The Enemy Unveiled: CJ Stroud named OSU's Starter
Via The Athletic:
Redshirt freshman C.J. Stroud will start Ohio State's season opener against Minnesota, head coach Ryan Day announced Saturday. Stroud had been competing with redshirt freshman Jack Miller and true freshman Kyle McCord.
It appears that the rumblings around the QB competition in Columbus were mostly accurate as people pegged Stroud as the frontrunner for the starting job early on. Stroud did play in three games last season and scored on a 48-yard run against Michigan State. Besides that highlight, he has very little in-game experience. He finished the 2021 spring game 16 of 22 for 185 yards and two touchdowns.
If Stroud struggles during the season then perhaps one of the other QBs will take the reins. The first two games for OSU aren't cake walks as they play both Minnesota, who might very well rebound from an awful 2020 season, and then take on Oregon, who have the making of a top-10 team.
Let's hope that Cade can get the better of Stroud when OSU comes to AA in November.
August 21st, 2021 at 11:55 AM ^
Hopefully he stinks
August 21st, 2021 at 1:01 PM ^
He won’t against us, he will play the game of his life, even if he arm punts passes all day long for completions or PI calls. I think I gave up on their qb stinking when Cardale Jones came in as 3rd string and lit us and the cfp teams up for a national championship.
August 21st, 2021 at 1:12 PM ^
Cardale Jones did not light us up. He basically handed off every snap, as OSU was already up 2-3 scores when he came in.
EDIT: I just checked the box score. He was 2/3 for 7 yards.
August 21st, 2021 at 2:42 PM ^
He still finished us off, beat Wisconsin, Bama and Oregon as the third stringer. All I’m saying is that it may not matter who the qb is. They seem to have enough around them to overcome those issues, at least under Meyer they did.
August 21st, 2021 at 4:47 PM ^
Uh, what did you look up? He was 6 for 7, 96 yards. If he doesn’t enter that game we win.
August 21st, 2021 at 5:10 PM ^
Uh, the game Cardale Jones played against Michigan, maybe?
You’re thinking of Dwayne Haskins, but nice try with the sarcastic “Uh” anyway.?
August 21st, 2021 at 1:38 PM ^
If Barrett doesn’t get hurt we probably win the 2017 game. Haskins was able to throw the ball way better than JT was able to do.
August 21st, 2021 at 2:43 PM ^
Maybe that’s the one I’m thinking of. I knew some backup came in and torched us. I can’t even keep it straight anymore.
August 21st, 2021 at 8:46 PM ^
OH the irony.
August 21st, 2021 at 11:58 AM ^
That’s a tough start for OSU. If stroud isn’t ready and Minnesota gets back to form from 2 years ago, they could legitimately start 0-2. I put that likelihood as super small but totally possible.
August 21st, 2021 at 12:04 PM ^
I feel like you're overestimating Minnesota. I bet Ohio State will be able to bully them around on the ground and won't even need Stroud to put up a whole lot of yards.
August 21st, 2021 at 12:10 PM ^
Probably. But it’s the first game back with fans and a night game. That can throw anyone off their game. Minnesota does bring back a good OL and a really good RB. Tanner Morgan was decent two years ago. Idk anything else about their team but there are components that can give OSU problems
August 21st, 2021 at 6:21 PM ^
No, those are the things Michigan fans always use as excuses for low expectations. They won’t bother OSU at all.
August 21st, 2021 at 12:59 PM ^
But… but… Row The Boat!
August 21st, 2021 at 12:07 PM ^
It's a very odd spread (currently OSU -14). I could see Minnesota coming out of their minds for the first game and keeping it close.
I could also see OSU winning 48-6 lol.
August 21st, 2021 at 12:25 PM ^
I'll take "Other Improbable Outcomes" for $1000, Alex. Oops, I meant Mike. Sorry again, I mean ... Who the hell is hosting this show anyway?
August 21st, 2021 at 2:39 PM ^
I started recording Jeopardy again after Amodio won 8 in a row. He’s up to 15 now. He would make a helluva host. Young, good looking, affable, smart… What else do you need to host a game show?
August 22nd, 2021 at 2:34 PM ^
You need to basically be Alex Trebek to correctly host jeopardy. Maybe they could program Watson to perfectly impersonate Trebek and run with that.
August 21st, 2021 at 12:55 PM ^
Here’s what will happen in OSU’s first game: they will be down 10-0 and everyone will laugh, a bunch of threads in here “ha ha they suck!” Then, OSU will win 49-10.
August 21st, 2021 at 2:46 PM ^
At 0-10, Day will fire off a memo to Satan reminding him of the little agreement he signed with Tressel, and that will be that.
