Don't look now but it appears that Justin Fields may end up in the same situation he was at Georgia. Seems Kentucky transfer Gunnar Hoak is impressing tOSU coaching staff and is even with Fields in the battle for QB. We witnessed this at UGA. Fields as all the physical tools to play the position, but has issues with his decision making and progressions.
Surprise...surprise!
- Thread starter Alphalion75
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Ohio State’s new head coach wants Fields to earn the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback job, and in Day’s mind, Fields hasn’t done that yet. Even though Matthew Baldwin transferred to TCU after competing with Fields for the starting quarterback job this spring, Fields still has to compete with Gunnar Hoak – who arrived this summer as a graduate transfer from Kentucky – when preseason camp begins in August.
“Justin and Gunnar are going to compete like heck to win the job, but at the end of the day, it's going to come down to who can play the game,” Day said Thursday at Big Ten Media Days.
Fields has still only been on campus for just over six months, so while he’s clearly the frontrunner to be the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback for their season opener on Aug. 31, that’s more the case due to the talent he came in with than anything he’s done at Ohio State yet. No matter how highly touted a player is as a recruit, he’s expected to prove he’s ready to play with his performance on the practice field, and Day said that still needs to happen in the weeks leading up to the start of the season.
“One of our core philosophies is that you don't just get given a starting position. You earn everything you get around here, and he hasn't done that,” Day said. “I know everybody wants to get way ahead of themselves and start talking about Heisman, but how about winning the starting quarterback job first? Because you can't win the job when you're still learning the offense. He learned the offense in the spring. He's got a step ahead of Gunnar because Gunnar just got here and he didn't even go through the spring.”
As he has throughout the spring and summer, Day cautioned that because Dwayne Haskins already had two years at Ohio State before he became the starter last year, it shouldn’t be expected that Fields will simply pick up where Haskins left off.
“A lot of people think well, Dwayne went from zero to 60 so fast and he just kind of jumped into the Heisman Trophy race, and that will happen (again),” Day said. “Well, that was a very different scenario than Justin Fields. Justin hasn’t won the job yet. That’s the first step in all this.”
“Justin and Gunnar are going to compete like heck to win the job, but at the end of the day, it's going to come down to who can play the game,” Day said Thursday at Big Ten Media Days.
Fields has still only been on campus for just over six months, so while he’s clearly the frontrunner to be the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback for their season opener on Aug. 31, that’s more the case due to the talent he came in with than anything he’s done at Ohio State yet. No matter how highly touted a player is as a recruit, he’s expected to prove he’s ready to play with his performance on the practice field, and Day said that still needs to happen in the weeks leading up to the start of the season.
“One of our core philosophies is that you don't just get given a starting position. You earn everything you get around here, and he hasn't done that,” Day said. “I know everybody wants to get way ahead of themselves and start talking about Heisman, but how about winning the starting quarterback job first? Because you can't win the job when you're still learning the offense. He learned the offense in the spring. He's got a step ahead of Gunnar because Gunnar just got here and he didn't even go through the spring.”
As he has throughout the spring and summer, Day cautioned that because Dwayne Haskins already had two years at Ohio State before he became the starter last year, it shouldn’t be expected that Fields will simply pick up where Haskins left off.
“A lot of people think well, Dwayne went from zero to 60 so fast and he just kind of jumped into the Heisman Trophy race, and that will happen (again),” Day said. “Well, that was a very different scenario than Justin Fields. Justin hasn’t won the job yet. That’s the first step in all this.”
If true, this would be hilarious! And not a great sign for OSU's success on the field this year. I live in Lexington, and have seen some of what Hoak had to offer while at UK. Not very impressive, statuesque, and couldn't beat out a Juco QB that averaged 7 yards a throw for 145 yards a game. Hope Julian Fleming enjoys blocking, because if Hoak is his qb, he won't be catching many balls.
Oh wait, but the biased B10 media already anointed Fields as the 2nd best QB in the B10.....
Only a jerk would find this funny. Me, I find it hilarious.
Me as well, cause I thought it was funny too.
And they'll still probably end up winning at least 10 games this season.
Trying to read between the lines, Day's language is negative, not positive. He could have said something like, "Justin's been mastering the playbook, he's really worked hard blah blah blah Hoak is really impressive and is going to push him hard for the starting."
It's the way this statement is worded that's interesting to me. Either Day is just negative in his style, or he's trying to get Field's attention because Fields came in entitled and hasn't really applied himself. Or he's just trying to dampen down fans' expectations because both QBs are really stinking it up.
Everybody knew that if Fields couldn't come in and play right away, they had no real plan B. That may still be the case. On the other hand, they're Ohio State, they'll find a way to win 10 games and beat Michigan and probably Penn State.
It's the way this statement is worded that's interesting to me. Either Day is just negative in his style, or he's trying to get Field's attention because Fields came in entitled and hasn't really applied himself. Or he's just trying to dampen down fans' expectations because both QBs are really stinking it up.
Everybody knew that if Fields couldn't come in and play right away, they had no real plan B. That may still be the case. On the other hand, they're Ohio State, they'll find a way to win 10 games and beat Michigan and probably Penn State.
I worked with a guy last year who just finished his playing career at UK. He did not have anything good to say about Hoak’s playing ability. Good kid, bad QB was basically his evaluation.
Where do you rank OSU' s talent? How about michigan and psu?
Plan a> plan b.
Fields will start and probably contend for the heisman.
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Yep...first year pal. Joking aside here, I've followed Fields progression very closely back to his HS days at Harrison High. He is an athletic specimen for sure. But his decision making has always been an issue. Do you really think that Jake Fromm is a better athlete than Fields? Yet, JF did not see much PT at UGA, simply because every time they gave him a chance in a clutch situation, he did not come through very well.
