So is the fact that we have to start a walk on QB in the MACC just a string of bad luck with injuries? or is it a reflection on kids who committed and came or almost came here and backed out? or does it show our ineptitude with QB recruiting since the Harnish/Lynch years?

Honestly I think its a combination of all three. He were fortunate to have Harnish/Lynch have minor injuries and were healthy. Who would have been their backups?

I would say one thing, given the importance of the QB position in our offense, especially in the MAC, and our continued success (MACCs and Bowls), my expectation from Carey is he should have been able to land pretty decent rated QB's by now and beat out other schools for them on a consistent basis. To date really haven't seen it happen, but perhaps our latest commit from Georgia will have something to say on that.

This topic has been beaten to death. Hare, Maddie, Graham and Santa were all hurt. That is how you end up with a 5th string QB starting. Root and McIntosh transferred which also didn't help but it happens. Honestly the staff should get more credit considering Graham played incredibly well for a RS Freshman and Fiedler looked half decent for a guy who probably saw zero snaps in practice during the year. As far as I can tell the guy from Georgia had one offer and either gray shirted or didn't qualify at Memphis...his resume really isn't any different than the guys we have now.

This is so dumb. I doubt anyone prepares for a 6/7th stringer to play a championship game. No way in hell would I be ok with having 6 or 7 scholarships committed to quarterbacks.

(12-18-2015 02:22 PM)armour248 Wrote:  This topic has been beaten to death. Hare, Maddie, Graham and Santa were all hurt. That is how you end up with a 5th string QB starting. Root and McIntosh transferred which also didn't help but it happens. Honestly the staff should get more credit considering Graham played incredibly well for a RS Freshman and Fiedler looked half decent for a guy who probably saw zero snaps in practice during the year. As far as I can tell the guy from Georgia had one offer and either gray shirted or didn't qualify at Memphis...his resume really isn't any different than the guys we have now.

thank you. you saved me a long rant.

lets go through the rosters of the top four schools right now:

Clemson:
2 Kelly Bryant QB 6-3 215 Fr. Calhoun Falls, S.C. (Wren HS)
4 Deshaun WatsonQB 6-2 210 So. Gainesville, Ga. (Gainesville HS)
10 Tucker Israel QB 5-11 195 Fr. Orlando, Fla. (Lake Nona HS)
12 Nick Schuessler QB 6-3 200 RJr. Grayson, Ga. (Grayson HS)
18 James Barnes QB 6-1 175 Fr. Sumter, S.C. (Sumter HS)

Oklahoma:
Reece Clark QB 6-4 198 Fr. Cypress, Texas (Cypress Woods HS)
9 Trevor Knight QB 6-1 207 RJr. San Antonio, Texas (Reagan HS)
6 Baker Mayfield QB 6-1 209 Jr. Austin, Texas (Texas Tech University) (Lake Travis HS)
12 Connor McGinnis QB 6-4 189 Fr. Oklahoma City, Okla. (Heritage Hall HS)
14 Cody Thomas QB 6-4 211 RSo. Colleyville, Texas (Heritage HS)


Alabama:
12 David Cornwell FR 6-5/221 RS Norman, Okla. (Norman North)
6 Blake Barnett FR 6-5/200 HS Corona, Calif. (Santiago)
18 Cooper Bateman SO 6-3/220 1L Murray, Utah (Cottonwood)
14 Jake Coker SR 6-5/232 1L Mobile, Ala. (Florida State)
11 Alec Morris JR 6-3/233 1L Allen, Texas (Allen)