August 21st, 2021 at 4:08 PM ^
Should I upvote for accuracy or downvote for YOU BASTARDS
August 21st, 2021 at 1:14 PM ^
In the last 20 years OSU has had like 2 QBs that stunk: Justin Zwick and Joe Bauserman. Zwick was replaced by original Michigan kryptonite Troy Smith and Bauserman was replaced by freshman Braxton Miller.
August 21st, 2021 at 1:54 PM ^
Bauserman was great in Sha Na Na though.
August 21st, 2021 at 1:34 PM ^
Minny scares me to be honest. Your scenario has a low probability of happening, but it’s very, very possible.
August 21st, 2021 at 3:18 PM ^
Football has 21 other players who participate and they make a huge difference for the QB. OSU has Minny so utterly outclassed everywhere else, that it will matter very little.
August 21st, 2021 at 3:37 PM ^
The Minnesota team we beat last year will beat osu. I get other teams beat osu when we don’t but I don’t think anyone believes that is a possibility
August 21st, 2021 at 12:01 PM ^
Shortly after Day's announcement, Jack Miller, Kyle McCord and Quinn Ewers became the newest faces in the transfer portal.
One can dream, right?
August 21st, 2021 at 1:02 PM ^
No, they seem to keep all their future talent.
August 21st, 2021 at 1:16 PM ^
Well, except the guy who had the greatest passing season in NCAA history.
August 21st, 2021 at 2:53 PM ^
I’m not sure why they didn’t see the 280th ranked player in the country as the one who would have the greatest passing season in NCAA history?
If Ryan Day had been their OC, Burrow might have had a much different history at Ohio St. Hes much more of a passing coach than Meyer was.
August 22nd, 2021 at 1:31 PM ^
LSU made Joe Burrow and it's always funny when OSU claims him
August 22nd, 2021 at 1:29 PM ^
The cushy salary is worth waiting your turn and not going elsewhere
August 21st, 2021 at 6:39 PM ^
I would be more surprised if Kyle McCord didn't transfer. He is a high 5 star and will certainly drop below heir apparent Quinn Ewers. When that happens then maybe Stroud will transfer too.
Perhaps he'll take LSU to a national championship?
August 21st, 2021 at 8:19 PM ^
I think it's super hard to predict, because no one knows for sure what college football is going to look like once all the dust settles from the recent NIL ruling. I can easily envision a world in which some UT alumni get together and offer to make Ewers a multi-millionaire for him to transfer to Texas. If he's 2nd string behind Stroud after spring ball next year, I think that's a plausible scenario, but I don't know how likely it is.
Being a starting QB could conceivably worth like $3million or $5million more than being a backup, at the right school. And being a Texas HS phenom, it's entirely possible that their alumni would be willing to put up way more money than OSU's.
If I'm the AD or assistant AD at a major football power, I'm working the phones and schmoozing at dinners, looking for a company that's willing to go the "At Avis, we're #2, so we try harder" route. Have them commit to paying the backup QB every year, and figure out how to skirt the NCAA rules by giving them some additional compensation-- access to the coaches, or invitations to events they wouldn't otherwise get into, or whatever. Like, throw resources at it and make it a tradition. It could pay off big time.
August 21st, 2021 at 9:33 PM ^
I do think in a general sense, we'll start to see at lot of this. With NIL, plus immediate eligibility transfers now in play, I don't see how OSU or any roster in America is going to be able to hold onto 3, 5* freshman quarterbacks. It just simply doesn't make sense for the player in this environment.
Right now McCord strikes me as the odd man out, which is pretty insane because he is a really good player and I think he'll be successful as a starter wherever he ends up (including OSU, I just don't see how that happens, unless Stroud struggles and McCord steps in and does well).
There is very little doubt in my mind Texas is going to take a run at Ewers during the season; just like they did with Worthy, but probably with an even more lucrative offer. The question is what the OSU coaches are telling him about his place on the '22 depth chart and how OSU responds to Texas' advance. A lot will depend on how Stroud performs as the starter. It will be an interesting story to follow in this new college football landscape.
August 21st, 2021 at 12:06 PM ^
Am I missing something on Minnesota? Michigan was hot garbage last season and punched them right in the mouth. I was on the Fleck boat for a hot minute but Harbaugh has eaten his lunch twice. I don’t see OSU having any trouble in that game.
August 21st, 2021 at 1:03 PM ^
Even in Minnesota’s “breakout” season, they walked through one of the easiest schedules I’ve seen and then went 1-2 in their three big games (PSU, Iowa, Wisconsin) with two of them being at home and lost their commanding lead in the division.
August 21st, 2021 at 2:51 PM ^
The idea that OSU will have any trouble with Minnesota strikes me as a bit absurd.
