Wimsatt played a good game

[RU#1fan]

He’s improved but still statistically last in FBS?
That’s a problem. 130 yards by a QB is not really a good game.
Blaming freshman WR for an interception on what was still a poorly thrown ball is at best 50-50. Certainly contributed to fumble if not his fault with Kyle as well. Don’t fault him for getting killed on other.
Yes he’s improved but statistically really doesn’t show it and back breaking turnovers.
Simon might have warranted a chance. Wiscy drive was good. Portal QB has to be looked at.
The idea that we can’t question Wimsatt is nutty.

Not so sure on the improvement progress of Gavin. The NCAA QB ratings thru today show him #101 of 104 of all QBs in Passing Efficiency.

NCAA College Football FBS Stats | NCAA.com

Discover the current NCAA FBS Football leaders in every stats category, as well as historic leaders.

www.ncaa.com

 

[jerseybird]

Are we talking about the interception in the 4th quarter of the Penn State game.? There was a corner blitz from the right. Wimsatt threw to the left. His throw was behind the receiver. Maybe he expected the receiver to have read the blitz and broken off his pattern. Maybe he just underthrew the receiver because of the pressure from his right. The safety, Harrison --not a cornerback -- cut in front of the receiver and made the interception. IMHO, the interception could have happened to any QB.

The receiver got to his spot and remained stationary, thus enabling the safety to get over to the ball. If he had stopped and not seen the ball arriving, just moving back toward the QB would have beat the safety to the ball. Gotta help the QB out. Hands up & move toward him.

 

[WhiteBus]

Are we really counting 2021 as "a year in the program"?

He showed up in the middle of the season. He had maybe a little advantage on early enrollees for that year but he's the same age as sophomores in college.

In most other programs he's a redshirt freshman.

He showed up the day before the first game. He missed preseason camp and wasted his red shirt season. Money (NIL) was the reason he came early. If he just waited until January he still would have been paid. Would have gone through off season workouts, Spring practice, Spring game, summer workouts, summer practice. And still have his red shirt available.
It wasn't a smart decision for Schiano to allow him to come under those circumstances. Instead he has only 2 years remaining instead of 3.
To answer your question. Yes, that counts as a year in the program.

 

[jerseybird]

Not so sure on the improvement progress of Gavin. The NCAA QB ratings thru today show him #101 of 104 of all QBs in Passing Efficiency.

NCAA College Football FBS Stats | NCAA.com

Discover the current NCAA FBS Football leaders in every stats category, as well as historic leaders.

www.ncaa.com

You didn't see anything in yesterday's early passes?

 

[Retired711]

We all agree that Wimsatt isn't performing the way we want our starting QB to perform. The question is what do we do from here?

I see four options. They aren't mutually exclusive:

First, play Evan Simon. None of us are at practice and so we don't know why Schiano isn't doing this.

Second, get a QB in the portal. Keep in mind there is going to be only so much NIL money available for recruiting/retaining, and so it is a question of priorities: are there other things we need more? Consider also that getting a QB in the portal might cause Wimsatt to transfer, and so basically we'd be gambling that the portal QB will be better than Wimsatt.

Third, see what Ajani Sheppard (now a freshman) and A.J. Surace (entering next year) can do. I doubt that they can instantly do what Wimsatt is doing, let alone do better, but who knows.

Fourth, try to further develop Wimsatt. He is not yet what we want, but he is better than last year and he has two more years to go.

I think it would be foolish to give up on Wimsatt: young QBs do get better. I doubt the other three options are better than trying to develop Wimsatt further, but they can be explored in conjunction with it.

 

[Jtung230]

We all agree that Wimsatt isn't performing the way we want our starting QB to perform. The question is what do we do from here?

I see four options. They aren't mutually exclusive:

First, play Evan Simon. None of us are at practice and so we don't know why Schiano isn't doing this.

Second, get a QB in the portal. Keep in mind there is going to be only so much NIL money available for recruiting/retaining, and so it is a question of priorities: are there other things we need more? Consider also that getting a QB in the portal might cause Wimsatt to transfer, and so basically we'd be gambling that the portal QB will be better than Wimsatt.

Third, see what Ajani Sheppard (now a freshman) and A.J. Surace (entering next year) can do. I doubt that they can instantly do what Wimsatt is doing, let alone do better, but who knows.

Fourth, try to further develop Wimsatt. He is not yet what we want, but he is better than last year and he has two more years to go.

I think it would be foolish to give up on Wimsatt: young QBs do get better. I doubt the other three options are better than trying to develop Wimsatt further, but they can be explored in conjunction with it.

There are a lot more options. For example, get a better OL in the portal. Or, get WRs ot TEs in the These are the same players we have last year. They showed a ton of improvement but the ceiling is low.

