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Why is this news?: J.T. Barrett, Cardale Jones don’t want a 2-quarterback system

Plus, Ohio State players make "Most Intriguing" list.

By Meredith Hein
Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

"In a two quarterback system, let’s say I’m on the field for three plays and I’m off the field and he runs a drive or something like that; I don’t know how well that would work as far as rhythm and developing timing with the guys."

-Cardale Jones, via Marcus Hartman, FOX Sport

While many college football fans might love to see both J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones on the field playing quarterback this season, Jones was adamant during Ohio State’s media day Sunday that, in his opinion, a two-quarterback system wouldn’t be a good idea for the team.

Prior to the start of camp, Urban Meyer declared that he would not announce who would be the starting quarterback until just before the Buckeye’s opener at Virginia Tech. One week into camp, that hasn’t changed. Jones was confident that Meyer would make it work--Braxton Miller’s position switch to H-back as one example of Meyer’s ability to spread talent where it was needed—but expressed concern as to how that would affect either quarterback’s ability to perform at that position.

Still, proponents of a two-quarterback system might wonder why so much talent will be left sitting on the bench. In the words of Jones, it is because neither quarterback will be able to get into an effective rhythm on the field if they are constantly switching in and out, which doesn’t benefit anyone on the team. Even during practice last week, Jones said, it was hard to switch quarterbacks during drills, as Barrett and Jones each were working with both the first and second team offenses. During a game, constant switching could hinder timing with players on the field. Barrett expressed similar sentiments during media day, describing how he played in such a system in high school, switching every other series, and how that hindered how he saw the game and prevented him from getting in a rhythm.

"But if they haven’t ruled it out," said Barrett. "I’ll just do what they say. They’re the coaches; I’m a player."

"…the two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year made the biggest position switch of 2015, which should lower Urban Meyer’s stress level in deciding on a QB while simultaneously helping the Buckeyes get another weapon on the field."

-Pat Forde, Yahoo Sports

The list of the 25 Most Intriguing Non-Quarterbacks of 2015 is out from Yahoo Sports, highlighting the 25 players who, while not necessarily the best, are otherwise exciting, and could make an over-and-above impact for their respective teams this season. Included on the list are three Buckeyes, with former-quarterback-turned-receiver Braxton Miller at No. 1. Miller, who was initially projected to make the "Intriguing Quarterbacks" list, had perhaps the most exciting switch of the offseason with the move, and pundits are waiting to see how he impacts the Buckeyes from his new position. His playmaking ability should also help to improve his NFL stock this season.

Running back Ezekiel Elliott snagged the No. 2 spot, a result of his heroics of the post-season following quarterback J.T. Barrett’s injury against Michigan. Elliott’s three-game, 696-yard total against Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon has propelled him to be the current frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy, and it will be interesting to see how opponents match against him, especially behind a much-improved offensive line.

Defensive end Joey Bosa came in at No. 10 on the list. If he can repeat his overall performance from last season, which included unanimous first-team All-American honors, he has a good shot at being the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NFL Draft.

Offensive tackle Taylor Decker just missed out on the list, but is also expected to make a big impact for the Buckeyes this year.

"I just can’t sit the bench for the whole year, just wasting a whole year. It doesn’t make any sense. Play me somewhere else. I went to receiver, and this happened."

-Ohio State Buckeyes freshman Torrance Gibson, via Ari Wasserman, Northeast Ohio Media Group

Urban Meyer described him as a "very good athlete." Receivers coach Zach Smith said that he "has size and speed most human beings shouldn’t have." That’s why true freshman Torrance Gibson, who had been recruited to play quarterback for Ohio State, is working out with the receivers during fall camp. He has still been wearing his black, No. 6 quarterback jersey, which is not surprising given that he underscored his role as a quarterback throughout his recruitment, and eventually chose Ohio State so that he could ultimately play quarterback for the Buckeyes.

Still, playing as a true freshman seems to have taken precedence for Gibson, leading to the (possibly temporary) position switch. Some had been projecting Gibson as a wide receiver since his senior year of high school, especially given the quarterback situation ahead of him as J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones duke it out for the starting job. Gibson approached Meyer, asking how he could get on the field sooner—like, this year. Meyer responded that he could try his hand as a Wildcat quarterback so that the coaching staff could evaluate his receiving skills.

Much of the coaching staff knew going in that Gibson would be playing right away, and Gibson does not want to redshirt. If he stayed at quarterback this fall, Gibson would have to compete with fellow freshman Joe Burrow from Athens, Ohio for the third-string spot (or fourth, if we bring redshirt freshman Stephen Collier into the mix. Gibson expects that, come spring, he can go back to his old position. Of course, Troy Smith came to Ohio State as an athlete before he switched to quarterback, too.

"The whole mantra or the whole thought behind that is you have to feel bad before you feel good, and we shouldn’t be feeling good. We’re in training camp."

-Urban Meyer, via Doug Lesmerises, Northeast Ohio Media Group

This second week of fall camp is going to be no picnic for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. With two-a-days on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and single practices Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, there will be no rest as Urban Meyer whips his troops into shape for their opener against Virginia Tech Sept. 7. The team had their first practice in full pads Friday, before their relative break for media day on Sunday.

Meyer said that, while the players should be strong now, by Tuesday, they will be in "survival mode" as they try to make it through the rest of the week, because that "is what training camp is all about." The coach is taking the team away from the Woody Hayes Athletic Center to get them out of their comfort zone, opting instead for some practice fields across the Olentangy River from the Horseshoe. Previously, Meyer had taken the team to a different field, but construction at the university forced Meyer away from his favorite field and the team to move to their new temporary home. The team will return to the Center for practice the week before their first game to what Meyer describes as a "golf course out here what we practice on," giving the players a chance to get their strength back and start thinking about the competition ahead.

Former Ohio State center Greg Oden just signed a one year deal worth $1.2 million with the Jiangsu Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association. Oden, who was the top pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, has only played in 105 games in his career due to a variety of knee injuries and surgeries. His last NBA appearance was with the Miami Heat during the 2013-14 season, during which he played in 23 games.

The seven-foot Oden has averaged 8.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game during his career, and his total earnings are estimated at $24.4 million. Oden did not play in the NBA last year, a result of multiple domestic violence charges against him, and reached a plea deal in February.

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