The 2015 National Championship Game

[tennbengal]

Cardale Jones has been a stud player these past three games. But, now let's again harken back to when we first heard his name:

I still don't think he is wrong.

[Pruitt]

Cardale Jones has been a stud player these past three games. But, now let's again harken back to when we first heard his name:

And the good news is that he's also a father!

Considering that, maybe going to class is a good idea?

[tennbengal]

I guess.

Or, he should go pro, and get paid to learn football (or at least, better paid to learn football).

I would be all for the Bengals drafting him, sitting behind Dalton for a year, and then seeing what there is to be seen.

[Pruitt]

It is astounding that he's the 3rd stringer.

Even more shocking that he's 22 years old. He seems to have Oden-itis.

[DC47]

He had to spend too much time in class, so he's a little behind.

[HDO45331]

How is this guy a 3rd string QB?

He's got everything.

He has everything but a quick first-three steps. He gets by with that now, but he would need that in the NFL.

[tennbengal]

How is this guy a 3rd string QB?

He's got everything.

He has everything but a quick first-three steps. He gets by with that now, but he would need that in the NFL.

Does Roethlisberger have a quick first three steps?

I think two years interning in the NFL and I will happily take a chance on that guys skills.

[Brontoburglar]

How is this guy a 3rd string QB?

He's got everything.

He has everything but a quick first-three steps. He gets by with that now, but he would need that in the NFL.

Does Roethlisberger have a quick first three steps?

I think two years interning in the NFL and I will happily take a chance on that guys skills.

Cardale is also not going to run 19 times a game in the pros, either. He had 17 carries against Alabama and 21 against Oregon. (Yes, sacks are rushing attempts in college, but he wasn't sacked a ton)

He'd be more than adequate as a scrambler in the NFL. With the arm (and I think he's got game intelligence, you could see it in the Alabama game after he settled down), him leaving right now isn't the worst option.

[Rex]

I would gladly sign up for the next Ben even if he is not white.

[Gunpowder]

Cam Newton already works, I don't see why an arguably better-throwing version of Cam Newton can't be ok in the NFL.

[Gunpowder]

And if you look at college Roethlisberger videos, he did run a lot more and he was rather lumbering in doing so.

[sancarlos]

One pertinent question is - who among the three Ohio State quarterbacks is coming back to Columbus next season?

[Brontoburglar]

One pertinent question is - who among the three Ohio State quarterbacks is coming back to Columbus next season?

By likelihood

1. J.T. Barrett
2. Cardale Jones
3. Braxton Miller

The wild card in the Miller situation is his shoulder. Given the nature of the reinjury and the fact that he's mentioned he needs to have his shoulder healthy, there seems to be a chance it may not be fully healed for a graduate transfer.

[Gunpowder]

I can't see Miller coming back to be 3rd string QB.

[tennbengal]

Intro music as Jones walks in to announce his decision.

I am gonna go out on a limb and guess that Peter King HATES that.

[tennbengal]

He's staying.

I assume tOSU can pay more than the contract you get as a 3rd round draft pick.

[DC47]

Jones will be amply insured in case of serious injury.

To me, he looks like the classic college QB who is all tools and no game. What he does is very simple. That works in college, when you have great talent around you. But not so much in the NFL.

This is no surprise, as he's had so little experience. If he was a pro next year he'd never take the headphones off. Perhaps the next year too. I wonder how much you can really learn as the third-string QB on an NFL team if you have no meaningful base of playing real games in college. You can understand more of the playbook over time. But you can't get reps at a slower speed, with weaker competition, that will allow you to learn how to play the position.

It's a rare college QB who has a good chance of even being a low-level, multi-year NFL starter. But Cardale Jones would have virtually no chance if he went pro this year. There's not that much money in your first contract, so even if you're just playing for cash, you have to think about career. About how to look like you can have one when your rookie deal expires.

Oh, and the benefits of learning and stuff in classes. I'm sure he's been coached up on what to say about this topic.