What Is Terrelle Pryor, Exactly?
I've been too occupied with NFL action to even reflect on the college football weekend. Aside from my Buffs and their depressing (further) plunge into irrelevancy following a loss to the Rockets, one thing stood out for me from this weekend's slate of games. Actually, one player. Terrelle Pryor.
So what about Terrelle Pryor, you might ask? Waiting for the big insight into the Jeannette, PA product who was so larger-than-life coming out of high school that he had his own action figure? Sorry, it's not coming. Actually, I've just got one simple question. What is Terrelle Pryor exactly? The answer might be just as simple. The problem is that I've got no idea one way or another.
After watching Pryor numerous times, I'm not anywhere closer to coming to any sort of definitive opinion of the player. At times last year, as he played as a freshman, I was like many other scouts and commentrators. I watched him at his best, and Vince Young at Texas immediately sprung to mind. A bit lanky, a tad elusive, Pryor seemed to glide and there was enough touch on his passes to make you think this kid had a chance to be the total package. He had that sneaky speed was sneaky the arm to throw the deep ball.
Then, there was the Pryor of Saturday night against USC. Now, again the explanation might be simple. Pryor is a sophomore. USC is no slouch. Their defense could have a lot to do with his throws falling short and a seeming lack of poise at times (while his freshman counterpart Matt Barkley looked like another pro in the making in SC's system despite a hostile environment). The other answer is that Terrelle's physical talents (though ample) might not translate into a gifted, potential one-day NFL prospect-type quartback. I'm leaning towards the latter.
In fact, the closer I looked, the less Pryor looked to be all he's been cracked up to be. Not only didn't Pryor appear to be a "passer," he didn't even look like a thrower. The motion is ugly, the accuracy is not there and the mid-range throw appeared absent. Sure, he can loft a nice rainbow down the sidelines, but what about a dart down the middle to a tight end or a deep out? I ask those who know, what is Terrelle Pryor exactly?
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8 comments:
Terrelle Pryor is...a very good athlete who played QB in HS, but picked the wrong university to play for. I don't think Tressel knows how to coach him or scheme to take advantage of his abilities. If you haven't read this piece on the whole matter, I highly recommend it.
Terrelle Pryor is a poor mans Jacory Harris
s2n, tending to agree with you. will take a read. doug, i wrote up jacory earlier. he impressed me against FSU
The problem is coaching. Tressel and Ohio State cannot develop a quarterback. Troy Smith only learned to play the position properly after attending the Steve McNair quarterback camp (and serving a one game suspension for skipping class to do so). Pryor hasn't been taught proper mechanics because the OSU coaching staff is clueless at the position.
Barkley looked like another pro in the making? Jesus, when will you every stop trying to blow this kid and pay attention to the game. USC had ONE scoring drive the entire game, and it was Led, Packaged, and Sealed by McKnight. Barkley looked about as ineffective and useless as anyone I'd seen all weekend. McKnight is the only reason USC was able to sneak a win out of Columbus.
MB - ur dead on. agree, he didn't look great at all. guess i'm speaking more to poise and maybe the demeanor in the pocket. right or wrong, i equate pocket presence in a pro-style offense to potential success at next level. there are obviously exceptions, but even those non-natural dropback throwers show glimpses if they're in the right situation. pryor hasn't (or didn't against SC) shown any of that and from comments maybe that's result of coaching. still, at end of day don't see him drilling balls into traffic down the field
I was wondering the same thing myself. it looked like Tate Forcier was the better QB this weekend.
Nevertheless, Barkley may turn out to be an NCAA legend. He may. He is still just a freshman, and I believe he should be treated as so. But to be anointing the kid the next great NFL quarterback, after two games and a lackluster performance on the national stage ... I would just prefer that the media give attention and respect where it's due. McKnight ... and Forcier. And even Forcier, as excellent of an outing as he had, is still a freshman two weeks in. But ... there is a trend going on in all sports to find the next "one" ... just ask Strasburg.
G'day.
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