Top 25ish Teams Who Do and Do Not Need to Replace the QB
An interesting point came up in the "UM is #3" thread about who would you replace UM with? So it got me to thinking about which teams return their QB which I think is possibly the most important factor (if you are not Alabama) in finishing with a great record.
10 of ESPN's top 13 teams return their QB. Once you get down to 14-20 range you have a lot of good teams who have lost a QB. So UM is getting a lot of respekt considering a not returning starter - I would put this to #HarbaughQBGuru status and the fact the QB favored to win the job is not a total newbie even if he has a high variance track record.
Using ESPN's way too click baity top 25 (teams losing QBs bolded):
- Bama - Coker gone, doesn't matter, Wojo could start at QB and Bama would get to the playoffs.
- FSU - Golson 1 year stop gap solution gone but Sean McGuire started last 6 games and returns. All 11 players of FSU offense return (!!)
- UM - Rudock 1 year stop gap solution gone.
- Baylor - Russell comes back, but like Bama it doesn't matter - they threw in a true freshman QB last year and he excelled. Then when he got hurt they put a WR in, went to a run offense after 5 weeks of practice for a bowl game and ran for 600 yds!
- Clemson - Watson is back and amazing.
- LSU - QB Harris returns but I am not sure if that is a good thing.
- OK - Mayfield is back.
- Stanford - Hogan gone. Teach McCafferty to throw!
- ND - QBs galore as Zaire returns to battle Kizer.
- OSU - Barrett is back but 1 of only 6 returning starters
- Houston - Ward Jr returns.
- TN - Dobbs returns.
- Ole Miss - Excellent Chad Kelly returns.
- MSU - Cook gone.
- TCU - Boykin gone.
- USC - Kessler gone.
- Iowa - CJ returns
- UNC - Williams gone.
- GA - Lambert returns
- Oregon - 1 year rental Adams gone to be replaced by 1 year rental Prukop.
- UCLA - Rosen returns and should make that FR to SO leap.
- OK St - Mason Rudolph returns
- Wash - Jake Browning returns
- UF - Grier "he gone" and Treon Harris working at WR this spring.
- BSU - Rypien returns.
February 9th, 2016 at 1:52 PM ^
Give him the edge over Leonard Fournette
February 9th, 2016 at 2:00 PM ^
I have McCafferty and Watson as the 2 most dynamic players in CFB while Fournette is obviously A.P like. Throw in Rashan Gary and Peppers and I think you have a fair top 5 for Heisman ;)
February 9th, 2016 at 2:30 PM ^
But with east coast bias and a down pac 12, ESPN will be all over Watson and Fournette on Sportscenter. Plus, Dabo gotta dance!
February 9th, 2016 at 2:02 PM ^
Says this man: 
February 9th, 2016 at 2:08 PM ^
From the 15 to the 5 yard line is seriously just hopping on a magic carpet.
yes i just watched Aladdin
February 9th, 2016 at 4:34 PM ^
That play is both "so Jabrill" and "so Rutgers" at the same time...
February 9th, 2016 at 1:55 PM ^
Thinking of how far away August is just makes me want to listen to Staind all day
February 9th, 2016 at 1:57 PM ^
Brian/Seth should add you to the staff. You generate more real content & analysis that 99.8% of the board and as good or better than much of what lands on the front page IMO.
Me - when the time comes where they need a writer to provide snark, Cleveland sports news, sarcasm and the occasional funny GIF or two I'm the guy.
February 9th, 2016 at 2:00 PM ^
Really appreciate the work, Alum96!
February 9th, 2016 at 2:06 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
February 9th, 2016 at 2:15 PM ^
If there was ever a question, this post proves that BB is not Steve Everitt.
February 9th, 2016 at 3:35 PM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 2:28 PM ^
The Cleveland Browns exist for the sole purpose of giving Lions fans a reason to say "it could be worse."
February 9th, 2016 at 4:23 PM ^
for the sold purpose of giving Clevelanders a reason to say, "it could be worse."
