2015-16 Ohio State Quarterback Discussion

[ScriptOhio]

URBAN MEYER HAS BEEN CONSISTENT THE WHOLE TIME IN HOW HE'S HANDLED OHIO STATE'S QUARTERBACK SITUATION

If you’ve listened to anything Ohio State coach Urban Meyer has said regarding his quarterbacks since the Buckeyes’ first game of the season at Virginia Tech, Wednesday’s decision to stick with Cardale Jones as the starter over J.T. Barrett should not have come as a surprise.

From the moment Meyer addressed the media following Ohio State’s 42-24 win against the Hokies, he has been consistent with his approach to the situation: Jones is the starter; Barrett is the backup.

“Cardale finished the season as the starter and I kind of started thinking for him to not take the first snap, he had to get beat out,” Meyer said after that win at Virginia Tech. “He wasn’t beat out.”

Entire article: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...ay-in-how-hes-handled-ohio-states-quarterback

 

[1926Buckeyes]

It's too bad JT hasn't done on the field what "the vast majority" of those around here think he's capable of, because then there would be no controversy at all.

I'll stick with what Urban thinks is right, and leave "the vast majority" to keep pounding the table about what they think JT can do (notwithstanding his performance on the field).

It's one thing to say that a player is beating another player out for a starting spot. It's another to basically give a vote of no confidence to either both on the field and off it, and that's what he's doing.

I don't care who starts, but at least let them feel like they're actually starters and not placeholders.

 

[matcar]

I'm mostly disappointed that JT hasn't done enough to separate himself from CJ during practice. The fact that he hasn't done so makes me feel that neither of these guys have figured it out and are struggling. I didn't expect this. Then again, I probably just need to check my expectations and manage them better.

 

[SEREbuckeye]

Probably beating a dead horse here but this is the thread to do it in I guess...

Cardale was certainly doubted going into the playoffs, and rightfully so. The most we ever saw from him were handoffs and an occasional big play (ie. the running hurdle last year) in mop up duties. We were all a bit nervous what to expect going into the Wisconsin game, especially after the TTUN game being so close. Cardale went off against Wisconsin with a bunch of help from the guys around him. Zeke went into competition mode, Devin Smith couldn't drop a pass, and the line looked like NFL vets. Jones looked pretty fluid when everything was clicking. That night gave all the players and the fan enough confidence rolling into the Sugar Bowl. While it was a great game, by no means was it mistake free. Jones did go crazy on his passing yards, but he also traded his lone TD pass for an INT. Thankfully Zeke was in goal line beast mode and the Bucks didn't need Jones to toss one up in the redzone. Against Oregon it was the same story. The supporting cast played great and it in turn helped Jones play pretty well in terms of passing yards (242 yards). However, once again Jones traded his lone TD pass for an INT and 2 fumbles. The game was won however on Zeke's back and again he carried the team with 4 TDs.

The playoff wins felt great and we all watched highlights all spring and summer of Jones bulldozing the Oregon Linebacker and tossing multiple TD passes to Devin Smith in the Wisconsin game. All good highlight reel stuff. Nobody revisited Jones doing the Winston fumble, the fumbled handoff to Zeke, the 1-1 TD:INT ratio, or anything that would/could tear into the magic. Everyone claimed "Jones made everyone around him better" those 3 games. I find that hard to believe that a first round WR (Smith) was made better by Jones and not the other way around. They said its Jones arm that opened it up for Zeke, despite Zeke being clamored as a first round draft pick in 2016. Everyone forgot about JT and how he went 11-1 as a starter and was able to secure the win when the unit around him are having a bad game. 35 TD passes and nearly 3,000 yards with a group of guys trying to grow up.

Jones was handed the keys to a polished up Ferrari. Yes the people around him aren't playing great but isn't that what everyone claimed - that Jones makes everyone around him better? If that was true for the playoffs, then how come it isn't true right now? Now that Jones is playing poorly and has stayed consitant on turnover issues, everyone tune has changed to "well, ughh, no one is helping Jones." Well guess what, no one helped Barrett last year and he secured the wins. Hell, he secured the last 2 game wins while our starting QB went to the bench. I feel like we need to figure out whether Jones is the reason for the other units success, or are his successes a gift from the other units playing strong around him? Can he put this team on his back and make the plays to win the games - this year. Because the last 3 teams haven't been nearly the competition of the 3 teams everyone fell in love with him playing against. We know JT is capable of it. If he wasn't, our starter wouldn't have been on the bench after 1 quarter of play against powerhouses Northern Illinois and Hawaii. I guess everyone is waiting for Cardale to restore the magic, but Im assuming that window of time is running out.

