Chip Kelly Discuss Ohio State Quarterback Competition, Offense During Fall Camp

COLUMBUS — Ohio State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chip Kelly met with reporters for the first time in fall camp. He was asked about the five scholarship quarterbacks who have been getting reps in practice, how he sees that battle going, when a decision could be made, and much more. The highlights of everything he had to say can be found below.

• “Don’t count your reps, make your reps count,” has been the message to the five quarterbacks. The lineups change every day. Just mixing and matching right now.”
• “There’s enough to go around right now.”
• Don’t read into anything with the way QBs are rotating.
• Will Howard’s zip has increased but sometimes that happens by just being more comfortable in the offense.
• Julian “he just stays in the moment. That’s what I like about him.” He shakes off mistakes and stays present.
• The team speed: “This team can run. There’s no Noah Lyles, but…” “There’s a lot of guys at a lot of positions that can run.” Will Howard ran 22 mph this summer at 237 lbs.
• Having the analysts being able to coach is helpful for everybody right now. At every position, all of the asst coaches have done a great job utilizing those analysts.
• On the offensive line: “I do see the making of a really good unit.” The whole group worked hard with Mickey Marotti in the offseason.
• On enhancing the running game and his philosophy? It’s always built on who your players are. It’s always built on personnel. You focus on what you do really well and mask what you don’t do well. What does this team do well? “They do a lot well.”
• Will Howard did a really good job working on the playbook in the offseason and has spent time in the film room.
• On being a mentor and the relationship with Day: “I think we’re both just trying to win.” It’s not about being a mentor or mentee.
• On Brian Hartline: “I think Brian’s really sharp.”
• Could there be a QB starter named in the first two weeks? That’s a great question. I know where you’re going with that. I don’t have an answer for you on that.
• Will Howard’s ability to run is a great weapon. When he takes off, it could be a 60-yard gain instead of a 6-yard gain. He can keep plays alive and extend plays. Every QB in the group runs over 20 mph. Lincoln Kienholz was 21.9 mph. Howard was the fastest. “But we’re also not going to run them 25 times per game. It’s just another facet of what we can do.”
• When somebody says they’d trust you with their life like Ryan Day did with Kelly, what does that mean? It’s not a surprise. I feel the same way. Our families are really close.

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