 

[Retired711]

There are a lot more options. For example, get a better OL in the portal. Or, get WRs ot TEs in the These are the same players we have last year. They showed a ton of improvement but the ceiling is low.

You're right: I only identified the "quarterback-specific" options. Yes, getting a better "supporting cast" would be good. Again, we have limited resources to use in pursuing players in the portal, and so the program will have to decide whether it would be better to use resources on offensive linemen and receivers than on a new quarterback. I think it would be-- any QB will perform a lot better with improved receivers and offensive linemen.

 

[Jtung230]

You're right: I only identified the "quarterback-specific" options. Yes, getting a better "supporting cast" would be good. Again, we have limited resources to use in pursuing players in the portal, and so the program will have to decide whether it would be better to use resources on offensive linemen and receivers than on a new quarterback. I think it would be-- any QB will perform a lot better with improved receivers and offensive linemen.

Good QB that have options will want to see a good supporting cast. IMHO, OL should always be priority #1.

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

I think Wimsatt has real problems.. but are they his problems or the coaching staff's problems? I do not know. But I will try to categorize them:

Wimsatt issues:

1) lack of footwork.. this is witnessed by inaccurate passes, poorly timed (usually late), and inability to avoid sacks or quickly get through a hole. Now.. he has successfully done all of that.. but, to me, that proves the footwork issue is the problem... he needs to get his feet ready to do any or all of that BEFORE it is necessary. He had a really nice run early in teh game where he showed URGENCY to move.. actually showed QUICKNESS. Then, later in the game.. that was gone.

2) vision.. he doesn't look at multiple targets well, doesn't choose between them well, doesn't see DANGER (like an outside rush) well.

Staff issues (I am guessing at all of this but in terms of staff.. I have no idea why they do what they do):

1) see above.. if they cannot fix these things they need to send a message by sitting him down.. at least now and then

2) way to conservative... PSU was selling out against the run and Wimsatt was successful passing early.. but then we insist on running into 7-8 in the box.. REGULARLY.. too regularly for it to have been a mistake.. where Wimsatt was supposed to audible out of it.

Of course, I do not know if Wimsatt had the option to get out of it or not. Just like I do not know if our KR and PR guy is told to fair catch not matter what.

But this is getting tired.. this lack of confidence in Wimsatt as a passer when when the D is daring us to pass.

I saw Schiano mention PSU's great edge-rush. Well.. you KNEW they had a great edge-rudh going in. Yeah.. you mentioned how we had to get chips on them.. but then we are back to a Wimsatt issue.. he should have seen the edge rush coming before the snap.. teh WR had to see it.. and had to make himself immediately available for a hot read.. even if we miss the chip on the edge rusher that pass still should have gotten off... if it were Gary Nova I'd say.. well, he's scared.. he never stood in, delivered a pass and took the hit.. others have... we have had some braver QBs recently.. none great.

But is it an coahcing issue or a QB?WR issue? Or both? The WR on the most egregious example was Strong, IIRC, a frosh. So maybe Wimsatt could have thrown but the WR did not look back for a throw. I just don't know.. but the coaches and players will know looking at film.


For Maryland I want to see an aggressive passing game. We are playing with house money coming off some tough games.

Let's really GO FOR IT.

Who cares if Wimsatt throws 3 INTS if he also throws 3 TDs and shows he can really throw if needed to?

Open everything up. GO FOR IT. Let that tired D know you'll do everything to try to WIN. How should teh D feel when it looks like the offense is handcuffed to a running game and that.. despite 8 in the box, you choose to run it?

That is defeatist. That is a sure sign that you never planned to defeat Penn State.. you just want to run clock and keep it close. That is more depressing than losing by 30 instead of 20.

 

[RU#1fan]

You didn't see anything in yesterday's early passes?

Absolutely and it was great.
The season is 13 games…. We need to see this as his body of work for a season and just for one half of football.
Hopefully we see progression next SATURDAY and in the Bowl game.

 

[jerseybird]

Absolutely and it was great.
The season is 13 games…. We need to see this as his body of work for a season and just for one half of football.
Hopefully we see progression next SATURDAY and in the Bowl game.

The "body of work for a season" is greatly dependent on the efficiency of the other 10 players on the field. I suspect his relative surgical precision on those early passes were the result of everything clicking correctly as a team.

 

[Knight Shift]

Not so sure on the improvement progress of Gavin. The NCAA QB ratings thru today show him #101 of 104 of all QBs in Passing Efficiency.

NCAA College Football FBS Stats | NCAA.com

Discover the current NCAA FBS Football leaders in every stats category, as well as historic leaders.

www.ncaa.com

Maybe look at Total QBR, which takes into account running:

Gavin is ranked 79th and 7th in the Big 10, which is not bad for his second full year.
Those above him, McCarthy (Junior), McCord (Junior), Taulia (Senior), Mordecai (Senior). Only Allar is at his level in terms of experience, and he has a fantastic surrounding cast.