 

[pnuts34]

At the end of the day I'm a Buckeye fan. I'm in the JT camp, but honestly I just want us to win another NC with whomever is the QB. Urban gets paid to make these decisions and he's done a damn good job of it before. I'm hoping the continued game reps only help Cardales game get stronger. Just limit those turnovers...


http://collegefootballnews.com/2015/fiutak-cardale-jones-to-start-can-the-madness-stop

 

[buckeyesin07]

It's one thing to say that a player is beating another player out for a starting spot. It's another to basically give a vote of no confidence to either both on the field and off it, and that's what he's doing.

I don't care who starts, but at least let them feel like they're actually starters and not placeholders.

Why would Urban give anything other than a vote of no confidence? That's exactly what they've earned by their on-the-field performance (a fact which, I'm guessing, each of JT and Cardale would agree with). Urban's not going to baby these guys and act like they've earned something they haven't. And, by the way, that competitive, no-nonsense attitude/approach that Urban has is what delivered a NC to OSU last year.

 

[buckeyesin07]

Probably beating a dead horse here but this is the thread to do it in I guess...

Cardale was certainly doubted going into the playoffs, and rightfully so. The most we ever saw from him were handoffs and an occasional big play (ie. the running hurdle last year) in mop up duties. We were all a bit nervous what to expect going into the Wisconsin game, especially after the TTUN game being so close. Cardale went off against Wisconsin with a bunch of help from the guys around him. Zeke went into competition mode, Devin Smith couldn't drop a pass, and the line looked like NFL vets. Jones looked pretty fluid when everything was clicking. That night gave all the players and the fan enough confidence rolling into the Sugar Bowl. While it was a great game, by no means was it mistake free. Jones did go crazy on his passing yards, but he also traded his lone TD pass for an INT. Thankfully Zeke was in goal line beast mode and the Bucks didn't need Jones to toss one up in the redzone. Against Oregon it was the same story. The supporting cast played great and it in turn helped Jones play pretty well in terms of passing yards (242 yards). However, once again Jones traded his lone TD pass for an INT and 2 fumbles. The game was won however on Zeke's back and again he carried the team with 4 TDs.

The playoff wins felt great and we all watched highlights all spring and summer of Jones bulldozing the Oregon Linebacker and tossing multiple TD passes to Devin Smith in the Wisconsin game. All good highlight reel stuff. Nobody revisited Jones doing the Winston fumble, the fumbled handoff to Zeke, the 1-1 TD:INT ratio, or anything that would/could tear into the magic. Everyone claimed "Jones made everyone around him better" those 3 games. I find that hard to believe that a first round WR (Smith) was made better by Jones and not the other way around. They said its Jones arm that opened it up for Zeke, despite Zeke being clamored as a first round draft pick in 2016. Everyone forgot about JT and how he went 11-1 as a starter and was able to secure the win when the unit around him are having a bad game. 35 TD passes and nearly 3,000 yards with a group of guys trying to grow up.

Jones was handed the keys to a polished up Ferrari. Yes the people around him aren't playing great but isn't that what everyone claimed - that Jones makes everyone around him better? If that was true for the playoffs, then how come it isn't true right now? Now that Jones is playing poorly and has stayed consitant on turnover issues, everyone tune has changed to "well, ughh, no one is helping Jones." Well guess what, no one helped Barrett last year and he secured the wins. Hell, he secured the last 2 game wins while our starting QB went to the bench. I feel like we need to figure out whether Jones is the reason for the other units success, or are his successes a gift from the other units playing strong around him? Can he put this team on his back and make the plays to win the games - this year. Because the last 3 teams haven't been nearly the competition of the 3 teams everyone fell in love with him playing against. We know JT is capable of it. If he wasn't, our starter wouldn't have been on the bench after 1 quarter of play against powerhouses Northern Illinois and Hawaii. I guess everyone is waiting for Cardale to restore the magic, but Im assuming that window of time is running out.

