Cardale Jones knew the question was coming, and when it finally did, he heaved a heavy sigh and answered in the way he felt most suitable.
How did the redshirt junior, who is now 11-0 as Ohio State's starting quarterback, play in his team's latest victory, a 28-14 decision under the Ohio Stadium lights Saturday against Minnesota?
"Below average," Jones said. "That's my opinion."
Statistically, Jones did enough against the Golden Gophers to lead No. 3 Ohio State to its ninth win of 2015 and 29th consecutive Big Ten regular season victory. He finished 12-of-22 passing for 187 yards and one touchdown, while running the ball 12 times for 65 yards and the game-sealing touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 38-yard scamper.
"Well, just the accuracy in the throw game. I feel like — it's hard for me to say now that, because I don't see — I'm down on the field, and you can't see a thing down there," Urban Meyer said. "They (stop the run), we have to be able to hit (shots down the field). And when we do, we move the ball."
Jones hit a pair of those Saturday, namely to Jalin Marshall for 44 yards and then later to Braxton Miller for 45. Neither went for touchdowns, but put the Buckeyes in position to score. They did on the drive after Marshall's big catch when Ezekiel Elliott weaved his way 15 yards to the end zone on the next play, but failed on the latter after Jack Willoughby missed a 35-yard field goal. Jones also threw a beautiful ball to Michael Thomas' back shoulder to give Ohio State a 21-0 lead in the third.
“Definitely not as well as J.T.'s. I'm not as quick, but I'm kind of hard to tackle. It takes about 10-12 yards to get my speed kicked in.”– Cardale Jones on his running style
In what began as a sluggish game for both teams — neither scored until inside the five-minute mark of the second quarter on Vonn Bell's interception return for a touchdown — Ohio State took a step back offensively with Jones at quarterback after torching Rutgers for 49 points two weeks earlier when J.T. Barrett accounted for five touchdowns.
Barrett brings a run element to the offense that Jones simply cannot, with quicker feet and faster decision-making that allows the read-option and quarterback run game to thrive in Meyer's offense.
"Definitely not as well as J.T.'s," Jones said of his running style. "I'm not as quick, but I'm kind of hard to tackle. It takes about 10-12 yards to get my speed kicked in."
He said that last part with a chuckle and the smile that Ohio State fans grew accustomed to seeing this summer as Jones basked in the glory of that magical run that capped the program's 2014 national title season. He beat Barrett out for the job in camp, but lost it seemingly for good prior to the game in Piscataway, New Jersey, two weeks ago.
Barrett then found himself in trouble early Halloween morning, cited for OVI after getting stopped a checkpoint. He was suspended Saturday, but when asked about Barrett's status in the quarterback race moving forward, Ohio State's head coach was very blunt.
"Yes," Meyer said.
That's perfectly fine with Jones, too, who said he didn't see Saturday as his final audition to Meyer to once again be the guy.
"I wasn't trying to make my case," Jones said. "Was just trying to do what I have to do to help my team win."
He did that, and his rushing touchdown — which Meyer said was a called play because they were expecting blitz — sealed the win and put a smile on the quarterback's face as he crossed the goal line.
"I was kind of waiting on someone to block that turf monster that was tripping me up," Jones said.
Jones hit some big throws but was sacked four times and lost a fumble. Meyer and others weren't ready to divulge much about what the quarterback situation for next Saturday at Illinois is set to look like once Barrett re-enters the fold.
"I'll know tomorrow when I watch the video tape, because a lot of times when I used to do that I'm wrong," Meyer said. "And I'd rather wait until I let you know for sure when I meet with you guys on Monday or Tuesday."
Added offensive coordinator Ed Warinner: "My assumption is that we'll assess the film. Coach Meyer, Coach (Tim) Beck and myself will have a discussion about what we think is best for the team moving forward and decide where to go from there. I'd venture to say that most of that will be in Coach Meyer's control."
Warinner did admit that the quarterback running game is a crucial part to Ohio State's success, while Meyer also said the offense isn't the same when Jones is in as it is when Barrett's running the show.
"I felt a little different. Probably more so now as the season's gone on than I did earlier in the year. A little different," Meyer said. "I think the read game, you know, that's not a big part of Cardale's game, which is kind of one of the parts of the foundation of the offense."
How Barrett responds coming off his suspension — he's due in court for arraignment Tuesday — and what the staff sees in Jones' performances bound to figure into the final decision on who starts next week.
But Jones thought he was below-average Saturday, even though he didn't feel like he was in an audition to keep the starting job. The Buckeyes were rolling before the bye week with Barrett at the helm, and need to recapture the mojo for a difficult pair of games coming at them after a visit to Illinois.
"I don't think we played a clean game. Not what we would expect. We expect to play better," Meyer said. "Just expect more efficiency out of our offense."
Does that mean Barrett's back? Will anything else go into Meyer's final pick on who is the guy for a team vying for a spot in the College Football Playoff?
"That's a question for him," Jones said.
"Best thing about 9-0? A chance to go 10-0 with a good bunch of people," said Meyer, who is now an astounding 47-3 at Ohio State. "Can't wait to go back to work tomorrow."
