Written by David Regimbal

---

“Telling Quotes” is a weekly recap of the Big Ten’s top stories using five quotes from around the conference (with a moderate Ohio State lean).

Just think -- only two more of these articles will include talk about preseason practice and stuff other than live, tear-inducingly-beautiful football.

With the season just 16 days away, the Buckeyes are grinding through the dog-days of fall camp. If you haven’t been watching, ESPN is giving fans an inside look at fall camp by airing a 30 minute special on ESPNU. Regardless of your feelings for the worldwide leader, few fanbases in the country get an opportunity to watch their team this intimately. The show has been airing at 5:00 pm (EST), so if you haven’t been watching, tune in. You get to watch Urban Meyer yell and stuff.

This week’s quotes include updates on fall practice, then Denard Robinson and Terrelle Pryor try to out-derp each other in a battle for the ages.

1. “This is the defining moment of Carlos Hyde’s career.” - Urban Meyer, Ohio State Head Coach

With Jordan Hall's offseason injury, Hyde has been given a golden opportunity to make a lasting impression with the coaching staff as Ohio State's featured back. Hyde is reportedly capitalizing on that. The junior tailback reported to fall camp in the best shape of his career, and despite a bruising running style, improved his speed to the point where he ran a 4.45 40 yard dash this offseason. There's a false sense out there that Urban Meyer's system can't utilize a bigger back, but that's simply not true. In fact, some of Meyer's most successful backs have had builds similar to Hyde's. With Hall expected to miss at least the first two games of the season, Hyde has the chance to make a statement that he deserves a bulk of the carries when both are fully healthy.

2. "Braxton in this offense, there’s no ceiling. It’s ridiculous. This offense is really designed for him." - Evan Spencer, Ohio State Wide Receiver

Updates coming out of fall camp indicate that Ohio State’s offense is coming along with Braxton Miller at the helm. Notable defensive players have said things like “it’s not fair” having Braxton orchestrating Myers’ spread. Combining not only his elite speed but his shiftiness and ability to make defenders miss will give defenses fits this fall, especially if a defensive line like Ohio State’s is having trouble containing him.This isn’t to say there won’t be growing pains, but Miller seems to be right on schedule with learning the new system.

3. “We’ve now officially moved [Jake Stoneburner]; he’s now out with the receivers.” - Urban Meyer, Ohio State Head Coach

It’s no secret that Meyer is high on the senior tight end.. .er, wide receiver -- and this position switch truly reflects that. The coaching staff is really looking for ways to get the ball in Stoneburner’s hands as much as possible, and this will certainly help. His position change also allows the coaches to explore the fantastic depth Ohio State has at tight end by getting Jeff Heuerman or Nick Vannett on the field at the same time with Stoneburner. The more playmakers Meyer can get on the field, the better.

For Stoneburner -- who came to Ohio State as a receiver -- this brings him full circle. It seems like yesterday that he was begging Jim Tressel and the old staff not to turn him into a tight end, but that didn’t stop the inevitable. Stoneburner is now set up to have a huge year, one that he always envisioned himself having during his recruitment..

4. "I've watched him run, and I'm pretty sure I can beat [Usain Bolt] in a 40-yard dash." - Denard Robinson, Michigan Quarterback

Uhm...

A lot has been written on this topic, and people with superior knowledge of track and field have largely discredited this claim, but seriously... what on earth would make Denard think he’s faster than the fastest man in the world? Denard claims that if he had some time to train, he would use his first quick step to take advantage of the traditionally slow-starting Bolt to beat him in a shorter race than he’s used to. Apparently you’re not allowed to counter that with suggesting Bolt would probably learn to adjust his running style to a 40 yard dash because hey don’t hurt Denard’s feelings he smiles a lot.

5. “Now, coming out of college, I learned to read defenses. I wasn’t blessed enough to be at a powerhouse that you learn that stuff as a quarterback. So, I’m working and I’m going to get good.” - Terrelle Pryor, Raiders (third string) Quarterback

Pro tip -- Pryor's quotes are much more entertaining when read in Derek Zoolander's voice.

There are so many directions you could go when dissecting the latest doozie from Pryor -- former Ohio State quarterback and renowned philosopher. You could talk about the inaccuracies of his statement or the general arrogance he portrays seemingly every time he talks. Instead, let's focus on his claim that he "wasn't blessed enough to be at a powerhouse to learn that stuff."

First, let's review the list of scholarship offers Pryor had coming out of high school. That list included USC, a school that is literally known for grooming quarterbacks for the NFL, along with the schools that produced Peyton Manning and Tom Brady (and LSU, Texas, Oregon and seriously he could’ve gone anywhere he wanted). If in fact Pryor was unprepared for the difficulties that come with being an NFL quarterback, it was most certainly not because he wasn't blessed enough to be at a "powerhouse."

Admittedly, there aren’t many quarterbacks out there that work harder than Pryor. But as you could see during Oakland’s preseason game against the Cowboys, he isn’t comfortable making a read and throwing the ball and relies far too much on his scrambling ability to be successful. That could change obviously, but after watching the same show for over four years, it’s hard to think he’ll ditch that habit.

(Photo credit - Jim Davidson - TheOzone.net)

Follow @davidreg412