If you really want to, you can poke holes in JT's wins last year, much as you've done on Cardale's. Until overtime of the PSU game, the offense looked completely lost, the offense sputtered (to say the least), and JT threw a pick that turned the game in PSU's favor. Against Michigan, the offense again looked lost and trailed for most of the first half (against a Michigan team that was a huge underdog, mind you, something like 18-19 points, if I remember correctly). So let's not try to act like JT won every game by 40 points and those wins were only due to him, whereas the team won in spite of Cardale in the final three games of the year.

At this point, you're right, it is a dead horse. There clearly are a number of people on this board who are willing to put JT's on the field performance this year to the side (while not doing the same for Cardale) and conclude that JT should be the starter based on what those people think JT can do.

My point is simply that each of Cardale and JT has been given ample opportunity to win the starting job this year. Unfortunately, neither has taken advantage of that opportunity. If JT really were the answer that people on this board evidently think he is, then Urban wouldn't have a controversy on his hands, and certainly wouldn't have named Cardale the starter yesterday.

 

[Bleed S & G]

Why would Urban give anything other than a vote of no confidence? That's exactly what they've earned by their on-the-field performance (a fact which, I'm guessing, each of JT and Cardale would agree with). Urban's not going to baby these guys and act like they've earned something they haven't. And, by the way, that competitive, no-nonsense attitude/approach that Urban has is what delivered a NC to OSU last year.

Well, you generally don't yank your starter in the 2nd quarter and have him sit the rest of the game. I believe that's the vote of 'no confidence.'

 

[1926Buckeyes]

Why would Urban give anything other than a vote of no confidence? That's exactly what they've earned by their on-the-field performance (a fact which, I'm guessing, each of JT and Cardale would agree with). Urban's not going to baby these guys and act like they've earned something they haven't. And, by the way, that competitive, no-nonsense attitude/approach that Urban has is what delivered a NC to OSU last year.

His approach has been anything but no nonsense.

I have no problem with him criticizing the QBs. But he has to place some trust in one of these guys, otherwise no one else on the team will.

 

[jlb1705]

It's one thing to say that a player is beating another player out for a starting spot. It's another to basically give a vote of no confidence to either both on the field and off it, and that's what he's doing.

I don't care who starts, but at least let them feel like they're actually starters and not placeholders.

Why would Urban give anything other than a vote of no confidence? That's exactly what they've earned by their on-the-field performance (a fact which, I'm guessing, each of JT and Cardale would agree with). Urban's not going to baby these guys and act like they've earned something they haven't. And, by the way, that competitive, no-nonsense attitude/approach that Urban has is what delivered a NC to OSU last year.

...Except that he hasn't really given a vote of no confidence. Has said repeatedly, even during the last two weeks, that both are good players and both should be ready to play the next game. Meyer is confident in them, but there are high expectations that have to me met. He seems to be challenging them to rise to those expectations. The first one that does it is going to take hold of the starting job.

 

[Drubuck]

Glad a decision was made. Now move on and play some football.

 

[1926Buckeyes]

...Except that he hasn't really given a vote of no confidence. Has said repeatedly, even during the last two weeks, that both are good players and both should be ready to play the next game. Meyer is confident in them, but there are high expectations that have to me met. He seems to be challenging them to rise to those expectations. The first one that does it is going to take hold of the starting job.

He can say whatever he wants, but you don't pull your starter two straight games if you're confident.

 

[buckeyesin07]

Well, you generally don't yank your starter in the 2nd quarter and have him sit the rest of the game. I believe that's the vote of 'no confidence.'

I think you misunderstood my post, because I agree with you.

 

[kinch]

I don't have a strong feeling about the QBs.

But I do have one about rhythm. It just seems like we throw a hundred random plays at the field and see what sticks. Nobody is ever in a comfortable place on our offense.

Elliott has had plenty of runs, but they aren't battering the DL and wearing them out. When did we become an East West team? We should go simple. This may be why Cardale is in for next week. Pound, pound, pound, over the top, a few slants. Ta da.

I get why people say, "in Meyer we trust." But if we left it at that we would have no discussion. How fun would that be?

 

[jlb1705]

He can say whatever he wants, but you don't pull your starter two straight games if you're confident.

Two thoughts:

Isn't it possible to be confident in him in the general sense, but not in that particular moment?
Supposing Urban Meyer actually does lack confidence in him, does making a direct statement about it publicly do anything besides satisfy blaming fans' lust for someone or something to blame for a win that was too close?