An Ohio State thought pre-Browns

We'll be live-blogging (good Lord, did I ever expect to use those words in my life?) from the Browns today. By this point it's pretty common knowledge that Brady Quinn is starting at quarterback. I imagine this news caused the Vikings to scramble during their pregame meeting and make change after change in the defensive gameplan.

As for Ohio State … one thought. A few years back I recall the University of Miami in a huge game, with Bernie Kosar watching on the sideline. The team they played — I believe it was Florida State — was driving for a score in the waning minutes. Kosar went to the UM quarterback — I believe it was Ken Dorsey — and said to him: Are you ready? At this point you need to be going over your last-minute plays. Just in case.

Dorsey withdrew, and was ready. Florida State (I think) scored, but Miami did as well. The Hurricanes won the game.

Saturday night Terrelle Pryor was standing on the bench watching the game as USC made that drive for the last touchdown. When Pryor got on the field, he was lost. Didn't know what to run, didn't know what to do. One would think a coach who lives on proper preparation like Jim Tressel would have made sure Pryor was ready for the most important drive of the game. Ohio State needed 30 yards to kick a field goal to tie. They fell pathetically short. Instead of watching, Pryor should have been going over plays, timing, anything that might have helped the Buckeyes win.

Not only did USC show more heart late in the game, it also showed more smarts.

Oh … one other thought. Think about how Rich Rodriguez used his freshman quarterback at Michigan in the spread offense to the way Ohio State uses the highly recruited and regarded Pryor in the "spread."