I always think backup QB at the college level is a crapshoot for even the best of teams.. Unless you had a situation like Ohio State had a year ago, most top football teams dont have an established backup.. If you have forced platooning and maybe a QB that came back from an injury or redshirt, then you can have some experienced depth. With 5 years in a program(including redshirt year) that is not much to establish time as a backup that sees action.
I will always be old school in my thinking as a Gopher fan.. Ideally, run the ball because it allows the o-line to get in sync, takes pressure off the QB, ideally keeps our own defense off the field, shortens the game, etc. The problem is that those safeties and LBs have gotten so much more athletic in today's game so you have to establish a passing threat to get those safeties off the line and LBs thinking more than normal instead of just reading/reacting to what is in front of them.
Obviously, we run a lot of safe passes with the 1 and 3 step drops where it is predetermined where the ball is going. The screens and the TE lags where it is timing or getting rid of the ball as soon as possible.. All good.. But there are times where we have to run those deeper drops to force those safeties back and guessing where the ball is going to go. That is where I feel a QB needs experience as it gives the QB and the receivers the ability to get in sync as well as help each other out by making plays. I am just wondering if Seth Green or Demry Croft are ready for that.. I know they practice and prepare but do they feel confident they can do it in a game situation against D1 opponents with superior athletes?? I am anxious to see the new offense and if they take a few more risks, anyways.. With Mitch, we have an experienced guy so we can do more things.. I am hoping that Demry or Seth can step in and provide playmaking ability. Maybe get a blowout win by the 4th quarter so those guys can relax without worrying that a mistake will cost the game. This will be an essential conversation next year but right now it is still possible that one of those guys is needed in a game. What do you guys think about our backup QB situation??
I will always be old school in my thinking as a Gopher fan.. Ideally, run the ball because it allows the o-line to get in sync, takes pressure off the QB, ideally keeps our own defense off the field, shortens the game, etc. The problem is that those safeties and LBs have gotten so much more athletic in today's game so you have to establish a passing threat to get those safeties off the line and LBs thinking more than normal instead of just reading/reacting to what is in front of them.
Obviously, we run a lot of safe passes with the 1 and 3 step drops where it is predetermined where the ball is going. The screens and the TE lags where it is timing or getting rid of the ball as soon as possible.. All good.. But there are times where we have to run those deeper drops to force those safeties back and guessing where the ball is going to go. That is where I feel a QB needs experience as it gives the QB and the receivers the ability to get in sync as well as help each other out by making plays. I am just wondering if Seth Green or Demry Croft are ready for that.. I know they practice and prepare but do they feel confident they can do it in a game situation against D1 opponents with superior athletes?? I am anxious to see the new offense and if they take a few more risks, anyways.. With Mitch, we have an experienced guy so we can do more things.. I am hoping that Demry or Seth can step in and provide playmaking ability. Maybe get a blowout win by the 4th quarter so those guys can relax without worrying that a mistake will cost the game. This will be an essential conversation next year but right now it is still possible that one of those guys is needed in a game. What do you guys think about our backup QB situation??
