Scouting JT Barrett: Spring Game Film

Submitted by UAUM on

With BM out this year, I've been very interested in what his replacement will be like.  From his OSU spring game film, I don't think Barrett is a guy who can be easily dismissed.  Here's the tape:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mglU9JDm364

Thoughts from the analysts welcome.

Sorry I don't know how to embedd.

 

APBlue

August 20th, 2014 at 9:16 AM ^

I think I read that this kid was the #7 QB coming out in his class.  He'll be fine.  Between now and The Game, he'll improve a ton.  

One thing made me curious, though - 

Wasn't Braxton still recovering from surgery in the spring?  If so, Jones & Barett shared reps in the spring game.  And if Barett got half the reps in the spring game, why is there only 2 minutes of highlights?  

APBlue

August 20th, 2014 at 11:06 AM ^

No handoffs - good point.  Incompletions aren't always bad, but it's kind of what I'm getting at.  He had to have had a lot more than 2:00 of playing time, but the video is only 2:00 long.  

Like I said in the earlier post, the kid was very highly rated coming out of high school, so it's not like he's some schlub.  

Although he did have a slow delivery, his arm was better than what a recent article made it out to be.  I think it was his position coach or OC that really downplayed his arm.  

He doesn't look as shifty as Miller, but, like you said, pretty good speed for a 225 lb guy.  

Texagander

August 20th, 2014 at 8:59 AM ^

I'm a novice here, but he doesn't seem to be as shifty or quick as Braxton. It also seems likes he pushes the ball but makes decent throws. His adaptation of the system will be his biggest strength. He has been in it for awhile now and taking snaps with the ones. Based on that short game film and my inadequate knowledge of breaking it down, he looks like a poor man's Tate Forcier. Or maybe a better analogy is that he is a dual threat game manager.

814 East U

August 20th, 2014 at 8:59 AM ^

Breaking down Spring game Film. What is next...breaking down Spring Game depth Charts? Might as well take stock into NFL Preseason game film or high school highlights.10 days guys!!!

HenneGivenSunday

August 20th, 2014 at 10:06 AM ^

Watching the first few throws on the tape, it looked like their secondary needs major work.  Not sure if he's going against the 1's or 2's.  I saw the corner on one play about 6 yards away from a guy running a slant with no inside help.  Obvious result is a completion with a full head of steam for the receiver. 

I did think their front 4 looked okay though.  Urbz system sort of helps the O-line out on pass plays with the shotgun and quick throws. 

MGoChippewa

August 20th, 2014 at 9:16 AM ^

this morning on Mike&Mike and I think the Spring Game film shows it: They're going to use Barrett much like they used Kenny Guiton last year, as a distributor.  Most of his throws were crossing routes and screens; very few deep balls sprinkled in.  With weapons like Wilson, Elliott, etc. they might not see as big of a dip as some people are suggesting.

Salinger

August 20th, 2014 at 9:41 AM ^

I totally agree. Let's be honest here. OSU is going to reload with Barrett and they are going to come prepared every week. Are there some question marks on their O-Line and secondary? Sure. But this is a team that's going to be well coached and their other skill position players are really good.

Now lets go out there and kick their ass!

Go Blue!

The Baughz

August 20th, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^

Exactly. Also, he is coming off a torn ACL in 2012, and redshirted last year. I do not think he will be asked to do a lot. Meyer is a great coach and will simplify the scheme. I also would expect to see less of the read option. This kid is a good athlete, but does not have the quickness or elusiveness that Miller had. I think he will struggle early, but will be fine by B1G play. I am very excited to see how they do against that Va Tech defense. Bud Foster is one of the DCs in the game.

Perkis-Size Me

August 20th, 2014 at 9:05 AM ^

OSU still figures to be a pretty dangerous team with this kid at the helm. I think they'll have some growing pains on offense, since I think about 98% of their offense from last year is now officially gone, but OSU is afforded the luxury of not playing anyone of true substance until they play MSU, so he has time to develop. However, unless Barrett channels his inner Manziel, I don't see OSU walking out of East Lansing with a win at this point.

BlueKoj

August 20th, 2014 at 9:17 AM ^

I agree that MSU and UM are their only toss up games. They should be favored in all others. They'll be favored vs. UM most likely but its The Game. Sparty should be favored to win in EL. 

Still, Navy, VT and Cincy are early in the season and are not cupcakes. Sure, Cincy and VT are in CBus, but if OH has growing pains (which isn't out of the question) then someone could get lucky. 

Their record has been impressive their first two years under Meyer, but a lot of their wins haven't been. We'll see if that trend continues.

mh277907

August 20th, 2014 at 11:03 AM ^

I am glad that you don't see Navy, VT and Cincy as cupcakes. VT held Bama to 206 total yards last year. They were just embarrassingly bad on offense to keep the game close.

OSU will be tested before MSU. Even with Braxton those early games have the possibility of being challenging. Not to mention PSU in Happy Valley.

