Athlon ranks the Big Ten Quarterbacks

[bshirt]

Chris is right, plus add in some of the conversation from another thread (I forget which) where I said Cotton should primarily be a blocker, not a receiver. I'm all about using the correct pieces in the correct places. Cotton's a much better blocker than receiver. Reed is a terrible blocker, fine receiver. Ergo, Cotton blocks, Reed catches. On the rare occasion you switch that up, but not often.

Obviously you're right in your assessment of the tight ends. Reed is not physical enough as a blocker but is a much bigger threat as a receiver than Cotton, due to his athleticism and flat out speed.

But when's the last time you honestly remember Taylor throwing a ball up to Ben downfield, on the rare occasions he does run a route, to have it dropper or otherwise not caught? My main point was that of anyone who is catching balls for the Huskers, Cotton is the one I cannot remember dropping a ball. Sure, he looks very awkward reeling the ball in and is in NO way a threat to rack up the YAC, but he can just flat out be trusted to catch the ball.

After watching our wrs drop Tmart/Z. Lee's passes all over the place the last three years I have a lot of appreciation for Cotton who actually catches the damn ball. As he's a great blocker too I see him as grossly underrated. Reed simply can't block anybody and as others had said I hope Beck quits trying to run critical rushing plays that depend on him stuffing someone. Maybe we need to use two TE formations more?

 

[Chaddyboxer]

Above Knapplc you surprised me a bit --- I am not used to you holding an assessment that is so in line with my own --- I tend often to be more on the "bleak" side of the assessment continuum than you. Anyway... your statement that unless TMart becomes a rushing threat that his overall play (what he brings to the plate as a passer/runner) is not going to be what N needs --- and, as you say, we must rush Carnes along quickly. I agree.

Now... Husker from Kansas points out that Bo has not been able to scheme well against the more experienced coaches... I agree. To the point --- will he have the discernment to move away from Taylor if Taylor is not getting it done? That is not scheming so much... but rather will our coach exercise wisdom in roster managment when the time comes (if the time comes). I am not confidant that he will. We, I'd think, will live or die with TMart --- he is Bo's guy and whether he plays well or not will not change things... TMart is it.

Then again... if he is really the 3rd best QB in the conference --- we may be OK.... but... hmnn is he really that good?

That's because I spend so much time debunking Taylor Myths that I've gotten the reputation of being a blind Martinez Worshiper. That's not the case at all. I am a supporter because he's a Husker, but the reality is, I want the best player to play, period.

The window is closing on his improvement. If he can't get it done, we owe it to ourselves to get Carnes reps to get him ready for 2013. We cannot ignore 2012, and we need to have a solid year. But our schedule is very favorable in 2013, and if Martinez is not going to develop into the guy we need, then he has to be benched and Carnes (or Armstrong, or whomever) has to be allowed to move up.

Above Knapplc you surprised me a bit --- I am not used to you holding an assessment that is so in line with my own --- I tend often to be more on the "bleak" side of the assessment continuum than you. Anyway... your statement that unless TMart becomes a rushing threat that his overall play (what he brings to the plate as a passer/runner) is not going to be what N needs --- and, as you say, we must rush Carnes along quickly. I agree.

Now... Husker from Kansas points out that Bo has not been able to scheme well against the more experienced coaches... I agree. To the point --- will he have the discernment to move away from Taylor if Taylor is not getting it done? That is not scheming so much... but rather will our coach exercise wisdom in roster managment when the time comes (if the time comes). I am not confidant that he will. We, I'd think, will live or die with TMart --- he is Bo's guy and whether he plays well or not will not change things... TMart is it.

Then again... if he is really the 3rd best QB in the conference --- we may be OK.... but... hmnn is he really that good?

That's because I spend so much time debunking Taylor Myths that I've gotten the reputation of being a blind Martinez Worshiper. That's not the case at all. I am a supporter because he's a Husker, but the reality is, I want the best player to play, period.

The window is closing on his improvement. If he can't get it done, we owe it to ourselves to get Carnes reps to get him ready for 2013. We cannot ignore 2012, and we need to have a solid year. But our schedule is very favorable in 2013, and if Martinez is not going to develop into the guy we need, then he has to be benched and Carnes (or Armstrong, or whomever) has to be allowed to move up.

I agree entirely.

Whoever it is that projects upwards to the greatest degree --- Armstrong, Carnes, Marsh... TMart, whoever.

An aside... though I think related (though not to the QB position) --- what came of Courtney Osborne? He was our best safety 2 years ago as a sophomore. He went away entirely last year and this pre-season as I read articles where the coaches comment of our secondary --- they list often 6 or 7 guys and osborne is nowhere to be seen. I ask this because of the general notion that we need to play our most promising guys --- and how does our best safety become a ghost like that nowhere to be seen? Has been hurt? What is the deal?

My prediction....Armstrong will be the future QB of Husker football once TMart leaves.

 

[mnhusker]

Top receiving corp in the B1G??? Id never in a million years imagine hearing or reading those words about my beloved huskers!

This was more intresting than the qb analysis.

 

[Chaddyboxer]

Top receiving corp in the B1G??? Id never in a million years imagine hearing or reading those words about my beloved huskers!

This was more intresting than the qb analysis.

I've said this and believed this once the 2011 season was over. Get ready to jizz your pants in 2012....it's going to be a fun Husker ride of me throwing my hat at the TV and being a drunken mess. I've always gotten more blasted when we win big games. Sorry...................I'm drinking right now.

 

[zoogs]

We just might have the best receiving corps in the Big Ten.