I wouldn't take anything said at Media Day at face value.
Reading between the lines I think Day is deflecting attention from Fields, and the fact that he was probably promised the starting job as part of his transfer. Notice Day goes out of his way to say that guys have to earn starting spots. I call BS, and expect Fields to take the first snap from scrimmage in their first game.
Point taken. Maybe Day is trying to light a fire under Fields. My Ohio friends have told me that JF has not impressed so far.Well....its aside from the original point, but, since you asked:
1) I think Fromm is one of the best QBs in the country. VERY impressed every time I see that kid play.
2) I would be quite surprised if Fields is ever as effective a QB as Fromm is (and it probably would never even be close - IMO - but we'd have to see Fields play more to be sure)..... but that has nothing to do with whether or not Fields will start at OSU in 2019 (Since Fromm ain't an option for Ryan Day)
3) Given the QB situation that DOES exist at OSU..... Fields would have to break an ankle (or rob a bank... or two
True
1) Light Fires
2) Manage Expectations (good luck with that one - given the nature of college football fan bases
3) Promote competitiveness (throughout the depth chart, not just Fields)
ie: What every college coach everywhere tries to do.
In the meantime, I would LOVE it if Fields fell flat on his face (on the field).
But I'd wonder about just what your "Ohio friends" are basing their "insights" on...… seeing as how we all had the opportunity to see their Scarlett and Grey game (which was - to be fair - uneven, at best... but it was a F-ing Spring Game), and Fields hasn't taken the field since then (or before then - for that matter)
Based on past history of their offensive coaching staff.... and the program as a whole....
Fields "falling flat on his face" is not likely. Doesn't mean it couldn't happen - and surely doesn't mean he is destined to be an instant star - but it would be an upset if he doesn't put up "solid to good" numbers right from the get-go.
Honestly, it’s almost impossible not to put up “solid to good” numbers overall as the Ohio State starting QB. The real question is whether or not he can put up good numbers against Penn State, Michigan, and Michigan State.
I have a close Buckeye friend at work. He follows the Bucks as closely as many of us follow our Nits. Word out of summer workouts is that he isn't exactly the most conscientious worker and has had a slow time of it learning the playbook. But, again, this is all 2nd hand stuff.True
1) Light Fires
2) Manage Expectations (good luck with that one - given the nature of college football fan bases
3) Promote competitiveness (throughout the depth chart, not just Fields)
ie: What every college coach everywhere tries to do.
In the meantime, I would LOVE it if Fields fell flat on his face (on the field).
But I'd wonder about just what your "Ohio friends" are basing their "insights" on...… seeing as how we all had the opportunity to see their Scarlett and Grey game (which was - to be fair - uneven, at best... but it was a F-ing Spring Game), and Fields hasn't taken the field since then (or before then - for that matter)
Based on past history of their offensive coaching staff.... and the program as a whole....
Fields "falling flat on his face" is not likely. Doesn't mean it couldn't happen - and surely doesn't mean he is destined to be an instant star - but it would be an upset if he doesn't put up "solid to good" numbers right from the get-go.
He will most definitely start - they have no choice but contend for the he is an when he couldn’t even win the starting job at UGA - I seriously doubt it.
True. Just sharing information from the 'grapevine'.I hope that proves to be the case
But right now, with no evidence to the contrary, it sounds like "whistling through the graveyard" stuff on a PSU Board
As always, time will tell.
Somebody better call him a name so he can prepare his exit strategy if needed.
What is that prediction based on? His Rivals ranking or his production on the field last year at UGA
I find it funny, even if the shelf is full of me at the jerk store
Me as well, cause I thought it was funny too.
I would beg to differ as Clifford had a much higher QB rating last year than Fields.Well.... his QB rating at UGA last year was higher than any QB in PSU history.
(And he was also a very effective runner)
A total of 8 TDs in 82 "touches" ain't too bad either.
So one might not want to use that argument.
Better to simply recognize the obvious
https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/4362887/justin-fields
https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/4259592/sean-clifford
Well....its aside from the original point, but, since you asked:
1) I think Fromm is one of the best QBs in the country. VERY impressed every time I see that kid play.
2) I would be quite surprised if Fields is ever as effective a QB as Fromm is (and it probably would never even be close - IMO - but we'd have to see Fields play more to be sure)..... but that has nothing to do with whether or not Fields will start at OSU in 2019 (Since Fromm ain't an option for Ryan Day)
3) Given the QB situation that DOES exist at OSU..... Fields would have to break an ankle (or rob a bank... or two
Funny you should mention Jake Fromm. Or as I like to call him, a slower version of Sean Clifford.
They do actually look similar throwing the ball and, both are 6'2" and around 220 lbs.Well.... his QB rating at UGA last year was higher than any QB in PSU history.
(And he was also a very effective runner)
A total of 8 TDs in 82 "touches" ain't too bad either.
So one might not want to use that argument.
Better to simply recognize the obvious
Well his combined 8 TDs were all against UMass, Tennessee, MTSU, and Austin Peay, so not exactly the strongest opponents either.
A better argument honestly would be to just watch his film from last year. Lots of issues not reading defenses, not seeing guys wide open, and tucking the ball and running far too many times when throwing to open receivers would have been a better option. He doesn't seem to know how to slide either. His film vs Auburn was pretty bad, and for an OSU OLine that is replacing multiple starters, he needs to show big improvement in that aspect if he wants to make it through an entire season. If he goes down, OSU's season might go down with it seeing who their backups are.
The preseason hype he is getting is pretty silly.
