Is Terrelle ready to take over? (photo: D. Harker / The O-Zone)Now that everyone has had some time to digest the spanking in LA, I'm assuming the same folks calling for Pryor to take over Sunday are still on board today. I've heard a few folks caution against throwing TP into the fray so early because there's still a Big Ten title and BCS trip at stake and there's no real concrete reason to assume Pryor is ready.
To that, I say this program needs a shot in the arm and I can't think of a better remedy than to inject some new life into a position dying for an identity. So with that, is Pryor ready? And does it matter to you even if he isn't?
From my vantage point, I've seen Boeckman's ceiling both as a QB and a leader and it's simply not good enough to win it all. Is it good enough with the parts around him to win the conference? Probably so, but I think Pryor deserves a shot to prove he's at least good enough to be plugged into the current lineup and help this team to a conference title considering that wasn't the ultimate goal to begin with. Plus, the Todd is 3-3 in his last six games with 4 TD and 8 INT. That in and of itself should be enough to find him watching from the sidelines.
Further, one of Tressel's supposed key coaching skills is that he will adjust his coaching style to fit the talent currently on the roster. If that's the case, based on what I've seen from the offensive line, there's no better solution than a mobile QB behind a line that would make a New Orleans levy jealous.
In the end, I'm even willing to sacrifice a few games if that's what it takes to get Pryor ready for 2009. What about you?
To that point, I think my biggest concern is that Tress will continue to call plays geared to what Pryor can do today versus what he needs to work on in order for OSU to be successful tomorrow. We need to see a gameplan that forces TP to decide amongst multiple receivers and most importantly, throw the ball downfield.
Figuring out how to truly develop Pryor's weaknesses while still winning games is why the Vest makes the big bucks. If you're Tressel, how would you ensure TP's development while being cognizant of the need to win every game left on the schedule? And what role, if any, would Boeckman play in all of this?
