Ohio State Football: Why Luke Fickell Had No Choice but To Start Braxton Miller

To hardly anyone's surprise, Luke Fickell has decided to give young freshman Braxton Miller the starting nod for Ohio State Saturday against Colorado.

But given what has happened to the Buckeyes roster in recent weeks, there was really no other option.

While it's unfair to put this much pressure on a true freshman, Miller will be working with very little experience at the wide receiver position, a group that has not had a catch since September 10.

Corey "Philly" Brown likely will miss the Colorado game due to injury, and thereby takes away a valuable deep threat at the receiver position.

Miller may be very green when it comes to the collegiate level, but there is no doubt the potential is there for him to possibly be as good as Troy Smith.

Obviously his potential will be better realized under a better offensive coaching staff, but he can be good enough this year to get this team to possibly nine wins and (barring an NCAA postseason ban, which most OSU fans would prefer if they were slotted to play in the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl, for example) a January bowl game.

The comparison between him and Pryor is undeniable, but at this stage of his career, Miller is a much better passer.

The problem is it seems like the coaches have not been able to handle him well or give him opportunities to build his confidence.

That's what a start against a weaker team like Colorado can do. But when Brown and the Tat 4 come back within the next few weeks, Miller might suddenly feel like he has a new offense around him.

And right now, Ohio State's offense personnel is porous to put it best outside of the running back position.

When you complete only four passes in a football game—unless you are Georgia Tech or Navy—regardless of who you play, that is purely unacceptable.

Blame the coaching or personnel, but that is now Miller's burden.

But even with Miller's inexperience, this decision shows that, at least for some fans, Joe Bauserman's starting career has come to an end. And most fans might not miss seeing him on the field.

It's no disrespect to Bauserman because he clearly is a hard worker, but he just doesn't have the talent to be good at this level, much like Steve Bellisari.

Miller has his work cut out for him, but the kid has the ability to be really good. Fans just need to let Braxton be Braxton and not make him out to be the savior just yet.

He will make freshman mistakes like all young quarterbacks. But he has a running game that should be able to help him out immensely, especially if Jordan Hall can produce like he did a week ago against Miami.

When you look at Miller and Pryor, it seemed like Pryor exuded a mass amount of confidence, bordering on cockiness. Miller has a good deal of composure and calmness, but needs to get on the field more.

That's what he will get Saturday. And if he throws for a couple of TDs and runs for a score, Buckeyes fans can feel a little easier before the October gauntlet of Michigan State, Nebraska, Illinois and Wisconsin.

It's basically a given that pretty much every Buckeyes fan would rather have Miller starting in October than Bauserman.

And even though Luke Fickell tried to make it a little bit of a dilemma as to who would start Saturday, odds are he knew who he had to go with during halftime of the Miami game.

And really, that is the only way he could've gone if he not only wanted to save some face for this season, which seems like a rebuilding year at best, but salvage any hope for keeping his dream job.

Miller is the future, and the future is now for Ohio State.

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