COLUMBUS, Ohio — The target was going to be the same regardless, but there were two different ways to think about hitting it. Looking at Braxton Miller’s completion numbers a year ago compared to where Ohio State wanted them to be this season, the percentages might have made the expected improvement seem somewhat daunting.
But rather than focusing on trying to turn himself from a quarterback with 58-percent accuracy into an efficient 70-percent passer, there was a another option as the No. 4 Buckeyes approached an offseason overhaul of their junior quarterback and his mechanics. Rather than worry about making what might have seemed like a significant statistical jump, Miller instead could think about completing just one more pass out every 10 throws if that helped simplify the issue.
+ EnlargeAndrew Weber/USA TODAY SportsBraxton Miller has raised his completion percentage from 58.3 percent last season to 70.6 in 2013.”You think you go from 58 to 68, you’re talking about 10 more completions out of 100 attempts,” offensive coordinator Tom Herman said. “One out of every 10, just one more completion. “Our goal would be 70 percent at the end of the day. I think that’s fairly realistic.”
At his current rate, maybe the Buckeyes actually should have asked for a little more.
Known during his first two seasons with the program primarily as a rushing threat with the ability to mix in the pass, Miller clearly has developed into a much more balanced and far more dangerous weapon at quarterback this year, hitting his statistical and literal targets with a completion percentage of 70.6 in his six starts.
Thanks in large part to all the work he has done to fine-tune his mechanics, absorb the playbook and dedicate himself to breaking down defenses, Miller has turned himself into the ideal dual-threat in Urban Meyer’s offense. The polish he has added to the passing attack makes it close to impossible to defend him since he has gotten healthy after an early-season knee sprain.
“Fundamentally, he’s a much better player than he was a year ago and has more knowledge of the offense,” Meyer said. “Those two things, I see it every day.
“You’ve got to figure up to this point where Braxton was. Last year was his second system in two seasons as a quarterback, and now he’s in the same one with the same coach. Same system for two years, you should be better.
“But he’s really better. …
Continue reading this article at ESPN: Miller getting better one pass at a time
