Who is Cardale Jones? Ohio State teammates explain third-string quarterback now in the spotlight By Bill Landis, Northeast Ohio Media Group November 29, 2014 COLUMBUS, Ohio — The last time Cardale Jones was in Indianapolis for the Big Ten championship game, he put on a physical display that Ohio State offensive tackle Taylor Decker still remembers nearly a year later. With one knee on the 50-yard line at Lucas Oil Stadium, Jones was firing balls into the end zone with ease. Hes a freak talent, that much has been confirmed by his Ohio State teammates. Hes a long strider, Buckeyes tight end Jeff Heuerman said. Hes pretty big, about 250 pounds, 6-6, and he brings a lot to the table. Hes an incredible athletes, hes got a super strong arm. Can he put it all together to win the Buckeyes biggest game of the season? Well find out next weekend when Ohio State plays in its second consecutive Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis. Jones will start for the Buckeyes next week after Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett suffered a fractured ankle in the fourth quarter on Saturday against Michigan that will keep him out for the rest of the season. Urban Meyer said after Saturdays game that Jones will get the first team reps this week in practice. Ohio State is down to its third-string quarterback with Barretts injury and the injury to Braxton Millers shoulder in fall camp. Barrett is scheduled to undergo surgery on Monday. By then Jones, who will make his first career start in the title game, will already have begun preparing for the biggest game of his life. Its a huge opportunity, but its also a huge challenge for him, Decker said. I cant imagine the type of pressure hes going to be feeling. If we come together and let him know the he doesnt need to be a super hero. He doesnt have to play the best game hes every played. He just has to prepare and well be fine. Barrett passed Jones on Ohio States depth chart in August, when co-offensive coordinator Tom Herman said the offense moves better with Barrett. The coaching staff may not have been too high on Jones then. They have no choice but to move forward with him now. Jones entered Saturdays game on third-and-1 early in the fourth quarter and ran for no gain when it appeared he might have had another hole to run through. On the second drive after Barretts injury, Ohio State mixed in H-back Jalin Marshall as a Wildcat quarterback, but co-offensive coordinator Tom Herman insisted that wasnt a sign of the coaching staffs faith in Jones. The only hesitancy is not for lack ability, Herman said. It was the score, we were trying to kill some clock. I dont care how mature, how ready you are mentally, just having not done it in a game-like situation for so long makes you hesitant. Certainly nothing to do with our confidence in his ability. Jones threw three passes on Saturday, finishing 2-for-3 for seven yards. His lone incompletion came on a ball to Michael Thomas were Jones led his receiver too far. He ran 12 times for 18 yards, all 18 coming on a second down run the helped keep Ohio States last scoring drive alive. Hes shown flashes of playmaking ability, but most of that in garbage time and none of it on the level that Barrett has this season. Jones is 8-for-14 for 111 yards and two touchdowns this season. Hes also ran 24 times for 188 yards. Hes made some exciting plays, too. Like the 17-yard scamper he had against Maryland in which he hurdled a defender to pick up a first down. Everyone seems to like his physical ability. Now Jones needs to show he can prepare like a starter. And Ohio State needs to win a championship with its third-string quarterback. Ive said this many times, the quarterback is a product of the guys around him and the guys around him are playing pretty good right now, Meyer said. The good thing is they (Jones and Barrett) have a similar skill set, so its not like were going to have to drastically change things
Posted on: Sun, 30 Nov 2014 03:55:48 +0000