I read an article yesterday about Ohio State sophomore QB, Braxton Miller, which more or less said Miller will flourish in 2012 in Urban Meyer's offense, a fact that most experts and fans would seem to agree on.There are still doubters out there, however. I read several comments that referred to Miller as overrated, and a plethora of others that implied Ohio State has no WRs for Miller to throw to.
While they aren't exactly nationwide household names yet, to say the Buckeyes have no talented WRs simply isn't true.
Having said that, it still seems that this is a common opinion shared by many outside of the Ohio State family and program. We can call it a basic lack of knowledge about this team and roster, or perhaps a bit of hate from fans of rival teams, or even just plain idiocy. Honestly, it's probably a concoction of all three, and I believe Urban Meyer wants it and likes it that way.
Coach Meyer has repeatedly said that WR is the weakest position on the roster and his biggest area of concern. Meyer is a master of hyperbole, and everyone drinking the "lack of talent at the WR position is alarming" Kool-aid are in for quite a shock come September. Miller and OSU's passing game is a bit of an afterthought to many, and that's just fine.
These opinions are based on past performance, and when taking that into consideration, they are hard to argue against based on the miserable ranking — 115th in passing in the nation — the Buckeyes had as a team last year.
There are a couple things to also remember about last year.
1. Braxton Miller's QB coach was previously Ohio State's video coordinator, and during games, he was not on the field coaching his true-freshman QB, but up in the coaches booth instead.
2. Jim Bollman was OSU's offensive coordinator, and kept the remnants of Tresselball on life-support all season long.
3. The entire staff was one and done, and they knew it, and it showed on the field. They gave up on coaching the players, and the season was obviously a huge disappointment — but those days are over.
Below are a few video highlights to help bolster the claims I have made above.
(I didn't find any recent, individual highlight videos of Corey "Philly" Brown, Chris Fields, or Verlon Reed, but all three are in the two-deep mix at WR for Ohio State this season.)
Braxton Miller 2011 Highlights
Braxton Miller to Devin Smith vs. Wisconsin
Braxton Miller to Evan Spencer: Amazing One-Handed Grab vs. Akron
Senior TE Jake Stoneburner: A WR in a TE Body
Sophmore WR Tyrone Williams:
HS Stud, College Dud? The Verdict Should Come Soon
Incoming Freshman WR Michael Thomas: Spring Game MVP
Incoming Freshman WR Frank Epitropoulos
Incoming Freshman WR Ricquan Southward
2012 Spring Game Highlights
I'm certain the Buckeyes cannot wait to prove that last years passing and receiving stats — some of the lowest totals ever recorded during a single season at Ohio State — were a complete fluke.
With the new offense the Buckeyes will be running under Meyer — and taking into account the great staff that Meyer has assembled — I fully expect Miller and his young but talented WRs — both upperclassmen and conceivably one or two incoming freshmen — to elevate OSU's aerial attack towards elite status in 2012.
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