Buckeyes quarterback battle persisting after ‘step in the right direction’ this spring

COLUMBUS — Ohio State was struggling offensively entering the fourth quarter. Quarterback Kyle McCord, one of the two signal-callers competing for the starting job, was having a decent day.

Then he fired a dart over the top of the Buckeyes defense to freshman wide receiver Carnell Tate for a 37-yard touchdown pass, showing off his arm talent. Tate showed off his ability as a pass-catcher. The offensive line showed that it can patch leaks and hold up for an explosive play.

One explosive play, yes. But when McCord was asked about it, he spoke about an offense that is still coming together. He can see the potential of what it can be, rather than what it has been for most of the spring.

“Carnell ran a really good route, the line did a good job of protection and I made it a good throw, too,” McCord said. “So I think you know, when all those things come together, the result is a touchdown. But I think it’s a tribute to the 10 other guys and everybody doing their job. And you know, when that happens, good things happen.”

Key phrase: “When all of those things come together.”

The tricky part of that is not everything is together right now for the Ohio State offense, especially at the most important spot on the field. Ohio State coach Ryan Day made it through the entire spring without naming a starter between Devin Brown, who didn’t play Saturday due to a hand injury, and McCord.

Both quarterbacks said all the right things Saturday after the spring game. Both said they’re here to stay no matter who has the lead in the quarterback battle. Both talked about how great the competition between them has been for growth. Each of them spoke highly of the progress made since early March.

Whichever of these two wins the job will have the ultimate task that will determine whether this is a championship-level offense or not: bringing it all together like what happened on the touchdown pass to Tate.

“It’s definitely a little bit of a learning period,” McCord said. “But at the same time, you want to build that chemistry with the guys. Going with the [first team] and the [second team] in the spring is good that way. I’m building chemistry with six, seven, eight receivers, four tight ends. You’re getting good reps with the whole offense.

“So I definitely feel like the spring went well.”

Ohio State has gotten better offensively this spring, even as it has been without most of its top wide receivers for the entirety of the last two months. But the glaring issues entering spring are still there, most notably with the unnamed starting quarterback and an offensive line that needs to figure out its two tackle spots.

But as spring progressed and ended, the Buckeyes still enter summer without a signal-caller. The good news for Ohio State, potentially, is that neither of the two candidates to be the guy believe that’s necessarily a bad thing.

“Devin’s definitely making me better,” McCord said. “And I think vice versa as well. So, you know, even though there’s not a winner of the job yet, I think that benefits both of us, honestly. It’s going to push both of us going into fall camp. And there’s still a lot of time until the season. Just keeping each other hungry, I think he’d say the same thing. So I think that’s definitely the wise thing to do at this point, you know, just keeping each other in check, keeping each other going.”

Brown agreed.

“We’re trying to get each other better every single day. And that’s all we can ask for is pushing each other.”

Each of them will have more chances to prove they can be the quarterback who brings it all together for the offense. Those opportunities will come this summer.

It wasn’t, however, all together for most of the afternoon Saturday, even as the Buckeyes were willing to give their disruptive defense some credit for the offensive struggles.

But for at least one play, it did all click for Kyle McCord at quarterback. And the offensive line working together. And the young receiver finding space for a deep score.

Those kinds of plays will be what puts this offensive over the top, no matter who is throwing the ball and leading the offense.

“I did like the throw he had for the touchdown,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “Those throws are big down the field. When when you have an opportunity to make those downfield throws, that’s been the difference for us. When we’re explosive, we’re at our best football.

“That was a good step in the right direction.”

More of them will be welcome moving forward for Ohio State. Until then, the Buckeyes are working to put their offense together without a named starting quarterback to lead the way.

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