Understanding Braxton Miller's Absence

Ohio State scraped out a close victory against Toledo last Saturday, even trailing at one point in the second half, creating much consternation amongst Buckeye faithful, who wondered why true freshman quarterback Braxton Miller spent the entire game on the bench, despite significant struggles from redshirt senior Joe Bauserman. After leading a touchdown drive to open the game, Bauserman settled into an uneasy, ineffective groove, completing only 16 passes on 30 attempts ( 54%) for 189 yards, or 6.3 yards per attempt.

Few people are ever more popular than the back-up quarterback, but Miller's absence seems especially curious given the two-quarterback system Ohio State used against Akron two weekends ago. Although Fickell has never officially commented on his quarterback-handling philosophy, the official depth chart Ohio State released before the season began listed Miller and Bauserman as co-starters, effective equals.

Quite clearly this is no longer true, if it ever were. Joe Bauserman is Luke Fickell's quarterback, and Braxton Miller remains only a gimmick, a toy to be used when the game is safe and the kid can't screw it up. If Toledo had not stayed so close, Miller would have played, obscuring the fact that he's currently not a part of this offense, but a side-show.

Platoon systems often fail because there are no definite roles-- the coach plays a quarterback based on his gut, or worse, the hot-hand fallacy, causing confusion and frustration for everyone involved. In 2005, Jim Tressel tried balancing two quarterbacks against Texas in the second game of the season, alternating Justin Zwick and Troy Smith in a painful display of subjectivity. Smith had ended the 2004 season as Ohio State's starting quarterback, but a two-game suspension knocked him out of the Alamo Bowl and Ohio State's 2005 opener, putting Tressel in the odd position of balancing the safer Zwick with the more talented, volatile Smith.

The platoon fell apart, and Ohio State lost to Texas amid offensive inefficiency late in the game, partially due to quarterback confusion during critical, 4th-quarter moments. Following the breakdown, Tressel eventually named Smith the sole starter, and the rest, as the cliché goes, is history.

Based on precedent, Luke Fickell's answer seems obvious: play the more talented Miller over the safe Bauserman, and reap the benefits later. Fickell faces an odd paradox, however, due to the situation surrounding his rise as Ohio State's head coach. Tressel's dramatic departure and Fickell's interim nature has created a tension between this season and a foggy future, a future that Fickell may not ever see unless he wins enough now to warrant the job long-term.

When Tressel chose Troy Smith in 2005, he saddled himself with a talented quarterback struggling with a college playbook, yet it was a risk Tressel could afford due to job stability and past success. Smith had spent three years in the Ohio State program, too, and held significant experience as a starter the previous season, reducing the risk of the unknown. Luke Fickell lacks these comforts. Braxton Miller represents the talent of 2005 Troy Smith with even less experience and knowledge, a scary proposition for a first-time head coach desperately wanting to maintain his position.

Yet if Braxton Miller sits out any more games in entirety, if he spends as much time on the bench as Kenny Guiton and Taylor Graham, Fickell will have wasted a valuable developmental season and a potential redshirt, a scary proposition for a coach who must compete for Big Ten and National Titles in the future. Fickell's long-term job health depends as much on Braxton Miller as Joe Bauserman.

What's the answer, then? I'm not sure, but it must be something different than what we saw this weekend. His redshirt burned, Miller must be integrated into the offense in some fashion, and it would be best if Fickell and the offensive staff agreed upon an involvement system before another game passes and more reps are wasted. For the sake of this season, and Miller's future, they must incorporate him into the offense in a definite role that players and coaches understand, and one that Miller can grow comfortable with over time.

The Chris Leak-Tim Tebow offense Urban Meyer ran in 2006 offers a good example for emulation, although the specifics should change. Tebow's unique, Bronco Nagurski-esque build made him the perfect short-yardage substitution, a luxury the slim Braxton Miller cannot offer. Still, Meyer incorporated Tebow into his base offense, led by Leak, and the results were strong, not only that within that season but also in 2007, when Tebow gained full control of the spread-option.

Next year, Braxton Miller will be Ohio State's starting quarterback, and Luke Fickell may be Ohio State's head coach. It would be a shame for Fickell if he handicapped two futures out of present fear.