They say the backup quarterback is the most popular guy in town, at least where the fan base is concerned.
When it comes to the backup quarterback’s teammates, however, they may have different thoughts. There’s a reason the backup is the backup, after all.
But at Ohio State over the years, the backup quarterback has more than held his own.
Ron Maciejowski was there for Rex Kern in 1968. Bret Powers bailed Ohio State out repeatedly in 1993. Joe Germaine probably shouldn’t even be considered a backup. Craig Krenzel stepped up in 2001 on the road in Michigan. Kenny Guiton is a near-legend at OSU, and Cardale Jones absolutely is a legend.
And this past Saturday, redshirt freshman Dwayne Haskins joined the long list of backups who have helped lead the Buckeyes to key victories in a relief role.
Haskins completed 6-of-7 passes for 94 yards against Michigan and rushed for 24 yards on three attempts. He led the Buckeyes on three scoring drives, and a fourth drive ended in a missed field goal. Ohio State was trailing 20-14 when he entered the game late in the third quarter and he was at the helm for a 17-0 run.
It was the kind of performance that can only boost the confidence of his head coach.
“First of all, the comfort — and it’s still so young, I can’t say it’s comfort yet — but to see him perform in that environment, and more importantly against that defense. That’s an elite defense,” Urban Meyer said on Monday. “And to come in, I can’t remember what the score was, but we were down, I know that. And to come in and I think someone said 17 unanswered points.”
But it’s not just the confidence and comfort that Meyer has that is important. He saw Haskins’ teammates rally around the young quarterback, and his performance was good enough to grade out a champion. That will always build confidence.
“And more than a coach, the comfort and the confidence that those other ten players have, the quarterback is the most unique position in all of sport,” Meyer said. “And to see that there’s confidence amongst them, and when he was rewarded yesterday and graded as a champion, I could see it in the room that there’s a lot of confidence in him.”
Starting quarterback J.T. Barrett hasn’t practiced yet this week, but the Buckeyes will take the field again on Tuesday. Barrett is day-to-day according to Meyer, but the Buckeyes are confident in any of their quarterbacks on Saturday.
“Whoever’s out there I feel confident that they can do the best job to win the game,” said junior receiver Terry Mclaurin. “Obviously, I feel like the coaches are going to put whoever is healthiest and ready to play out there. I know the competitor that J.T. is and he’s going to do whatever it takes to play in this game.”
If Barrett can’t go, the experience that Haskins gained against Michigan was invaluable. But the confidence that his teammates have in him came from his preparation as much as his production.
“Dwayne had a great week of preparation. We’re very confident if he were to have to step in to make the call,” said senior center Billy Price. “We’re setting up a good game plan for whatever quarterback ends up playing. The personnel is in a good position offensively to take advantage of what we can. Again, a huge amount of confidence in Dwayne.”
Having now seen Haskins in a situation that was not necessarily conducive to success will give Ohio State options moving forward. Barrett is not totally healthy, and if he continues to labor through this week or even possibly into Saturday, Meyer could opt for the youngster to replace the veteran.
“I mean, that’s an option,” Meyer said. “I can’t speak for that moment, because there’s a lot of things that go into it, score, etc., etc., etc., and how we’re playing on defense, etc., etc. But the comfort — and anymore I almost hate saying ‘comfort.’ It’s the confidence, because you’ve seen it.”
Having had a similar injury to what J.T has, a knee that locks up because of meniscus problems, my take is J.T should be back in practice today but not full go, he should be fine by Thursday, he’ll be elite tender for the game but he should be able to play if called upon. But he will be susceptible to another injury. I was a running back , and never missed a game, but I missed quite a few days of practice and had to sit out quite a few drills, but I played both ways, ran back kid-offs and punts and was the gunner on the kick-off and punt teams, and always turned up on game day. My guess is J.T will be fine.
That said, I hope they play Haskins, because they can. J.T definitely will not be fully healed by game day. Knowing Meyer though, he’ll just throw him under the bus. He doesn’t have anyone like me there to tell him how those extra hits are going to affect J.T. when he’s in his 60’s. He shouldn’t play him if he doesn’t have to. My misfortune was I played for teams with not enough talent. That isn’t the situation here.
