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Who will be Ohio State's No. 3 wide receiver this season?

The question has been asked for months, even before Duron Carter's departure from the school in mid June. Ohio State boasts two proven receivers in DeVier Posey and Dane Sanzenbacher, but the team has no other returning wideouts who caught a pass in 2009.

Interested parties wondered if senior Taurian Washington would take charge. Others watched redshirt freshman Chris Fields, who drew strong reviews from the coaching staff after spring ball. And don't forget about guys like Grant Schwartz, James Jackson or even true freshmen like James Louis or Verlon Reed.

My take: forget all those names for a second. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor's third option in the passing game this fall doesn't even play wide receiver but ... wait for it ... tight end.

"Oh, yeah," Jake Stoneburner said when asked about filling the No. 3 role. "During camp, they've had some instances where they'll split me out and they’ll have a two-back set with three receivers, and I'm the third receiver out there with Dane and DeVier."

Some people out there must be thinking I can't be serious. An Ohio State tight end being an integral part of the passing game? Jim Tressel would go for fourth-and-8 in his own red zone before featuring a tight end as a pass catcher.

Stoneburner had a grand total of two receptions in 2009, while starting tight end Jake Ballard had only 13. In 2008, Ballard and Rory Nicol combined for 11 receptions all year.

Nicol used to joke about how rarely the ball came his way. Ohio State tight ends used their hands for blocking and not much else.

It's why Stoneburner initially wasn't thrilled about switching from receiver to tight end before last season.

"I knew they didn't get the ball," he said.

What might change in 2010? For starters, Stoneburner is admittedly a pass-first tight end who has made blocking his top offseason priority.

He's a big target at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, and he boasts good speed in the middle of the field. Perhaps most important, Pryor likes to throw him the ball.

"The spring is when I really saw it," Stoneburner said. "We would have plays we normally hadn't run with the tight end running routes, and he's looking at me, like, 'Hey, get open on this. I'll try and get you the ball.' With Terrelle knowing the offense more and being more comfortable out there, he's looking for more targets. With me being able to run good routes and get open, he's looking at me to be one of his primary targets."

A year ago, we heard similar talk about Stoneburner being a bigger part of the passing game, and it never happened. But Pryor spread the ball around a bit better in the Rose Bowl and has continued to do so in practice.

Plus, Stoneburner has developed his game.

"I want to be an every-down tight end, and you've got to be able to block and catch the ball," he said. "I felt like with my speed and athleticism, I'll always be able to get open and catch the ball, but I really had to work on my strength, knowing the defense, knowing who to block when and footwork and that kind of stuff."

Stoneburner agrees that Ohio State needs more than two reliable receivers this fall. But Pryor should have more options, regardless of the position they play.

"We've got a lot more weapons," Stoneburner said. "The running backs can catch the ball just as good as the receivers and tight ends, so having all that come together at once, it's going to lead us to being able to do more things with our offense."

The Rose Bowl shed new light on Terrelle Pryor and the Ohio State offense -- a glow that Buckeyes fans hope doesn't go anywhere.

Ohio State's offense was mediocre at best during the regular season, and Pryor hadn't shown enough consistency in the passing game to complement his unique athletic talent. But in Pasadena, Pryor and his teammates put forth the balanced, efficient and effective product everyone had been waiting for.

The game marked a potential turning point for Pryor and the offense, a place where the Buckeyes could build. Ohio State offensive coordinator Jim Bollman certainly hopes so.

But Bollman also knows it's not that easy.

"You're not going to walk on the field [Thursday] and all of a sudden, be at that point," Bollman said. "How hard we all have to work, how focused we have to be to get back to that point, that's what's in front of us. That's the challenge, that's how you try to improve.

"You're not working toward an unseen performance level. We've been to that point. But everybody's got to understand what it takes."

Getting back to that point -- and beyond it -- is the challenge for Ohio State's offense, which begins spring practice Thursday afternoon. Bollman said Pryor won't be limited after offseason knee surgery, and the hope is that the third-year quarterback takes another step after his giant leap between the 2009 regular-season finale and the Rose Bowl.

So can Ohio State open up the playbook, particularly with the pass, for Pryor?

