Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
Brian Rosenthal: Huskers better hope Taylor is long-term solution
Friday, Sep 30, 2005 - 12:51:20 am CDT
Let me begin by saying I like Zac Taylor. He’s a likable, humble, unassuming fellow. Overall, his leadership, poise and management are what you’re looking for in a starting quarterback. You could argue it’s one of the reasons Nebraska is 3-0 despite its well-publicized offensive woes.
Taylor’s production within those three victories, though, isn’t what you’re looking for in a starting quarterback. He’s completed 43 percent of his passes, throwing one touchdown and three interceptions.
Whether that lack of production can be pinned entirely on Taylor can be, and has been, debated over and over.
Regardless of those other problems, I certainly expected more, stat-wise, from Taylor. So did many others, I’m assuming.
No, Taylor hasn’t lost any games for Nebraska to date. He also hasn’t been a hero, put the team on his back and won any games (unless, of course, you count averting a safety as winning a game).
Will Taylor make improvements as Nebraska begins Big 12 Conference play? You’d think so. He’s only three games into his Husker tenure, so it’s logical to expect better numbers.
But is he going to magically transform into the big difference-maker fans envisioned after his dreamy 357-yard passing performance in the Spring Game? Most likely not. He’s not an 18-year-old freshman with four years to dramatically improve. Taylor is 22 and already in his fourth year of college football.
That doesn’t mean Taylor shouldn’t, or can’t, make a few big plays. It just means he’s an average quarterback with a good head on his shoulders who needs to keep this team afloat until the next guy is ready.
That’s why Taylor’s progression and improvement throughout conference play is crucial — not only for the success of this season, obviously, but for 2006, too.
I know, the Big 12 Conference season is just starting, and I’m already talking about next year. Maybe that’s not fair. But I figured that’d be more productive than spending the rest of this column trying to compare Taylor to Joe Dailey.
That, as many have pointed out to me, is a moot point. But whether Taylor can spend the rest of the season improving his numbers and breathing some life into this offense is not.
Taylor is here next year, too, remember. And in a perfect world, he’d still be grooming Harrison Beck. Or Joey Ganz. Or the orally committed Josh Freeman, who says he’ll be here next semester. Or whichever quarterback we decide to hype during spring football as a legitimate challenger to Taylor.
What’s so important about Taylor in 2006? Think of it this way: If you’re Bill Callahan, do you really want a first-year starting quarterback for the third time in three years? (And for Nebraska fans, the fourth time in five years?)
Year three of the Callahan era figures to be a critical one (barring some unforeseen breakthrough this season). Callahan can’t risk starting yet another new quarterback against the likes of USC, Texas and Texas A&M (with two of those games on the road). Patience is wearing thin enough as it is, and fans won’t be amused with any first-year quarterback excuses for a third straight year.
Some say that’s the perfect reason to play Beck now, even if it’s just a few snaps here or there. Even I, earlier this week, said I wouldn’t be surprised if Beck played soon.
I’ve changed my mind. I would be surprised.
I would argue that Beck should play this season, now and then, if Taylor wasn’t going to be here next year. But Taylor, we assume, will be here. So why not wait until next year to give Beck his two or three series a game behind an established starter? And why not focus this season on further molding Taylor for next season?
The argument: Because Beck is far more gifted and far more athletic and can do things Taylor can’t. That may be true. I can’t argue, because I haven’t seen Beck play. And maybe after Beck plays three or four games early next season, as a backup, it’ll be clearly obvious he’s a better quarterback. Then we can start calling for Beck. But that’s pure speculation.
For now, though, I’m just not convinced Beck is mature enough and poised enough to manage a team in a close game. And let’s face it, if Beck would see time this season, it would be in a close game, not a Nebraska blowout.
Of course, there’s the minor detail that Ganz is still No. 2 on the depth chart and probably would be the next quarterback inserted, not Beck, if something happened to Taylor. If it’s a smoke screen or ploy to ease the Harrison Hype, it’s a pretty good one, because Ganz said he’s taking more snaps with the No. 1 offense than Beck.
What happens if Taylor suffers a serious injury or, worse yet, a monumental collapse? Then, depending on the circumstances (time of season, Nebraska’s bowl hopes), perhaps the Beck situation could be revisited. But for now, he sits, while Taylor tries to steadily direct the offense.
How does Taylor do that? He plays within himself. Makes the necessary plays. Doesn’t try to be the hero. Takes care of the football. Makes good decisions. Keeps his cool. Leads the team, preferably to a bowl game.
Is he going to win every game? No. Can he prevent any meltdowns? I believe so.
And Callahan had better hope so, for next year’s sake, as much as this year’s.
