QB Cardale '12 Gauge' Jones (B1G Champion, National Champion)

[Bucklion]

I think the entire issue starts with the offensive line. They are doing fine in pass protection, but their run blocking is horrible. They aren't imposing their will on anyone. No holes, no long gains, etc, etc. The run game sets up the pass and without it, the Buckeyes are easier to stop. JMHO.

In addition, the Buckeyes aren't taking care of the football. 5 turnovers against NIU was ridiculous. They have how many so far this year? 8? 9?

Are they? Seemed to me that there have been many rushed throws...I don't know that the pass blocking has been all that great either

 

[JCOSU86]

Are they? Seemed to me that there have been many rushed throws...I don't know that the pass blocking has been all that great either

You may be right there. I wonder why this is the case? Reading too many of their press clippings? Saving themselves for the NFL? New coach?

 

[Buckeyebred97]

I do believe that right now the team is missing Tom Herman sorely and that Warriner isn't getting it done. Not sure the qb coach is getting it done either. I don't put all the blame on Cardale, but I think Barrett is more even keel and a better team leader. Line has to start stepping up.

The QB coach is what sticks out to me the most. The playcalling is something that I think can get better with reps and learn from mistakes. The coaching of our QB's just doesn't seem to be improving. Seems each week they have regressed.

 

[bukIpower]

FWIW, other than Wisconsin, Jones has yet to play a clean game with no turovers.

As a starting QB, jones has thrown 7 TDs and 5 picks. This year alone he's only thrown 2 TDs and 3 picks, and has had numerous hand-off and snap fumbles.

The kid has a cannon for an arm, but he isn't exactly known for a mistake free game. For every touchdown bomb he throws, he also tosses one to the defense.

Exactly. Object number one as a offerse is no turnovers. Sometimes the best thing you can do as a offense is nothing because you can always do things that actually are a determinant to the tea.. so far CJ has been a turnover machine and with how our defense looks to be shaping up this year all we need right now is to not make self inflicted wounds.

 

[Buckeyebred97]

You may be right there. I wonder why this is the case? Reading too many of their press clippings? Saving themselves for the NFL? New coach?

you mean like protecting their draft stock like Alabama in the sugar bowl?

 

[SEREbuckeye]

Exactly. Object number one as a offerse is no turnovers. Sometimes the best thing you can do as a offense is nothing because you can always do things that actually are a determinant to the tea.. so far CJ has been a turnover machine and with how our defense looks to be shaping up this year all we need right now is to not make self inflicted wounds.

Bingo. Self-inflicted wounds have certainly been bandaged with stellar defensive play. The teams excellent plays at the end of last season masked Cardale's interceptions and/or fumbles. Its like buying a monster truck for its power and forgetting you live 30 miles from work and are getting poor gas mileage. For the one thing he was great at in 3 games (long ball throws) its a tradeoff for turnovers, delayed reads, and poor execution of the zone read this season. We obviously cant expect the offensive line to always play great (when they finally do get their act together) and we also cant always expect the defense to bail out the offense. If Jones is the guy, he is going to have to play mistake free football and be able to put the team on his back as a leader and secure the win in any way possible with no turnovers - especially in opposing field position or late in the game.

 

[Bucklion]

You may be right there. I wonder why this is the case? Reading too many of their press clippings? Saving themselves for the NFL? New coach?

I think this whole team just thinks they are better than they are. The unfortunate part of having so many guys back is that they are tempted to think they're better without putting the work in they did last year. I don't know, but they seem flat-footed and slow to me so far.

 

[JCOSU86]

I think this whole team just thinks they are better than they are. The unfortunate part of having so many guys back is that they are tempted to think they're better without putting the work in they did last year. I don't know, but they seem flat-footed and slow to me so far.

No doubt about it. They'd better figure it out soon. While I respect NIU and what their coach has done, once the BiG season starts it's going to be tougher.

If I was Illinois, I'd give the coach of NIU serious consideration.

 

[Bucklion]

No doubt about it. They'd better figure it out soon. While I respect NIU and what their coach has done, once the BiG season starts it's going to be tougher.