"If we show [progress] along those lines, certainly that would be a logical way for us to head in," Bollman said. "Plus, having the weapon of him being able to run, should we choose to do those kinds of things. But for him in the realm of the passing game, that's got to be a full team deal. Our protection has got to improve. His own performance has to be more consistent. We've got to get more of those outs going to the tight ends and the running backs.

"All of that has got to come together, and that's going to be a fun part of this spring."

Ohio State returns nine starters on offense, including four of five linemen and two capable receivers in DeVier Posey and Dane Sanzenbacher. But to truly spark the passing attack, the Buckeyes must identify more options this spring.

They need a No. 3 wideout, as Ray Small departs and no returning players besides Posey and Sanzenbacher recorded more than 20 receptions last fall. Running back Brandon Saine, who had 17 catches for 224 yards last year, should help a bit, but Ohio State wants more depth at receiver.

Bollman said Taurian Washington has the best chance to step in, but the senior had no catches last year and boasts only three in his college career. Duron Carter also returns, and Bollman thinks Chris Fields and James Jackson, as well as some incoming recruits, could factor into the mix.

"Washington's probably the leading candidate," Bollman said. "He really finished up the year strong, did a good job coming through in the bowl game. He'd be a guy that we're counting on to give us a hand in there."

A bigger boost could come from the tight end position, which Ohio State typically uses for run blocking. Former Buckeyes tight end Rory Nicol used to joke about how little the tight ends were used in the passing attack, and while Jake Ballard made a memorable catch in the Rose Bowl, he finished the season with only 14 receptions.

Things could change with Jake Stoneburner stepping into a featured role. The 6-5, 245-pound Stoneburner had only two receptions as a freshman last year, but his production should increase.

"His speed certainly can have more of an effect on the game than some other guys we've had in the past," Bollman said. "That's going to cause openings for someone, if not him. That can have a different effect on things, for sure."

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

As expected, several more Big Ten players are signing with NFL teams as free agents or earning tryouts.

• Penn State cornerback Tony Davis signed with the Cardinals
• Minnesota punter Justin Kucek has a tryout with the Vikings
• Minnesota tight end Jack Simmons has a tryout with the Jets
• Ohio State offensive lineman Steve Rehring has a tryout with the Bengals
• Ohio State tight end Rory Nicol has a tryout with the Redskins
• Ohio State defensive tackle Nader Abdallah has a tryout with the Jaguars
• Ohio State fullback Brandon Smith has a tryout with the Bears
• Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bacher has a tryout with the Bears
  
• Former Illinois running back Walter Mendenhall signed with the Eagles
• Former Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli re-signed with the Cardinals
  

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

	Mark J. Rebilas/US Presswire
	Ohio State nearly pulled off the upset behind Todd Boeckman, above, and Terrelle Pryor.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Perhaps more than any other player, Todd Boeckman has served as a symbol for Ohio State's senior class.

He celebrated Big Ten titles and struggled in big games. He earned local and national recognition and endured the pain of subpar performances. He handled both the highs and the lows with class.

Despite losing the starting quarterback job to true freshman Terrelle Pryor in Week 4, Boeckman still joined fellow captains James Laurinaitis, Malcolm Jenkins and Brian Robiskie to meet the media after every game. He remained a leader in the locker room, on the practice field and on the sideline, even if he could no longer be one on Saturdays.

For those reasons, no player on the field at University of Phoenix Stadium had more support than Boeckman as he reclaimed a critical role in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl against Texas. The senior helped Ohio State rally in the fourth quarter and was seconds away from a perfect end to his career when Texas scored the game-winning touchdown to win 24-21.

"To see him go in there, it proves the old adage that good things happen to good people," Ohio State tight end Rory Nicol said. "He stayed the course all year. Yeah, he was pissed off in his mind all year long. Who wouldn't be? He did the right thing, he did what was best for the team. He forgot himself."

But Ohio State didn't forget about Boeckman, even though Pryor made strides as the starter. The Buckeyes shook things up in bowl practice, pairing Boeckman and Pryor on the field together.

The combination worked Monday as Boeckman completed five passes for 110 yards, including a 5-yard scoring fade to Pryor, who recorded his first touchdown reception. Boeckman helped set up Ohio State's go-ahead score with 2:05 left with a 21-yard strike to tight end Jake Ballard on second-and-17.

