Now four games into the season, J.T. Barrett is past the point of just "filling in" for Braxton Miller. He's now the guy, and he's going to have to act like it if the Buckeyes want to accomplish their goal of winning the Big Ten.
This weekend will be the most telling as to whether Barrett is ready to lead this football team. Ohio State travels to welcome conference newcomer Maryland in the Terrapins first Big Ten home game, making it as big a game as Maryland will play all season. They're going to come out firing on both sides of the ball, and if they Buckeyes aren't ready, they're going to find themselves in danger of being upset.
Barrett showed against Cincinnati last week that he's comfortable with the on-field decisions a quarterback has to make - he used his freedom to change plays at the line of scrimmage repeatedly in the second half, based on what the defense was giving him - but now he has to take the next step and actually LEAD this team.
Head coach Urban Meyer didn't do him any favors in that regard when he said that Braxton Miller will be the starter when he returns next year, but Barrett can't worry about that right now.
He has to be more than just a placeholder this weekend, or the atmosphere will eat him alive. Barrett has to step up and become "the guy" to take Ohio State where they want to go - and perhaps make Urban Meyer's decision a little bit harder next year.
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