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OHIO STATE FOOTBALL
Transition smooth for Boeckman
Fifth-year junior's experience has eased his move from scout-team to starting QB.
Comment: How do you think Boeckman is doing?
Friday, September 28, 2007
COLUMBUS — Todd Boeckman knows what it's like to have hulking defensive linemen pursuing him as if he had just stolen their wallets, but that's not the biggest change he's faced since going from being a scout-team quarterback to Ohio State's starter.
Boeckman has had to make split-second decisions in an opposing stadium with the decibel level rising high enough to drown out a police siren, but that hasn't been the most dramatic adjustment, either.
Extras
When the fifth-year junior from St. Henry was asked this week to name the most significant difference in his life from last season, he looked over about two dozen reporters pressing around him and said with a laugh, "You guys."
Boeckman has gone from being a relative unknown to having his every move scrutinized, but he figures that's a small price to pay for the rush he gets in leading the Buckeyes' offense.
"It's a dream come true to be the quarterback at Ohio State," he said. "I'm having a blast."
It shows. Boeckman is first in the Big Ten and 10th nationally in passing efficiency, having thrown for 10 touchdowns with just three interceptions while completing 65.9 percent of his tosses.
"Todd has done a good job of understanding what we're doing and what we're trying to teach," OSU coach Jim Tressel said. "He sat in the classroom for all those years, and I think he understood it, but it's a little different when your hands are under the center and they're chasing you.
"Now that he's had some experience of being under duress and still having to have a handle on what's what, it's helped. ... He's a mature guy. He's older than I am."
The 23-year-old Boeckman had four TD passes against Northwestern last week, but he admitted he's dwelling more on his lone interception. He has a tendency to underthrow receivers on deep routes, and that cost him against the Wildcats.
"I need to have the confidence that (the wideouts) will go up and get that ball," he said. "They have great speed and hands and ability. I just have to have more confidence in myself to go out there and let the receivers run under it."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Comments
By rob w
September 29, 2007 12:03 AM | Link to this
First off, Todd has done exceptional this year. I get so tired of listening to the idiots who lways complain we havent played anyone yet, so listen up. These games are scheduled 5 years in advance, 5 years ago washington was a top 25 program, Akron has consistently upset big teams in the past, and as this year has shown, there are no sure wins. Try graduating from high school a football stud like todd did, then sit the bench for 4 years and come in and play perfect football in front off 100000
By jvr
September 28, 2007 10:59 PM | Link to this
Todd has done a good job so far and seems to be improving week to week. Remember that it is not really about how the Buckeyes do in 2007. With only 3 starting seniors, we need most of the juniors to return so that we have an outstanding 2008.
By Keitho
September 28, 2007 7:49 PM | Link to this
the Buckeyes are very good this year and will be consistantly rated high in the polls, but it’s an accident. They just happen to have a lot of tallent. Now they need coaching and leadership which they did not get when they were in the national championship game. Ohio State was on vacation. The Buckeye staff needs to get serious and do their job wire to wire. IT’S THE COACHING STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!. The horses are there. We need consistant great coaching. Go to Fla and buy sone tallent!!
By Stephen
September 28, 2007 6:10 PM | Link to this
Todd has seemed to improve each game, from what I can tell, but I agree with the others in that until we play some stiffer competition, we really won’t get a feel for how he (or any of the other players) has developed thus far. This year is admittedly a down one for the Big 10, and even if OSU should win out in the regular season, I’m going to be a bit less enthusiastic than I was back in January to watch the Buckeyes play a good team from another conference. Remember Troy’s success?
By VegasBurk
September 28, 2007 6:05 PM | Link to this
Realistically, Boeckman has not been tested by a strong defense.
Purdue will be the first test, followed by MSU (Dantonio), Penn State and Wisconsin.
Rah Rah Rah, Go Boeckman, but understand that he has not faced teams with real defensive speed or talent.
By Bucknutt
September 28, 2007 6:01 PM | Link to this
Doesn’t matter!!! The defense will carry the Bucks through the whole season. Could very well be the best defense in the nation!!!!
By teb
September 28, 2007 5:27 PM | Link to this
Face it buckeye fans,OSU is very weak and should not be in the top 20.Who do they play?Oh wait now there in the Big 10 conference play!What a joke.
By WIll
September 28, 2007 4:22 PM | Link to this
We will be having home and home series with USC in 08/09(trojans) then the next six years after that there are home and home series with oklahoma, miami (canes), and virgina tech. Im sure no one will be complaining about our schedule for quite some time.
By TRAV
September 28, 2007 3:27 PM | Link to this
HE LOOKS LIKE NEXT YEARS HEISMAN TO ME!!! GO BUCKS!!!!
By Ivan King Sr.
September 28, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this
The Buckeyes are in good hands with todd. We want loose any games this season. Go Bucks Go!
By Mr. Lutz
September 28, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this
If you have watched each game, Boeckman has gotten better each outing. So I expect him to be great by season end when it comes to playing the team up north. So all I have to say is sit back and watch as his true talent unfolds. “How firm thy friendship, O-HI-O” GO BUCKS!!!!!!!!!!
By Mr. Lutz
September 28, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this
As a Buckeye Alum I would say we are off to a pretty good start. We had some shaky games, including a very shaky first half against Washington. Then all of a sudden second half of that game, it was like a whole different team came out the locker room and they have no looked back yet. Being from the Miami Valley, Todd Boeckman is going to be great. Its alot to come from playing scout team and not getting any playing time due to Troy Smith and Justin Zwick. But he has shown great improvement.
By Terry
September 28, 2007 9:16 AM | Link to this
So far,so good.We really won’t know until the Penn State and Michigan games. That’s when the pressure situations will come and we’ll all see how he handles it. To date, only Washington has provided token pressure. Hope he does well because the backup hasn’t shown me anything yet. Need to develop another running back also. Wells may not hold up the whole season and #34 doesn’t look like a consistent running back.The running back from Piqua needs to heal fast before Wells gets banged up much more.
By DW
September 28, 2007 9:10 AM | Link to this
How can we tell? OSU hasn’t played anybody yet. As a avid buckeye fan we really need to start sceduling some quality teams we don’t run over every week. We will have to wait till Wisconsin to see if we are even qualified to be in the top ten. Seeing how our conference is looked upon as a bunch of overated teams. We don’t get any respect. As fans lets hope in the future we can start scheduling some teams that are in the top 25, so we know how tough our beloved buckeyes are.