I’m confident in Urban Meyer. So no matter who plays I’m gonna be fine with it. Those guys know what they are doing. They are going to try to put this team in the best possible place in order to win. If they put Barrett out there in a wheel chair with a blind fold on, I’m gonna trust their decision. Its one thing I’ve learned being a football fan for almost 40 years is these guys know what they are doing and they know more about it than the average fan. And if I find myself in disagreement then its probably because I don’t know things they do.
I also think Haskins would be fine, but don’t be surprised if he is more nervous this week than last week against Michigan.
Having a week to think about it, and to (possibly) be overwhelmed by the enormity of the task, it would be human nature for him to make himself a little nervous this week.
Of course, the first time he gets clobbered, the nervousness would go away.
I think of how Cardale was against Oregon, a little shaky, turning the ball over…
Barrett, Haskins, Burrow – doesn’t matter. This will be a tough game with a tough opponent.
DH can play. If forced to be the starter or a sudden sub, UM/staff will have him ready. UW knows the consequence of having to prepare for an OSU ‘backup’ as well.
Go Bucks! Play WELL and WIN !
Boy, the head coach simply will NOT be directly complimentary about Dwayne Haskins, will he? You can almost feel him parsing words in the quotes above, nothing direct at all- “I could see it in the room that there’s a lot of confidence in him”. ( Notice he said “the room” rather than referring to himself). And he was like a vampire shying away from a cross when asked about Dwayne H playing vs Wisky…waffle, waffle, waffle. What the heck would be wrong with saying D Haskins did a great job vs UM and he’d be happy playing him vs Wisky? Now THAT would build confidence AND give Wisky something to think about. Weird, weird stuff from the head coach. At least the players were direct and complimentary.
“I almost hate saying ‘comfort.’ It’s the confidence, because you’ve seen it.”
Urban’s message of confidence was Haskins in the game when the game was on the line while JTB was walking around on the sideline looking seemingly fine and healthy.
JT was NOT healthy on the sideline or he would have been in the game! And I said complimentary, if you’ll recall. The entire Meyer quote range in this article is a carefully constructed waltz around the topic of complimenting a guy who did a GREAT job. Tony tried-emphasis on the word “tried”- to rebut me with a Meyer quote, but even that quote misses. “Its the confidence” was what he said, not “I’m confident” or “Wow he was great vs UM”. He tap danced around it.
And to address yet another topic again- if all things were equal, OF COURSE JT should be the starter Saturday. The problem is that all things are not equal, its finally been exposed he’s been dinged up awhile and it got so bad Saturday he had to be taken out of the UM game! Nobody- and I mean NOBODY- somehow deserves to alter the team’s chances of winning a BIG championship if they are seriously hurt. That’s not being a “gamer” at all, its being foolish.
I’m confident in Dwayne OR Burrow. Both of those quarterbacks can get the job done. It’s an odd position for me right now. As critical as I’ve been concerning JT Barrett the last 2 years, I want to see the man in this game. If Dwayne or Joe start this game and the Buckeyes win it, THEY would be the quarterback of record who won the Big 10 Championship. In that scenario everything JT came back for a 5th year would out the window. He has been a player on championship teams but he’s never led a Buckeye team to any kind of Championship. He deserves to have that opportunity.
His legacy, whether anyone likes it or not hinges on HIM being the quarterback to start and the Buckeyes to win a title. But there’s more. He can CEMENT a golden legacy by winning that outright Conference title PLUS he will have moved ahead of the tie with Schichter for most wins ever for a Buckeye quarterback.
Wisconsin is an excellent football team and for JT to beat them on the biggest stage of his career by winning the Title, even his most ardent critics will be silenced about all the other records. That would make him a name remembered through the decades as the GOAT at Ohio State as a quarterback.
Well-said, James. This Saturday should belong to Barrett and I think it will, barring something more wrong with the knee than what we’re being told. I don’t worry about practice reps with a 5th year senior. I just want the playcalling to give him a real chance.
We have to remember that a PART of the reason for Haskins’ success is that it was 1/2-way through the third quarter and scUM was beginning to wear down. J.T.’s 2nd-to-last drive was stopped by a rare bad snap by Price and on the last drive he made it 3rd and very short with his last scramble.
Both Haskins AND Burrow could be very good to great – and possibly Tate as well despite his size that kid has the heart of a lion – but it isn’t their time. Barrett has been there and given his all and deserves this, his last shot at a title. The kids will be alright but this moment belongs to the “grizzled veteran”.