By: Todd Porter (CantonRep.com) -

As a young quarterback develops, there are subtle, often unseen, signs of progress. Little that Terrelle Pryor does goes without being noticed.

Few, however, recognized what Ohio State’s sophomore quarterback did late in last week’s win against Iowa. Ohio State senior offensive lineman Jim Cordle did.

“He saved my butt,” Cordle said.

Early in the fourth quarter of a 10-10 game, the Buckeyes faced a third-and-10 from the Iowa 30. If they didn’t convert, OSU likely would have punted and tried to play field position.

Pryor took a snap out of the shotgun and immediately headed for a huge hole off left tackle where Cordle was.

“That wasn’t designed,” Cordle said. “We had a shallow (pass) to our tight end called. That play right there shows how far Terrelle has come.”

What Pryor took advantage of was something he promised Cordle he would do. Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn usually took a wide angle off the edge to Pryor, which created a hole so long as Cordle pushed Clayborn far enough outside.

On the third play of the fourth quarter, when it was too late for Iowa to make an adjustment, Pryor made his move. Instead of throwing a short pass, he ran for 19 yards to the Iowa 11. On the next play, Daniel Herron scored the go-ahead touchdown.

“Since the Purdue game, you can really see his development,” Cordle said. “That play was big time.”

That play also was an indication of how much progress Pryor has made since Ohio State’s season came crashing to a thud with a loss at Purdue. Had Pryor followed the script against Iowa, he’d have thrown the ball. Instead, he made the play that helped his team most.

Michigan’s struggling defense could be the thing Pryor needs. He has been steady and taken care of the football in wins against Penn State and Iowa. Saturday in Ann Arbor, Pryor will face a defense that’s giving up 31 points a game and nearly 200 yards rushing and passing each week.

Maybe Pryor is starting to buy into Jim Tressel’s conservative, but heady, offense. The smart play isn’t always flashy.

“I think he’s getting more of it,” Tressel said. “I don’t know if you could only have played two seasons of college football and could sit there assuming, ‘OK, I’ve got this figured out.’

“I’ve said all along, I think he’s progressing, and I think he took another step.”

Since Purdue, Pryor has thrown just one interception in four games. He has completed 46-of-82 passes in that span. While that isn’t a great completion percentage, Pryor is coming off his best when he hit on 14-of-17 against Iowa.

But he threw for just 93 yards.

“That’s OK,” he said. “I’ll take the check downs and not worry about the big play.”

Gambling deep got Pryor in trouble. He pressed to show off his big arm down the field, even when receivers weren’t open, or worse, covered with a safety rolling over top.

“Before, sometimes, I always looked for the big play,” Pryor said. “That tends to happen for a young quarterback. Now, I’m taking the check downs and reading through the whole defense. It causes turnovers when you make your mind up before you come out of the huddle.”

Turnovers are kryptonite to Tressel’s offense. Ohio State never really has been flashy on offense, but….

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE DIRECTLY FROM THE SOURCE PAGE AT CANTONREP.COM BY CLICKING HERE.

No related posts.