Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day is about to enter his first regular season without a clear-cut future first-round NFL draft pick playing quarterback. That could change over the course of the season, of course, but the Buckeyes underwent an extended quarterback derby in training camp.
Veteran Kyle McCord won the nod to start the opener against the Indiana Hoosiers, but backup quarterback Devin Brown will also play, according to Day.
Buckeyes legend Kirk Herbstreit, now an ABC commentator, believes that his alma mater will have an outstanding team regardless of the quarterback.
“I think Ohio State has a chance to be outstanding,” Herbstreit told Steve Samra of On3. “Ryan Day, the way he coaches, I don’t want to say it doesn’t matter who the quarterback is, but his system speaks for itself. The quarterback success that he’s had. By the way, so much focus on Kyle McCord and Devin Brown, it’s what’s around the position. The play-calling. The offensive line looks stout. Marvin Harrison Jr. Emeka Egbuka. They are loaded. NFL talent around the position.
“So I think the important thing for both quarterbacks, starting with McCord, is just don’t feel like you have to come up and try to be a guy that’s going to live up to the standard of the last few quarterbacks. Just be yourself. Go out, hand it off. Hit the short pass. They give you one over the top, take it. But don’t feel like you have to have 80-yard-touchdowns every play. I think both will play just fine when they get their chance today.”
If Ohio State reaches the point where it doesn’t matter who plays quarterback, it will almost certainly be in position to return to the playoffs this season.
[On3]