August 21st, 2021 at 4:43 PM ^
I'm not concerned that OSU will have trouble with Minnesota.
But I am concerned about:
- a first time starter at QB
- Basically a RS Freshman
- who has never thrown a pass
- Season opener
- Night game
- Conference opponent
- on the road
- stand alone game on a Thursday
- with Oregon right around the corner.
Just based on the QB situation alone, I would much rather start this season with Akron to let the QB kids get their feet wet before diving in.
August 21st, 2021 at 5:26 PM ^
Are you concerned about Ohio Sts passing defense? Seems that would be on the list.
August 21st, 2021 at 8:26 PM ^
Not OP, but I'm bewildered by OSU's secondary. If you look at the talent they've put in the NFL from the defensive backfield, it's extraordinary-- and that's been even in recent seasons when the performance on field has been awful.
They've got a ton of talent back there, it's hard to criticize an OSU fan that's optimistic. But it's also clear there have been systematic problems-- whether it's due to coaching, motivation, scheme, or something else, I don't know.
I do wonder if the linebackers play any role in their DB's struggles. They've recruited well at LB, but they were coached ineptly for a few years, and they've consistently underwhelmed. If better LB play equated a few more QB hurries per game, and a couple more plays where the underneath man was actually covered, I could imagine that having an impact on the secondary. I could also imagine that it would just change those few plays, and everything else would remain the same. Just an idle thought.
August 22nd, 2021 at 11:12 AM ^
Yes, Zeke, I am concerned about the pass defense. My comment above expressed concerns specific to the QB.
In 2019, the pass defense was really good, led by Okudah at CB & Jordan Fuller at S (and Shaun Wade in a position that suited him better than his 2020 position did). But there has been so much attrition over the years that it's been hard to keep up with recruiting/development. Several guys have stepped in for a single season and left after 1 year as a starter. Plus, two DBs got kicked off the team who played in The Game in 2019 and would likely have played significant roles to add depth to the unit in 2020 & 2021.
I'm actually concerned about the entire back 7. Those are the 2 concerns: back 7 & QB. They are CFP championship worthy everywhere else, how far the 2021 Buckeyes go will depend on how those 2 concerns are answered.
August 22nd, 2021 at 2:42 PM ^
The time to fear the worst related to a new Ohio State QB would be sometime after it actually happens. It never happens, and so you have literally nothing to fear. Stroud is extremely likely to be an early Heisman frontrunner after the Minnesota game. Live with it Chuck, this is the burden of being an Ohio State fan in the 2000's.
August 22nd, 2021 at 7:04 PM ^
I've been tolerating it quite well thus far. But thank you for the sympathies.
August 21st, 2021 at 8:50 PM ^
"Even in Minnesota’s “breakout” season, they walked through one of the easiest schedules..."
They didn't exactly walk through the easy part of their schedule.
August 21st, 2021 at 3:30 PM ^
I've always thought of Fleck as more of a showman and a motivator than a coach, and if you look at his "best" seasons they usually were ones where his teams didn't really play anyone and were largely saved from injuries. When everything breaks right I think his style can work but I've not seen any of his teams out-gameplan anyone or out-perform the talent they have.
OSU will roll over them unless OSU's offense really does take a step back without Fields out there. My guess is it won't.
August 22nd, 2021 at 8:50 AM ^
Bronx, all the reports coming out of fall camp is the offense is so deep they could rotate almost every position less TE. They actually playing with the idea of moving the LT to LG in order to get Dawand Jones on the field. They may give the 2nd OL a series or two every game like Tressel did in 2006. Unless OSU throws 3 pick 6’s, fumbles @ the Minnesota 1 five times I have no clue why anyone would be nervous of the gophers. OSU could probably win a close one with the 2nd offense.
***my mother grew up @ Morris avenue & Jerome. As a youngin’ I remember walking down towards the overhead train to the butcher(Charly) with sawdust floors. He always gave us kids a piece of bologna when we came in. It was so fresh. Early 70’s my grandmother moved to middle village queens after she was mugged in her building. Loved NYC as a kid visiting.my aunt & uncle had a bungalow @ Long Beach or Rockaway 71-77. Great times.
August 21st, 2021 at 12:20 PM ^
I just read OSU QB, so he will probably be a heisman candidate, get hurt in game 8 or 9, and his backup will be better than him.
August 21st, 2021 at 12:24 PM ^
It will be interesting to see what becomes of their various 5 and high 4 star QBs once someone settles in as the starter for OSU. All four of their kids have many years of eligibility left, and it isn’t as if they will be sitting behind a junior or senior. Wonder if there is a Joe Burrow in the group?
August 21st, 2021 at 12:41 PM ^
If there is a Burrow buried on their depth chart, expect Nick Saban to liberate him.