Going into Spring Practice, what's your comfort level w/our QB's w/out Relf?
- Thread starter Indndawg
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I would have felt better going into the Fall had we gotten Bo Wallace or even Jeremy Liggins. In the long term maybe we can develop Schuessler but he won't do us any good at all this year whatsoever even if we have injury problems. Bo was a more experienced guy that could have gone through Spring and Jeremy was physical enough that we could have run a Relf type offense with him in a pinch without him having to undergo a lot of skill development. Just hoping that Tyler continues to improve with the offense and that Dak is all he is suppose to be. My biggest concern with running a Russell led offense is that its going to put more importance on our WR corps and right now I feel like that is probably the weakest part of our team. We don't seem to have a lot of skill with our WRs and I'm still not sold on Mirando coaching them.
Tyler and Dak are going to split time. Both can make throws that Relf never could, both can read a defense better than Relf, both are more intelligent than Relf.<div>
</div><div>The question is durability. Even though Relf got hurt and had a crappy Sr season- he still played. He was an animal for the amount of hits he took and kept on playing.</div><div>
</div><div>I think we will see a Leak/Tebow type of combination- that moves into a 50/50 amount of playing time by mid-season- and we get solid production from both. I truly believe 2 years from now people will talk about how these were the best 1-2 QB's we have had in the history of the school, and they surpass Madkin/Fant rather easily.</div>
</div><div>The question is durability. Even though Relf got hurt and had a crappy Sr season- he still played. He was an animal for the amount of hits he took and kept on playing.</div><div>
</div><div>I think we will see a Leak/Tebow type of combination- that moves into a 50/50 amount of playing time by mid-season- and we get solid production from both. I truly believe 2 years from now people will talk about how these were the best 1-2 QB's we have had in the history of the school, and they surpass Madkin/Fant rather easily.</div>
Not because of the talent level we have at QB, but because of questions on the offensive line, the wide receiver corps, and our offensive coaching philosophy. I think Dan M. Will have to devise a different game plan from what we have seen in the previous three years if we are going to be successful moving the football in 2012. Tyler Russell can be good if we utilize his strengths. Hope our offensive coaches are smart enough to do that.
but how quickly we forget about our offensive gameplan in 2009 with Tyson Lee. Dan has proven(at least) 3 times in his career that he can modify his offense to a pass-first approach with success. The three previous times being Alex Smith, Chris Leak, and Tyson Lee.
Tyler Russell in this scheme = lights out if we can just provide him enough time to throw...
Tyler Russell in this scheme = lights out if we can just provide him enough time to throw...
Why...? I really feel if we have to go all the way to our 3rd string qb then our season is more than done... it's already beenburied. Getting Liggins wouldn't have changed that in my opinion.<div>
</div><div>I personally feel pretty good about it. Seeing what Tyler is capable of and rather curious if Dak is all of what you hear or more keeps me slightly optimistic.</div>
</div><div>I personally feel pretty good about it. Seeing what Tyler is capable of and rather curious if Dak is all of what you hear or more keeps me slightly optimistic.</div>
Never give up, never surrender.
Seriously though, I know if we got into an injury situation with our top 2 QBs things might look bleak BUT I can't help but think that if a guy like Wesley Carroll could step into that Croom abortion of an offense as a true freshman in 2007 and help us get to a bowl then we should have the capability to pull that off in a Mullen offense with a better overall team. I just really don't want to be in the situation to have to ask Schuessler to do that because right now he is very physically frail for the SEC.
Seriously though, I know if we got into an injury situation with our top 2 QBs things might look bleak BUT I can't help but think that if a guy like Wesley Carroll could step into that Croom abortion of an offense as a true freshman in 2007 and help us get to a bowl then we should have the capability to pull that off in a Mullen offense with a better overall team. I just really don't want to be in the situation to have to ask Schuessler to do that because right now he is very physically frail for the SEC.
--Russell- i am super high on russell, i harken back to the first time i saw his highschool highlights and i was amazed. i think he is the type of QB that needs to be in the offense consistently and gain a rhythm in order to hit the big passes later in the game. that being said, my comfort level with him performing at a winning level is 100%, my comfort level with him taking games over and being that "we will not lose guy" is less just because he has not shown/no opportunity to show that ability 50%.
--Prescott- just as high on him after watching hs highlights, then i realized i was watching his SOPH stuff lol....he is a rfr and was not a 5* guy so my comfort level in him his first year on the field is about 50%-wait and see mode. he has all the promise in the world though, well spoken, good athlete, and got here early...i think it also says alot that farve transferred, presumably seeing prescott in practice and knowing what was coming for his this season.
side note: i think siddoway (LT), nick griffin (RB), and both robinsons (RT & RB) will have more to say about how these QBs perform that anything else. if nick can cause the defense to bring an extra guy into the box and siddoway can lock down the other teams RE russell should excell. likwise, if robinson can cause defenses to adjust to him russell will get some open spaces to throw to. of course all of this could be completely wrong, who cares lol
GOD bless
--Prescott- just as high on him after watching hs highlights, then i realized i was watching his SOPH stuff lol....he is a rfr and was not a 5* guy so my comfort level in him his first year on the field is about 50%-wait and see mode. he has all the promise in the world though, well spoken, good athlete, and got here early...i think it also says alot that farve transferred, presumably seeing prescott in practice and knowing what was coming for his this season.
