The pass to Holmes was the very next play after Troy's scramble for 14 yards. Burgess was trailing Holmes on that TD.
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- Thread starter Cicero
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The pass to Holmes was the very next play after Troy's scramble for 14 yards. Burgess was trailing Holmes on that TD.
cincibuckeyenut
Senior
Watching Troy progress the second half of the year has been one of the most enjoyable parts of the season.
It hasn't just been better results. It has been the decision making in game that is key to understanding that this is real improvement, not just a great game.
That Gonzo play at the end was everything you need to know about Troy in one play. He scrambled to buy time, he had two opportunities where he was under pressure, had a hole and could have run, but in neither case did, he threw a laser beam to the perfect spot on the run. Last year and earlier this year, Smith runs that ball. This year, he understands how to use his running ability to buy himself time to make the big play with his arm.
I think it all goes back to his film study and the fact that he better understands the game now. Why he wouldn't have studied film as a QB before the middle of this year, I don't know, but as soon as he started doing that, he started looking at his second and third options more and letting plays develop. He now makes better decisions, buys himself time in the pocket, but still has the capability to run when he has to.
It may be my scarlet colored glasses, but I firmly believe this is a change in troy's game and he is going to compare favorably with this year's Vince Young next year. He won't put up the numbers, just because I don't see Tressel letting him blow people out like Mack Brown does. But he will have that type of impact on the field.
It hasn't just been better results. It has been the decision making in game that is key to understanding that this is real improvement, not just a great game.
That Gonzo play at the end was everything you need to know about Troy in one play. He scrambled to buy time, he had two opportunities where he was under pressure, had a hole and could have run, but in neither case did, he threw a laser beam to the perfect spot on the run. Last year and earlier this year, Smith runs that ball. This year, he understands how to use his running ability to buy himself time to make the big play with his arm.
I think it all goes back to his film study and the fact that he better understands the game now. Why he wouldn't have studied film as a QB before the middle of this year, I don't know, but as soon as he started doing that, he started looking at his second and third options more and letting plays develop. He now makes better decisions, buys himself time in the pocket, but still has the capability to run when he has to.
It may be my scarlet colored glasses, but I firmly believe this is a change in troy's game and he is going to compare favorably with this year's Vince Young next year. He won't put up the numbers, just because I don't see Tressel letting him blow people out like Mack Brown does. But he will have that type of impact on the field.
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This is a two lane road, I think. Firstly, OSU was up 9-0 and in absolute command of the game. The gameplan completely goes out the window when your strength, special teams, take the entire game off. In the next 25 years, if JT is around that long, I don't think we'll ever see a performance that bad again. You just can't have two muffed punt returns, a shanked punt for 18-yards, a missed PAT and FG, and expect to dominate anyone.
In some sense, I can see your point that the team looks bad when it appears Troy is handcuffed with the playcalling, but on the other hand, I don't think it's a coincidence that in the three toughest games of the year, Texas, Penn St, and Michigan, the team whiffed on multiple special teams plays, the defenses were pretty good, and Ted Ginn completely removed himself from the game trying to hit the home run.
Ted Ginn looks his best, and not surprisingly the offense looks best, when nobody is watching. In the nationally televised games, when the cameras are rolling ... *poof*.
I think someone just needs to stop reading his press clippings and trying to win the Heisman in one game.
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um, Michigan 04 and Alamo Bowl? those were fairly big games. I don't think it's a matter of getting caught up in his own hype. He definitely errs on the side of being shy and humble more than cocky.
As tressel has said, he is a homerun hitter. Early in the season, on his KO returns, he was trying to hit homeruns when he should have gone down. That absurd dancing helped him get to the house on KR tds.
The kid needs a lot of work on fielding punts. However, you are never going to teach teddy to stop reversing his field. It's just how he plays. It's what he did against Ohio HS teams, cupcake teams for OSU, and also bigtime opponents this year.
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I'm talking about this year -- since the SI cover -- not last year; that aside, the Alamo Bowl was not a 'big' game, and a little of the luster of the UM game was absent after the loss at Purdue, entering The Game with four conference losses and completely out of the Big 10 race. Those were big games to Ohio State fans, but not so much on the national radar after a rough year and a three game losing streak.
All that aside, this is a Troy Smith thread, not a Ted Ginn/offensive woes thread. My point was merely that it is not a coincidence that the offense hasn't looked explosive, and by extension Troy Smith, in the three games where special teams took some plays off and the team committed some dumb penalties and turned the ball over.
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as a frosh, expected to be a star in The Game, and he came thru quite nicely. He was getting an absurd amount of hype before the bowl game too, and came thru. I just don't think it has to do with worrying about the pressure, I just think he tries to score every play b/c that's how he plays (and he needs to be taught to occasionally make a solid play instead of a great one). Therefore, he tries to make too much happen before the ball is in his hands. He did the same thing against MSU 05, which wasn't the biggest game.
I definitely agree with this.
