Ohio.com - QB pos still open

[Wally B]

link

I dobt at this stage of the game that it's a tactic to keep Syracuse guessing! But is it at the point where a non-decision effects team cohesion?

[Captain Kangaroo]

It won't affect anything, since everyone already knows Nicely is the starter.

[ZachTheZip]

If Nicely is the starter, why doesn't the coach just end the BS and declare him the starter? Does he really think that Syracuse's defense will be less prepared not knowing who the QB is when we've already broadcast all over the country that we're running a pro style offense? What if he gives Rodgers a significant amount of time (1/3 of the snaps?) with the starters, taking away time from Nicely? Not naming the starter if he's already made up his mind, giving a wink to the fans and media saying the competition continues reminds me of all the morons who have run the Browns since 1999. They all looked like jackasses and people who think think they're smarter than they really are, thinking they're pulling a fast one on the competition who laughed the whole time they pounded the crap out of them no matter who was behind center.

Camp is over. The scrimmage was the final day of camp. Monday begins practice, where they focus solely on preparing for Syracuse. Stop distracting the team, hurting the QB's confidence and causing him to look over his shoulder for the short leash. yesterday after the Browns game, the radio people made a great point. The offense is like a pack of dogs, with the QB as the alpha dog and leader. If the leader is confident, going full bore, the offense follows. If the leader is cautious and looking over his shoulder, the pack will be the same way. The QB needs to know that he's "the man" and won't be replaced after a screwup.

[Captain Kangaroo]

If Nicely is the starter, why doesn't the coach just end the BS and declare him the starter?

See here.

[InTheZone]

The bottom line is, Nicely just isn't that good. I think I've seen enough now to stand by that statement. I feel bad for those of you ready to declare him the second coming, because I think you're going to be sorely disappointed. I really hope I'm wrong. I hope in a few weeks some of you can quote me on this statement and point out how wrong and ignorant I was. But I've been around football for a long time, I started here, and I've seen a lot of QB's come and go. Nicely doesn't have "it". If we're going to be successful this year, we're going to have to have a strong running game, and we're going to have to hope Nicely protects the ball. He's not the kind of QB that's going to take things on his shoulders and win any games for us. Once again, I hope I'm proven wrong, but I think I've seen enough to know I'm not.

[Captain Kangaroo]

The bottom line is, Nicely just isn't that good. I think I've seen enough now to stand by that statement. I feel bad for those of you ready to declare him the second coming, because I think you're going to be sorely disappointed. I really hope I'm wrong. I hope in a few weeks some of you can quote me on this statement and point out how wrong and ignorant I was. But I've been around football for a long time, I started here, and I've seen a lot of QB's come and go. Nicely doesn't have "it". If we're going to be successful this year, we're going to have to have a strong running game, and we're going to have to hope Nicely protects the ball. He's not the kind of QB that's going to take things on his shoulders and win any games for us. Once again, I hope I'm proven wrong, but I think I've seen enough to know I'm not.

We'll see how it plays-out. I have no concerns about Nicely. I worry about his receivers, where the #2 WR was a safety 9 months ago.

[InTheZone]

We'll see how it plays-out. I have no concerns about Nicely. I worry about his receivers, where the #2 WR was a safety 9 months ago.

The inexperience of the recieving core is also a concern, but I think they're a talented bunch. I wish the GW game was before the Syracuse game so they could get some experience. That's not the way it is though, so guys are just going to have to step up. It reminds me of something my high school coach used to tell me when I became a varsity starter as a freshman. "We don't have time for you to be a freshman." Well, we don't have time for these guys to be inexperienced. Guys need to step up and play to their full potential NOW.

[GP1]

Well, we don't have time for these guys to be inexperienced. Guys need to step up and play to their full potential NOW.

I agree completely. We are always waiting for tomorrow on this board. There are 12 games this year. They need to get going now.

For those of you who think UofA can be a good Big East program or something like that as college football changes need to understand that if this team doesn't win now, they are more likely to end up in a second tier division in the next few years than whatever D-1A will look like if they don't start winning. Winning is everything. It brings in money. It fills stadiums. It gets you noticed nationally. It makes other conferences look at you. We need to start winning.

[akron football]

I'm upset with the Coach not making a decision he's seen enough to know.

[ZachTheZip]

I'm upset with the Coach not making a decision he's seen enough to know.

JD Brookhart saw more than enough in camp before last season to name Nicely the starter, but he put him at third string and waited for a pair of disasters before putting him in. Don't think that Ianello isn't dumb enough to make the same mistake.

[ZachTheZip]

If Nicely is the starter, why doesn't the coach just end the BS and declare him the starter?

See here.

So we have an experienced backup under that plan. Great. As everybody knows, it's more important to have experienced back-ups riding the bench than to have capable starters out on the field.

