How solid (or not) is Sparty's QB depth right now?
I think most of us would be reasonably comfortable if McCaffrey had to enter the game if Shea had to come out for whatever reason.
But what about Sparty? I looked and no QB besides Lewerke has even attempted a pass this year. Their depth chart shows guys named Rocky Lombardi (RS-FR) and Theo Day (FR) as the second and third string QBs, respectively.
Aside from those both sounding like completely made up names, do we have any impressions of how effective either of these guys would be if they had to come into the game in place of Lewerke? As a reminder, MSU played three different QBs when we last played them in East Lansing.
October 18th, 2018 at 1:11 PM ^
Losing the 8th best QB in the Big Ten would be disastrous for them, which says a lot, because their starter is already only the 8th best QB in the Big Ten.
October 18th, 2018 at 1:13 PM ^
Not to mention that’s out of 13 teams. Rutgers QB has thrown more interceptions than completions so I don’t think we can count him.
October 18th, 2018 at 1:24 PM ^
I know you're joking, but this is actually true, except for Illinois. However, Illinois' best QB, while he does not have enough attempts to be counted, is only 2 passer rating points behind Lewerke (who is actually 10th best in the conference, my apologies to very good quarterbacks Peyton Ramsey and Clayton Thorson).
October 18th, 2018 at 1:52 PM ^
Wow, no wonder Jeff George couldn't crack our top 6.
October 18th, 2018 at 2:13 PM ^
Where are these QB rankings? Only thing I found showed Lewerke at 6 and Shea behind him, which defeats my point in sending it to MSU buddies.
October 19th, 2018 at 7:42 AM ^
Behind him in what? Shea is ahead of him in every passing category aside from yards (which Lewerke has ~70 more attempts, but 1.1 fewer yards per attempt)
Just curious what metric has Lewerke ahead of Shea right now
October 18th, 2018 at 2:14 PM ^
Double post.
October 18th, 2018 at 2:31 PM ^
And this is what's going to piss me off when Lewerke has the game of his life Saturday.
October 18th, 2018 at 8:40 PM ^
Well, when it comes to MSU quarterback's depth, I'd say he's in so deep that he's up to his neck in trouble Saturday!
October 18th, 2018 at 7:28 PM ^
Well, Thorson *is* considered a first round talent, so Lewerke must have a day 1 or day 2 draft grade since he is right behind Thorson.
October 18th, 2018 at 1:17 PM ^
Lewerk will be seeing stars by the second quarter so they better have a plan.
October 18th, 2018 at 3:43 PM ^
Hopefully a 5 star..... (Rashan)
ButI'd be happy if he saw a 2 Star Chasing him all over too
October 18th, 2018 at 9:57 PM ^
Actually, wasnt chase a 4 star whos recruitment came down to Michigan and ohio state?
October 19th, 2018 at 10:41 AM ^
I checked on 247, they have him as a 4 star, composite #299, claiming offers from M, OSU, FSU, MSU, Miami, Oregon, & WVU.
October 18th, 2018 at 1:23 PM ^
watched lombardi in spring. he actually looks like he has a decent arm. not sure how his mobility is which the biggest question if the line giving up pressure.
lewerke is a good quarterback, but the line and playing with 6th string WRs will make anyone look human
October 18th, 2018 at 1:26 PM ^
They won 10 games last year and Lewerke was still only 7th in the Big Ten in Passer Rating. Their horrible injury luck this year has caused his passer rating to slide a whole....2.9 points. He's 10th in the Big Ten right now. At some point we have to call it what it is: he's just not very good.
October 18th, 2018 at 1:37 PM ^
6th I believe in passer rating last year, he also ran for 550 yards and 5 TDs (only behind Barrett)
I think he is solid
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/big-ten/2017-passing.html
October 18th, 2018 at 1:38 PM ^
7th. It's very easy to verify: http://www.espn.com/college-football/conferences/statistics/player/_/stat/passing/sort/collegeQuarterbackRating/year/2017/id/5
Even if it were 6th...is the 6th best QB in the Big Ten an accomplishment? Behind a guy who threw 16 interceptions?
October 18th, 2018 at 1:58 PM ^
I actually think he is much better than Connor Cook but doesn't have any supporting cast, especially on the OL. We all saw what that looks like last year.
October 18th, 2018 at 2:01 PM ^
Connor cook was a better qb.
October 18th, 2018 at 2:09 PM ^
Connor Cook had future NFL draft picks blocking for him. Lewerke is regressing into a shell of himself thanks to the OL.
October 18th, 2018 at 3:42 PM ^
Very much this. Not to mention the other side of the ball was giving that offense a LOT of support in those years.
Cook had a knack for making plays, but he had poor form in the pocket, was prone to throwing up prayers when facing pressure, and was inexplicably very inaccurate on short throws. He was a gunslinger without solid fundamentals and an excellent supporting cast that bailed him out on many occasions. He was also good with his legs.