"I had no idea how much I was going to play," Boeckman said. "They just told me to be ready at all times. I'm always looking forward to getting out there and playing with these guys. I had some fun out there today, but unfortunately, we couldn't get the job done.

"It felt pretty good to get out there and throw the ball around a little bit. I haven't done that in quite a while."

Ohio State's coaches downplayed the two-quarterback scheme leading up to the game, suggesting it would only be used sparingly. But Boeckman took the game's first snap and found Robiskie for a 14-yard gain.

He seemed to spark the offense in the first half, and after the unit went silent in the third quarter, his 48-yard completion to Robiskie on third-and-13 changed the game's complexion.

"Todd is a special guy," head coach Jim Tressel said. "Every one of us wanted to do all we could to make him a part of the plan. He stepped in and did a good job."

The game signaled the start of a major personnel transition for Ohio State, as the 28-member senior class departs following four Big Ten titles but a 1-3 record in bowl games. Running back Chris "Beanie" Wells and wideout Brian Hartline, both juniors, also could also be departing. Both said they had not reached a decision about the NFL draft.

"The seniors have 43 wins throughout their career here," Boeckman said. "That's one of the best records in Ohio State's history. The hard part about that is the last three bowl victories, we didn't get a win. That's probably what people are going to remember the most. That's tough to take."

The near miss resonated with Pryor, who performed admirably under pressure and will face an even greater burden in 2009.

"We made a statement, but losing to a team, it's not good enough," Pryor said. "You've got to win. We hung onto 'em, but it doesn't sound great. It's not right.

"We had an OK season. We needed to finish that game off."

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

	Andy Lyons/Getty Images
	OSU running back Chris 'Beanie' Wells could be playing his final collegiate game at the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Monday night.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- It's been 43 days since Ohio State's last game, but running back Chris "Beanie" Wells hasn't spent all this time preparing one of his patented pre-game pep talks.

"It ends up happening at the moment," Wells said. "I don't pre-write anything. I just say how I'm feeling."

Wells' off-the-cuff style resonates with his teammates, who look forward to hearing from their emotional leader, especially before big games like Monday's showdown against No. 3 Texas in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (Fox, 8 p.m. ET).

"Very emotional," guard Steve Rehring said of Wells' speeches.

"He might have been more fired up than anybody in our locker room for the [USC] game," fullback Brandon Smith said, "and he didn't even dress."

Wells will be in uniform Monday night as he tries to help No. 10 Ohio State knock off Texas. Much of the focus this week has been on Ohio State's 28 seniors, but Wells also could be playing his final collegiate game before entering the NFL draft, where he's expected to be one of the first two running backs selected.

The setting and the situation will only add fuel for a player who thrives on big games and big moments. Add in the fact that Wells is as healthy as he's been since sustaining a foot/toe injury in the season opener, and Ohio State could have a better chance that many think.

"He is a difference maker," Ohio State senior tight end Rory Nicol said. "He does something to the morale of the team. It's like [cornerback] Malcolm [Jenkins] always says, a little spark kindles a great fire.

"Often times, he's that spark."

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- They have dominated a league that many no longer respect. They have dominated a rival that no longer carries mystique.

They have won national awards, made their mark in the classroom and generally stayed out of trouble, which was a problem for some of their predecessors. They own a 43-7 record, four Big Ten championships, four BCS bowl appearances, four wins against Michigan and two trips to the national title game.

And yet, it's not enough. For many outside Columbus and the Big Ten footprint, they are the guys who got stomped by Florida, LSU and USC. Those three games stained an otherwise sparkling résumé that Ohio State's 28 seniors have spent much of the last few weeks defending.

"If you look back and nobody would have seen those big games, you would say, 'Man, look at their record, look what they've done, this has been a very successful football team,'" senior linebacker Marcus Freeman said. "But many people don't see us that way. Many people see this as a team that has choked in big games."

One way or another, the seniors' legacy will be complete after Monday night's matchup against No. 3 Texas in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (Fox, 8 p.m. ET). They recognize the urgency to finish strong.

"People will remember how you leave," senior linebacker James Laurinaitis said. "If you look at the '05 class, they are remembered as a great class, even though they had an off year, they lost two games their senior year. They won the last one, the Fiesta Bowl.