side note: i think siddoway (LT), nick griffin (RB), and both robinsons (RT & RB) will have more to say about how these QBs perform that anything else. if nick can cause the defense to bring an extra guy into the box and siddoway can lock down the other teams RE russell should excell. likwise, if robinson can cause defenses to adjust to him russell will get some open spaces to throw to. of course all of this could be completely wrong, who cares lol
GOD bless
We are likely replacing LT with a new starter for the second year in a row and RT for the first time in 3(?) years. Addison Lawrence did not get nearly enough praise for the job he did at RT over his time at MSU.
Much like this year, it won't matter how good TR is if he is imitating Kevin Fant and running for his life.
Much like this year, it won't matter how good TR is if he is imitating Kevin Fant and running for his life.
Honestly Dak is the perfect amalgamation of Relf's physical abilities Tyler's mental capabilities. Truely Relf had a great arm but as Coach said his ability to read defenses was subpar. Tyler's a little bit better (not leaps & bounds better) than Relf at reading defenses. But Relf's atheletic abilty sometimes compensated for his lack of reading. Dak will provide that same atheletic talent but fasteron his feet. That threat of run & pass (to me) gives him a leg up to be more successful than Tyler. Basically Tyler's holding a job that Dak will eventually take from him. I know people are going to disagree but that's what I see. Also Nick & LP are going to take EVEN more pressure off of both guys as well as they run behind a better O line as well. Tyler still holds the ball too long too.
Alex Smith and Chris Leak in the same sentence with Tyson Lee. Is that even legal?**
I think Prescott will be the #1 option at QB going into the final month of the season. I just haven't seen enough progression in TR's ability to make quick throws under pressure, for him to hold the job the full season. Prescott should be able to do just as well, but also has an added running dimension that TR doesn't have. Did Russell throw any seeds last year into tight spots? From my 4th row vantage point, most of the passes were lobbed and most of the time floated to the WR, who was then subsequently decapitated by the Hightowers and Kirkpatricks of the league. He doesn't put much zip on the ball or ever really play with a sense of urgency. Maybe he will get better but Prescott should overtake him with ample playing time to adjust to SEC game speed.
I think Prescott will be the #1 option at QB going into the final month of the season. I just haven't seen enough progression in TR's ability to make quick throws under pressure, for him to hold the job the full season. Prescott should be able to do just as well, but also has an added running dimension that TR doesn't have. Did Russell throw any seeds last year into tight spots? From my 4th row vantage point, most of the passes were lobbed and most of the time floated to the WR, who was then subsequently decapitated by the Hightowers and Kirkpatricks of the league. He doesn't put much zip on the ball or ever really play with a sense of urgency. Maybe he will get better but Prescott should overtake him with ample playing time to adjust to SEC game speed.
I'm very comfortable with Russell. It's either time for him to step up and perform or we can move on to developling Dak. But I believe Russell will continue to improve, gain confidence, and become the leader of our offense over the next 7 months.
I'm extremely concerned with the o-line. Jackson & Day are the only returning starters. Clausell needs to take a big step forward but I don't see than happening yet - I think he'll be ok, but nothing great. Smith is way too injury prone to think we'll get 12 starts out of him. At this point we're expecting two JUCO guysto step in and start.I don't mind recruiting JUCO guys but I hate to depend on them... and that's exactly what we're doing. We're basically screwed if those guys are busts.
I'm extremely concerned with the o-line. Jackson & Day are the only returning starters. Clausell needs to take a big step forward but I don't see than happening yet - I think he'll be ok, but nothing great. Smith is way too injury prone to think we'll get 12 starts out of him. At this point we're expecting two JUCO guysto step in and start.I don't mind recruiting JUCO guys but I hate to depend on them... and that's exactly what we're doing. We're basically screwed if those guys are busts.
But this whole adaptation myth really hasn't played out yet. You saw it this year when we brought in Dylan 17ing Favre or Relf in the midst of some of Russell's best drives of the year (such as vs. Bama and vs. Ark). The more and more I watch his offensive product, the more I agree with Coach34 that Mullen does not feel comfortable without a QB that is as talented running the ball as he is throwing it. Maybe we didnt expect Russell to get that much PT this year and werent really ready to tailor the offense around him (that and the OL problems could be the excuse for our ineptitude on offense this year I suppose), but we did not look like a good offensive club without a legitimate threat of the run by our QB.<div>
</div><div>This recent piece by an OSU site on Meyer's offense may provide some insight on why Mullen ticks that way.http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2012/01/why-spread-it-is-all-about-arithmetic</div><div>
</div><div>It emphasize the importance of the running QB in their scheme for creating a numbers mismatch against the defense. Without themathematicaladvantage, we were largely neutralized this year. However, even when we were having some success with Russell, Mullen was quick to bring in Favre or Relf to get back in his comfort zone. </div><div><div>
</div><div>So I guess my reservations are more about the scheme than the QBs. Dak might be that guy though to bring the 2 together. </div> </div>
</div><div>This recent piece by an OSU site on Meyer's offense may provide some insight on why Mullen ticks that way.http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2012/01/why-spread-it-is-all-about-arithmetic</div><div>
</div><div>It emphasize the importance of the running QB in their scheme for creating a numbers mismatch against the defense. Without themathematicaladvantage, we were largely neutralized this year. However, even when we were having some success with Russell, Mullen was quick to bring in Favre or Relf to get back in his comfort zone. </div><div><div>
</div><div>So I guess my reservations are more about the scheme than the QBs. Dak might be that guy though to bring the 2 together. </div> </div>
and kept us in some games?
