Kenny Guiton Is Now #2 On Depth Chart

Smooth moves

Kenny Guiton has surpassed redshirt senior Joe Bauserman on the depth chart for the spot behind #1 QB Braxton Miller, according to Jim Bollman, who met with the media yesterday. When asked about who is listed as the backup to true freshman starter Braxton Miller, Bollman said it's third-year sophomore Kenny Guiton. Bollman went on to say that Guiton had improved a lot in the "athletic department" and has done a good job working hard in practice, and taking advantage of opportunities.

While this news isn't shocking, it's great to see that Guiton has finally earned his way up to that #2 spot. We always knew that Guiton should have the spot, but the coaches continued to give the nod to Joe Bauserman. Noise for Guiton as the back up reared it's head soon after the Nebraska game, in which the Buckeyes were at a 20 point advantage when Bauserman entered the game in relief of an injured Braxton Miller. Soon after, the Cornhuskers managed to come back, and it was Bauserman's head.

Thoughts On Fickell: My Take

Saving 1 timeout at a time.

First of all let me remind you all I am a 1997 graduate of The Ohio State University. For those of you who may not realize this, 1997 is the same our current Head Coach Luke Fickell graduated from the great university. I did not know Luke Fickell personally, but I went to every home game, a couple of road games, and the 1997 Rose Bowl, a game in which Fickell showed his unbelievable toughness by playing the game with a torn pectoral muscle. He was “the man”. Because of our going to OSU at the same time I can honestly say I feel a kinship to Coach Fickell (though I am sure he does not feel the same way about me), and I hoped he would succeed as a coach, and one day become our head coach, I just don’t think that one day is now. Coach Fickell was a very good linebackers coach and a good co-defensive coordinator. However, he has never actually been in charge of a side of the ball by himself. As co-defensive coordinator he was basically in charge of linebackers, and worked with Jim Heacock on calling plays for the defense. I believe he needs more seasoning as an assistant coach, or if he is going to be a head coach right now or next year, it needs to be at a smaller school, not a school the size of and with the pressures of The Ohio State University.

Let’s take a look at how he has looked so far. Against Akron, he looked like Cooper. I say Cooper because like in the Cooper years we crushed teams that we were supposed to crush. Even with the suspensions Fickell looked to be making all the correct calls (though I thought maybe we would see a little more Braxton Miller in the game). It seemed people began drinking a little of the proverbial kool-aid. Then came Toledo. Make no mistake they are a good team, but elite they are not (look at their Boise State game as proof). We had the same suspensions, nothing new, and we looked awful. In the end our talent and depth was too much for Toledo to handle and we squeaked out an all too close win.

Quarterback Conundrum

Yeah..

Well that wasn’t what we were looking for in the second game of the campaign! Toledo gave the Buckeyes everything they could handle in a 27-22 showdown at the show this past Saturday. Missed opportunities, untimely fumbles and a shaky defense were the culprits that almost finished the OSU season before it could even get to the Big Ten portion of the schedule. Joe Bauserman was the only quarterback that saw action which left many in buckeye nation a little perturbed. Why did Fickell choose to stay with the wily.. err... veteran.. err... old quarterback when he had the Ferrari parked on the sideline? Was it the right move? Could Braxton have done a better job at guiding the offense to a more desirable outcome?

I think it is painfully obvious that our new coach knows that his job is on the line after this season and he will do anything in his power to win games. Unfortunately, his job status may be getting the way of giving our new star quarterback valuable game reps.

Are The First 5 Games Resting On Braxton Miller's Shoulders?

Ready to take the reins?

Bill Carey may just have a man crush, but does Buckeye Nation need to? My guess would be yes, simply because I think Miller is the guy to get us through the first 5 games of the season. Here's what he had to say about #5:

"If things break right for the Buckeyes, Miller will start the first five games of 2011 and then not see the field again until 2012. But the freshman's play could have a big impact on the national championship chase.

Miller, who was 7-for-12 with one touchdown during Ohio State's spring game, made big strides in the four-way battle to start while Terrelle Pryor serves a five-game suspension for his role in the trophies-for-tattoos scandal that has engulfed the OSU program. If the dual-threat quarterback from Huber Heights, Ohio, gets the nod to take snaps while Pryor is out, he and the Buckeyes will face two major obstacles: Miami in the third game of the season and defending co-conference champion Michigan State in the Big Ten opener. 

The Buckeyes are dreaming big this year, but the season could come down to how Miller plays early. If Pryor returns to a team carrying two losses, he won't be competing for a national title."

While it's important that we realize Joe Bauserman may be the front runner for the starting job, we can always go back to the fact that if Miller shows significant improvement between now and the first game, then Braxton Miller may be the man to lead the charge into the 2011-2012 season. With a stable full of talented running backs, we need strong leadership, and I think Miller can step up to the challenge. 

So, Who's Got That QB Spot?

Props to Guiton for showing why he CAN be #1

Well here we are, almost at the end of Spring Practice and unfortunately as of today there is no real answer to the quarterback question. The most apparent thing is that it is no longer just a three-man race with Bauserman, Guiton, and Miller. Taylor Graham seems to want the job also. If you read the reports and go by Jim Tressel’s track record for starting experienced players (not including benching Boeckman for Pryor) over younger, less experienced players, all signs seem to be pointing towards Bauserman starting the first game of the season. In a recent Saturday scrimmage, it was reported by the Dispatch that Bauserman, Graham, and Miller all had “some” spectacular plays, but Guiton appeared to struggle. 

Later in the same article, it stated that during a weekday practice Guiton performed the best. Tressel’s response to questions regarding the #1 quarterback: “We don’t have a game tomorrow, so we don’t have to make the decision.” Frankly, that is not inspiring. I know it is only spring practice, and there is a long way until both summer camps, and the opening of the season, but I was hoping for a little more surety or confidence on the quarterback front. 

My Thoughts On The Quarterback Debate

Seldom has the QB situation at Ohio State been this muddled. In previous years, the Buckeyes have come in with an established play caller behind center. This year would have been no different as senior-to-be and Heisman hopeful Terrell Pryor was scheduled to come back and lead the Buckeyes on another National Title run. However, a wrench was thrown into things with Pryor’s 5 game suspension. So now the big question is: Who gets the start? 

Well, the easy choice would be to start the player with the most experience - and that would be Joe Bauserman. Of all the returning players, outside of Pryor, Bauserman has the most experience. Over his last 3 years at OSU, he has 25 completions for 320 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, and has been sacked 5 times. Most of those stats came when Bauserman was in “mop-up” duty last season, or when Pryor suffered minor injuries. Those stats are not inspiring. Two of the last three successful quarterbacks at OSU - Troy Smith and Pryor - have been mobile. They have made plays happen when nothing has been available. That being said, in my opinion, Bauserman, while more athletic than most people think, does not have the “escapability” that is quickly becoming necessary to succeed in major college football.