Mullen, QBs, and our offensive scheme

[kired]

With all the discussions about Russell vs. Dak, one thing puzzles me about Mullen & Meyer from their Florida days. Why did they sign John Brantley?

He was a lot like Russell. Limited mobility, and could not run the spread option offense. They had signed Tebow a year earlier, and had Cam Newton committed. Brantley had been committed to Texas for over 6 months, but flipped two months before signing day. His dad & uncle played for Florida, and he grew up a Florida fan so it didn't take much to flip him.

But why in the world would they waste a scholarship on a QB that obviously did not fit what they do? Was it pressure from alumni / Brantley's family? Did Mullen/Meyer simply not want a 4-star QB in their backyard to sign elsewhere?

Or do you think Mullen & Meyer had plans to experiment with a more pass heavy offense?

And a related question - would you be pissed if Mullen passed over another recruit like Russell, who is basically MSU's QB to lose, but doesn't fit his offense?

 

[Railin Jemmye]

With all the discussions about Russell vs. Dak, one thing puzzles me about Mullen & Meyer from their Florida days. Why did they sign John Brantley?

Because the argument they are making is nonsense. They don't know much about football. It wasn't that Brantley didn't fit the system, Brantley just wasn't very good. Ask the Baltimore Ravens.

 

[CadaverDawg]

And a related question - would you be pissed if Mullen passed over another recruit like Russell, who is basically MSU's QB to lose, but doesn't fit his offense?

No, i would expect that...Mainly because it makes no sense to get players that clearly don't fit your system...unless they are a best available player, or all of your best options are gone.

 

[SwingAway]

Or do you think Mullen & Meyer had plans to experiment with a more pass heavy offense?

No, Brantley was in the same class as Cam Newton. What on earth would make sense about tinkering with a tried and true offense that got them to the position of coaching the Florida Gators especially with Newton and Tebow on the roster. They had no plans to ever play Brantley besides in garbage time, if necessary, or in the case of injury plagues. He was going to be 3rd string behind Tebow and Cam.

 

[Railin Jemmye]

Did Urban call you up and tell you that?

 

[Irondawg]

Maybe (purely speculative) they wanted to have a passing QB on the roster that if they ever got behind say 14 late in the 4th they could implement a passing heavy two minute type scheme. Otherwise it doesn't make a ton of sense unless you said it was purely for legacy type reasons b/c he certainly didn't fit the offense and they were a national program that could pull just about any QB they really wanted.

 

[Todd4State]

Brantley was a Florida legacy

That was a big factor as well. Not to mention he was one of the top QB's in his class.

Let's see- Tyler was a four star Parade All-American QB that wanted to go to MSU his whole life. I would have to say yes, I would be very unhappy if we passed him up.

 

[SwingAway]

Did Urban call you up and tell you that?

Did Urban call you up and say Brantley was going to be a centerpiece of his new passing offense? STFU and go take your pills