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Ohio State Football: Soon Urban Meyer will have to weigh his ‘options’

By Charlie Lockhart

LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 14: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes watches player warm up before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - OCTOBER 14: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes watches player warm up before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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Joe Burrow has proven to be efficient with the zone-read option like Ohio State quarterbacks J.T. Barrett and Kenny Guiton. But he lacks the power of Barrett and I doubt he will average 8.3 yards per carry like Guiton did during the 2013 season. He reminds me more of Urban Meyer’s quarterback at Utah, Alex Smith.

That guy was pretty good wasn’t he. In fact, a case could be made no other quarterback has done more with less in Urban’s offense.

A quick look at the stats and I think you will see why I think Burrow could be a similar type of player.

During the 2004 season, the second in coach Meyer’s system, Smith completed 214 of 317 passes (67.5 percent) for 2,952 yards. His threw for 32 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.

Smith was effective, if not flashy, running the football as well. He gained 631 yards on the ground, averaged 4.7 yards per carry and scored 10 touchdowns.

Now I’ll break down Burrow’s stats from the regular season and the last two spring games:

  • Regular season passing:  29-39 (74.4 percent), 287 yards and 2 touchdowns
  • Spring game passing:  29-44 (65.9 percent), 506 yards and 5 touchdowns
  • Total passing:  58-83 (59.9 percent, 707 yards and 7 touchdowns

If my research is correct, Burrow has yet to throw a pick.

Burrow’s rushing totals are somewhat skewed when adding in those from last year when his playing time was limited due to an injury, and with the no contact rule on quarterbacks during spring games. I think a better indication of how effective he may be as a runner is to look at his stats from the 2016 season when he was J.T. Barrett’s backup, and completely healthy.

  • Burrow ran 12 times for 58 yards (4.8 average) and a touchdown.

The stats between the two quarterbacks are similar and other things are as well.

  • Both are listed at around 215 pounds with the 6-4 Smith an inch taller.
  • While effective runners, each are pass first quarterbacks and extremely accurate
  • Smith was a junior in 2004, Burrow will be a fourth year junior
  • Burrow has a good command of Urban’s offense, and like Smith he makes good decisions.

If coach Meyer chooses Burrow as his starting quarterback there won’t be as many downfield throws as with Haskins at the helm. But if he were to become nearly as efficient running the offense as Smith was in 2004, just how good could this Ohio State offense be?

In 2004, Utah averaged 499.8 yards per game in total offense and scored 45.3 points per game. With the amount of talent at the skill positions on this year’s Ohio State football team, it would seem a Burrow led offense could be even better.

You know Urban Meyer has to be thinking back to the time when his Utes went 12-0 and won a BCS bowl game which enabled him to land the Florida head coaching job. That’s why I think Urban is strongly considering choosing an efficient quarterback in the mold of Alex Smith to run his offense this season.   

Whether Burrow wins the starting quarterback job or it goes to Haskins, I think the other option(s) will be a part of the Buckeye offense.

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