"We will be remembered on how this game comes out. It's just a real fact."

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- At 6-foot-7 and 335 pounds, Steve Rehring is a big boy.

The Ohio State right guard can handle a little criticism.

	Matt Sullivan/Getty Images
	Alex Boone and the Ohio State offensive line will need their A-game against the Longhorns' defensive front.

"We take the blame," Rehring said of himself and his linemates. "If people want to blame us, that's fine. Whatever. We do some dirty things sometimes. People don't understand what we do down there."

Ohio State's front five has borne the brunt for the unit's struggles for most of the season. Despite returning four starting linemen, the Buckeyes finished 78th nationally in total offense (339.7 yards per game) and didn't truly find an identity until the closing stretch of the season.

The topsy-turvy season brought criticism from both outside and inside the locker room. Left tackle Alex Boone gave the line an 'F' for its performance in nonconference play. Rehring was a little more forgiving with his regular-season grade, giving the line a 'B' or 'B-minus.'

The group needs an A-plus performance Monday night against No. 3 Texas in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (Fox, 8 p.m. ET). Led by All-American Brian Orakpo, Texas leads the nation in sacks (3.7 sacks per game), while Ohio State is tied for 78th in sacks allowed (2.17 per game).

"We have a lot to prove," Boone said. "We've been up and down all year. We've been talking about that and how we need to get better."

Pass protection has been the biggest knock against the Buckeyes, who ranked no worse than 29th nationally in sacks allowed during the last three seasons.

"I don't think pass blocking all goes on the offensive line," Rehring said. "We take the blame for it, always. If you get beat, you get beat. That's on the offensive line. But sometimes, protection-wise, we're supposed to do this or that.

"As a collective group, we need to protect the quarterback."

Starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor is prone to holding the ball too long at times, and he'll need to have a quicker release against Texas, which boasts seven defenders with multiple sacks, led by Orakpo (10.5) and linebacker Sergio Kindle (9). Both Rehring and Ohio State tight end Rory Nicol likened Orakpo to former Buckeyes star Vernon Gholston, the hulking end who had 14 sacks last season.

"We need to do a good job schematically of trying to keep Texas true and contained to their schemes and not letting them just tee off, off the edges," Nicol said. "Staying out of third-and-long situations where they get in that 30 front, they put Orakpo and the other kid on the edge and they're coming. They're coming to get the quarterback."

Speed has become a sore subject for Big Ten teams in recent seasons, and the new spin on the debate is that the major differential can be found on the line of scrimmage, not with the skill players.

Rehring doesn't buy it.

"We've got great defensive lines in the Big Ten," Rehring said. "I would put our defensive line against anybody and run 40s, across the board. On the offensive line, it doesn't matter. As long as you have good technique and do what you do, you have quick feet, it doesn't matter how fast they are.

"As an offensive line, we're pretty quick guys, play with good technique and we go against a great defensive line every day in practice. So we'll see how it works out."

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- More than once after a game this season, Terrelle Pryor noted how college football isn't all that different from the Pennsylvania high school scene he dominated as the nation's No. 1 recruit.

	AP Photo/Seth Perlman
	Terrelle Pryor has successfully made the transition from high school to the college game.

After helping Ohio State stomp Michigan State, 45-7, on Oct. 18, Pryor told reporters, "It's just like high school." The line became Pryor's trademark this fall as he won Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors and led Ohio State to another BCS bowl appearance as the starting quarterback.

"Liar," Buckeyes senior tight end Rory Nicol said. "But Terrelle's from PA [Pennsylvania], I'm from PA, too, so I'm allowed to say that. He's a good athlete, man."

Such a good athlete that Pryor's transition from high school to college has been smoother than many had expected, even for a freshman who came to Ohio State with unparalleled hype. Pryor has had his growing pains, but he led the Big Ten in pass efficiency (152.1) and posted an 8-1 mark as the starter.

With small-forward size and a smooth, seemingly effortless running style, Pryor at times looked like the best player on the field, just like he was at Jeannette Senior High School.

Could it really be that easy?

"You can't really argue with him," senior cornerback Malcolm Jenkins said. "He was just in high school last year, so he comes in, he's doing amazing things as a freshman. It kind of is just like high school."