If I was Illinois, I'd give the coach of NIU serious consideration.

Any coach at NIU in the past several years is probably a good option, so yeah I agree. But the DLs in the B1G are bigger and especially deeper...so yes, I agree there too.

 

[C-busBuck]

Exactly. Object number one as a offerse is no turnovers. Sometimes the best thing you can do as a offense is nothing because you can always do things that actually are a determinant to the tea.. so far CJ has been a turnover machine and with how our defense looks to be shaping up this year all we need right now is to not make self inflicted wounds.

Also. Many here come back with JT is making mistakes too. I would like to mention that Cardale was getting the vast majority of snaps in practice. That does make it difficult to come in and be in synch with the starters when you haven't been getting the snaps in practice.

 

[bukIpower]

Thats what I mean... sure JT has a pick but like you said to his defense he's not been getting the practice reps that Jones has. JT hasn't played a live football game since the scum game last year and missed all spring recovering while Jones got ALL THE REPS. For CJ to look the way he has the last two weeks with all the reps he has gotten to me shows JT should at least be given the same opportunity that CJ has been given.

Rust is expected when you haven't played for 9 months and JT has looked exactly that way which is rusty. Over throwing and under throwing open guys and the such but the more JT plays the quicker you'll see him make strides. With CJ I dont feel those strides are there because he was given the reps and it just hasn't worked out for him.

 

[jlb1705]

Maybe Cardale has earned the privilege of getting more reps... not in games, mind you, but in practices?

Meyer is a players' coach so this would never happen, but I think he should have explained his decision and the process for making it in authoritarian terms - not in terms of fairness. In the end there was no solution that was fair to both players. He could be equitable maybe, but not fair.

 

[Wham]

FWIW, other than Wisconsin, Jones has yet to play a clean game with no turovers.
A little choosy in what to include and exclude. If you're going to count interception that bounced off of J. Marshall, you should count all
As a starting QB, jones has thrown 7 TDs and 5 picks. This year alone he's only thrown 2 TDs and 3 picks, and has had numerous hand-off and snap fumbles.

The kid has a cannon for an arm, but he isn't exactly known for a mistake free game. For every touchdown bomb he throws, he also tosses one to the defense.

 

[dragurd]

Maybe Cardale has earned the privilege of getting more reps... not in games, mind you, but in practices?

Meyer is a players' coach so this would never happen, but I think he should have explained his decision and the process for making it in authoritarian terms - not in terms of fairness. In the end there was no solution that was fair to both players. He could be equitable maybe, but not fair.

I think he as a coach is really struggling with this part of it. Analytics is probably telling him who should start but in his heart he probably wishes there was some way he could start both at the same time all year.

 

[Bestbuck36]

I think the leadership part is where the offense is seriously lacking. All preseason long all they've heard is "so many weapons", "ton of NFL talent", "greatest offense of all time" yadayadayada. The defense on the other hand is loaded with leaders. Joshua Perry is not going to let those guys slack off and neither is Adolphus, or Big Bear or Eli Apple or Vonn Bell. The offense has too many interchangeable parts and the continuity of the unit is not happening. I dont know why the Oline hasnt gelled before any other unit but they seem a bit in flux.

I dont want to sound even more negative but I could tell in Cardales first series when he and Jalin weren't on the same page, that there was a serious lack of cohesion and leadership by the way Cardale started yelling at Jalin. I mentioned it in the game thread that I thought it was still way too early in that game and situation to lead in that manner, in my opinion. Should have been communicating better than that and I think it was Cardale feeling the pressure of needing to produce. Earlier tonight I was watching the BiG Live show and Jerry Nardiello echoed the same sentiments that he sees the offense as "scattered" and "panicky" as if they aren't sure they are doing what they want to do. All about leading in that huddle out there and directing the offense and that lies on the QB. Cardale is supremely gifted and a great guy to be around by all accounts but some guys are just born leaders who can pull things together without a lot of hocus pocus, and that guy for this football team is most likely JT Barrett.

Just seems to be the natural progression for this team but Cardale has to be 100% engaged in case he's needed. The team and Cardale both need a rallying point for this season.