Ganz not letting up

Eric the Red

Team HuskerBoard
Ganz not letting up

By STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star

Friday, Jul 13, 2007 - 02:46:54 pm CDT

Nebraska’s quarterback competition was white hot during the spring season, but figured to cool during the summer months as the Huskers pushed through “informal” workouts at Memorial Stadium.

It’s summer, and the living’s easy, right?

Turns out, these dog days of summer also have some bite, at least as far as Joe Ganz and Sam Keller’s ongoing competition is concerned.

“The whole thing about being a quarterback is that every little drill, you’re competing with yourself and with the guy you’re battling for the job,” Ganz said Friday. “Especially when you get out with the team in seven-on-seven (passing) situations — that’s when you want to do real well.”

Nebraska’s summer workout regimen began June 10 and ends July 27. The Huskers formally begin preseason drills on Aug. 6 and open the regular season Sept. 1 in Lincoln against Nevada. In the energy-sapping heat of August, when preparation gets into full swing — that’s when the Huskers’ QB battle will be decided.

Indeed, Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan said he likely would wait to make a decision on a starter until he sees Keller and Ganz perform in full-pad scrimmaging next month. The coach said that probably will take until the third week of practice.

For now, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Ganz — widely regarded as the underdog in the race to replace Zac Taylor — focuses on preparing his body to get banged around during what can become a long season. He also has tried to improve his footwork on drops, trying to be as efficient as possible. Meanwhile, Keller has said his objective this summer was to “get in sync” with his wide receivers.

Because coaches are barred by NCAA rules from watching summer drills, pressure on players perhaps ratchets down, if only a tad.

“It’s less intense, yeah, but the competition’s always there, especially being a quarterback,” Ganz said.

The junior from suburban Chicago likes it that way.

“Obviously, competition helps a lot,” he said. “Competition always brings out the best or makes you quit. Obviously I haven’t quit. You can either quit or face it and get better.”

Ganz understands that most fans and media anticipate the starting job going to Keller, a 6-4, 230-pound senior transfer from Arizona State.

“That’s natural, just looking at what he did at Arizona State,” Ganz said. “That’s fine with me. Whatever. I really don’t care who the media wants to be the quarterback. It’s up to the team and up to the coaches. That’s what’s most important to me.”

Nebraska returns 13 starters from last year’s team that finished with a 9-5 record, including a 21-7 loss to Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game. The Huskers will gun for their first conference title since 1999.

A veteran corps of receivers is regarded as one of the team’s foremost attributes.

“The main guys — like Terrence (Nunn), Todd (Peterson) and Nate (Swift) — they’re doing a great job of helping the young guys,” Ganz said. “They’ve been doing this stuff for years. It’s memory, so they can do it without a mistake every time. The timing’s on, the routes are on. It’s a pretty nice display.

“It’s just great to see guys not taking the summer off and working hard, because we have something special here. I mean, you can just feel it. There’s a certain feel in the locker room. Everybody wants to get better. They know this season is the season we need to get it done.

“There’s an urgency. Guys want to prove that we can finally get back on top of the Big 12.”

Ganz is confident he will emerge on top at quarterback.

“The biggest thing now is getting your body ready for the season,” he said. “Now that I have a chance to play in every game, I’m just trying to get my body in shape and trying to put on some weight, so I’m ready to get banged around.

“Just look at Zac. He took a beating last year.”

Ganz said he actually weighs nearly 210, about five pounds more than last August.

“Those extra few pounds can make a pretty big difference,” he said.

Briefly

I-back Cody Glenn, bothered by a nagging foot injury since November, is running well this summer, Ganz said. “You can just tell he’s not really favoring that foot,” Ganz said. “He’s back to how we remember him running.”

Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.

 
I try really hard not to just agree with the majority until I've had a chance to really find out whats going on as best I can. From what I've seen and heard Ganz has improved alot, but to be clear he had alot of improving to do! With him the problem has been his decision making when throwing the ball. Thats a big deal when thats your main duty. Has he had a turn around off season fueled by the new competition? Could be. I'm still a little pesimistic about the imrovements I saw. I can remember watching Keller before I gave a crap about him and he impressed me then. So it all comes down to wheather or not Keller has learned the system and gotten the respect of the team vs Ganz ability to make the right decisions under pressure. If Ganz has overcome his shortcommings then I will root my a$$ off for him.....but I'm not sure that has happened yet. We'll see. GBR.

 
I think that Ganz is good enough to get us back to the Big 12 Championship game but Keller is the one to take us the next step.

 
I think that Ganz is good enough to get us back to the Big 12 Championship game but Keller is the one to take us the next step.
Umm...maybe...I guess I'm still a little skeptical of both, due to the comments above on Ganz and Keller needing to learn the system and 'do it all' in one year in one year on the field with a different system. That said, I support them both, I hope they compete like crazy and it makes both of them even better...because no matter who starts, the other one is an injury away from being the guy.

Fops

 
Ganz better know the f-ing system. He has been in it since he has been here. If he is not getting it now, he will never get it. As Josh said, whoever they choose to be the starter, it will be nice to know that the backup will be just fine.

Also, it is nice to see that Glenn is running and does not seem to be favoring his foot. We will need him this fall!!

 
It's good that both guys are competing on such a high level because it's going to make both of them better. You have Ganz who has been in the system and knows it like the back of his hand and then you have Keller who has all the intangibles and seems to be the next starter for us......................THIS is a hard one!!!! :ahhhhhhhh

 
I think that Ganz is good enough to get us back to the Big 12 Championship game but Keller is the one to take us the next step.
I would agree with that. I think Ganz has more raw talent then ZT.

But he can't touch Keller,as long as Keller knows the system

 
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yep. i don't know that Ganz even plays next year, short on tools.
I agree. His big problem is the ability to make the reads. He may know the order of the reads, but picking the right one has illuded him since he got here. Sometimes you need to be able to just play ball, and wheather he knows the system perfectly or not, thats what SK brings with him.

 
If any body was at the spring game knows Keller will be starting.

The 2 passes he didnt complete was becasue he threw them away.

Every freaking pass was on the money.

I'm not dogging Ganz he did very well also, but there was a difference

 
[i-back Cody Glenn, bothered by a nagging foot injury since November, is running well this summer, Ganz said. “You can just tell he’s not really favoring that foot,” Ganz said. “He’s back to how we remember him running.”]

That's encouraging to hear.

 
Who do you guys think the top five QB are in the Big 12? (in order)

1. Colt Mcoy

2. Sam Keller

3. Chase Daniels (Booger)

4. Stephen Mcgee

5. Brett Meyer

 
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