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Rory Nicol and his Ohio State teammates know they can't change the past.

They can't change the results of the last two BCS national championship games. They can't change the minds of critics who felt the Buckeyes looked slow and overmatched against Florida and LSU. But they can change how they prepare for their next opportunity on the national stage, which arrives Jan. 5 against Texas in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

"The one thing we believe in here is if you do the same things, generally you get the same results," said Nicol, the Buckeyes' senior tight end. "So we tweaked a lot of things. That doesn't mean we changed the entire format of practice or the entire personnel, but we changed things.

"The world changes every day, every second, and we do our best to learn from our past mistakes."

To avoid similar mistakes against Texas, Ohio State has put a greater emphasis on physical play earlier in bowl preparation this year. The Buckeyes are going "live" -- full-contact hitting -- for more practice periods than they did in past years.

The idea is to maintain a game feel during a lengthy layoff. Ohio State will go 44 days between its regular-season finale against Michigan and the Fiesta Bowl. That's the longest respite for any bowl team this year.

"We've done a good job of getting into some live situations where the speed is back up there to that game type of speed, which can sometimes be hard to simulate at practice," Nicol said. "We've got a few periods where we're going full-go, the ones on the ones."

Maintaining the intensity level during bowl preparation takes on an even greater importance for Ohio State this year. The Buckeyes undoubtedly played their best football in November, winning their final three regular-season games by a combined score of 117-37.

Last year, Ohio State dropped a November game to Illinois. And even in 2006, when the Buckeyes went undefeated, they struggled at Illinois on Nov. 4 and beat Michigan in a shootout Nov. 18. You could argue the team peaked in September or October of that season.

The current squad is determined to continue its momentum to the bowl game.

"We're definitely doing some more live scrimmaging, trying to get each other better," senior defensive tackle Nader Abdallah said. "We need more live tempo to make sure we don't relax or anything. It's extremely important to make sure we end on a high note. We have to finish strong."

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Rory Nicol's vision for the fall had Todd Boeckman throwing touchdown passes, Chris "Beanie" Wells wrong-footing defenders and Ohio State's pass-catchers, himself included, piling up receptions.

Nicol wasn't being delusional. All of those things happened last season.

"A lot of times, the human thing to do is to think that you're going to be the same that you were last year -- or better," said Nicol, a senior tight end for the Buckeyes. "You don't think you're going to go backwards."

Ohio State has backslid on offense, a fact Nicol and several others openly acknowledge. Despite returning nine offensive starters, the Buckeyes have experienced a decline in almost every significant statistical category from last season.

The calendar reads November, and in many ways, the Buckeyes are still searching for who they are on offense. But it's not too late to find out.

"We have to continue an evolution, but most importantly, we've got to gain some consistency in our execution," Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel said. "November is always the time that you really make your final evaluation of just how far you've come.

"And we need to come a long way."

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Terrelle Pryor just manhandled Michigan State cornerback Ross Weaver with a stiff arm on a first-down run, and the first person to congratulate him was tight end Rory Nicol. I'd say all is right in Ohio State's world today. 

Nicol was among the players who spoke out this week about Ohio State's struggles on offense, asking for some sort of change to jump-start the passing game. None of the players directly criticized Pryor, but they didn't give him a ringing endorsement, either. It seems like what they said worked, though, as Pryor stepped up in a big way today. 

Ohio State fans have complained the last few weeks that the Buckeyes aren't getting the necessary boost in the polls with win after win. Until today, the argument seemed hollow. Ohio State hadn't looked like Ohio State, and other teams looked better. 

But the Buckeyes' convincing performance at Spartan Stadium should get them a sizable boost in the Week 9 rankings. 

Michigan State likely will fall out of the Top 25 after today's clunker.

Mark Dantonio tried to give the offense a spark with Kirk Cousins at quarterback, but after one scoring drive the Spartans went nowhere. I doubt Brian Hoyer will be replaced next week, but Ohio State definitely erased the notion that Michigan State is an elite program. The Spartans have to bounce back in a rivalry game at Michigan to avoid their annual nosedive. 

If Ohio State's defense performs like this next week, Penn State will have a tough time. 