If Rodgers leaving meant that Nicely would improve thanks to more time practicing with the starters and working with the coaches, I would let him go. But now if Nicely doesn't do that well thanks to limited reps in camp you can always put Rodgers out there because, hey look we have an experienced back-up. It's a lose-lose for Nicely; a self-fulfilling prophecy. Leaving Rodgers in the competition only hurts Nicely, who as the starting QB is the most important player on the team. I don't see how anybody can say that that is a good thing.

[xu9697]

Coaches are creatures of habit. "We need to go back and watch the film...yadda, yadda, yadda..."

Expect Nicely to be named the starter on Tuesday (at the latest) once the coaches have had a chance to watch Saturday's scrimmage and meet together.

[akron football]

The bottom line is, Nicely just isn't that good. I think I've seen enough now to stand by that statement. I feel bad for those of you ready to declare him the second coming, because I think you're going to be sorely disappointed. I really hope I'm wrong. I hope in a few weeks some of you can quote me on this statement and point out how wrong and ignorant I was. But I've been around football for a long time, I started here, and I've seen a lot of QB's come and go. Nicely doesn't have "it". If we're going to be successful this year, we're going to have to have a strong running game, and we're going to have to hope Nicely protects the ball. He's not the kind of QB that's going to take things on his shoulders and win any games for us. Once again, I hope I'm proven wrong, but I think I've seen enough to know I'm not.

Consider yourself wrong, if you can't see that he is superior you don't have a clue.

[uhgrad2002]

The coach may have had enough time to see which one should start but maybe he hasn't seen enough that justifies either one of them starting.

By the way, the stadium looked pretty good Saturday. Whatever repairs they did in the bowl blended in pretty well. I saw some spots where the concrete was a different shade, but it looked ok. The team shop is still a shell with lots of dust and construction material. But, there is a big decal/poster on one of the concourse pillars pointing to the team shop. For the scrimmage there were a few items in a trailer at the north end and there were people shopping every time I went by (several times).

[skip-zip]

The coach may have had enough time to see which one should start but maybe he hasn't seen enough that justifies either one of them starting.

By the way, the stadium looked pretty good Saturday. Whatever repairs they did in the bowl blended in pretty well. I saw some spots where the concrete was a different shade, but it looked ok. The team shop is still a shell with lots of dust and construction material. But, there is a big decal/poster on one of the concourse pillars pointing to the team shop. For the scrimmage there were a few items in a trailer at the north end and there were people shopping every time I went by (several times).

This is pretty much where I stand at this point, and I've said it before. So, I wouldn't be surprised if our coach feels the same way. Unfortunately, everything I've seen and heard tells me that we just don't have a good QB at this point. I'm leaning a little bit towards Rodgers mainly because of his playmaking ability, but I think his long recovery from that knee injury could make our coach go in the other direction right now. But, either way, I won't be too excited about either one of them starting, and that is why I hoped our coach could have brought in a transfer in the off season.

In The Zone, unfortunately I pretty much agree with you on your assessment of Nicely at this point. That's another reason why I am leaning a little bit towards Rodgers since he had very little time to really get going last year. Eight games of Nicely was enough for me, and confirmed some of what I had heard about him.

[Big Zip]

I agree that Nicely is not this amazing QB many of the folks on this board, but I can't possibly see Rodgers beating him out. Unfortunately they are Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. I hope I'm wrong and will be happy to eat crow if I am. Nicely will look great on some plays, but not even average on others.

[Dave in Green]

There was concern expressed last season when Nicely was thrown into the fire due to problems with the two QBs ahead of him that perhaps he was being redshirted for good reason. It was suggested that he might not quite be ready for prime time as a true freshman, and may have benefitted from being brought along more slowly. So last year's game experience may not have been indicative of how Nicely would have performed if brought along on schedule. In that light, last year's game experience may not necessarily have been a plus, but may have hurt his confidence.

Each player has a different psyche that the coaches have to try to understand and nurture, and we can only guess here based on what we see and what we hear from others. Some players respond well to being thrown into the fire, and some do better when brought along more slowly. I don't have the definitive answer on Nicely, but it never hurts to try to understand all the possibilities.

[MaxZIP]

There was concern expressed last season when Nicely was thrown into the fire due to problems with the two QBs ahead of him that perhaps he was being redshirted for good reason. It was suggested that he might not quite be ready for prime time as a true freshman, and may have benefitted from being brought along more slowly. So last year's game experience may not have been indicative of how Nicely would have performed if brought along on schedule. In that light, last year's game experience may not necessarily have been a plus, but may have hurt his confidence.

Each player has a different psyche that the coaches have to try to understand and nurture, and we can only guess here based on what we see and what we hear from others. Some players respond well to being thrown into the fire, and some do better when brought along more slowly. I don't have the definitive answer on Nicely, but it never hurts to try to understand all the possibilities.