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
Friday, Sep 30, 2005 - 12:51:20 am CDT
Let me begin by saying I like Zac Taylor. He’s a likable, humble, unassuming fellow. Overall, his leadership, poise and management are what you’re looking for in a starting quarterback. You could argue it’s one of the reasons Nebraska is 3-0 despite its well-publicized offensive woes.
Taylor’s production within those three victories, though, isn’t what you’re looking for in a starting quarterback. He’s completed 43 percent of his passes, throwing one touchdown and three interceptions.
Whether that lack of production can be pinned entirely on Taylor can be, and has been, debated over and over.
Regardless of those other problems, I certainly expected more, stat-wise, from Taylor. So did many others, I’m assuming.
No, Taylor hasn’t lost any games for Nebraska to date. He also hasn’t been a hero, put the team on his back and won any games (unless, of course, you count averting a safety as winning a game).
Will Taylor make improvements as Nebraska begins Big 12 Conference play? You’d think so. He’s only three games into his Husker tenure, so it’s logical to expect better numbers.
But is he going to magically transform into the big difference-maker fans envisioned after his dreamy 357-yard passing performance in the Spring Game? Most likely not. He’s not an 18-year-old freshman with four years to dramatically improve. Taylor is 22 and already in his fourth year of college football.
That doesn’t mean Taylor shouldn’t, or can’t, make a few big plays. It just means he’s an average quarterback with a good head on his shoulders who needs to keep this team afloat until the next guy is ready.
That’s why Taylor’s progression and improvement throughout conference play is crucial — not only for the success of this season, obviously, but for 2006, too.
I know, the Big 12 Conference season is just starting, and I’m already talking about next year. Maybe that’s not fair. But I figured that’d be more productive than spending the rest of this column trying to compare Taylor to Joe Dailey.
That, as many have pointed out to me, is a moot point. But whether Taylor can spend the rest of the season improving his numbers and breathing some life into this offense is not.
Taylor is here next year, too, remember. And in a perfect world, he’d still be grooming Harrison Beck. Or Joey Ganz. Or the orally committed Josh Freeman, who says he’ll be here next semester. Or whichever quarterback we decide to hype during spring football as a legitimate challenger to Taylor.
What’s so important about Taylor in 2006? Think of it this way: If you’re Bill Callahan, do you really want a first-year starting quarterback for the third time in three years? (And for Nebraska fans, the fourth time in five years?)
Year three of the Callahan era figures to be a critical one (barring some unforeseen breakthrough this season). Callahan can’t risk starting yet another new quarterback against the likes of USC, Texas and Texas A&M (with two of those games on the road). Patience is wearing thin enough as it is, and fans won’t be amused with any first-year quarterback excuses for a third straight year.
Some say that’s the perfect reason to play Beck now, even if it’s just a few snaps here or there. Even I, earlier this week, said I wouldn’t be surprised if Beck played soon.
I’ve changed my mind. I would be surprised.
I would argue that Beck should play this season, now and then, if Taylor wasn’t going to be here next year. But Taylor, we assume, will be here. So why not wait until next year to give Beck his two or three series a game behind an established starter? And why not focus this season on further molding Taylor for next season?
The argument: Because Beck is far more gifted and far more athletic and can do things Taylor can’t. That may be true. I can’t argue, because I haven’t seen Beck play. And maybe after Beck plays three or four games early next season, as a backup, it’ll be clearly obvious he’s a better quarterback. Then we can start calling for Beck. But that’s pure speculation.
For now, though, I’m just not convinced Beck is mature enough and poised enough to manage a team in a close game. And let’s face it, if Beck would see time this season, it would be in a close game, not a Nebraska blowout.
Of course, there’s the minor detail that Ganz is still No. 2 on the depth chart and probably would be the next quarterback inserted, not Beck, if something happened to Taylor. If it’s a smoke screen or ploy to ease the Harrison Hype, it’s a pretty good one, because Ganz said he’s taking more snaps with the No. 1 offense than Beck.
What happens if Taylor suffers a serious injury or, worse yet, a monumental collapse? Then, depending on the circumstances (time of season, Nebraska’s bowl hopes), perhaps the Beck situation could be revisited. But for now, he sits, while Taylor tries to steadily direct the offense.
How does Taylor do that? He plays within himself. Makes the necessary plays. Doesn’t try to be the hero. Takes care of the football. Makes good decisions. Keeps his cool. Leads the team, preferably to a bowl game.
Is he going to win every game? No. Can he prevent any meltdowns? I believe so.
And Callahan had better hope so, for next year’s sake, as much as this year’s.
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.