position. Lots of speculation that Tressel has changed his view on the characteristics that he looks for in a QB. I believe that you could dig up some quotes from him to confirm this. So my first question is how do you think that he weighs the following skills in his evaluation on who to recruit:

Athleticism/Mobility
Arm Strength
Game Management

This should be seen in strict recruiting terms. It's kind of funny, because it seems to me that we pursue it in that order, but when evaluating playing time, game management goes to the top. I just believe that he's confident in his and Joe Daniel's ability to teach the game to a recruit.

If others want to suggest skills that you think that are weighed in evaluation, I'd love to hear them. I started to include things like leadership and character. Leadership would probably fall under the broad category of Game management. Where does ability to read plays as they develop fall? Takes game management to be sure, but I believe that there's some athleticism involved as well. "Seeing the field" takes some physical ability as well as intellectual.

The second question revolves around Ohio High School football. It does not seem like we have taken a serious look at any Ohio prospects at the position since Rob S. It seemed like he was a conditional offer based on Sanchez at the time as well. If MS had taken the 'ship, I don't think that we would have offered RS.

There have been some good prospects that folks have been excited about in Ohio that the Bucks have passed on. Do you see us as being a predominant national recruiter for QBs given the skill set that the staff prefers? How often does OH football produce the type of athlete that we now seem to target for QB?

Thanks guys and I look forward to hearing everyone's take especially the guys that keep a close eye on recruiting (CBF40, Grad, Wad, 86, etc.) I don't post all that often but enjoy your insight.

[LordJeffBuck]

Originally Posted by Tbuck

I was doing some thinking and I have some questions about the way this staff recruits this position. Lots of speculation that Tressel has changed his view on the characteristics that he looks for in a QB. I believe that you could dig up some quotes from him to confirm this. So my first question is how do you think that he weighs the following skills in his evaluation on who to recruit:

Athleticism/Mobility
Arm Strength
Game Management

This should be seen in strict recruiting terms. It's kind of funny, because it seems to me that we pursue it in that order, but when evaluating playing time, game management goes to the top. I just believe that he's confident in his and Joe Daniel's ability to teach the game to a recruit.

JT's first two QB signees were Justin Zwick, who was heavy on the "game management" side of the ledger, and Troy Smith who had excellent "athleticism" etc. See how that situation turned out? Just proving, once again, that you can teach kids the game, but you can't teach natural talent, atleticism, size, speed, whatever.... The same theory holds true for all positions, not just QB.

The second question revolves around Ohio High School football. It does not seem like we have taken a serious look at any Ohio prospects at the position since Rob S. It seemed like he was a conditional offer based on Sanchez at the time as well. If MS had taken the 'ship, I don't think that we would have offered RS.

There have been some good prospects that folks have been excited about in Ohio that the Bucks have passed on. Do you see us as being a predominant national recruiter for QBs given the skill set that the staff prefers?

Ohio State offers guys with Ohio State level talent. Period. There haven't been any in-state QB's with Ohio State level talent since Schoenhoft. "Good" prospect don't get Buckeye offers - only "great" ones do.

As far as being a "national" recruiter for QB's.... Two years ago, the Bucks signed Antonio Henton out of Georgia, who was the best QB prospect in that state. They signed no QB in 2007. In 2008, the Bucks' only QB target is Terrell Pryor, the undisputed #1 QB prospect in the country, and tOSU seems to be the leader there. With the success of Troy Smith and the Buckeye offense in general during 2005 and 2006, I think that "national" QB prospects, especially the so-called "dual threat" prospects, will seriously consider Ohio State, just like the "drop back" passers will be high on USC, Michigan, and Notre Dame, who have been successful with "pro style" QB's like Palmer, Leinart, Henne, and Quinn. If the Buckeyes' recent success with a "spread" offense didn't open some eyes nationally, then nothing will.

As far as people being "excited" about certain prospects, I can only tell you that JT & Co. didn't share that "excitement", and their "excitement" is all that counts.

How often does OH football produce the type of athlete that we now seem to target for QB?

I'm good, but only god can answer that one....

[cincibuck]

I'm anything but an expert in this area, but it's my understanding that Tressell won with dual threat QBs at YSU. His success at OSU is mixed in that regard. He inherited dual threat Steve Bellsari with less than pleasing results. He won the whole enchilada with Krenzel and then had a miserable year with Zwick until he finally turned things over to Troy. I don't know about Boeckman, but Schonehoft will surprise you with his running ability and he's a big kid. My hunch is that Henton is closer to being the pick than any of us know or than Tressell will ever show until he has to.

Historically QB has not been a strong point at OSU. I think it would be fair to say that the QB with the most NFL potential they've ever had would be Schliechter (sp?) and of course he never got the chance to prove it... well, yes, he got the chance, but you know what I mean... And as long as the Buckeye philosophy remains centered on a mobile QB we aren't going to see that change. For that matter, though Schliechter was a great passer, he could also tuck the ball in and run.

The only time I don't like the mobile QB is when it's late in the 3rd quarter and you're behind by more than 14.

[Buckeye86]

Originally Posted by cincibuck

The only time I don't like the mobile QB is when it's late in the 3rd quarter and you're behind by more than 14.

I think that's the point of the first poster, you recruit a scrambler with athletic ability and turn him into a passing QB and then you don't have to worry about your worse case scenario with a mobile QB. Troy Smith was not a mobile QB at the end of his career, he was a passing QB that was hard to sack. You can teach a scrambler to pass, you can't teach a big arm with lead feet to scramble.