I think we tend to glaze over some of the issues Dylan had as a true frosh as well because he was "supposed to be better." Dylan averaged 213 yards/game in Big 10 play last year. Lateef 160 in his 4 starts this year. Dylan's QB rating his freshman year 129. TJ's this year 134. The real truth is, neither one of them played well enough to deliver wins as a true frosh, which is true for almost all quarterbacks in the history of the game, especially when the talent around them is not infinitely superior to the competition. What ceiling either one of them has remains to be seen, but certainly neither one of them is close as a true frosh. Lateef needs work, but he's not a bust.
Husker QB - TJ Lateef
- Thread starter admo
- Start date
macroboy
All-Conference
Maybe it's recency bias and I'm forgetting things but I thought DR looked the part quite a bit more than TJ.
I don't think TJ is a bust. Too early to say but he was in over his head for sure.
ZRod
Heisman Trophy Winner
Dylan could go through a proper progression as a true frosh. TJ stares down his primary read. Dylan was/is also accurate in the pocket and off platform. TJ is a wild card, and not good throwing on the move. Dylan is actually difficult to take down but as a freshman he would spook easily and make poor choice moving in the pokcet. He is also a horrible open field runner but fast enough to be elusive when scrambling. TJ is fast and agile but not very strong so easily taken down, and bailes pretty early with pressure.
There's no bias. Dylan was a much better true freshman QB by a mile.
Toe
All-American
Something to keep in mind about Lateef (and Raiola for that matter): Lateef faced three pass defenses that are higher ranked than any that Raiola faced this year.
Lateef went up against #10 Iowa, #17 Utah, and #21 Penn State.
The best Raiola faced was actually Northwestern at #30. USC was #47, and nobody else was even in the top 50.
Lateef went up against #10 Iowa, #17 Utah, and #21 Penn State.
The best Raiola faced was actually Northwestern at #30. USC was #47, and nobody else was even in the top 50.
Guy Chamberlin
Heisman Trophy Winner
Valid point. If UCLA had been the last game of the season, we might have cleared the decks for TJ to lead the team.
For that matter, Dylan had a rough game in a home loss to a weak UCLA team his freshman year.
I still think Dylan is a good QB who might do well with better tools around him. But he was at his best against mediocre teams and generally faded when the competition stiffened. He did have a nice stretch of precision fourth quarter drives this year.
Every year there's a freshman QB or two who goes off. A kid who just has the instinct and leadership built in. Makes freshman mistakes but also wins a lot of his gambles. I'd say it's a similar risk between a cocky but unproven freshman QB and a dissatisfied veteran shopping the portal.
MyBloodIsRed16
All-Conference
I dont think the WR core was as good Dylan's freshman year. Had way more drops last year compared to this year. Tj had the same problem most freshman have and its finding the open guy or throwing on time
Hilltop
All-Conference
I think you are probably correct. If that's true, we will be in a better QB position imo. TJ will improve quite a bit this offseason. That game experience will help him have a much better offseason so the guy who beats him will have to be playing pretty good ball.
Same can be said for a lot of the youth that got experience down the stretch.
Huskerfollower4life
All-Conference
If TJ does end up being the back up next season I could see him transferring out bc of him riding the pine unless whoever they bring in and becomes the starter gets hurt and TJ plays. The qb room will be sticky if Trae does make it here and the starting qb plays well and doesn't get hurt and we aren't even talking about the other transfer qb who isn't the starter bc Im assuming they are going to try and bring in 2 transfer qb's to add to the roster. Nobody likes sitting and learning in this day and age of college football.
admo
Heisman Trophy Winner
Time for TJ to get heavier this off-season and add 15 pounds by Fall Camp (6-7 months). With all of the available nutritionist and NU's incredible training table... Even Lutovsky said he could sit down and have steaks three times a day. Or was it 6 steaks / 3 times a day?
If ever going to compete in the B1G, it's time to get a grown body. He's got talent and he will work to improve his game and that part, for sure.
Just follow Mikhai Nelson's own words after the Bowl Game- "get my body bigger this off-season".
It will make a world of difference physically.
If ever going to compete in the B1G, it's time to get a grown body. He's got talent and he will work to improve his game and that part, for sure.
Just follow Mikhai Nelson's own words after the Bowl Game- "get my body bigger this off-season".
It will make a world of difference physically.
KC Sker
Five-Star Recruit
According to the internet, TJ is 6’1” 200 lbs. exactly the same stats listed for Trinidad chamblis and 6 lbs less than Dante Moore. Those guy seem to play pretty good at that weight. What makes you think he needs to put on weight?
admo
Heisman Trophy Winner
1. He looks closer to 187 than 200. And you better know they upscale those numbers on Huskers.com and Depth Chart.
2. Reporters from Ole Miss during the season said Chambliss is a lot closer to 5'11 and under 200 lbs.
3. F Dante Moore
4. I don't want our 2 QBs getting sore in games from heavy hitters and 290 pounders landing on them, or getting hurt on plays, and can't play fast or pass effectively because of the toll.
5. If TJ gets up to 210-212 lbs before Fall Camp and then shreds a few pounds during camp, he will be better for it. He knows this. We all know that (hopefully).
6. TJ will be 20 next year and his choice is to have a physical body that is more appropriate for High School or Div 1 Big Ten Football.
7. Two pounds a month is not a hard ask for the benefits and rewards come September, October, November.
8. He is a competitor. He has the help, the weight room, the training table, and his peers and staff will take notice.
9. I don't think Coleander will stay healthy. And we do not have a 3rd string QB to finish a season.
10. Coleander is older. But TJ can be better. If he put in the work this off-season. And be ready to go when the time comes.
runningblind
All-American
He wants him less mobile, and more sack-able.