The Ohio State Buckeyes will have a new starting quarterback this Saturday night. It will either be Luke Fahey or Tavien St. Clair who starts the game. Ryan Day has refused to name a starting quarterback, which is not surprising. He likely won't until Saturday night.
However, Day did claim during his weekly press conference that both quarterbacks could play in this game. That could just be gamesmanship. Although playing both quarterbacks might not be a bad idea. I think there is a case for playing both and a case for just sticking with one.
The case for Ohio State to play both QBs against USC
I highlighted a large case earlier for the Buckeyes playing both quarterbacks against the Trojans. Fahey and St. Clair have different skill sets. Ohio State is still likely going to trot out Fahey as the starter, but it would not shock me at all to see TSC get some snaps.
Playing both quarterbacks would give an already bad USC defense too many things to look at. Fahey can scramble a bit more than St. Clair, although TSC can be utilized in short-yardage situations because of his size. Throwing deep is something St. Clair specializes in, as well.
If the Buckeyes want to take deep shots in the game to Jeremiah Smith, St. Clair would be a good option to use. However, more intermediate routes would be something Fahey excels in more. Changing up the quarterbacks depending on the situation could be helpful until USC catches on.
The case against playing both Ohio State QBs vs. USC
The case against playing both quarterbacks is pretty simple. Neither quarterback has gotten nearly enough reps to be comfortable as a starter yet. Pulling one guy in the game to put the other guy in reduces those reps and doesn't allow either quarterback to truly get into a rhythm.
This also increases the chances that both of the quarterbacks start looking over their shoulders too much. That could mean that they are afraid to make certain needed throws because a mistake could mean they will be replaced. Day doesn't want that to happen, either.
Day has also never played a two-quarterback system. He has always stuck with one guy and built a game plan around that player to help him succeed. It would be a massive change in character for him to do something different, especially with how good this team is.
Playing quarterback musical chairs might not be the smart thing to do with Ohio State ranked second and chasing a national championship. Figuring out the right guy to take this team all the way to a national championship needs to be the focus, and I believe that's what Day has been doing.
The only scenario I see both quarterbacks playing is if there is a massive blowout or if the starter is ineffective. Day has never pulled a QB for ineffectiveness, mainly because the guys he's had have been so good. That would be a surprise on its own. Day likely goes down with the ship with one guy, whether he is playing well or not.
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