2025 Big Ten Season Leaders Total QBR | ESPN

Visit ESPN to view Big Ten Conference Total QBR for the current and previous seasons

www.espn.com

And this site has him in the "above average" category for Big Ten. Imagine that, take away the hyperactive, know-nothing fans who only want to cast stones, take into account running ability, and we have a decent young QB who is improving.

https://collegefootballnetwork.com/b1g-qb-rankings-2023/

 

[NotInRHouse_anon]

Virginia Tech has already lost 6 games so that can’t have a winning season yet..
Hopefully NW beats Illinois this Saturday and they will have a winning season.

If they beat UVA and win bowl they can.

 

[rob kight]

Gavin is saving his best game for Maryland. He , Kyle and Sam have great game and the D harasses their QB the whole game. Max gets a pick 6.

 

[cubuffsdoug_rivals]

After 24 games show me one ?
How many winning teams have we beaten = none

Northwestern

 

[cubuffsdoug_rivals]

Fans here are never satisfied. I find it funny how posters sh*t all over Wimsatt the same way they did to Nova. Now Nova is a saint when compared to the QBs that came after him. You can never win here as a player.
Perception will always overrule reality even if the player has shown some improvement.

 

[yesrutgers01]

Oh this won't do.

Every RU loss must be on the QB only. It has been this way always.

We have fans that blamed Teel/Nova/Savage/Dodd and they had KB, Underwood, Tim Brown, Sanu, Carroo...

Who is a WR on this team of that caliber?

But blame Gavin for not lighting up scoreboard versus one of the FOUR top 8 defenses we have played, making up all but one loss. SMH.

They don't realize there was a reason Mr. Teel was never in the seats with his wife and daughter- he straight up said he would have been in a fight and put someone in a hospital every single game.

 

[yesrutgers01]

Fans here are never satisfied. I find it funny how posters sh*t all over Wimsatt the same way they did to Nova. Now Nova is a saint when compared to the QBs that came after him. You can never win here as a player.
Perception will always overrule reality even if the player has shown some improvement.

Doug- have to ask, how are you siting in the seats with all the other fans? My son just couldn't do it after he finished playing.

And the guys you are responding to do not understand what we saw this year. From a team, last year, that no one expected to win more than 4 or 5 games this year, to beating up the team for not being able to beat OSU/Mich/PSU/Iowa/Wisc

And while we all hope to see GW make the next step and he is not a good passer at this time- that we saw him improve night and day over last year. GS is doing what he can to win every possible game this year- if that means to be run heavy and rely on the D- that is the way to do it.
If they can get GW's accuracy on track next year- the best way to win may be to pass more.

We are bowling this year after what we have experienced for a decade and these guys just want to **** on things

 

[cubuffsdoug_rivals]

Doug- have to ask, how are you siting in the seats with all the other fans? My son just couldn't do it after he finished playing.

And the guys you are responding to do not understand what we saw this year. From a team, last year, that no one expected to win more than 4 or 5 games this year, to beating up the team for not being able to beat OSU/Mich/PSU/Iowa/Wisc

And while we all hope to see GW make the next step and he is not a good passer at this time- that we saw him improve night and day over last year. GS is doing what he can to win every possible game this year- if that means to be run heavy and rely on the D- that is the way to do it.
If they can get GW's accuracy on track next year- the best way to win may be to pass more.

We are bowling this year after what we have experienced for a decade and these guys just want to **** on things

I sit in the stands most games, but it isn't easy because fans want instant results. Fans only see the results on Saturdays, but there is a lot more that goes into building a successful program. It takes more than just recruiting good players. It's the support system in place, the facilities, it's addressing all issues that put the program in a bad place. No matter how much you explain things to them, they don't care. Rome wasn't built in a day. We exceeded the year's expectations and haven't reached our potential yet.

 

[yesrutgers01]

I sit in the stands most games, but it isn't easy because fans want instant results. Fans only see the results on Saturdays, but there is a lot more that goes into building a successful program. It takes more than just recruiting good players. It's the support system in place, the facilities, it's addressing all issues that put the program in a bad place. No matter how much you explain things to them, they don't care. Rome wasn't built in a day. We exceeded the year's expectations and haven't reached our potential yet.

I love the stands- though, my wife, ummmm she is ready for a fight at all times.

My son= early after retirement, he couldn't do it. He went to a Rutgers game(first ever, in his life not on a sideline...he just couldn't do it.
Though, he has settled some and has started to take his 2 y/o daughter to games.

But, you are right. I mat have been more negative this year but I also realized what we have been, lack of support and $$$ and love what I saw this year. A few changes still need to be made but our DC, OL coaches are top notch and we also have money to replace anyone else.