Buckeyes Still Have Not Named Starter In 'Neck And Neck' QB Battle
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day used a horse-racing analogy to describe the current quarterback battle in Columbus.
Day did not name a starting quarterback between Kyle McCord and Devin Brown, but said the two continue to battle as Ohio State prepares for its game against the Indiana Hoosiers Sept. 2. Day compared the "neck and neck" battle to coming down to the end of a horse race where both are jockeying for position.
"They're running down the stretch against each other and one pulls away and the other one goes," Day said. "They're going hard. The bottom line is, that finish line isn't right now. We're going to keep going and keep on it, give them the opportunity and we'll just keep evaluating."
Day said there were two different occasions where he felt one quarterback pulled away from the other, but then the leading candidate throttled back in play and allowed the other to catch up.
Day has not ruled out the possibility of both playing when Ohio State plays Indiana, saying that if one doesn't emerge this week, then during game prep for the Hoosiers, both will be a part of the plan and get equal opportunities in week 1.
"For me to say, 'Hey, this guy should just play the whole game and the other one shouldn't that just that's not the right thing to do,'" Day said "They both deserve to play at this point."
Day said if all things are equal there a couple criteria he looks for.
"If all things were equal, you probably go with the guy who's been in the program longer for at least for the first snap.
"We want the better leader, the better decision maker and, ultimately, the best competitor."
The decision was so tight that Day turned to his staff members for a vote on who they thought was leading the race, and "it was almost split right down the middle." Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles declined to comment on which player he voted for and what schematic things he does differently when facing McCord and Brown.
Day praised both quarterbacks' intangibles, which he said is a factor in the decision-making process. He said the players "believe in" and "rally around" McCord, while Brown has "a lot of juice" and "takes command on the field."
The quarterback battle in Columbus is an ongoing question, but the two gunslingers will have to be on their Ps and Qs all the way until Sept. 2.
"One thing is for sure is they can't take a down off," Day said. "They can't take a play off. And they're pushing each other and that's good."
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