Over on BDJ Paul has some notes from Friday practice.

[davatron]

I'm not going to copy/paste them, but I will throw out that Relf and Favre worked mostly with the first team and Russell threw one INT. Oh Russell took some snaps with the first team as well but as I understand it he worked mainly with the second team.


/Stirring the Coach34 pot

 

[Coach34]

I really dont want him to transfer. I think he can add a little something to the program and we NEED 4 QB's on the roster. While he does turn it over alot, he can make some good throws too. He is probably going to be the victim of unrealistic expectations before all is said and done.

Thank goodness Prescott is enrolling early. Thats huge for him to get Spring practice before his Freshman year- RS or not

 

[mstatefan88]

We need a true dual threat QB, and Russell just can't run that well. Russell has a good arm, but we need someone that can keep the defense off balancein multiple ways, and Tyler Russell really can't do that. I would hate for him to transfer, but I have a feeling if he want's to showcase his talent, this style offense is not what he needs to be in.

 

[Todd4State]

from fans. It will probably be the same with Dak, and then next year whoever we sign as our QB will probably be hailed as the next "real deal" and etc., etc., etc.

People have a hard time realizing that there's a HUGE jump between high school football and the SEC. It's pretty rare for a QB to come in and be effective right away. There's just so many adjustments- more complex playbook with more plays in general, better players on defense, more complex defenses to read than what they had to read in high school, different players that they're not used to throwing to and that they have to develop chemistry with, all the way down to getting used to a different center snapping the ball to them and handing off to different running backs.

And then there's adjusting to college life in general, and that's more than a lot of students can handle without playing any college sports. College is usually the first time these QB's have to deal with failure and not being the man. The ones that ultimately succeed are the ones that can learn from their mistakes, and can handle the fans booing them on occasion and talking about them "being a bust" and the freshman back-up being "the real deal".

 

[Todd4State]

We need a true dual threat QB, and Russell just can't run that well. Russell has a good arm, but we need someone that can keep the defense off balancein multiple ways, and Tyler Russell really can't do that. I would hate for him to transfer, but I have a feeling if he want's to showcase his talent, this style offense is not what he needs to be in.

that Dan will adjust the offense to Tyler's strengths. The reason I believe that is because of what we have done when Tyler was in the game- a lot 3-5 WR sets and passing downfield with some occasional running plays mixed in. And then Tyler will run a couple of times a quarter- as he has done this year. Why do you think that Dan would do anything differently in the future with Tyler in the game?

Just because Steve Adazzio at Florida is a dumbass and couldn't adjust their offense doesn't mean that Dan is a dumbass.

Also, explain to me why Dan recruited Stephen Rivers, Nash Nance, and Hutson Mason- guys that aren't exactly dual threat QB's?

 

[Coach34]

I agree that Mullen and Koenning will adjust the offense to whatever QB we play...

But I dont think Mullen would prefer to play Russell. The offense will definitely have to be geared to very little running from the QB if thats the case. He would prefer to have a Prescott that can handle the running aspect of the position. But that doesnt mean he would play Prescott over Russell if he didnt think Prescott or Farvuh was ready. In 2012 he will play the QB most ready to play SEC football. Right now that is Russell- question is- will that be the case next December?

 

[ckDOG]

Also, explain to me why Dan recruited Stephen Rivers, Nash Nance, and Hutson Mason- guys that aren't exactly dual threat QB's?

Best available QB with interest in MSU would be my guess. A good QB is a good QB - if the guy knows how to execute and make wise decisions, I'd rather have an immobile QB with a weak arm over a great athlete who is an idiot.

However, all other things considered equal, Mullen is going to fall back on the dual threat guy. It's how the offense is meant to work. It's almost like putting an extra guy on the field that the defense has scheme for.

 

[FlabLoser]

I really dont want him to transfer. I think he can add a little something to the program and we NEED 4 QB's on the roster. While he does turn it over alot, he can make some good throws too. He is probably going to be the victim of<span style="font-weight: bold;"> unrealistic expectations</span> before all is said and done.

<span style="font-weight: bold;">Thank goodness Prescott is enrolling early</span>. Thats huge for him to get Spring practice before his Freshman year- RS or not

The current savior-in-waiting gets displaced by the newest savior-in-waiting.

 

[Todd4State]

Also, explain to me why Dan recruited Stephen Rivers, Nash Nance, and Hutson Mason- guys that aren't exactly dual threat QB's?

Best available QB with interest in MSU would be my guess. A good QB is a good QB - if the guy knows how to execute and make wise decisions, I'd rather have an immobile QB with a weak arm over a great athlete who is an idiot.



However, all other things considered equal, Mullen is going to fall back on the dual threat guy. It's how the offense is meant to work. It's almost like putting an extra guy on the field that the defense has scheme for.

