Seems like at least 80% of fans are adamant that JT should be starting. My question is, why do those people think Urban Meyer, the best coach in the country, is starting Cardale Jones?
Firstly, John Cooper made the wrong choice with Germaine and Jackson. Jim Tressel made the wrong choice between Zwick and Smith (on more than one occasion!). Both of these men not only fall in the "know more about football than everyone on this board" category, they are in the damn CFB HOF. Hell, Fickell even made the wrong choice between Brax and Bauserman in his only chance to decide a QB battle. It is entirely possible that even a coach as great as Urban could make the wrong choice.
IMO, actually getting the best player at each position on the field is one of the hardest parts of coaching football. Some guys practice way better than they play in games and vice versa. Some guys lose reps in practice due to off field issues. Sometimes a coach develops a bias for one reason or another that has little to do with on field performance which leads them to giving a certain player first crack at an open job, which is often key to the outcome of the battle. There are so many variables that go into it, especially in a tight battle like these two had.
Now to answer your actual question, after weeks of getting a little more insight from Urban himself and just trying to read the tea leaves, I think it has become fairly obvious that Urban simply liked what the offense looked like in the post season (and for good reason), he likes the big play ability that was put on display, and since 12 has the big play arm and was in for that run, he was the one Urban wanted to be the QB since he hoisted the trophy in January. From his quotes about Cardale being the starter and JT having to beat him out, to the talk of changing to a more pro-style offense, and the explanation of how they are not really splitting the reps with the first team in practice since camp broke, its plain to see that JT had to make it a no-brainer rather than just "win" the battle.
I think it is reasonable to question that line of thinking, given the personnel losses at WR and TE, plus the unrepeatable circumstances at the end of last year (losing a key player which may have, and IMO did, cause everyone to raise their level of play, having a QB with no film for other teams to prepare with enter the fray, plus the tragic loss of a teammates life that may have also may have led to some inspired play by individuals who were close to him ((thinking Zeke in particular and MB on defense))). Not to mention the sudden and noticeable change in the level of play by the defense. We very well may be a worse offense trying to replicate that run rather than running the offense we did with JT last year, but clearly if we can reach that level of play, we are the best team in the nation by a decent margin.
Obviously I am a JT guy. He hasn't been good this year, but I think that is a simply due to a lack legit practice reps. I prefer the way the offense steadily moves the ball and the wide open playbook rather than the inconsistent but more explosive style we have with Dale.
But that's a moot point now. Cardale is the guy Urban wants, so he is the guy. I hope he and the rest of the offense build off the "pretty good" performance this weekend and hit that level we saw in the postseason last year. And I realllly hope we go full Wisconsin-super-saiyan, break-a-foot-off-in-their-candy-ass beat down in Ann Arbor on the last weekend in November. Go Bucks.
TL;DR - Excellent coaches have picked the wrong QB before, so Urban could be wrong. Doesn't mean I or anyone else wants someone other than Urban at the helm. I prefer JT, but since Cardale is the man, he's got my full support. And Fuck M*ch*g*n. Go Bucks.
