Mullen on Russel

[msu21]

I'm hearing Mullen is mentioning how he wishes he hadn't redshirted Russell this year. Saying that Tyler exceeded their expectations and probably could have contributed late in the year. His ability to throw the football has really impressed the entire coaching staff. I take this as very encouraging news if for some reason we do not get Newton. Like many on here are saying now I think we will be much improved at this position even if Cam decides to go elsewhere which I hope he doesn't. I'm pretty sure there are a couple of other people on 6pack who are hearing the same thing.

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[msu21]

I'm hearing Mullen is mentioning how he wishes he hadn't redshirted Russell this year. Saying that Tyler exceeded their expectations and probably could have contributed late in the year. His ability to throw the football has really impressed the entire coaching staff. I take this as very encouraging news if for some reason we do not get Newton. Like many on here are saying now I think we will be much improved at this position even if Cam decides to go elsewhere which I hope he doesn't. I'm pretty sure there are a couple of other people on 6pack who are hearing the same thing.

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[msu21]

I'm hearing Mullen is mentioning how he wishes he hadn't redshirted Russell this year. Saying that Tyler exceeded their expectations and probably could have contributed late in the year. His ability to throw the football has really impressed the entire coaching staff. I take this as very encouraging news if for some reason we do not get Newton. Like many on here are saying now I think we will be much improved at this position even if Cam decides to go elsewhere which I hope he doesn't. I'm pretty sure there are a couple of other people on 6pack who are hearing the same thing.

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[Shmuley]

nm

 

[dawgstudent]

[No message]

 

[pDigital32Dawg]

I can't wait for this years spring game. It is going to be a lot of fun seeing all our new weapons at quarterback and runningback. I have a wooly feeling for next season. Hopefully Mullen will keep this ship intact and we can make some noise in the SEC next year.

 

[Shmuley]

nm

 

[Xenomorph]

*

 

[msu21]

is an idiot if he lets Cam go somewhere else. I don't care which high profile school offers him. At MSU he is guaranteed to come in and start right away, lead this team to an average or above average bowl game next year, and possibly shatter every QB record ever held at MSU. As far as being draft ready, Mullen's track record speaks for itself and he'll get all the exposure he wants with this new ESPN contract, so that shouldn't be an issue. Oh yeah, Cam will already know the entire playbook, so there will be no adjustments to way he has played his position for the past 2 years. He cannot get this guarantee anywhere else.

 

[Coach34]

I did say that should he lose the battle for the back-up role if we got Newton, that it very well could happen

 

[birdZdawg]

.

 

[topdawg.sixpack]

nm

 

[markymark.sixpack]

so, no it's probably not his way of saying we're suddenly not getting Cam.

Either he's known for a long time that we weren't getting Cam, or he's just being honest. you don't have to assume that everything somebody says is just "spin".

there's a good possibility that he just thought TTM would get better as the season progressed (instead of worse) and/or he didn't realize just how competitive we would be this year. he probably didn't think we would be just a QB away from 7-5 or 8-4. Had he realized that going into the season, he probably would've started TR and let him take his lumps early and get some experience. at least that way we would definitely have an experienced QB on the roster next year instead of hoping we can sign one.

 

[NorthMsDawg]

but since his dad is so heavily involved in his recruitment process( and this is their second time thru the process ) makes me weary that what makes the most sense might not work out in our favor. However, from all the things I have read on the strides that TR has made throughout the season and Relf's ability to run the football, I would feel comfortable with a dual QB system next year.

 

[markymark.sixpack]

sfg

 

[pDigital32Dawg]

he got a late start on learning the playbook and getting adjusted to college speed. I am glad we redshirted Russell and I think we will all be happier for it in the longrun unless he does get the hell out of here.

 

[LR1400]

He almost put Russell in mid-season in one of our bigger out of conference games. I know this for a fact.

I also know that he really really likes him and thinks he is a true SEC QB and that he will be very good.

 

[ckDOG]

I will agree that MSU is the no-brainer choice for his best opportunity to ease in the system with little resistance and competition. He should have the starting job no later than the end of spring should he decide to come here and there will be little, if any learning curve.

BUT,

Reading some of the interviews with him and his dad, it seems they have 2 other things in mind as well: 1) exposure and 2) grooming for NFL.

