[GP1]

I always say that good teams start with good players. Especially the QB. Coaches all know about the same thing so I think they largely get too much credit when things are going well and too much blame when things are going poorly.

Let me ask Urban Meyer how important a good QB is.

The Great GP1: "Coach Meyer, how important is it for a coach to surround himself with a great QB at the college level?"

Urban Meyer: "Excellent question. I'm not surprised that a man with your enormous intellectual ablility would see the ultimate question in football in modern times has a lot to do with the quality of QB. If you have a good one, you are a genious. If you don't, you are an idiot. Just ask any Gator fan...they all think I'm an idiot after this season. I'm the same guy, just with a less talented kid at QB."

The Great GP1: "Thank you for your kind words Coach Meyer. I'm probably even smarter than you may think as you don't know me very well. Can you elaborate on your previous answer."

Urban Meyer: "For such a gracious host, I'd be glad to. I started my head coaching career in 2001 at BGSU and coached there for two years. During my time, I had a really good QB named Josh Harris. You may remember him...he was one of the all time greats at BGSU. His ability allowed me to move on to Utah where Alex Smith was the QB. You may remember him as a guy good enough to play in the NFL and was one of the top college football players during my time at Utah.

When I moved on to Florida, I had Chris Leak as my starting QB. He was a solid player who won us a national championship, but there were better players to follow. You may remember a guy named Tim Tebow. He followed Leak and the rest is history. I became a genious.

This season, I have John Brantley. Around this time last season, I started to think about Brantley as my starting QB in 2010 and that is about when I started having panic attacks. As you have seen this year, the panic attacks were warranted. The kid is terrible and every time I look at him I can feel my chest tightening. God I wish I had retired last year when I wanted. Now I look like just another coach."

The Great GP1: "Coach Meyer, what will it take for people to think you are a genious again?"

Urban Meyer: "Another great QB."

[Dr Z]

Great QB's can make a bad team better, and a good team great.

Great offensive lines can make a bad QB good, and a good QB great.

Great running backs can make a bad QB good, and a good QB great.

Great wide receivers can make a bad QB good, and a good QB great.

But most of all:
Bad offensive lines and bad receivers, can make a great QB good, and a good QB bad.


There are many formulas to get a winning football team. There is not just one. I hope we can find our formula soon with PN7 or without.
I would bet that it comes with him, but he needs to work hard. His footwork in the pocket needs to become better. He has a lack of confidence in the pocket right now. I hope the offensive line can provide him with better protection to gain more confidence next season. He also needs to have receivers to get open. I wish he had the Jalil Carter that played the last three games at the beginning of the season, I think that would have made a difference in his development. He also needs to start to make good decisions. Know what plays to give up on. PN7 has youth on his side and needs to work hard to have a successful junior year. Good luck to him.

[GP1]

But most of all:
Bad offensive lines and bad receivers, can make a great QB good, and a good QB bad.

What if they all stink? That was our problem this year.

I too hold out hope for Nicely. This was the year he needed to produce and he fell short of expectations regardless of what was going on around him. I believe the biggest growth spurt happens to a QB between his first and second years. Nicely is past that point. I hope he immproves next year, but if they can find someone better, they should take him.

Any advice for Coach Meyer pertaining to his panic attacks?

[Dr Z]

But most of all:
Bad offensive lines and bad receivers, can make a great QB good, and a good QB bad.

What if they all stink? That was our problem this year.

You will just have to trust me when I tell you that I believe that PN7 does not "stink". I have seen him look good at the times when he is givin a chance to succeed. My opinion is not shared with some others I have talked to whose opinion I consider. I would agree with you that from year 1 to year 2 should be a big improvement, but a few abnormal things happened to hinder that growth this year. Those situations will not be applicable next season, so it will be time to step up. We should look to improve the position anyway we can since it is THE most important position on a football team.

Any advice for Coach Meyer pertaining to his panic attacks?

Retire rich and consult.

[GP1]

Any advice for Coach Meyer pertaining to his panic attacks?

Retire rich and consult.

I'll let him know your thoughts the next time I talk with him...