Pick your QB: Pryor or Forcier

Submitted by Clarence Beeks on

I realize one is our QB and the other (decidedly) is not, but I'm just curious now that we have competent QB running our system, with all the clarity of hindsight, who would you rather have running our offense? I'm going to make my stand with Tate, and here's why. Pryor is athletic as all get out, but he can't pass and he doesn't make good decisions. Just for comparison sake, when looking at both of their freshman years, Tate's on pace to easily out do Pryor's passing AND rushing numbers from last year. In fact, Tate has already out done Pryor's best passing performance of his career and all but four of Pryor's best rushing performances of his career. In two games. I think in about 3 months, when this season is over with, those of us who said that they were glad that Pryor chose TUOS (and meant it) weren't as crazy as a lot of people here thought. Pryor is an unbelievable talent, but Tate is shaping up to be an unbelievable quarterback. I'm just curious to see where the rest of MGoBlog comes down on this. Feel free to flame away.

The King of Belch

September 14th, 2009 at 4:33 AM ^

This was one of those threads that seemed silly. I mean, it's a "no brainer," right?

But I believe Tressel is not the right coach for Pryor. Rodriguez is, and we'll see that with Tate and then with Gardner. I think Rodriguez would know how to get the best out of Pryor and develop him better as a dual threat. Under Rodriguez, Pryor would become the next Vince Young. Under Tressel, Pryor doesn't seem to know if he is a dual threat or a dropback guy--and may end up being neither.

Tate is WAY further along as a freshman than Pryor is even now. It shows that Tate got the better coaching in high school for all aspects of his game, and Pryor was probably cultivated more for his legs. And his passing was probably good enough at that level.

One thing I will say (and people will call me crazy) is Tate is more shifty, and I think is quicker. That may be due to better instincts and decision making, I don't know. Pryor would win a 100 yard dash race with Tate, but Tate would win the first ten yards. In football, that may be the most important thing.

I'll take Tate any day, but it's interesting to consider that if Pryor did come to UM and had this coaching staff--he'd be much better this year than he is at OSU.

3rdGenerationBlue

September 14th, 2009 at 8:28 AM ^

KofB agree 100% about the coaching. A better question may be who is the better coach? IMO, Pryor would be playing better under RR. Tressel has Pryor second guessing what he should do. Coach Rod would let the kid play. That being said, I still am very thankful the moon, the stars, and planets aligned to deliver us the power of the Forcier. What a gamer!

Blue in Yarmouth

September 14th, 2009 at 8:51 AM ^

I watched the OSU v USC game and a few others as well. Of all the QB's I watched this weekend the top two by a long shot were Forcier and Clausen. I have to say that Jimmah surprised me a lot. He has improved a ton since last year and I think he will finally live up to the hype. Forcier impressed the hell out of me as well.

If you watched the USC game I have to say he looked way better than Barkley IME. He also looked better than Pryor.

Who I would rather have is irrelevant since the decision is already made, but I would agree that if TP was here he would look lke a much different beast than he does at OSU. RR would definitely get more out of him than Tressel will.

Clarence Beeks

September 14th, 2009 at 9:08 AM ^

I agree with this as well, although the kid from Houston looked real good, too. I think another really good question is, if Tate were simply a little bigger, how would he and Barkley have stacked up in the rankings coming out of high school? It seems, from what I have read, is that the only real knock on Tate was that he was small. I kind of remember the same things being said about Drew Brees when he came out of high school, and that's a large factor in why he ended up at Purdue. Not saying Forcier is Brees, but rather I guess at the end of the day those metrics just may not mean all that when the player has "it".

Bixler

September 14th, 2009 at 10:17 AM ^

Remember last season when everyone was bemoaning the fact that we would have to face TP at least three more times unless he turned pro after his Junior year? I bet no one is thinking he will turn pro early!