The coaching staff thought they had a reliable senior starter in Jacquemain and an ok backup in Rogers. Why not redshirt a true freshman at that point? It had nothing to do with his talent. Who could have predicted what hapened? I don't even blame the ast staff for what happend last year at the QB position.

[MaxZIP]

I agree that Nicely is not this amazing QB many of the folks on this board, but I can't possibly see Rodgers beating him out. Unfortunately they are Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. I hope I'm wrong and will be happy to eat crow if I am. Nicely will look great on some plays, but not even average on others.

I will take great on some plays and average on others. It could be much worse. Give the kid a chance.

[johnnyzip84]

Starting QB to be announced tomorrow. Nice call, whoever said it would be today

Link

[Buckzip]

I agree that Nicely is not this amazing QB many of the folks on this board, but I can't possibly see Rodgers beating him out. Unfortunately they are Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. I hope I'm wrong and will be happy to eat crow if I am. Nicely will look great on some plays, but not even average on others.

I will take great on some plays and average on others. It could be much worse. Give the kid a chance.

He is a true sophomore. Give the kid a break.

[GP1]

I agree that Nicely is not this amazing QB many of the folks on this board, but I can't possibly see Rodgers beating him out. Unfortunately they are Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. I hope I'm wrong and will be happy to eat crow if I am. Nicely will look great on some plays, but not even average on others.

I will take great on some plays and average on others. It could be much worse. Give the kid a chance.

He is a true sophomore. Give the kid a break.

I don't know how good the kid can be. This is the year he must make huge strides. I still have to see his accuracy and we won't know that until the bullets fly for real. I also want to see how he plays in the MAC.

Let's say he does look great on some plays and average on other plays. Average to great is a good range for a MAC player to play in. That's good enough to win in the MAC. I think this kid has enough to win in the MAC. He just needs to win.

Fans give all sorts of reasons for teams not winning. If the players execute, you win. If the players don't execute, you lose. The one constant over the past 20+ years in D-1A for Akron has been the inability of players to execute. It's not about stadiums or coaches or athletic directors or any other reason fans like to give. Sports are about the players on the field. Our players need to play and win. Period.

[Dr Z]

Starting QB to be announced tomorrow. Nice call, whoever said it would be today

Link

Thanks johnny, if they held a one hour show on ESPN for "The Announcement" that would be cool.

I'm 99 percent sure what the decision is. Hell, I knew before iCoach did.

[skip-zip]

Starting QB to be announced tomorrow. Nice call, whoever said it would be today

Link

I need to vent a little bit....

This whole QB situation has just been upsetting to me. After seeing what we've seen from these two QBs, I can't see anything about this decision to get excited about. And the designated starter is now facing the disadvantage of having received diminished reps with the first teamers with only 10 days left til opening day. I'm not sure that's the way they wanted it to be. But, from what we saw in 2009, I think it's understandable if they wanted to do plenty of evaluation before making a decision. I unfortunately see the Quinn vs. Anderson comparisons that many of you are seeing. Meanwhile, lowly Ken+ State has a freshman QB step in last year and play only 2/3 of the season, throw for well over 2,000 yards, including two late-season starts in which he threw for nearly 400 yards, and looks to have the potential for an amazing future. Barring any unforseen events, they probably have a solid starter for the next 3 seasons, with several good performances already under his belt. I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir with many of you who are done with the "they just need more experience" talk. I had hoped that Akron was at the point where we could nab a Charlie Frye-caliber QB once every 5 years or so. I guess I'll have to hope a little longer, unless our selected 2010 starter makes a dramatic improvement from what we've seen thus far from these two individuals.

[cornbread]

Starting QB to be announced tomorrow. Nice call, whoever said it would be today

Link

I need to vent a little bit....

This whole QB situation has just been upsetting to me. After seeing what we've seen from these two QBs, I can't see anything about this decision to get excited about. And the designated starter is now facing the disadvantage of having received diminished reps with the first teamers with only 10 days left til opening day. I'm not sure that's the way they wanted it to be. But, from what we saw in 2009, I think it's understandable if they wanted to do plenty of evaluation before making a decision. I unfortunately see the Quinn vs. Anderson comparisons that many of you are seeing. Meanwhile, lowly Ken+ State has a freshman QB step in last year and play only 2/3 of the season, throw for well over 2,000 yards, including two late-season starts in which he threw for nearly 400 yards, and looks to have the potential for an amazing future. Barring any unforseen events, they probably have a solid starter for the next 3 seasons, with several good performances already under his belt. I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir with many of you who are done with the "they just need more experience" talk. I had hoped that Akron was at the point where we could nab a Charlie Frye-caliber QB once every 5 years or so. I guess I'll have to hope a little longer, unless our selected 2010 starter makes a dramatic improvement from what we've seen thus far from these two individuals.

It will be ok.

Football season is days away. Very hard to be feeling negative about the zips today.