After arranging a press conference set for noon on Wed. March 18th #1 rated high school prospect Terrelle Pryor, signed with the Buckeyes. This is good news for Pryor trust me, nothing would have earned him the undying hatred of people across the world (Columbus) had he signed with Michigan and their sell out coach Rich Rodriguez.
While I completely agree that Rich Rod probably only left WVU in order to escape the heartbreak and the embarrassment of his teams eternal dismantling at the Pitt game, I still don't understand the man's strange reasoning for departure and I certainly don't agree with the way he left fighting off the University for dollars when he CLEARLY LEFT BEFORE HIS CONTRACT WAS UP, as well as the fact that he couldn't even finish up the season (what if Coach Jim Tressel acted that way? Oh yea he wouldn't because buckeye fans would probably flip his car over and hang effigies of him)
Pryor in his press conference said that upon telling coach Rod that he would sign with Ohio State that the Michigan coach simply continued "dropping lines on him" and continued to try to recruit him . . . which as an avid Michigan hater shows me that the coach is pathetic and begging for Pryor to sign . . . it also shows me (being realistic now) that Coach Rod didn't respect Pryors decision. His father who was pushing Penn State (which is really the reason we all waited so long, aside from perhaps a streak of primadona-ism that I would gladly have one of our Ohio State Linebackers stomp out quick) may have been shocked to find out that Penn State was simply "too country" for him . . . As I'm watching for the first time I am really sitting here thinking "Oh my God, he's either being terribly honest (hard to find) or he is lying his ass off and couldn't put the time in to think of a better reason". But in all honestly people, why would Coach Joe Paterno go after this kid if he was that much of a snob . . . I have seen Jim Tressel give people second chances (search: "college career of Troy Smith") . . .
but Coach Paterno and Tressel are the real deal as far as trying their best to run a clean cut program. So it's my question as to why they would recruit this kid (aside from sheer perceived talent perhaps?) if he wasn't going to cut it from a character standpoint.
Now the to the football aspect. During this press conference we heard the word "Tebow" in my opinion too many times. Pryor said he had spoken with Coach Tressel already about how he was going to be used in the offense. Pryor stated that he would be used JUST LIKE TEBOW was used to "run the football" in certain situations . . .
Terrelle Pryor simply isn't as big as Tim Tebow. Maybe it's a 30 or 40 pound difference I'm not sure . . . Pryor may even be taller than Tim but height is the last thing I'm getting at. Tebow is an ex-linebacker/tightend playing quarterback. Pryor is a quarterback period. While they may be both best suited to a spread offensive set or system, Pryor is not going to run over linebackers in the Big Ten. I'm not even sure if he could run over some of the bigger defensive backs. The best play for Terrelle Pryor? Maybe not the zone read or QB keeper, it's just too predictable, and a lot of football enthusiasts would agree that it may be the easiest play to sniff out when you see a freshman Tebow or Pryor line up at QB. Perhaps a speed option out of the gun would be the best thing for Pryor. Remember people Pryor did not run a spread offense at Jeannete, it was a lot of option out of the I and drop back passing . . .
My POINT IS . . . The Ohio State Coaching staff better do 2 things.
1) throw out the manilla offense FOR THE TERRELLE PRYOR package
We cant run a plain basic QB sneak, we need a loaded (fullback lead) sneak, with a jump pass to compliment it and then we need a . . . . (you get the point, don't be afraid of ingenuity)
2) if the zone read or QB power are the only plays in a "Terrelle Pryor" package than he will never be effective. Give him plays that allow him to be effective THROWING the ball as well as a VARIETY of ways to RUN the ball. For example like a QB wide sweep, followed by a lot of sprint out passing, and several different ways to run the option etc etc.
Finally I THINK Pryor made the best choice in picking Ohio State because at least in Columbus he will not be thrown to the wolves and be expected to do it all, he will be given as much as he can grasp and be effective in small doses in his first year.
He will not lose to Ohio State 4 years in a row.
He will not be eclipsed by the lack of west coast coverage as he would have at Oregon
I think he'll be in good shape at Ohio State provided he keeps his mouth shut and doesn't get in any trouble (search: Antonio Henton, OR Maurice Clarett)
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