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.”