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October 6, 2013In the third quarter of Ohio State’s 40-30 victory over Northwestern on Saturday night, head coach Urban Meyer came close to pulling his star quarterback Braxton Miller in favor of capable back-up Kenny Guiton.
How close was Meyer to pulling the trigger?
“Real close.” said Meyer in his post game press conference.
Down 23-13, Braxton Miller drove the offense from their own 35 to Northwestern’s seven yard line. There Miller fumbled for the second time in the game. He also threw an interception on a ball that floated down-field after a defender hit his arm while he was throwing it.
When the Buckeyes came back to the sidelines you could see the frustration. One offensive linemen threw his helmet in disgust. That’s when Kenny Guiton picked up a football and started to warm up.
Meyer felt for his star quarterback. “My heart bleeds,” Meyer said, “but I almost put Kenny in there.”
Ultimately, Meyer decided that pulling Miller wasn’t the “appropriate thing to do at that point”. Perhaps Meyer didn’t want to start a quarterback controversy. Perhaps he wanted to give Miller the chance to rebound, to overcome adversity.
That’s exactly what Miller did in the fourth quarter, although the heavy lifting was done by running back Carlos Hyde, who finished the game with career highs in carries (26) and yards (168).
Give Meyer credit for admitting that he was thinking about pulling Miller.
9 Comments
I would have switched in Guiton. Meyer almost sacrificed his season in order not to hurt Miller’s feelings. Miller was awful – he showed no ability to read the defense and he seemed unable to put any touch on his throws. I just think Guiton is more of a quarterback.
On the road, your season on the line, losing by ten. I’m surprised he didn’t as well. Credit the coaching staff for changing the game plan and letting Hyde carry the load.
I disagree with both of you. Dance with the one who brung ya. I think Guyton warming up was as much an option to play as it was a ploy to light a fire under Miller.
When you bring a guy in to fight for your position it makes you work even harder. Miller responded the way Urban hoped he would.
Are you going to try to tell us the game plan wasn’t completely changed to take the ball out of Miller’s hands?
While his passing game wasn’t on point, it was more the crucial fumbles that were the difference. He was moving the ball just fine, but the turnovers were the reason for the 10 point deficit.
the game plan was changed to do what moved the offense.
Other than teams quarterbacked by Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, you see every football team in the world adapt to what the defense is giving them on a particular day. It would be unintelligent to do otherwise.
Exactly to take the ball out of his hands. There isn’t really a debate there. Besides a few screens and short routes, Hyde carried the offense until he literally almost passed out.
Braxton wasn’t Braxton. He’s not healthy yet. Subbing him out would have just been the coaching staff admitting it played him too early. I think Kenny should have gotten the chance, but Miller made a few plays when he absolutely needed to and he should be carrying Hyde’s pads this week as a thank you too.
If Guiton could play defense then sure I’d have put him in too!