Freshmen QBs Bush and Darlington relishing chance to compete

[Guy Chamberlin]

 

Yea, but the mighty Zac Lee from the City College of San Francisco was unseated by highly recruited safety/WR prospect Taylor Martinez.........

 

Why do Nebraska fans still wonder why we don't compete for National Titles anymore? The last time we competed for one, we had the Heisman Trophy winner at QB.

 

You know, many football analysts think the quarterback position is a very important one on a football team, but really, wtf do they know?

 

 

The big time football programs didn't want Eric Crouch, Scott Frost or Tommie Frazier playing quarterback for them, either.

 

The closest Nebraska has had to a blue-chip quarterback was when Sam Keller transferred.

 

We're supposed to covet quarterbacks like Connor Cook, but frankly Tommy Armstrong outplayed him the last two years.

 

And those vintage Nebraska offensive lines made heroes out of some otherwise middling quarterbacks.

[CharlieTuna]

 

We're supposed to covet quarterbacks like Connor Cook, but frankly Tommy Armstrong outplayed him the last two years.

 

You can't be serious, especially in the 2013 game in Lincoln. Tommy was a f*cking turnover machine that day.

[TheSker]

 

Why do Nebraska fans still wonder why we don't compete for National Titles anymore? The last time we competed for one, we had the Heisman Trophy winner at QB.

 

 

Crouch's completion percentage would not have been a fit for Mike Riley's system.

[Decked]

You can't compare Crouch and try and fit him into Riley's system. It doesn't work that way. Crouch was a specialty QB and would have obviously not done well in any system that didn't put his running ability first.

[EmeraldIngot]

in today's football, you literally can't run on every down. Even Wisconsin had games where Gordon got stuffed for most of the game last year. Even a run first philosophy that uses the QB in the run game needs to be able to pass. If you're always running between the tackles, they'll stack the box. If you're always running outside, they'll widen the LB and play contain. Sometimes, you've got to throw that WR screen. Sometimes you've got to hit that deep post. Sometimes, you gotta take the chance on a long streak or a fade. It's about offensive balance. Stretching the defense. Even a run-first team needs a pass threat to open up the run game. Even a pass-first team needs a run threat to open up holes in coverage.

 

And believe it or not, Crouch had a decent throwing arm. He was better with his legs, no doubt, but he could make plays with his arm when we really needed to. And sometimes, we really needed to.

 

Armstrong is in that place right now where he can run and make plays with his legs. He can make plays with his arm, too. He's got all the tools to be an elite dual threat QB, but he has issues doing it on a consistent basis. When he throws the ball, you never know I'd it's gonna be on target, or if it's gonna hit the dirt, or if it's gonna sail over everyone's head. If he fixes that (or at least improves) he will be the starter. But right now, Darlington is showing better consistency. Granted, we haven't seen much from Darlington in the run game, but what we have seen is good. He's just more consistent than the other guys on the team.

 

Tommy with more accuracy and consistency will make us explosive. Darlington may not have that same explosiveness, I don't know, we haven't seen enough of him to tell. An improved Tommy will lead us to conference championship, BCS bowl wins, and possibly even MNC. I just haven't seen enough improvement from him yet.

[TheSker]

in today's football, you literally can't run on every down.

And literally no one is saying that. However, if the single season and career completion percentages of Frazier, Frost and Crouch are looked at, the number "60" will not be found. I think that's more of a statement as to the offensive philosophy that is effective in the college game.

[Paul in WI]

The classic Nebraska qb was someone who could effectively lead the ground game and had just enough of an arm to keep an opposing defense honest. The more stationary, prototypical qb's didn't fit our system, which was fine. Osborne built a system that used talent that most others weren't looking to acquire (qb's, shorter linemen, etc.). You just can't compare what we're trying to do today with the past. We used to have a unique style with many unique features, and now we are trying to be like everybody else and compete for the same athletes. Not much of a recipe for success in a wasteland like Nebraska if you ask me, but it is what we have.

[Landlord]

 

We're supposed to covet quarterbacks like Connor Cook, but frankly Tommy Armstrong outplayed him the last two years.

 

 

 

 

 

[Redux]

Lol Tommy in Lincoln vs Connor Cook, not even close. He was awful.

 

In East Lansing maybe, if you only counted the 4th quarter.

[The Dude]

Want to read the article, but don't wanna pay the LJS. Oh well.

[Hedley Lamarr]

Want to read the article, but don't wanna pay the LJS. Oh well.

Ditto

[True2tRA]

 

Why do Nebraska fans still wonder why we don't compete for National Titles anymore? The last time we competed for one, we had the Heisman Trophy winner at QB.

 

Crouch's completion percentage would not have been a fit for Mike Riley's system.

 

The most passing attempts Crouch ever had was 189 attempts in 2001. He completed 55%. Sean Mannion had 453 passing attempts in 2014, completing 62%.

 

So obviously, this is a reasonable comparison and a conversation TOTALLY worth having...............derp.

[BeaverSir]

Darlington could make anybody's offense go. I watched the HS video of him and he always makes the read, is instinctive and gets the ball out quickly. Riley won the Fiesta bowl in 2001 with a short, heady quarterback (jonathan smith, now the OC at Washington) who just seemed to make plays and wa a winner. That's Darlington.

 

But man, that hit that took him out- wasn't even much of a pop. Makes me wonder if he is going to last long. Hate to see talented players get head injuries.

[TheSker]

 

 

Why do Nebraska fans still wonder why we don't compete for National Titles anymore? The last time we competed for one, we had the Heisman Trophy winner at QB.

Crouch's completion percentage would not have been a fit for Mike Riley's system.

 

The most passing attempts Crouch ever had was 189 attempts in 2001. He completed 55%. Sean Mannion had 453 passing attempts in 2014, completing 62%.

 

So obviously, this is a reasonable comparison and a conversation TOTALLY worth having...............derp.

 

Not sure what the "derp" vocabulary is all about........but anyway.....

 

The Mannion/Crouch "comparison" illustrates my point exactly. I don't believe Mike Riley's offensive philosophy is an effective blueprint in the college game.

[True2tRA]

 

 

 

Why do Nebraska fans still wonder why we don't compete for National Titles anymore? The last time we competed for one, we had the Heisman Trophy winner at QB.

 

Crouch's completion percentage would not have been a fit for Mike Riley's system.

The most passing attempts Crouch ever had was 189 attempts in 2001. He completed 55%. Sean Mannion had 453 passing attempts in 2014, completing 62%.

So obviously, this is a reasonable comparison and a conversation TOTALLY worth having...............derp.

Not sure what the "derp" vocabulary is all about........but anyway.....

 

The Mannion/Crouch "comparison" illustrates my point exactly. I don't believe Mike Riley's offensive philosophy is an effective blueprint in the college game.

What is this blueprint? How will this blueprint be applied at Nebraska?

 

If the spring game showed me anything, it was that I don't know exactly what to expect as an offensive philosophy. Seemed like a little bit of everything.

 

So please, answer the above questions and enlighten me a bit on what exactly this offensive blueprint is that I should be expecting to watch fail in the upcoming seasons.