Greg Bartram-US PRESSWIRE
Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has made his quite the impression in his first three games as coach of the Buckeyes who are off to a 3-0 start.
He has transformed his quarterback Braxton Miller from a raw athlete forced into a starting role well before he was ready to a player Meyer said in a radio interview as more talented than his former pupil Tim Tebow.
High praise for a quarterback that has only played in three games for Meyer considering Tebow won two national titles under Meyer at Florida and a Heisman trophy as a sophomore. Coincidentally, Miller is a sophomore this year and has played himself into the Heisman trophy conversation with his dual-threat abilities.
Breaking school records with his running ability from the quarterback position and leading his team to a fourth quarter win against Cal last week with his arm has been a rapid maturation for Miller who struggled at times in his freshman season.
The comparisons to Tebow may seem outlandish at first, but from a pure athletic standpoint I have to agree with Meyer.
Miller is a better runner with elusiveness in the open field and possesses breakaway speed. Tebow was a bulldozer of a runner and could be confused for a fullback when he tucked the ball and ran.
Neither is going to elicit comparisons to Andrew Luck or Peyton Manning when they step back in the pocket to deliver the ball, but Miller has more zip on his ball and throws with better mechanics and footwork from the pocket and while on the run.
I am sure Meyer used this as a motivational tool for Miller and knows that his quarterback has a long way to go to match the career of Tebow.
Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE
However, Miller is getting better each game and with Meyer as his coach his potential is vast and is the perfect coach man to help him reach that immeasurable potential.
Tebow has the edge in leadership, intangibles, and his competitive nature, but watching the development of Miller under Meyer will be a delight for Ohio State and college football fans the next two years.
Follow me on Twitter @PatrickASchmidt
Patrick is a diehard Chicago sports and avid college football fan, and the host of “The Wake-up Call,” a weekly sports show on Sportstownchicago.com Wednesday mornings from 8-10. View his show’s website here.