BlueKoj

August 20th, 2014 at 4:46 PM ^

Count me as skeptical of PSU this year.  No Robinson or Breneman. Only one returning starter on the OL and still having depth issues all over the field due to sanctions. Couple that with a new staff and I think the transition is too much. 

PSU will lose at least 4 games and I can see even more than that once health becomes an issue over the course of the season.

jblaze

August 20th, 2014 at 9:29 AM ^

I'm sure we just saw his completions, not all of his attempts. However, the kid can run and has a strong arm (there was barely any arc to his throws, they were straight missiles). 

I wonder how much of this was against OSU's 2nd/ 3rd string D, because the corners were not very good.

Profwoot

August 20th, 2014 at 9:24 AM ^

He looks to be further along than Braxton was at this stage. He doesn't look nearly as shifty or quick, but plenty good enough to keep defenses honest, and seems like a better thrower. Especially given the emphasis on getting the ball to their playmakers rather than making the QB make tough throws, Barrett wouldn't seem to be a huge downgrade.

Hopefully M can give him trouble with tight coverage and force him to try to throw over the top.

RationalBuckeye

August 20th, 2014 at 9:46 AM ^

He's demonstrated better vision on his reads than Braxton as soon as he learned the playbook, which I think is the compensating factor. Braxton predetermined his reads a lot and missed on the big play on the inside zone packages. If Braxton was Tebow at UF without the elite vision, Barrett is closer to Tebow in that respect.


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Kalamablue

August 20th, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^

I'm gonna have to disagree with you that being able to do the reads compensates for Braxton's playmaking abilities.  How many drives did Braxton save by being able to buy time with his legs?   I don't think there was anyone better than BM in NCAA at that.  Again, I don't think JT is going to be awful or anything.  I just don't think the offense will be nearly the threat it was under BM.   

RationalBuckeye

August 20th, 2014 at 11:12 AM ^

You can't compare those situations apples to apples. Having the ability to make the correct reads changes the whole complexion of the drive. Some of the drives that Miller saves might not need saving to begin with if he makes the reads correctly.


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RationalBuckeye

August 20th, 2014 at 11:16 AM ^

You can't compare those situations apples to apples. Having the ability to make the correct reads changes the whole complexion of the drive. Some of the drives that Miller saves might not need saving to begin with if he makes the reads correctly.


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HokeHogan

August 20th, 2014 at 9:39 AM ^

I assume we will not be interested in building up his confidence as Urb and staff have done here. If we run a defense modified to showcase the played called on offense then he will beat us. I for one hope we blitz, play a starter, put a db with in ten yards of  line of scrimmage, etc... 

cookie1012349

August 20th, 2014 at 9:41 AM ^

I believe Ohio fans were fairly concerned about their backup QB because of the spring game performance. The word arround 11 warriors is Barrett is fairly accurate but doesn't have the arm strength that they would like to see. I thought he looked very freshman. He definitly has a lot of promise and I thought he looked dangerous on the ground. The downside is he looked slow on a lot of simple reads. I will be very interested to see how he looks against Navy and VT.

sharks

August 20th, 2014 at 9:42 AM ^

going to be a test this year- Hack had a bad game last year, but he's a big talent, plus Happy Valley is always a tough visit. It'll be baptism by fire for the retooled o-line. There is a wealth of talent in the other offensive skill positions, even with Hyde gone. I think the season is going to hinge on the development of the linebackers and defensive backs nearly as much as with Barrett.

cookie1012349

August 20th, 2014 at 9:53 AM ^

I thought the advanced statistics on their running game was pretty telling last year. With that dline they were in the 90s. I can't imagine they are going to be a lot better with losing Roby and Shazier. If Vonn Bell or some young linebackers step up its gonna be a long year for that D

Don

August 20th, 2014 at 9:58 AM ^

to work out the kinks with Barnett before we go up there. Putting this in the win column for us simply and only because Miller won't be playing assumes that OSU doesn't have the talent and the coaching to make up for it, and that's not the case.

M-Dog

August 20th, 2014 at 10:10 AM ^

He will be good.  Good runner, qucik release, good velocity on throws.

He has the issue that freshmen have . . . he's a one read guy.  He's locked on that one guy and that's where the ball is going.  

It takes time to overcome that.  John Navarre had that problem and it took until he was a Senior to overcome it.  When he did, he was very good.

OSU will still be able to beat most of their opponents with Barrett this year.  But he should struggle being able to consistently move the ball against teams like MSU, and hopefully, Michigan.  

Ron Utah

August 20th, 2014 at 1:13 PM ^

He does NOT have a quick release.  If you mean that he makes decisions quickly, there is some truth to that, but he has a long, almost Tebow-like throwing motion.

He has good zip on short throws, but looks a little shakier on the longer stuff.  He's a decent runner.

This guy is a good player in a great system.  He's not great, and won't be even by season's end.  In time, Meyer will turn him into a star, but he doesn't have elite tools...then again, neither did Tebow.