With Joe Burrow off to a new start, everyone can get back into their life-living modes. No more holding your breath, wondering what was going to happen with Ohio State’s quarterback situation. Burrow answered that question with his decision to transfer.
Milk trucks can get back on schedule. Bars can once again sell beer. And fuel rationing is finally over.
If you can believe it, however, not everyone was affected by the quarterback situation. Not even behind the doors of the Ohio State football facilities.
Why?
Because the rest of the Buckeyes still had a job to do regardless of what was happening at some other position.
The offensive line still has to dominate up front. The running backs still have to know their assignments. And receivers still have to master the intricacies of the position.
Nobody at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center was waiting to find out what was going to happen. They’ve all got too much work to do.
“We don’t care about the quarterback, center, tackle, none of that matters to us,” receivers coach Zach Smith said. “We operate under this unit cohesion where it’s about us, we’re worried about us, we’re worried about running our routes, getting separation, getting open, and if the ball is there then somebody else did their job. And if it’s not there then somebody else will get it right.”
With this being Ohio State, whoever the quarterback is, or the running backs, or the offensive line, they should be talented enough to do their respective jobs. The receivers’ job is to make sure they’re pulling their weight in the quest for nine complete units. Be it blocking, separation, route running, catching the ball, or any other aspect that the position calls for.
That’s the only thing that matters for the Buckeye receivers, with no disrespect to any other positions.
“So it doesn’t matter who the quarterback is or who the offensive line is,” Smith said. “None of that matters. It just matters that we are where we’re supposed to be and open when it’s time to be there, and then it’s the quarterback’s job to get the ball there.”
I will say again, WR has been a glaring sore spot under Meyer so far. It very well could be position coaching…previously poor recruiting strategy…or a combination thereof. That said, the best thing that could happen this year is if they play the best WRs irrespective of tenure. Going with the top 6 from last year just because they are all coming back (which may not have been a good thing) is not wise. When you look at U$C’s, Bama’s, Georgia’s WR you saw a huge gap when compared to our corps. I can think of at least 4 guys from the top six that the ship has sailed on and they simply are who they are (average)… there are a few others who you would have to call the early part of the season make or break (or they too simply are who they are – average).
Lastly, notwithstanding his poor hands, I really think Campbell should be played out wide to open up the H for McCall. Even if you just run Campbell on fly routes it stretches the D and keeps a safety out the box… and you have about a 30-50% chance he catches the ball (and if there is no help over the top its 6 points if he can hold on). Just imagine what McCall could do underneath with Campbell clearing out the CB/Safety.
The one major thing that matters is if they can achieve SEPARATION, and then CATCH the ball. I’m more excited than concerned.
We have had players that could achieve separation but the ball wasn’t there when they achieved that separation . . .or it was completely overthrown. We also had some drops but we also had an absolute scarcity of balls hitting our receivers in stride. Some of our receivers do not have the best of hands but far more of our problem was throws not being made at all, or made too late, or inaccurately. Bottom line, fs Haskins can stay healthy, we should have the kind have of offense we had in that three game run for the 2014 championship.