I am trying to figure out why Kill keeps mentioning Lynch as a possible starter. I understand the advantage of not wanting to name Harnisch or Grady since they are different types of players. Lynch must be doing some prettty spectacular things in practice. Is it possible that he starts tomorrow? If not, what is the advantage of keeping his name out there?

Boost the kid's confidence? And anything to make Harnish or Grady work harder isn't a bad thing.

Lynch wasn't getting the reps in practice to be the starter.

Kill is quoted as saying there won't be 3 QBs to start the season. I'm sure Grady or Harnish won't be the one not seeing action.

I think a big part of it is managing the QB position for your program. It is proven that in this league you HAVE to have good QB play to win the conference.

It's such a tough position for a coaching staff b/c the position is so important and the kids who play it are used to being THE guy, but you can only have 1 on the field at a time. Lynch might not have a realistic shot at being the opening night starter, but as a young guy you have to walk that fine line b/w keeping his confidence high, keeping him engaged and motivated to keep working his tail off, even if he isn't going to be the starter. The last thing you want is to have a talented QB bolt b/c he wants playing time. That causes huge depth concerns down the road.

The other side of the equation is that you introduce this talented young guy to the QB derby and give him reps with the 1st team and that pushes the incumbents to work even harder.

All just adds up to good program mgmt. by Kill and his staff.

(09-01-2010 01:38 PM)scottiep12 Wrote:  I think a big part of it is managing the QB position for your program. It is proven that in this league you HAVE to have good QB play to win the conference.

It's such a tough position for a coaching staff b/c the position is so important and the kids who play it are used to being THE guy, but you can only have 1 on the field at a time. Lynch might not have a realistic shot at being the opening night starter, but as a young guy you have to walk that fine line b/w keeping his confidence high, keeping him engaged and motivated to keep working his tail off, even if he isn't going to be the starter. The last thing you want is to have a talented QB bolt b/c he wants playing time. That causes huge depth concerns down the road.

The other side of the equation is that you introduce this talented young guy to the QB derby and give him reps with the 1st team and that pushes the incumbents to work even harder.

All just adds up to good program mgmt. by Kill and his staff.

Lynch is presents a tough decsion. He is too good an athlete to carry the clip board and Harnish and Grady will be the QBs this season and you hope neither gets hurt. Both are Jrs so if they play effectively this season, no need to change next yr. And next yr you have Weston. So, that is the 3rd season Lynch does not play. That is a great waste of talent. I believe if Lynch does not get in as a qb this yr, he will ask for a position change.

(09-01-2010 02:44 PM)gcd Wrote:  That is a great waste of talent. I believe if Lynch does not get in as a qb this yr, he will ask for a position change.

A lot of great QB's have to wait to get on the field. Lynch will still have two years to be the QB after Harnish/Grady leave. He came here knowing that Harnish would be here for a while. In my opinion, if he asks for a position change it would make me wonder if he really has what it takes to be a starting QB anyway.

Certainly, and hopefully we have some games where we pull away and Lynch can get in the game in the 4th quarter....also assuming Harnisch's injury history, he could very quickly find himself 2nd on the depth chart.

Lynch is a near lock to be the QB after Harnish/Grady leave, no way he asks for a position change.

I would be surprised to see anyone else behind center to start the game. Harnish gives us the best chance to win.

If he has talent as a QB, I don't think he'd ask for a position change as much as he would ask for a release from his scholarship. Hopefully, he has the patience to wait for his opportunity.

There are few QB's at colleges that take over right away...I would assume the majority are RS Sophmores or RS Juniors (no facts, just a guess on my part), so I think most expect to wait a while.

I would not rule Lynch out. Coach Kill has said that he wants a durable QB, that does not work in Harnish's favour. Grady has not shown D1 skills in game conditions. So I would not rule anything out.

It is difficult if not impossible to interpret coach speak.

NFW.

Quality depth at QB is paramount to a program's success. Look what happened to Iowa last year after they lost their starter, it may have cost them a national title game.

(09-01-2010 07:16 PM)bikechuck Wrote:  I would not rule Lynch out. Coach Kill has said that he wants a durable QB, that does not work in Harnish's favour. Grady has not shown D1 skills in game conditions. So I would not rule anything out.

It is difficult if not impossible to interpret coach speak.

I know who starts tonight, but if I told you I would have to kill you. Or I would be killed. Just mess'n with you. You'll know in less than 12 hours.

Well as long as it's Chad Spann starting at running back, I can't say I really care who the quarterback is.

Which sure does say a lot about the team, coach Kill and the QB's we have in Grady and Harnish, after the last few QB's, where I think all of us were pretty concerned every year going in to the season. This year, I feel like it's a win / win. Either Grady got a hell of a lot better with his passing or Harnish is still there, which is fine by me.

(09-01-2010 02:58 PM)armour248 Wrote:  

(09-01-2010 02:44 PM)gcd Wrote:  That is a great waste of talent. I believe if Lynch does not get in as a qb this yr, he will ask for a position change.

A lot of great QB's have to wait to get on the field. Lynch will still have two years to be the QB after Harnish/Grady leave. He came here knowing that Harnish would be here for a while. In my opinion, if he asks for a position change it would make me wonder if he really has what it takes to be a starting QB anyway.

"wonder if he really has what it takes to be a starting QB?" I guess the coaches think so, or he wouldn't be in the QB discussion. Having a good athlete that can play either side of the ball is a good thing. Coaches letting a player decide what direction he takes on the field hardly makes me question his ability, physical or mental. On the contrary it shows he is believed to be mature enough to make a decision and has the ability to make a switch at this level early in his career.

My point is that all signs point to him being the future QB at NIU. I would really question his decision to change positions knowing that it is very possible that he will have two years as the starting QB here. If he asked for a position change I'd let him have it...I would just be scratching my head wondering why the kid spend 2+ years as a backup QB, then gave up and switched positions. He knew the situation when he signed on to play QB at NIU and he is performing well so far...no reason to give up now.

(09-02-2010 02:59 PM)armour248 Wrote:  My point is that all signs point to him being the future QB at NIU. I would really question his decision to change positions knowing that it is very possible that he will have two years as the starting QB here. If he asked for a position change I'd let him have it...I would just be scratching my head wondering why the kid spend 2+ years as a backup QB, then gave up and switched positions. He knew the situation when he signed on to play QB at NIU and he is performing well so far...no reason to give up now.

He'd still have 3 yrs at DB, and not a hard switch since he has played it. However, I do think he sees the light on offense, and Kill is reinforcing it, which he needs to. I don't think Weston or Hill will be a starter, but how can Kill keep them happy too?