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Read these links and magically get smarter. 

• Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema isn't tipping his hand, but all signs point to junior Dustin Sherer making his first career start for the Badgers on Saturday at Iowa, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Jeff Potrykus writes in the Badgers Blog.  

Bielema described the quarterback situation this way:

"We made a directional move today and told our kids why we had to do it."

• Iowa's offensive line includes a poet, a married guy and ... a Beanie Baby collector? The Iowa Press-Citizen's Andy Hamilton examines a motley crew.
• Could Hawkeyes running back Shonn Greene be a decoy? If he helps the play-action pass, then absolutely, Eric Page writes in the Quad City Times.
• The Big Ten Network's Dave Revsine thinks Ohio State should go back to Todd Boeckman at quarterback. 
• Former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr isn't commenting on the sorry state of the Wolverines, but he has plenty of praise for longtime colleague Joe Paterno, Ron Musselman writes in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Penn State's stellar season could let Paterno go out in style, Chris Dufresne writes in the Los Angeles Times. 
• Ohio State tight end Rory Nicol certainly has a lot to say, and he recently called out the offensive line for their poor play, Tim May writes in The Columbus Dispatch. 

"He said, 'I didn't get to play [the past two weeks because of an ankle sprain], but I'm still [mad]. You guys, you look like a bunch of girls out there, and that's the truth,' " senior left tackle Alex Boone recalled.

• Tailgaters, listen up. Northwestern defensive end Kevin Mims and his father started a company that can turn your vehicle into a tailgating paradise on Saturdays without losing its primary function the rest of the week, Jim O'Donnell writes in the Chicago Sun-Times.
  
• Penn State has plenty of reasons to pile it on Saturday against Michigan, Bernard Fernandez writes in the Philadelphia Daily News. 

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Patience is wearing thin around the Woody Hayes Athletic Center after Ohio State slipped to 108th nationally in pass offense (143.6 yards per game) and 70th nationally in scoring (24.3 points per game). Tight end Rory Nicol wants something (anything!) to change with the offense, and tight end Jake Ballard thinks a two-quarterback system could jump-start the unit. Left tackle Alex Boone knows the wide receivers are getting frustrated with the current direction of the offense.

Head coach Jim Tressel, whose opinion actually matters, continues to support Pryor and his leadership of the unit.

"Do I feel OK about what we've done and what we're doing? Yeah," Tressel said.

A rift could be developing in the locker room between older players -- particularly wide receivers and tight ends -- who remain loyal to Todd Boeckman, and those who side with freshman Terrelle Pryor. I'm sure Boeckman's demotion in favor of a true freshman didn't sit well with some of the veterans, but I also believed Boone and guard Jim Cordle when they told me Pryor has their support and Boeckman is handling the situation as well as possible.

"[Pryor's] demeanor and his attitude, really both of the quarterbacks' attitudes, with the change and how they settle into their roles, it's not a distraction at all for the team," Cordle said earlier this month. "Terrelle, even from day one that he's been here, he's exuded poise and confidence. When he gets a chance to step into the No. 1 huddle, he's just got that leadership and the poise. Those attributes make it easy.

"For me it doesn't feel like Terrelle's a freshman at all. I can't imagine a freshman with the poise and confidence and leadership that he has. But he's got it and it's not a problem at all."

This is more a case of players getting frustrated with their own decreased roles. Thing is, Ohio State's wide receivers and tight ends had a chance to make an impact before Tressel made the switch. Boeckman never seemed to be on the same page with wideouts Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline. Ohio State had a whopping 110 passing yards against Ohio and 136 against USC. The passing game has been a problem all season, not just with Pryor at quarterback.

Pryor isn't immune to growing pains, as he has shown the last few weeks. He holds the ball too long and takes sacks instead of winging it into the fourth row. But Ohio State needs to be patient with the freshman and continue to shape the offense around his skills. He's the future of the program, and Ohio State hasn't lost a game since the switch was made. Ultimately, the problem here could be the scheme and the offensive coaching staff, which will be evaluated after the season.

The bottom line is this type of talk can't be helpful heading into a critical matchup at No. 20 Michigan State (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET). Buckeyes players need to rally around Pryor, who needs another big performance on the road.