We can't afford to tell good players- especially QB's- to shove off. We would be incredibly stupid to tell a Parade All-Ameircan QB from say, Madison Central that really wants to go to MSU that we're not going to give him a scholarship because he's a drop back passer and take someone that is simply more mobile, but can't do anything else right. Ask the Michigan fans at the Gator Bowl if they would like to have Ryan Mallett back right now.


I for one, have not heard Dan ever say that he prefers a dual threat QB. Maybe I'm wrong. I haven't asked him straight up, and I have not heard anyone ask him that question straight up. I personally would prefer a QB that can throw AND run. Most "dual threat" QB's that come out of high school are usually severely lacking in the passing dept. It's very rare to find a true dual threat guy. What I have heard Dan say at his press conference when we hired him- to paraphrase, "Our offense will be the spread, but it won't necessarily be the same every year because our personnel will be different every year." Also, one time on the radio, one of the announcers asked Dan about Tyler "not fitting the spread" and Dan laughed at them. That's what I'm basing my opinion on anyway.

 

[SnakePlissken]

and that Favre was simply taking his turn in the rotation? I was there and saw it from 3 feet away. It was nothing but a 2 min drill going as fast as they could. Relf took the 1's the length of the field, Russell came in and took the 2nd back the opposite length. Favre then came on and went back the other way. It was back and forth about 6 -8 times with literally 5-10 seconds between changing directions. Sherrod and Brignone didn't even practice it. Should we all take it that those two are now not even on the 2 deep chart? By the way, they were 100% healthy so they weren't sitting out due to injury.

Comprehension isn't Davatron's specialty.

Here is Paul's info

Post: 8. The team worked a good bit with the two-minute drill. Relf and Favre
took mostly first-team reps while Russell took smostly econd-team reps.
<span style="font-weight: bold;">They alternated teams to get a different look, too, so all three worked
with different teams so no big deal Favre working with first unit.</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>

 

[ckDOG]

Read this article. It's a little older, but concepts are still there. Mullen is definitely going to tweak the offense to fit his talent - there's no doubt. But you can't deny that a lot of what makes this offense work is the QB making the right reads, and when the time comes, running the football. He has to or else the numbers advantage this offense is constantly searching for isn't as great.

Does that mean you need Denard Robinson, Cam Newton, or Pat White (QBs you typically think of as "dual threat" QBs) as your QB for the offense to work. No. But you do need somebody that can make the right reads and run the ball when he needs to. Can somebody like Tyler Russell do that? Probably. But being (from what I can tell) a little slower and not as tough of a runner makes it even more important that he's executing that part of the game in a smart way - he's certainly not going to out-athlete anybody.

Being a freshman, he's just likely not a the point mentally where he's making the right reads and decisions to where he's most effective. I think a QB like Russell can end up being a dual threat in the end - let's give him a little credit - he doesn't look like Ryan Mallett when it comes to mobility - it will just take him a little longer to get there. And by "dual threat" I mean being a QB where the defense has to at least think about the prospects of him running the ball. A QB like Russell is probably never going to be putting up 100 yard rushing games like a Relf - but, as long as it's in the scheme and the call may end up in Russell running the ball - that still creates extra space/numbers advantage for the rest of the offense to execute.

To settle the argument on what Mullen prefers, I'd like to know his answer to the question: "If you had to pick a one, do you pick Ryan Mallett or Denard Robinson"?

 

[lannsd]

Also, explain to me why Dan recruited Stephen Rivers, Nash Nance, and Hutson Mason- guys that aren't exactly dual threat QB's?

Best available QB with interest in MSU would be my guess. A good QB is a good QB - if the guy knows how to execute and make wise decisions, I'd rather have an immobile QB with a weak arm over a great athlete who is an idiot.



However, all other things considered equal, Mullen is going to fall back on the dual threat guy. It's how the offense is meant to work. It's almost like putting an extra guy on the field that the defense has scheme for.

We can't afford to tell good players- especially QB's- to shove off. We would be incredibly stupid to tell a Parade All-Ameircan QB from say, Madison Central that really wants to go to MSU that we're not going to give him a scholarship because he's a drop back passer and take someone that is simply more mobile, but can't do anything else right. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ask the Michigan fans at the Gator Bowl if they would like to have Ryan Mallett back right now.</span>

Terrible example. They wouldn't.

 

[Coach34]

and offense isnt their problem. They are 106th in defense. Thats why they arent winning big games.

Not a very good example there Todd.

 

[Goat Holder II]

It just amazes me, the complete idioticness of our fanbase. Tyler Russell is the 2nd best QB option, Favre the 3rd. The end.

**** at least Russell can hit wide open receivers. I can't remember the last time we've had a QB at MSU that could. He's got all the measurables, he just has to grow up. He still has baby fat on him. But he'll be a damn good QB if he's given the time to get 'it'. And he will, seeing how he's got another year to learn and then start as a junior.

Bank it now. Barring any crazy circumstances like injury and such, in the fall of 2012, Tyler Russell will be the starting quarterback at MSU.