Ohio State Buckeyes: How Will the Buckeyes Fare Without Terrelle Pryor?
Terrelle Pryor was clearly the best player in this year’s Sugar Bowl. With a five game suspension looming for next season, Pryor has to start wondering if his draft stock is going to get any higher than it is now. With the NFL Rookie Wage Scale likely to be in effect for the 2012 NFL Draft, this is also Pryor’s last opportunity to negotiate his contract. If he comes out next year he’ll have to take what he’s given.
So if Pryor heads for greener pastures, what will that do for Ohio State? No doubt they’d be a little worse off than they are now at the quarterback position. But would they suffer overall? Here is a look at the five bad and the five good for Ohio State will fare if Terrelle Pryor leaves school and goes pro.
5 Bad: They’d Suffer at the Quarterback Spot
1 of 12
You can say what you want about the level of Pryor’s play throughout his career.
It hasn't been what everyone thought it would be, but that’s still no reason to think bringing in a young quarterback to learn the offense would be any better for the Buckeyes.
5 Bad: They’d Lose a Mentor
2 of 12
Even with Pryor losing out on the first five games of his senior season, he would still be valuable to the team.
Whoever they start at quarterback in his place would only benefit from having Pryor around to teach him about the offense, and what to expect from opposing teams.
It would be like hiring another quarterback coach. You’d hate to lose that.
5 Bad: It Could Cause a Chain Reaction
3 of 12
If Pryor goes pro, what will his teammates do?
There were four other Ohio State students all contemplating going pro or returning for their senior year. If Pryor goes pro, what incentive do those guys have to stay?
Pryor leaving could cost Ohio State four more seniors next year.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
5 Bad: It Could Cost Them Recruits
4 of 12
Nothing scares off a young recruit more than thinking they are heading to a college team in the process of rebuilding.
Ohio State already has enough competition from schools in the Big-10 trying to take their players.
What will the other schools say about Ohio State if Pryor is leaving?
5 Bad: It Could Cost Them the Big 10
5 of 12
Ohio State has had a strangle hold on the Big 10 title for years now.
Losing Terrelle Pryor for the first five games was going to make it a tough enough road. Losing Terrelle Pryor forever could make it too tough for them to combat.
The Big 10 is a competitive place right now, and without Pryor, it might be too much.
On the Other Hand
6 of 12
Losing Terrelle Pryor might not be as bad as it sounds.
Having your star player gone for half of your season doesn’t sound appealing, but Pryor hasn’t always been the best quarterback in the nation.
Losing him might end up having some benefits that even Ohio State doesn’t see yet.
5 Good: No Rust To Deal With
7 of 12
Sitting out the first five games of a season is a lot for a quarterback.
When you look at the kind of style that Terrelle Pryor has, you see that he’s the kind of quarterback that needs to have a feel for the game to be effective.
It will take a few games for Pryor to get back to form, and when you are competing for a National Championship, you can’t afford any rust at all.
5 Good: Could Allow Them To Nab a Top QB
8 of 12
Getting a top recruit in the quarterback class is all about what you can offer them now.
The best Ohio State was going to be able to offer is a chance to play for five games, and then sit for the rest of the season.
With Pryor out of the picture they can give a top prospect a chance to compete for the starting job and play there all season.
That is how you land the big fish.
5 Good: Would Allow Them Continuity
9 of 12
Even if they are able to get a suitable replacement for Terrelle Pryor, they will lose continuity when Pryor comes back. No one plays the position quite like Pryor, and so when he comes back, the offense will have to adapt for the changes he brings.
Having the same quarterback from beginning to end will allow the Buckeyes to develop a flow and a feel for this offense, and carry it throughout the season.
5 Good: There Will Be Less Distraction
10 of 12
The media already gives Ohio State a lot of attention, but the media will be intense if they are constantly monitoring Pryor and the countdown to his return.
Pryor will only give the Buckeyes headaches as it gets closer to his return.
If he’s gone they won’t have to deal with the added media circus, unless, of course, they are playing for something meaningful.
5 Good: They Will Be Better Without Pryor
11 of 12
Pryor turned out to be a good college quarterback, but he was never great.
Ohio State now has the chance to go to a more traditional quarterback and run the kind of offense that the Big-10 is known for. What they need is a quarterback who can manage the game, control the clock, and air it out when he needs to.
Pryor wasn’t the most accurate, and doesn’t read defenses especially well. This is the perfect time for Ohio State to bring the right guy in and build for a legit title run.
Conclusion
12 of 12
Looks, it's tough to say that losing a quarterback with 3 years experience in the Ohio State system is a good thing, but it might be. If Ohio State wants to remain the big dog in the conference and compete in BCS bowls and more, they need continuity. They won't get that with Pryor being suspended.
Prior being gone could be the best thing that could happen to Ohio State.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
