Is Ben Chappell the best QB we'll face?

Submitted by WichitanWolverine on

Ignoring bowl game possibilities, is Ben Chappell the best QB Michigan will face this year?

In terms of yards (and interceptions), Indiana has the best pass offense in the Big Ten.  I stole this from bigten.org:

PASS OFFENSE             G   Att  Cmp Int  Pct.  Yds  Avg TD Yds/G
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1. Indiana.............  4   169  118   1  69.8 1393  8.2 12 348.2
2. Northwestern........  5   141  110   2  78.0 1389  9.9 10 277.8
3. Iowa................  5   130   87   2  66.9 1271  9.8 11 254.2
4. Minnesota...........  5   147   92   4  62.6 1207  8.2 10 241.4
5. Michigan............  5   119   87   1  73.1 1203 10.1  9 240.6
6. Michigan State......  5   127   85   4  66.9 1202  9.5 10 240.4
7. Ohio State..........  5   142   92   4  64.8 1143  8.0 14 228.6
8. Penn State..........  5   160   92   7  57.5 1085  6.8  3 217.0
9. Wisconsin...........  5   116   81   2  69.8 1033  8.9  6 206.6
10.Purdue..............  4   140   88   5  62.9  745  5.3  5 186.2 
11.Illinois............  4    84   45   6  53.6  522  6.2  3 130.5  

I thought Chappell played very well against us on Saturday (duh).  His ability to avoid the sack was very frustrating to watch as a Michigan fan and he obviously had a career day against us (480 yards, 70.3%).

I find it hard to believe that any quarterback in the Big Ten will be able to come close to matching those numbers.  Our pass defense is obviously our weakest link right now, and I think it survived the toughest test it will experience all year.  

What does the board think?  Could Stanzi, Cousins, etc. put up numbers like that against us? I highly doubt it and think this bodes very well for the rest of our season.

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switch26

October 4th, 2010 at 10:22 AM ^

No cause every other team has a better defense and better running games and won't be forced to throw all day long.. We better just hope we stuff the run starting this wkend.

Joined: 02/04/2010

MGoPoints: 8309

oakapple

October 4th, 2010 at 10:23 AM ^

Chappell might be the best pure passer that Michigan will face this year. That doesn’t necessarily make him the best QB. Terrelle Pryor is probably a better QB than Chappell, for although Pryor doesn’t throw the ball as well, he gives opposing defenses a lot more to worry about.

We do need more evidence before anointing Chappell. In the first month of the season, he played about the easiest schedule imaginable, and ’nuff said about Michigan’s defense.

Joined: 02/06/2009

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STW P. Brabbs

October 4th, 2010 at 10:23 AM ^

You have to remember, Pryor is still operating under the stern, Transitions Lens-ed gaze of Tressel, who believes that the playbook should be limited to 9 plays, 7 of which are runs, until either Michigan week or a bowl game (depending on how good Michigan is that year.)  

Also, while Chappel may very well be a better passer than Pryor, if he wasn't a chubby dude who ambles around like he's 45 years old he could have ran for 85 yards against us.  Pryor is neither chubby nor middle-aged-looking in his movement.  He will be a bigger challenge.

(Seriously, Ben Chappel is the fattest QB since Jared Lorenzen.  He looked like a taller Garret Rivas out there.)

Joined: 08/27/2008

MGoPoints: 3835

Braylon 5 Hour…

October 4th, 2010 at 10:25 AM ^

Unfortunately facing more balanced offenses coming up, Chappelle/Indiana's offense is not going to be our toughest test...

I'd say Cousins, Pryor over Chappelle at least, but are we going to face any receivers better than we did vs Indiana? I would say probably not

Joined: 03/18/2009

MGoPoints: 684

will

October 4th, 2010 at 10:28 AM ^

I certainly hope we have something else in mind for OSU.. 3 down lineman and dropping 8 will not work against any QB with a decent 40 time...

Joined: 06/30/2008

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