JohnnyBlue

August 30th, 2011 at 3:36 PM ^

I see a hard choice for Ohio this year. go with the senior and run a solid yet predictable offence, not much big play threat but won't make alot of mistakes ethier. or go with Miller and have the threat of the big play and the flexablity a dual threat guy gives you but also have to put up with the freshmen mistakes that will cost you a game or two.

ethier way I don't think OSU will be much more than an 8 or 9 win team this year at best

profitgoblue

August 30th, 2011 at 3:43 PM ^

I was thinking about this choice last night:  Does OSU go with the proven commodity for the first few games because its safer or play Miller early to get him experience for the B1G season?  Part of me thinks that the senior has earned it and deserves to start.  The other part of me says that the program needs a complete fresh start, to get some non-NCAA violation chatter going and begin a new era in an exciting way.  If I were Finkel I think I'd start Miller to show everyone that this is a new OSU and its his team not Tressel's.  Of course, Tressel recruited Miller but that's neither here no there . . .

 

74polSKA

August 30th, 2011 at 3:40 PM ^

Some analysts think he's the second coming.  He's a better throwing TP.  On the other hand, he's been missing timing routes in practice and he just said the other day that he's trying to learn about 5 passing plays a day.  I'm surprised he hasn't learned more of the playbook since he enrolled early, especially since Ohio will probably be running TresselBall part deux this year.

vegasjeff

August 30th, 2011 at 11:30 PM ^

is that Miller appears to be more injury prone.

As we know all too well there is a risk sending QBs a lot smaller than Pryor running through Big Ten defenses. Miller is thought to be a better pure passer than Pryor and a more elusive runner, but Pryor knew the OSU offense better and hit gliding speed quickly.

If Miller can stay healthy he'll eventually (when he learns the offense and calms down) be quite a weapon.

zguy517

August 30th, 2011 at 3:44 PM ^

in one game that wasnt mop up duty against the backups of a scrub team.

That was against Illinois when he came in for an injured Pryor and put up a -45.8 passer rating going 1-2 for 1 yard and an INT...

bklein09

August 30th, 2011 at 3:54 PM ^

This is very surprising to me, because OSU would win both of their first two games with me playing QB.

So if they wanted to get Miller's feet wet, that would be the time to do it. 

I know that Miami and Colorado aren't great teams, but you certainly don't want your true freshman to have to make his first start  in one of those games. The same can be said for the MSU and Nebraska games after that. 

Maybe they are going with the senior experience because of all the other talent that won't be on the field for the first 5 games?

Going with Bauserman seems to be a move for getting 8-9 wins this season but will not help them for the future like playing Braxton would. 

It seems like Fickell is playing for everything he can get this season because he doesn't know if he'll get a chance next year if he doesn't get to 10 wins. 

elaydin

August 30th, 2011 at 4:08 PM ^

When you don't have any QBs with experience, you need to get a couple of them some game time.  I don't think it matters much who starts.  They'll both play, and will both need to get some reps, especially if one has a history of injuries (like Miller).

The "start the senior, play the underclassman" thing also seems to be popular among coaches, though it's probably more common in basketball.

Tater

August 30th, 2011 at 7:41 PM ^

If your QB's are 1A and 1B and you have a senior and an underclassman, you start the senior.  If you don't you send a message to your entire team that hard work and sticking with it gets you nothing.  The only reason to start the underclassman in that situation is if he definitely gives you a better chance of winning.  

In other words, you don't start an underclassman on a guess or a coin flip.  There has to be legitimate separation.  It doesn't sound like there is legitimate separation in Columbus right now.  

Since it IS Ohio, I hope they start the freshman and piss off the seniors.

Darth Wolverine

August 30th, 2011 at 4:13 PM ^

That is interesting, but any intelligent person knows that Braxton will be the starter eventually and I can guarantee you he will be starting against Michigan. This will be 2008 all over again for Ohio. Upperclassman QB being chosen as the starter only to show that he can't get the job done. Ohio coach will realize that he has a highly ranked recruit, stud freshman waiting to just be told to get on the field to start and the upperclassman will be history.

dennisblundon

August 30th, 2011 at 4:27 PM ^

I actually thought Bauserman might have had a shot at replacing Tressel. This is a perfect situation for OSU. Not only do they have him as their QB but he is also a father figure for the rest of the young men on the team to look up to.

jamiemac

August 30th, 2011 at 4:27 PM ^

This just proves The Vest is still running the show, probably from the basement of an undisclosed location in Upper Arlington or Bexley

It should be Miller. And eventually will be. He barely lost as a starter playing in the highest class of Ohio High School football. Sadly, for us, he has the goods. Hopefully he keeps him on the bench long enough and it costs them somehow.

HoldTheRope

August 30th, 2011 at 4:31 PM ^

Joe Bauserman is not good at football. I doubt he makes it past the State game as the starter. Miller will be a good one but he is not Terrelle Pryor...regardless, I feel pretty good about the quarterback situation in Columbus (I think they go 9-3, FWIW).