I think Husker fans have been sidetracked by the comically disappointing senior season of Niles Paul, and the similar doldrums Brandon Kinnie went through at the start of last year -- to the point that anything that could even come close to being considered a 'drop' elicits a mass freakout and condemnation of the player, his pet dogs, and the entire WR corps.

Quincy Enunwa, Kenny Bell, Jamal Turner. We have legitimate starpower here at receiver, and it's a combination we are really going to enjoy (if we are able to feature them enough in the offense).

 

[Hercules]

We just might have the best receiving corps in the Big Ten.

I think Husker fans have been sidetracked by the comically disappointing senior season of Niles Paul, and the similar doldrums Brandon Kinnie went through at the start of last year -- to the point that anything that could even come close to being considered a 'drop' elicits a mass freakout and condemnation of the player, his pet dogs, and the entire WR corps.

Quincy Enunwa, Kenny Bell, Jamal Turner. We have legitimate starpower here at receiver, and it's a combination we are really going to enjoy (if we are able to feature them enough in the offense).

"Legitimate" starpower is where I'll disagree with you. "Potential" starpower, we have loads of. I really hope those guys come through for us big time, but at this point, they've mostly just shown flashes - Bell has produced most consistently.

 

[Excel]

I think that MSU had the best receiving corps in the conference last year with Wisconsin behind them. MSU's corps gets wiped next year so they'll probably be out. I don't see much reason to claim NU will have the best though...

 

[IvabigN]

I think that MSU had the best receiving corps in the conference last year with Wisconsin behind them. MSU's corps gets wiped next year so they'll probably be out. I don't see much reason to claim NU will have the best though...

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[Comish]

We just might have the best receiving corps in the Big Ten.

I think Husker fans have been sidetracked by the comically disappointing senior season of Niles Paul, and the similar doldrums Brandon Kinnie went through at the start of last year -- to the point that anything that could even come close to being considered a 'drop' elicits a mass freakout and condemnation of the player, his pet dogs, and the entire WR corps.

Quincy Enunwa, Kenny Bell, Jamal Turner. We have legitimate starpower here at receiver, and it's a combination we are really going to enjoy (if we are able to feature them enough in the offense).

What is noteworthy about all this acclaim for the receivers is that it is emanating from OUTSIDE THE BORDERS OF THE STATE.........When is the last time our receivers generated this kind of outside buzz...?

 

[Excel]

We just might have the best receiving corps in the Big Ten.

I think Husker fans have been sidetracked by the comically disappointing senior season of Niles Paul, and the similar doldrums Brandon Kinnie went through at the start of last year -- to the point that anything that could even come close to being considered a 'drop' elicits a mass freakout and condemnation of the player, his pet dogs, and the entire WR corps.

Quincy Enunwa, Kenny Bell, Jamal Turner. We have legitimate starpower here at receiver, and it's a combination we are really going to enjoy (if we are able to feature them enough in the offense).

Enunwa - 11 Receptions, 182 Yards, 1 TD against Big Ten Opponents

Bell - 24 Receptions, 287 Yards, 2 TD's against Big Ten Opponents

Turner- 7 Receptions, 104 Yards, 0 TDs against Big Ten Opponents

Yep, "starpower" alright!

:koolaid2: :laughpound

 

[n.e.husker]

We just might have the best receiving corps in the Big Ten.

I think Husker fans have been sidetracked by the comically disappointing senior season of Niles Paul, and the similar doldrums Brandon Kinnie went through at the start of last year -- to the point that anything that could even come close to being considered a 'drop' elicits a mass freakout and condemnation of the player, his pet dogs, and the entire WR corps.

Quincy Enunwa, Kenny Bell, Jamal Turner. We have legitimate starpower here at receiver, and it's a combination we are really going to enjoy (if we are able to feature them enough in the offense).

Enunwa - 11 Receptions, 182 Yards, 1 TD against Big Ten Opponents

Bell - 24 Receptions, 287 Yards, 2 TD's against Big Ten Opponents

Turner- 7 Receptions, 104 Yards, 0 TDs against Big Ten Opponents

Yep, "starpower" alright!

:koolaid2: :laughpound

Youth and potential is what I see

 

[zoogs]

Bucky, not sure you even know who these guys are beyond selective numbers from a run-heavy team.

 

[Excel]

Bucky, not sure you even know who these guys are beyond selective numbers from a run-heavy team.

That's all I need to know for now. Unless Taylor makes huge strides I'm not terribly worried, I'd rather focus on Rex. They may eventually develop into stars but I could say that about any of their Big Ten peers. They are certainly not stars now...and "selective" numbers? Come on Zoogies....those are the numbers by which we measure a WR's ability, like it or not, they're telling. Any other numbers would be "selective."

Anyhow...statistically speaking, Wisconsin has the best WR returning for 2012, and his numbers are better than those three combined.

 

[zoogs]

Yes -- selective. Jamal was benched during Big Ten play, to disappear for the rest of the year; at that time, he was the team's leading receiver.

You and I both know that statistics don't tell the whole story on a player. You're right, it is more about what they could potentially be, and these are young, very athletic, very talented WRs who have all blossomed at this early stage of their careers. It's fair to ask if they'll be the most dangerous part of the offense or not, but whether we make use of or waste our talent at WR is another topic...

 

[Excel]

Yes -- selective. Jamal was benched during Big Ten play, to disappear for the rest of the year; at that time, he was the team's leading receiver.

You and I both know that statistics don't tell the whole story on a player. You're right, it is more about what they could potentially be, and these are young, very athletic, very talented WRs who have all blossomed at this early stage of their careers. It's fair to ask if they'll be the most dangerous part of the offense or not, but whether we make use of or waste our talent at WR is another topic...

So what you're saying is that I can't judge them since we don't know enough about them yet? So basically you're saying I'm right.

Thank you.