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martinss01
blissfully stupid
im with clarity. i don't think i owe ts an apology at all. the things i said at teh time i said them, imo, were true. none of them were personal attacks against him and all were stated in a "these are the weaknesses that he needs to work on" mindset and not a "he sucks" one. ts is growing in the qb role. i think the thing that made me happiest with ts on saturday was him telling guys like marcel frost and pitman where they needed to be lined up on the play. it was the first time i have looked at ts and thought to myself "he is in complete control of the offense". others have felt that way earlier in the season, but this was the first time he's pounded that belief all the way home for me. he still seems to have problems with zones and has yet to prove he can string good or better performances week to week to week. but so long as he stays out of trouble through the offseason i for the first time feel very comfortable with him leading this team going into next season.
while i would have liked to have seen him grow a little faster at times, he's definitely showing that he is getting there at this point. his play against scum alone makes him an all time buckeye great. but he still has a long way to go. until he is perfect, be prepaired for some constructive gripes coming from my direction. not because i hate him or that i want to see him benched. but i want to see him become a completely well rounded qb. i personally will never be satisfied with his play until HE feels just as, if not moreso, comfortable and trusting in his arm and reads than he does in his feet.
while i would have liked to have seen him grow a little faster at times, he's definitely showing that he is getting there at this point. his play against scum alone makes him an all time buckeye great. but he still has a long way to go. until he is perfect, be prepaired for some constructive gripes coming from my direction. not because i hate him or that i want to see him benched. but i want to see him become a completely well rounded qb. i personally will never be satisfied with his play until HE feels just as, if not moreso, comfortable and trusting in his arm and reads than he does in his feet.
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good analysis martins. I think the apologies some want are for those who said TS will not get better, TS cannot lead us down the field to win the game (heard after the PSU game), etc. There's nothing wrong with critiquing him, we do the same to our best players (like Pitt, Ginn, etc)
However, I'm not sure how he can rely more on his arm than he did yesterday. There were a few designed draws, and the 3rd down scramble. Other than that, basically everything was with his arm.
However, I'm not sure how he can rely more on his arm than he did yesterday. There were a few designed draws, and the 3rd down scramble. Other than that, basically everything was with his arm.
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OSU_Buckguy
Head Coach
agreed. while some offered constructive criticism of troy earlier in the season, there are definitely some who owe the man an apology. heck, there are many who owe zwick an apology, too, even though justin hasn't had the opportunity to redeem himself. the worst thing about this year, in my opinion (as if that even needs to be stated), has been the quarterback controversy. of course, smith is to be the blame for that. had he not taken the $100 dollar handshakes, there would have likely been very little, if any, controversy. the season might have gone differently, too, but that is water under the bridge. i'm very, very happy with troy. he's grown as a player and as a leader and, i'm sure, as a person.
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SanClementeBuck
Heisman
Ah, if life was a perfect vehicle, wouldn't everything be perfect?
Above all, Troy Smith is a leader with the intangibles that separate really good athletes from good athletes who are also leaders. TS is one more Buckeye leader in a long line of Buckeye talent. His leadership makes him larger than the sum of his sometimes "imperfect" parts.
I'm going to enjoy the Troy Smith era in Buckeye football, with all of its accompanying successes and occasional imperfections.
Above all, Troy Smith is a leader with the intangibles that separate really good athletes from good athletes who are also leaders. TS is one more Buckeye leader in a long line of Buckeye talent. His leadership makes him larger than the sum of his sometimes "imperfect" parts.
I'm going to enjoy the Troy Smith era in Buckeye football, with all of its accompanying successes and occasional imperfections.
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martinss01
blissfully stupid
hmmm. i try real hard to ignore those people. my only real response to them is, "if ts didn't have the capability, he wouldn't have a schollie at tOSU'.
oh no, its not a question of physical ability or how he played during the game. more of a statement on his current mentality based off quotes before the game and what he said during his interview after. i got the impression that he still trusts his feet a whole lot more than his arm and his eyes. he's a qb... it needs to be the other way around. i loved him giving the credit to his o-line.
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fair enough. I would agree that when things break down, he probably will never be rid of the impulse to run. thankfully, against michigan he is unstoppable, and so next season will have another glorious ending :)
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Taosman
Your Cousin In New Mexxico
Before the season I said Troy Smith would be a Heisman candidate this year. OK, I was wrong. Next year, will be Troy Smith's big chance to compete for the Heisman.
Smith will be in the spot light early at Texas. He could have a big game.
Or, he could screw up and cost us the game and his shot at a Heisman.
He first has to stay out of trouble in the off season. If all stays quiet, we pick up where we left off. 40 points a game.
And one more thing. He's "The Wolverine Killa!"
Smith will be in the spot light early at Texas. He could have a big game.
Or, he could screw up and cost us the game and his shot at a Heisman.
He first has to stay out of trouble in the off season. If all stays quiet, we pick up where we left off. 40 points a game.
And one more thing. He's "The Wolverine Killa!"
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