Is there an actual QB competition going on or is Fitz building for the future and and just going to let RH get his reps in? Maybe it depends on whether Fitz views this as a lost season like 2019? Or is he going to pull out the stops to try and sneak into a bowl.
Is Hilinski a lock to start on Saturday?
- Thread starter 7th Cir. Cat
- Start date
Is Marty returning next season? Next season is also THE FUTURE.
Has Fitz had a conversation with Marty to determine his plans for next season?
Has Fitz had a conversation with Marty to determine his plans for next season?
He could, though believe it would mean he wants to “cash in“ the free COVID year.
I don't care if he's leaving the program after THIS GAME. He's the best able to help us win, he should play. RH has had a lot of reps already, he wouldn't be coming in next year cold.
I don't disagree, but if Marty is going to return next season, I don't know why anybody would even entertain the notion that we should play Hilinski instead to develop him for THE FUTURE
.It is senior day this week because our only remaining home game is at Wrigley
Oh boy. Well then, I guess we can see if Marty gets honored or not. Given that he has a free COVID year, maybe he decides to go to a program that beleives in him and will let him be the starter from day 1. I hope he stays in Evanston, but if he hits the portal I will have no ill will and will wish him the best.
Is it not true that someone could be honored on senior day and still decide to come back if he has another year of eligibility?
I’m sure that’s the probably the case, but I think it would provide a clue whether Marty and Fitz have talked about his future plans. I’m trying to remember the last time a high profile player had a senior day with parents on the field etc. and ended up coming back.
I could not fit in the call today. I'll catch up with Fitz tomorrow and let you know. Sorry, really, I dropped the ball.
If Marty is healthy we could get to 5-7 and sneak in. It’s unlikely and a long shot, but not 100% out of the question. Maybe like 90% out of the question
I am getting tired of the QB ********. Pick a guy that gives you the best chance to win and ride with him. If we hit the 7 loss column I would like to see a youngster get some playing time. Marty needs to move on or Fitz better give him the starting position from the get go. I really would like to see Richardson get some reps during garbage time, just to see if we might have more than one option. RH under throws way too often.
Go with the best QB also with the best potential for the future. Always play to win, not to practice or prepare for the future. Otherwise, is to take your foot off the gas, which is an all to familiar Fitz habit.
I am with you just would like to know we have a decent QB after Marty leaves after next season if he does indeed stay. This season is junked for the most part.
Play Marty, who seems our best QB and Richardson when possible. It seems as though RH cannot move the ball consistently, which may be a function of the offensive line, although that is another issue.
Ramsey played almost every snap at QB last year.
Andy Marty got in for the last 2 series against Illinois when it was 28-10.
We ran the ball 15 times in a row.
There was no thought given to prepping a QB for 2021.
Our offense was mediocre under Ramsey and only picked up when Hull and Porter started getting reps at tailback.
We lost that game last year against Michigan State because Ramsey was playing poorly and Fitz didn't replace him with Andy Marty.
There “was no thought given to prepping a QB for 2021” because we were in the thick of the Big Ten West race and continued playing our best option at QB in our pursuit of Indianapolis.
And we lost the game against Michigan State because of (i) turnovers, many of which came from Ramsey but the back breaker was from McGowan when we were driving for the go-ahead score and (II) the defense’s inability to keep Lombardi in the pocket. Not like we were ever out of the game, just didn’t make the critical plays when they were needed.
Hilariously, Lombardi's stat line was something like 11-27-165-2-1 plus 65 yards rushing. They led 17-0 on the first play of of Q2, then really didn't do anything on offense after that. We just kept stepping in dog crap (turnovers) and couldn't run the ball due to good defense on their part. MSU offense got 6 points after the first play of Q2.
Marty was our no. 2 QB and Hilinski no. 3 at the start of the season. Last week's game confirms that pecking order.
I'm not sure that Hilinski is a lock to be the starter next year even if Marty doesn't return.
I'm not sure that Hilinski is a lock to be the starter next year even if Marty doesn't return.
Can't wait to see how we stack up against the number 2 team in the country!!
Wait... what? Ok.
Sorry, can't wait to see how we stack up against the number 9 team in the country!!