Regarding exposure: Yes, we are in the SEC and yes he will get exposure. But, that's assuming we win. We have a record breaking, SEC leading RB on our roster this year and nobody outside of the conference knows who he is. Dixon get's no exposure in the national media. That's largely because we sucked this year, but it also has to do with MSU doesn't sell on the nation-wide scale (most likely because we've sucked - we'll be relevant again once we win a few ball games). This could be an overrated intangible as NFL scouts are going to base their drafting decisions on talent more-so than where somebody played college ball. But, to a 20 year old, they may think their future is better secured at an Oklahoma vs. MSU.

Regarding grooming: If you are a QB with a cannon arm and you think you have a legit shot at being an NFL drafted QB, an offense like MSU's, Florida's, TTech, or any other where the QB spends 99% of their time out of the gun is no place to get yourself ready for the NFL. Yes, there are exceptions, but as a general rule, the better NFL QBs spent their college days in a pro-style type offense. NFL scouts favor pro-style QBs who take snaps from under center vs. 100% shotgun (see Graham Harrell). This is certainly a factor not playing into our advantage.

 

[maroonmania]

most of the games we could have won with better QB play happened earlier in the season. That stretch with LSU, GT and Houston were the games that really could have turned our season around if we had won them with better QB play. However, apparently, Tyler wasn't quite ready at that time. Down the stretch of the season I'm not sure a true freshman QB was going to beat FL or AL this year nor am I sure that Russell could have been the difference in beating Ark up there since the defense was more the problem that day than anything else. And we beat KY and OM with the QBing we had anyway. So at this point I'll just take having Russell for an extra year if he does turn out to be a good one.

 

[futaba.79]

Tyler Russell's ability to run a Dan Mullen offense.

 

[Coach34]

and apparently so did others until the last month of the season

 

[therightway]

Imagine how it will be for oposing defenses to prepare for basically two offenses. You cannot really say this with the Lee Relf combo.

 

[jmbeck]

...and used his redshirt next year."

While it doesn't happen often, you can redshirt in the middle of your career.

 

[Mr Meoff]

*

 

[LR1400]

I will agree that MSU is the no-brainer choice for his best opportunity to ease in the system with little resistance and competition. He should have the starting job no later than the end of spring should he decide to come here and there will be little, if any learning curve.

BUT,

Reading some of the interviews with him and his dad, it seems they have 2 other things in mind as well: 1) exposure and 2) grooming for NFL.

Regarding exposure: Yes, we are in the SEC and yes he will get exposure. But, that's assuming we win. We have a record breaking, SEC leading RB on our roster this year and nobody outside of the conference knows who he is. Dixon get's no exposure in the national media. That's largely because we sucked this year, but it also has to do with MSU doesn't sell on the nation-wide scale (most likely because we've sucked - we'll be relevant again once we win a few ball games). This could be an overrated intangible as NFL scouts are going to base their drafting decisions on talent more-so than where somebody played college ball. But, to a 20 year old, they may think their future is better secured at an Oklahoma vs. MSU.

Regarding grooming: If you are a QB with a cannon arm and you think you have a legit shot at being an NFL drafted QB, an offense like MSU's, Florida's, TTech, or any other where the QB spends 99% of their time out of the gun is no place to get yourself ready for the NFL. Yes, there are exceptions, but as a general rule, the better NFL QBs spent their college days in a pro-style type offense. NFL scouts favor pro-style QBs who take snaps from under center vs. 100% shotgun (see Graham Harrell). This is certainly a factor not playing into our advantage.

If you are good enough the NFL will find you and know about you period. National media and ******** like that may not know who Dixon is but I guarantee you the NFL does.

Dennis Dixon is Big Ben's backup he played in shotgun spread offense similar to ours.

Graham Harrell didn't get picked up because he has a limp dick for an arm.

Reading defenses and making accurate throws is what the NFL is all about. If the QB an do that he will easily be able to take snaps under center and dropback.
The NFL better get used to it because more and more teams are going to shotgun spread type offenses. That's 90% of what Bradford and McCoy use as well.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Even if he is a huge QB, the fact that he does run the ball means he will get some lumps and we need competent replacements not only for time needed off during the game, but a good change of pace. We need depth across the board, but at the QB position fast. IF Cam signs I would not be surprised to see 2 or even 3 QBs take snaps during a game. I would if I were coaching.

 

[dudehead]

ran 80% of their offensive plays from the gun in 2008 and I believe are on a similar clip this year.

If a QB can play, he can play.

 

[lawdawg02]

neither was timmy chang's or josh heupel's or kliff kingsbury's. it was their lack of nfl size and arm.

vince young took just about every snap from the shotgun, as did alex smith. they both did fine in the draft. one was even coached by mullen. tim couch. drew brees. the list goes on and on.

