Ohio State Rolls

The first half of last night's championship game was just odd. Oregon State receivers were DROPPING their short passes. Regularly. And it was usually on third down so Oregon was forced to punt.

I've watched the Ducks, every game I could, for the last four years. Their drives never end that way. Their receivers never drop short passes and they never are forced to punt on third down. If anything they rarely HAVE third downs. They never punt. Their drives, ALL of their drives, end in touchdowns.

Ohio State's defense must have been really, really good last night. Urban Meyer must be the best coach in college football because nobody does that to the Ducks.

And the best quarterback on the field last night? Cardale Jones, a third-string sophomore who only started the last three games for the Buckeyes because the two starters in front of him got hurt.

And now he's talking about going pro...

I know I'd draft him in front  of the last two Heisman winners, Florida State's Jameis Winston and Oregon's Marcus Mariotta. He's big, strong, fast, and can throw the long ball with pinpoint accuracy. And his three starts were all on the big stage. He clobbered Wisconsin for the Big Ten Title. He came back against everybody's number one team in the country, Alabama, and then WON the National Championship with his third start.

And the main reason he should go pro? There's a good chance he won't be Ohio State's starter next year because the other two guys will be healthy again next season.

You've heard the old saying, "strike while the iron's hot." Nobody has ever been hotter. NOW is the time to declare. There are several NFL teams who would draft him somewhere in the first two or three rounds, maybe sooner. If I was the Vikes, I couldn't think of a better backup for Bridgewater. He's that good. On the Big Stage.

I'm just sad the college season is over. With the playoff system now firmly established it will never be as good as it was. But it's still pretty good. Last night, it was great.