February 9th, 2016 at 2:08 PM ^
Even if Alum doesn't want a position on the staff, they really should start just randomly sending him checks once in a while.
I'll continue to post about cocaine and hookers for free though.
February 9th, 2016 at 2:18 PM ^
I agree with MGrowOld. I know you don't care about MGoPoints, but I am disappointed that so few people have upvoted you.
February 9th, 2016 at 1:58 PM ^
Baylor's bowl game performance seems more amazing everytime it comes up. The fact that they didn't have a QB to provide a pass threat and they still ran that well is ridiculous. Art Briles is a genius.
February 9th, 2016 at 2:04 PM ^
to have Rudock back, but then I feel Rudock was very limited with his ability. I know O'Korn has a tremedous upside, but if he can just be smart, we will win a lot (hopefully all) of games this year.
It is too bad OSU isn't replacing their QB too this year. I would have loved to see Meyer squirm on the sideline (hopefully we still will)
Go Blue!
February 9th, 2016 at 2:15 PM ^
I agree with wanting Rudock back, but I actually thought he was pretty damn talented. By the end of the season, he was not just "not losing games", but he was winning them both with his arm and his running ability. I want him to get a serious shot at being a back up in the NFL. Dude deserves it.
February 9th, 2016 at 2:15 PM ^
I am friends with a season ticket holder at Florida State, and he is pretty adamant that McGuire is not going to start next season. He thinks it will be Deondre Francois.
February 9th, 2016 at 2:36 PM ^
Preseason rankings are interesting. I believe they will fluctuate somewhat depending upon the news leaks that come out of Ann Arbor in the spring and in the pre-season. If O'Korn has an iron grip on the starting job, and/or drops a few dimes (preferably deep) in spring practice, hype will build significantly and pollsters will assume competence at QB.
But if there are reports of a "battle," and an open pre-season practice suggests that O'Korn isn't separating himself from a field of guys that is only ok, Michigan gets priced downward.
This isn't to say that O'Korn can't improve during the year if he's shakey early, but I think most of us are crossing our fingers and hoping that the glimmers of promise we've heard about are more that just rumor. Because a plus player at QB makes this team very, very dangerous.
February 9th, 2016 at 2:44 PM ^
I'll preface my comment by saying that I really couldn't care less about preseason rankings. If we win games, we'll do fine, regardless of where we start out.
That said, I'm not sure that it's a bad sign if there is a battle or if O'Korn doesn't separate himself. Keep in mind who he's competing against: two top-250 guys who have had a year in the system (Gentry and Malzone), a top-100 guy who has a lot of arm talent but consistency problems (Morris), and a top-100 guy who enrolled early (Peters). There's a lot of uncertainty there, but the chance that every single guy in that field isn't starter-worthy is pretty low.
February 9th, 2016 at 3:10 PM ^
Luke Falk should have a great year next year.
February 9th, 2016 at 4:26 PM ^
Both of those kids can ball. Purple face has also proven in the past that he will play musical quarterbacks which to me is always a bad decision unless they have completely different skill sets.
February 9th, 2016 at 4:38 PM ^
I'm more concerned with finding some linebackers than a quarterback.
February 9th, 2016 at 4:47 PM ^
Bama, Stanford and USC all have blue chip QB's poised to step in after watching for at least a year. USC seems to have all their hopes on Max Browne while Stanford and Bama have options, which is nice. I have a feeling that Keller Chryst and McCaffery will be fun to watch together and I would love a Rose Bowl matchup with the Cardinal.
February 9th, 2016 at 5:06 PM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 7:09 PM ^
Last 6 National Champs:
- 2015 Alabama - Coker was 1st year starter
- 2014 Ohio State - Barrett and Jones were new starters
- 2013 Florida State - Winston 1st year starter (RS Frosh)
- 2012 Alabama - McCarron returning starter
- 2011 Alabama - McCarron 1st year starter
- 2010 Auburn - Cam 1st year starter
February 9th, 2016 at 9:39 PM ^