 

[DudyDog]

if Newton signs or not, we will have "potentially" the best QB core we've probably ever had in our history. I say potentially because nothing has been proven yet. But the potential of the QB's has never been better on an MSU team. At times we've had 1 QB that was a good college QB. We know what we have in Relf and he will only get better. From behind the scenes Russell has progressed as expected and is on track to living up to his hype. Rumor I have heard is that Mullen wanted to put him in against Houston and either Hud or Koenning talked him out of it. I can't remember which one was told to me.

If Newton signs, the core of QB's on next years MSU team will be the best in history. If he doesn't sign, it still could turn out to be the best in history. For the record, I think we get him. He has set a date to announce (after his season) and if he were that unsure of what he was going to do, I don't think he or his dad would have put a deadline on things.

Just remind yourself that just a few years ago we were working with Henig, Rutledge and Evans. Poor Tyson Lee took abuse for two years by fans, but he was an upgrade from that bunch. It will only get better next year. And as long as Mullen is here we'll never have to worry about a threesome like that again.

 

[LR1400]

ran 80% of their offensive plays from the gun in 2008 and I believe are on a similar clip this year.

If a QB can play, he can play.

Probably the Saints too.

 

[jcdawgman18]

Tyler Russell very, very nearly played in the Houston game. He was warming up in the fourth quarter. Tyson re-tweaked the shoulder he injured against Jackson State and they weren't sure he could finish. Despite having repped Stegall all week for emergency use, in the heat of the moment they were going to go with Russell.

 

[ckDOG]

Reading defenses and making accurate throws is what the NFL is all about. If the QB an do that he will easily be able to take snaps under center and dropback.

I think you are underestimating the ease of transitioning from making reads out of the shotgun to under center. Look at Tebow this year. Didn't Meyer promise he would be seeing more snaps from under center this year? That hasn't panned out yet. I think it's much easier to transition in the other direction, if there's a need for it.

Certainly there are exceptions, my point is that as a general rule, you better get used to playing under center if you want to be a solid NFL QB. Here's a good article I found that states my point better than I can: http://www.pe.com/sports/football/stories/PE_Sports_Local_S_nfl_spread_offense.474bfbb.html

And, overall, I'm not saying that Newton shouldn't come here because of our system. I'm just trying to toss out potential reasons why he may not. I think the reason he was/is interested in UT is due to their pro-style offense. He's been quoted before claiming he thinks he's a pro-style guy. I disagree with him, but that's his opinion.

ETA: here's another article saying basically the same thing...http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=4121106

 

[KurtRambis4]

a stat showing where a majority of the teams in the NFL are using shotgun formations...could have misheard them?!

 

[futaba.79]

but I'm pretty sure you led the way in most, if not all, anti-Russell threads. There were others that agreed.

I saw him in practice and knew he wasn't ready but I also felt he had the most potential. I thought he should've played. I still do.

You are correct that he won't be much of a threat running the option.

 

[NorthMsDawg]

I don't think QB's taking snaps out of the gun is the issue...It's arm strength, pre-snap reads, and making the correct check downs that some of the so-called "system QBs" have struggled with in the NFL.

 

[Buford T. Justice]

use of shotgun in NFL is increasing drastically each year. In 2008 the Patriots ran 79 percent of their offensive plays from the shotgun.

http://www.thephins.com/2009/09/09/slowing-the-shotgun-era-the-key-to-superbowl-xliv/

 

[KurtRambis4]

a stat showing where a majority of the teams in the NFL are using shotgun formations...could have misheard them?!

 

[ckDOG]

But, I have a feeling it's a fad more than something we'll see long term. One of the negatives to the spread in the NFL is the potential beating your QB can take. Owners aren't going to want to risk season or career ending injuries to the most expensive and key position on an NFL team.

Somebody mentioned the Patriots running the spread and out of the shotgun a very high %. Well, I seem to recall a season ending injury from a certain Tom Brady last year. Could be a coincidence and certainly could happen to anyone. Whether it is or it isnt', let that a happen a couple more times and see how receptive owners are to the spread in the NFL.

I have no doubt that traditional pro-style QBs will always be the preferred QB of the NFL.

 

[NorthMsDawg]

Why are more colleges going to the spread because more high schools are going to the spread? It is a trickle up effect.

 

[msumhsfan]

Seemed like half the people here were ready to pack his **** up for him and send him to another school. He will be a great QB for us. Just let the boy play before you write him off