Ohio State: Did Coach Meyer Get The QB Decision Wrong?

Sep 7, 2015; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer after the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

Play Calling Needs Fixed

Kris Grimes

Let’s be honest, Cardale Jones hasn’t played like he did in those final three games from last year. He’s shown flashes of being the QB that torched Alabama’s tough defense, but for the most part looked average. However, I’m not throwing Cardale under the bus here.

He’s been handed a raw group of young receivers and borderline horrific play calling from new offensive coordinator Ed Warriner.

The latter is probably the biggest reason I’m behind Urban Meyer’s decision to stick with Jones. First off, a large part of the game plan against Wisconsin, Alabama, and even Oregon last year was the play-action fake to Ezekiel Elliott. It’s noticeably not there this year, nor is simply handing the ball off to Elliott.

Warriner seems content dropping Jones back to pass too often, and doesn’t use Ohio State’s biggest weapon in Elliott to open the field. It seems the new OC is content to pass when he should run and then pass again when he shouldn’t.

Week after week I find myself questioning the play calling, and wonder if J.T. Barrett could do anything different given the poor play calls. There’s no Devin Smith here this season. The team’s best potential WR threat Noah Brown, got hurt before the season even started. Then Cory Smith went down last week.

Now it’s up to guys like Jalin Marshall who’s having issues with fumbling the ball and making simple catches.

If Ohio State’s going to get back to the playoffs, they’re going to need more than just Jones or Barrett. Meyer knows that, and he knows that he’s seen Cardale win the big games. However, the team’s bigger problems lie with Meyer’s rookie OC and the lack of weapons stepping up to be a consistent threat week to week.

Next: There's Multiple Issues On Offense