He was a good college quarterback, but the team around him definitely upped his game quite a bit. He never had the chops to stand up against consistent NFL talent.
October 18th, 2018 at 2:22 PM ^
I see people saying this but he had a declining completion percentage each year and every game seemed to have four or five bad throws into coverage that he was lucky weren't picked. Lewerke has some of the same shaky decision making but can also run and has a higher completion percentage with worse receivers.
October 18th, 2018 at 3:12 PM ^
This is a ridiculous statement. Connor Cook was a really good college QB. He had legit NFL bonafides. It hasn't worked out for whatever reason but he was way more skilled of a passer than Lewerke.
October 18th, 2018 at 3:49 PM ^
It's not ridiculous at all. Cook's college stats aren't much better than Christian Hackenberg despite having a ton more talent and Cook missed lots of short throws but looked like a savant throwing back shoulder fades. That's about all he could do.
October 18th, 2018 at 4:20 PM ^
Across the entire 2014 season, third-year Connor Cook threw for 8.8 yards-per-attempt, 24 TDs, and 8 INTs. Meanwhile, Lewerke is throwing for 6.4 yds/attempt and has already thrown 7 INTs (and is lucky to have not thrown more). He is clearly less of a passer.
October 19th, 2018 at 9:34 AM ^
Why are you comparing Cook to Hackenberg? I thought you were saying Cook was better than Lewerke. And even if Cook was similar to Hackenberg, Hackenberg is a way better QB than Lewerke. I’m not sure you know what you’re arguing
October 18th, 2018 at 2:07 PM ^
Their OL was ass last year as well, and was not the foundation that built their extremely unlikely 10-win season. I think Lewerke is a solid QB who is throwing to the walking wounded behind an awful OL.
October 18th, 2018 at 3:30 PM ^
Just for saying lewerke is not very good he will probably carve M up now, hes a good runner and a decent passer, M needs to keep him between the tackles, winovich and paye need to not rush up field to far and I think need bush and Hudson to qb spy, states most effective offense, which was pointed out in ffff, is qb runs and qb scrambles
October 18th, 2018 at 1:52 PM ^
Lewerke can run well and that makes him frustrating to face. But he isn't "good."
October 18th, 2018 at 2:13 PM ^
I wouldn't take Lewerke over any of our current QB, but he is more than good enough to beat us. He's the reason they beat us last year with his dual threat ability.
MSU is in a tough spot. They need his legs to beat us, but our D might break his leg again and send them to the Quick Lane Bowl for the holidays.
October 18th, 2018 at 3:14 PM ^
He's definitely good enough to beat M. But he is not as good as Thorson, for instance, a QB that the non-obsessed Michigan fan problem doesn't even remember exists.
October 18th, 2018 at 1:28 PM ^
I’m hearing Black is playing this Saturday?
October 18th, 2018 at 1:33 PM ^
Are you trying to tarik us?
October 18th, 2018 at 1:34 PM ^
C'mon man, you're better than this. Respect yourself.
October 18th, 2018 at 1:36 PM ^
Nope. Heard he is playing. Could be limited, but another weapon for MSU to look out for!!! Go blue!
October 18th, 2018 at 1:58 PM ^
Joined 4 days ago? Checks out.
October 18th, 2018 at 2:04 PM ^
I have just been too lazy to create an account but have been reading for years.
October 18th, 2018 at 7:15 PM ^
Been reading for years but just decided to join? Trying to be first to respond to new threads? I think we all know who this clown is.
October 19th, 2018 at 1:08 AM ^
I am new. Have been reading for awhile. Off work due to having surgery and kinda bored, so I decided to join.
October 19th, 2018 at 1:10 AM ^
Love the redgreene show by the way
October 18th, 2018 at 2:08 PM ^
And I’ve read a lot of your posts for a long time on here, you are knowledgeable and logical. Go blue.
October 18th, 2018 at 2:15 PM ^
I'm easy to win over. Do you have any other insider information?
October 18th, 2018 at 2:31 PM ^
What make you decide to use the username of another longtime MGoBlogger?
October 18th, 2018 at 2:40 PM ^
Oh did not realize that. I thought I seen it before!!! I knew I read it on some game day signs and thought it was funny.
dang it.
why would they allow duplicate user names? I can edit it?
October 18th, 2018 at 5:54 PM ^
So where are you from, man?
October 18th, 2018 at 6:24 PM ^
Jackson, mich
October 18th, 2018 at 9:10 PM ^
if i could work 3.0, this is where i'd put a picture of some laser-sighted bird dog, on the scent of a bird, and i'd photoshop the name 'timmmaayy!' on it.
you go, brother. hunt 'em up!
October 18th, 2018 at 1:34 PM ^
Yeah, well I also heard that black don't crack, but that's clearly not true of his foot bones, is it?