I believe Relf was hurt most of the year, he wasn't himself. I love the guy though - he did a lot of great things.
I only worry about Tyler's health, he seems to get "tweaked" a lot.
Dak will have had two Springs and one season under his belt by the time we kick off in September. He should see PT in the first game. I think it will be a Leak/Tebow like deal, and I think its going to be successful.
The emergence of Malcom Johnson is going to be huge, he's our Aaron Hernandez. Chris Smith is reliable and pretty consistent. Bumphis can make plays, and might be our best down field blocker.
The OL will be better this year, we got a plug and play LT, Gabe is back, Dillon is back, Tobias maybe, Robinson is back, Holley will play C/G, it will be better than last year. This will determine the success of our QB's next year.
I believe Relf was hurt most of the year, he wasn't himself. I love the guy though - he did a lot of great things.
I only worry about Tyler's health, he seems to get "tweaked" a lot.
Dak will have had two Springs and one season under his belt by the time we kick off in September. He should see PT in the first game. I think it will be a Leak/Tebow like deal, and I think its going to be successful.
The emergence of Malcom Johnson is going to be huge, he's our Aaron Hernandez. Chris Smith is reliable and pretty consistent. Bumphis can make plays, and might be our best down field blocker.
The OL will be better this year, we got a plug and play LT, Gabe is back, Dillon is back, Tobias maybe, Robinson is back, Holley will play C/G, it will be better than last year. This will determine the success of our QB's next year.
He just needs to keep on learning and developing like he is. He sort of reminds me of Jason Campbell a little bit- I remember Auburn fans being critical of him and then he really busted out his senior year. I'm not saying that Tyler will be a first round pick and lead us to an undefeated season, but if he did, I wouldn't complain.
Last year he threw 8 TD passes and had 4 INT's and a QB rating of 135.1. That's not too bad for someone who played roughly 50% of the time. It's actually probably one of the better years by a QB in MSU history.
In SEC play he had 3 TD passes and 3 INT's. Not great, but not horrible either. He completed about 50% of his passes against LSU and Alabama. He had a couple of really bad games- once against South Carolina, which had a pretty good defense, and then against Arkansas when the entire team played like crap. He should have played better against UT-Martin- but even then he completed 50% of his passes and I'll just chalk it up to having a bad day since he played very well against Memphis and UAB.
He was also sacked 10 times last year- that's a lot for playing 50% of the time. So, my biggest concern is his durability- but he should continue to get stronger and the expected improvement of the o-line should help as well.
Last year he threw 8 TD passes and had 4 INT's and a QB rating of 135.1. That's not too bad for someone who played roughly 50% of the time. It's actually probably one of the better years by a QB in MSU history.
In SEC play he had 3 TD passes and 3 INT's. Not great, but not horrible either. He completed about 50% of his passes against LSU and Alabama. He had a couple of really bad games- once against South Carolina, which had a pretty good defense, and then against Arkansas when the entire team played like crap. He should have played better against UT-Martin- but even then he completed 50% of his passes and I'll just chalk it up to having a bad day since he played very well against Memphis and UAB.
He was also sacked 10 times last year- that's a lot for playing 50% of the time. So, my biggest concern is his durability- but he should continue to get stronger and the expected improvement of the o-line should help as well.
His statistics are definitely comparable with Relf's if you remove the rushing statistics. I like Tyler's arm and his poise. I think he has shown enough to deserve a solid chance. Dan will make the adjustments to capitalize on his skill set a bit more, and I think you'll see more multiple back sets. Tyler showed he could be a serviceable runner at times, but no one wants him to take the pounding. He hasn't proven to be durable enough for that. Thus, I think there'll be some tweaks to the offense to get multiple RBs in the game at once, maybe Perkins and Griffin. I also think you'll see alot of Bumphis and Lewis running the ball on misdirection plays. As was the case this year, Tyler's performance will depend on how well the offensive line comes together and gels. If Siddoway and Holley step in and can play with Jackson, Smith and Day, then we should have a decent starting group. I'm not sure who, if any, of the others will step up, but we'll still be short on depth. If the line doesn't gel or someone gets injured, then Tyler won't have time to throw and we'll be in serious trouble.