Ohio State and Rutgers are in the same position as they seek better play at quarterback after a tight offseason competition for the starting job. But the coaches of the teams have diametrically opposite approaches to handling their quarterback situations.
Rutgers coach Kyle Flood named Chris Laviano the starter after the season opener and hasn’t wavered despite the team losing both games Laviano has started. Laviano has completed 70.3 percent of his passes for 455 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in the two starts.
Backup Hayden Rettig has not played a snap since completing 9-of-11 passes for 110 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions during Laviano’s suspension in the first half of the first half of the season-opening win over Norfolk State.
“Chris is the starting quarterback right now,” Flood said on Sept. 7. “I don’t want any player in our program looking over their shoulder worried that they would be pulled out of a game because they made a mistake.”
Ohio State coach Urban Meyer had a unique quarterback competition this offseason. J.T. Barrett was outstanding in leading the Buckeyes to a 10-1 start last season. But after Barrett suffered a season-ending ankle injury, Cardale Jones took over and led Ohio State to wins in the Big Ten championship, a national semifinal and the national championship game.
Meyer named Jones the starting quarterback after a tightly contested training camp battle. But Jones has been replaced by Barrett in each of the past two games, which Ohio State won despite subpar play by both quarterbacks.
Continue Reading: Ohio State coach Urban Meyer has opposite approach to Rutgers’ Kyle Flood with QBs