Wait.... what? Again? Really??
Ok, guess I sorta' can't wait to see how we stack up against the number 19 team in the country.
He lost the job to Marty, then in that same game Marty was injured and Hilinski became the starter up through the last game. Marty was our best QB in 2019, but you didn't face him that year because we hadn't figured it out yet.
Now Marty's back.
Marty's going to give you Fitz.
Also think the Cats lost that game bc there wasn't a reliable/big receiver on the right side of the field (this is where losing Skow really hurt).
Ramsey rolled to his right numerous times, but ended up throwing it away.
Also, playing a QB (who can't really scramble) behind a bad O-line isn't necessarily a recipe for development.
In fact, often is the opposite with the QB picking up bad habits.
as a ha_keye fan, i have a deep understanding of qb issues including the brilliant backup conundrum. that said, I’m not familiar with your team’s qb controversy. is it similar to current iowa woes where the starter isn’t thought to be doing well and fans are convinced that the benchwarmer is the answer? or is there more to it?
Thank you desiha_k. At NU, our best QB is consistently the one who is not starting, at least in the minds of us fans. So, this year we have a QB (Marty) who has not been starting (ostensibly because he has been injured, or is in the dog house, who knows?), but is by all indications our best. If Marty starts, it is likely this will be a tight game. However, given Fitzthink, there is no predicting who will start, for how long, or when, so we are sorry if this assessment does not help you determine anything about your chances.
this scenario is played out annually at iowa as well. in our case, in yhe past we have had tangible evidence (in the form of brief but excellent live game performance) as the basis for controversy (this year that’s not the case, backup has looked worse but apparently he will be better if he starts.) Do you guys have a good reason for “knowing” that marty is better?
At NU, we "know" nothing other than we are superior to all other human beings. So, given that, it is your best bet. /we will likely lose.
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Marty was the only decent quarterback in NU’s terrible 2019 season. He only got substantive action in the final two games of the season. He rushed for 100+ yards and only attempted ten passes in a season-ending blowout win against Illinois. Their other wins in that awful season were UMass and UNLV.
Marty was the fourth qb to play that season, behind co-starters TJ Green/Hunter Johnson (Green got hurt in game one; HuJo left the team due to family illness, I think), and then Aidan Smith, who was cover-your-eyes bad but still got six starts and a 3-9 TD-INT.
Last season, Marty backed up Peyton Ramsey, who came from Indiana and led NU to the conference championship. I doubt Marty could have done that.
This year, Marty played in the third game of the season, led a few TD drives, and then got hurt. HuJo had lost the job in the first quarter against Duke, ceding the way to Marty. Hilinski had been pretty ehhh since Marty got hurt. Marty definitely showed a spark last week, coming in for a red zone touchdown after Hilinski led a drive, then playing the second half after Hilinski closed the first with three straight baaaaaad misses.
Marty played the whole second half, leading a single touchdown drive, and a few others where NU failed on fourth because they were being blown out/have an incompetent kicking game.
Marty was the backup then got hurt.
He was suited up but did not play against Michigan, two weeks ago. (I suspect he was an emergency quarterback, and the coaching staff didn’t want to play him.) He did not start against Minnesota last week, even though he was healthy.
He adds a spark because he runs into people. He’s not considered a great passer, and as a runner he’s willing to take a hit in the name of extra yards. There’s definitely an extra spark in the team when he’s out there.
So…
Marty probably gives NU the best chance to win. This does not mean Marty gives NU a good chance to win.
That said, I think NU has a chance, simply because I wonder if Iowa is overly disappointed over their October performance. (My math says Iowa no longer controls its divisional destiny, and would need help even with a win over the Gophs, right?)
I expect a sparse but drunk crowd tomorrow.
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NU has a chance because Iowa really isn’t that good. Their offense is God awful and if their defense doesn’t cause a bunch of turnovers they’re average also.
Of course NU has to play well which seems to be really difficult for them this year but Iowa is very beatable.
based on what you wrote, there is tangible evidence that marty might be your guy. very similar to what iowa fans have experienced in the past— when a backup who provided a spark previously is given the start, good things have happened.