Ohio State Football QB Competition: Urban Meyer Using His 'Gut' in Picking Barrett or Jones for Week 1
ByOhio State head football coach Urban Meyer is ever nearing the decision of who to line up at quarterback for the Buckeyes' week one matchup with Virginia Tech.
Braxton Miller's desire to play hybrid back/wide receiver while he strengthens his shoulder made it easier, but that still leaves two players who very much want to play quarterback.
Speaking with Cleveland.com, Meyer indicated his decision is going to have to be partly a "gut feeling," but also rooted in logic. For example, the QB he chooses should be the one who has the better training camp, but who also exhibits that mythical "x-factor."
Both J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones may have the latter down pat, as evidence from the season the Buckeyes had and Meyer has a good track record with "gut feelings."
Cleveland.com pointed to the Buckeyes' double-overtime win over Penn State in Happy Valley. Barrett suffered a second-degree MCL sprain, but stayed in the game and scored the team's final two touchdowns on the ground, securing the win.
Meyer said that game and Jones' National Championship game performance and three-game win streak in the postseason are "embedded" in his mind. Meyer indicated his gut could point him to either QB, so more logical factors will be needed.
"All of that will be evaluated. I made an error when I spoke last spring about, 'It can't be a gut instinct.' It's got to be both," Meyer said. "I was on the sideline with those kids... So how they performed last year, how they performed in the summer, then we're going to chart everything throughout training camp.
"It's going to be the accumulation of that all information, then we'll make a decision."