Theory on why RR secretly wants to start TWO viable QBs...
So I was thinking, and having two spread QBs that play this season is an advantage. We all know the most important position in the spread is the QB. Remember what happened when West Virginia lost Pat White due to injury in the Pitt game? Well, they lost. The offense wasn't the same without him. Same goes for Oregon when they lost Denis Dixon. Thus, what makes the Spread so powerful (a dynamic QB)
concomitantly makes it an achilles heal because the vitality of the team is dependent on the QB. How do you remedy the situation? Well, you have to go against the popular dogma that if u have two QBs, you don't have one. A spread coach MUST then prepare and play two QBs...thus it isn't a season ender or loss if one of the QBs goes out. This is where I think RR is ahead of the pack. Having both Tate and Denard playing at the same time is a bonus not a liability. He wants both to play throughout the season and for the coming years. Losing to PITT cost him a chance to go to the big game. Just imagine what would happen to Florida if Tebow broke his leg. I guarantee you they would no longer be the favorite to win the SEC or title. Imagine a Michigan team with two QBs perfectly capable of running the offense, with experience, and different strengths. The added bonus is that defensive coordinators have to prepare for two distinct QBs running the offense. I think as M fans we need to realize that the days of the statue QB who is protected at all costs has been replaced with dynamic QBs that are asked to run and who can be replaced if need be. The higher risk to the QB in a spread needs to be offset somehow. That is the lesson learned by RR. The only way to offset that risk is to have more than one QB ready to take the reigns that way if one goes down, the team doesn't miss a beat. What do you guys think?
concomitantly makes it an achilles heal because the vitality of the team is dependent on the QB. How do you remedy the situation? Well, you have to go against the popular dogma that if u have two QBs, you don't have one. A spread coach MUST then prepare and play two QBs...thus it isn't a season ender or loss if one of the QBs goes out. This is where I think RR is ahead of the pack. Having both Tate and Denard playing at the same time is a bonus not a liability. He wants both to play throughout the season and for the coming years. Losing to PITT cost him a chance to go to the big game. Just imagine what would happen to Florida if Tebow broke his leg. I guarantee you they would no longer be the favorite to win the SEC or title. Imagine a Michigan team with two QBs perfectly capable of running the offense, with experience, and different strengths. The added bonus is that defensive coordinators have to prepare for two distinct QBs running the offense. I think as M fans we need to realize that the days of the statue QB who is protected at all costs has been replaced with dynamic QBs that are asked to run and who can be replaced if need be. The higher risk to the QB in a spread needs to be offset somehow. That is the lesson learned by RR. The only way to offset that risk is to have more than one QB ready to take the reigns that way if one goes down, the team doesn't miss a beat. What do you guys think?
August 26th, 2009 at 3:47 PM ^
Demetrius Brown. 2 is fine. (2 with skills is even better.)
As for OMG 3!
N. Sheridan, meet Chris Zubrugg. Warm body > 0.
August 26th, 2009 at 3:54 PM ^
Hold on. If you have two QBs you don't have one? This implies that 2 is, in fact, not equal to one. I think your theoretical mathematics is slightly beyond the scope of this board.
August 26th, 2009 at 4:46 PM ^
What I haven't seen anyone mention is opponents' game planning...
Teams cannot have the same game plan for defending Tate and Denard. Guys, Rodriguez is much smarter than what people think. Wouldn't it have been much more convenient for WMU if Rich Rod came out and said "We are going to play Tate in the opener"? The more looks you give the defense, the more they have to prepare the week before.
ESPN and DetNews and Freep can say whatever they want and are allowed to have opinions... but there is a reason their writers aren't getting paid millions of dollars to coach a football team.
August 26th, 2009 at 7:15 PM ^
Common sense is good to hear. +1
August 27th, 2009 at 8:25 AM ^
If it happens [I'm not saying it will], then playing all three against WMU is more about complicating Notre Dame's preparations. WMU has no real film on either Tate or Denard, and as far as WMU knows it's not like one can't run or the other can't throw. There's a lot of film from last year on this offense, but none with them running it. It's good to keep the Irish guessing. So we'll see all three QBs and the play calling for the true freshmen will be with an awareness that this will be ND's only game film on these guys.
If it is a tight game, then I would hope it all goes out the window and Rich goes with the player he thinks gives the team the best chance to win. But if it is not, then I think we'll see some deliberate obfuscation.
August 26th, 2009 at 5:30 PM ^
... this super secret AP article about RRod and his THREE starting QB's? I'm sure that's part of the conspiracy.
August 26th, 2009 at 11:27 PM ^
I agree that it's quite possible that someone will transfer...just don't think that it has to be as high as 75%. Let's say that Forcier wins the job this year and Robinson gets around 5-10 snaps per game as a Wildcat or a decoy in the slot. He's too fast to not be on the field if he doesn't win the QB job.
That brings us to next year. Is it possible to redshirt Gardner? I realize that it's technically possible but is it likely? All three of the current QB's are still around. Do you give him a year to learn the system? Vince Young and Troy Smith both took redshirt years in 2002.
Now we're in 2011. Forcier is a junior with Colt McCoy-like stats. Gardner is a RS freshman. Robinson is running wild from the slot and Wildcat. Can all three co-exist? Only time will tell.
August 26th, 2009 at 11:50 PM ^
Ideally Tate emerges as the clear cut #1 with his stronger passing ability while still being relatively elusive scrambling, getting out of the pocket...just in general being a threat in the spread, while having Shoelace coming in for special packages, giving the opp D something to think about with different looks. By '11 Tate is a very experienced junior, DG is coming off his red shirt and looking at holding the starting gig for his 2 upper-class seasons, and DR is just an all around wicked threat getting the ball in his hands in a variety of ways, a la Harvin.
There is a big dif between not knowing who your #1 QB is and having a guy available to come it to offer a different look for the D. Even with the wildcat's success, the razorbacks/dolphins still relied upon a game managing "#1" true QB
August 27th, 2009 at 12:20 AM ^
i would hope they can. as long as they can do things like USC has done in the last 5-6 yrs. they had 2 heisman QB's who only played their jr and sr yr and sat behind a previous start qb for 2 yrs so i hope DG realizes that his time to shine will come and a mich. degree is worth a lot as well when his pro days are done.
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