Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel on Troy
and Minnesota
Ohio
State head football coach
Jim Tressel addressed the media on Tuesday and discussed a number of topics
that Buckeye fans have been waiting to hear about. He mentioned the extra
preparation and abilities of Terrelle Pryor that have led him to start earlier
than most felt he would. He talked about Todd Boeckman being booed by Ohio State
fans on Saturday during the Troy
University game. And he
gave an update on All American running back Chris Wells who is now wearing more
of a boot than a shoe when he takes the field.
By Steve Patterson
Terrelle Takes Over
Early
Coach Tressel discussed why Terrelle Pryor was able to take
over the offense for the Buckeyes so early in his career and what he brings that
the team needed at this point in the season. “I thought that as Terrelle came
in and grew to learn the system and in large part, thanks to Todd because Todd
embraced him from the moment they came on campus, he helped him all summer
long, you know it's a little different era now where the freshmen come in June
and they go to all those workouts that the seniors hold on their own, they have
seven on seven and they learn terminology and all of a sudden we're in
preseason and he's rooming with him and talking him through things and in
between every snap, all preseason, all August and September long, and the fact
that he, from a knowledge standpoint, was so far along, probably further along
than I've ever seen a freshman quarterback, and then you add the dimension of
what he can do with his feet maybe makes up a little bit for when you're a
little shorthanded at running back compared to what you thought you were going
to be, so you add all the different things together and whether it's in
character or out of character, what's most important is we do what we think is
the best thing that can help us at the moment, and, you know, so that's what we
felt we needed to go with.”
Todd Boeckman is
Booed
A reported asked Coach Tressel what he felt about Todd
Boeckman being booed during the Troy
University game on
Saturday after a bad pass over the middle that fell several feet short of the
receiver. “Yeah, that's disappointing. I know we're allowed to do what we want
to do, but Todd
Boeckman is a first-class guy. You guys were all in the post-game. I mean, he's
first-class. He cares about his team. Would he rather than out there?
Absolutely. Does he want to try to find a way to get out there more?
Absolutely. Did he not throw a good ball one time Saturday? Absolutely. But
he's thrown some pretty good balls and he's been a part of the fans having a
lot of things to cheer about over the last five years, but that's part of the
deal and it's disappointing, but we're certainly not going to sit and scold
anybody because we've got enough problems of our own.”
Chris Wells is
Probable
One of the main areas of concern since the Youngstown State
game to open the season has been the health of Chris Beanie Wells and Coach
Tressel gave an update that should excite all Buckeye nation. “I think we're
trying to play with a little bit more velocity and quickness than I felt we
were playing with earlier in the year. I think that we're learning a little bit
more about who we are. Now, it takes a little bit of a side-step. Yesterday
Beanie ran every snap he was asked to run, looked to me better than I thought
he might look, says he feels wonderful. So you don't know exactly who the cast of
characters will be, but I think we've got a pretty good indication of what we
feel like each of our people can do and that's helpful.”