Michigan State:
11 Colar Kuhns QB 6-1 212 RS FR Gaithersburg, Md. - Damascus
14 Brian Lewerke QB 6-3 192 FR Phoenix, Ariz. - Pinnacle
6 Damion Terry QB 6-3 235 SO Erie, Pa. - Cathedral Prep
7 Tyler O'Connor QB 6-3 222 JR Lima, Ohio - Lima Central Catholic
18 Connor Cook QB 6-4 220 SR Hinckley, Ohio - Walsh Jesuit
16 Tommy Vento QB 6-1 192 SR Farmington Hills, Mich. - Harrison

ok, now lets look at our roster:
18 Charlie Rotherham QB 6-0 188 FR Green Bay, Wis./Notre Dame Academy
1 Anthony Maddie QB 6-1 203 RS JR Plainfield, Ill./Aurora Christian/Western Michigan
16 Tommy Fiedler QB 6-2 192 FR LaGrange, Ill./Lyons Township
14 Daniel Santacaterina QB 6-1 198 FR Geneva, Ill./Geneva
12 Drew Hare QB 6-1 218 RS JR O'Fallon, Mo./Fort Zumwalt West
17 Ryan Graham QB 6-1 214 RS FR Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton-Warrenville South

So, accounting for Root leaving, we went out and got three QBs. We carry the same number of QBs at 3 of the top 4 teams right now. We have one more freshman than three of the other teams. Get. Over. It. nothing was done wrong. it was a matter of the stars aligning perfectly for our misfortune.

(12-18-2015 02:15 PM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  So is the fact that we have to start a walk on QB in the MACC just a string of bad luck with injuries? or is it a reflection on kids who committed and came or almost came here and backed out? or does it show our ineptitude with QB recruiting since the Harnish/Lynch years?

Honestly I think its a combination of all three. He were fortunate to have Harnish/Lynch have minor injuries and were healthy. Who would have been their backups?

I would say one thing, given the importance of the QB position in our offense, especially in the MAC, and our continued success (MACCs and Bowls), my expectation from Carey is he should have been able to land pretty decent rated QB's by now and beat out other schools for them on a consistent basis. To date really haven't seen it happen, but perhaps our latest commit from Georgia will have something to say on that.

I sure your frustration, and I am a little tired of saying, Well, he is a fifth string QB. If he is not ready to play, then don't put him in a uniform.

It is amazing (and a little lucky) that the Huskies were able to return to Detroit this year. There is a little to be learned from the Huskies having to face BGSU and now BSU with a green or unhealthy starter.

One is we need better protection from the O-line.
Two, the Cardiac Canines need to put teams away early, to give their bench some experience.
Three: Give the bench some experience! When Harnish was starting, Coach still found times to slip Lynch in the game which led to a smooth transition when Harnish graduated. This year, the Huskies played three consecutive games where they had the game won with plenty of time left on the clock: Balls, Miami, and EMU. Drew Hare threw every Huskie pass in those games. Come on Coach! Let Graham or Fiedler throw the ball. Their parents could be at the game.

how many scholarship offers did lynch and harnish, combined, have at the BCS level to play quarterback?

C'mon...the coaches deserve some credit for how they dealt with an incredibly difficult situation. The stable of QB's post Lynch was full. Macintosh (the likely choice), Hare, Maddie (via transfer) and Root (highly rated). With the deck fairly stacked they get Graham (not highly recruited but from a solid HS program) who many felt would be a career backup. Hare earns the starting spot by performing at an unprecedented level for a Sophmore QB. Hare's year last season was so good It likely forced Mac and Root to transfer. So think back to this time last year; the staff has Hare around for two more years, Maddie as a solid back-up, Graham a true freshman, Santa, an early commit who BTW was recruited by a few Big 10 teams, and Mac who status was unknown. Even though the position seemed to be set, they still went after the Wisconsin kid hard. After they lose the Ingold to UW, they fill the roster with a couple of impressive walk-ons (Fiedler and Rotherman)...game on. Entering the summer you have your 6 QB's Hare, Maddie, Santa, Graham, Fiedler, Rothermam. Then the crazy stuff happens. Santa hurts his elbow (assume Tommy John?)...out; before the first game Maddie hurts his back...out; now your 4th becomes your 2; things still are looking okay with a healthy Hare, but he blows an Achilles...out. All 3 require surgery. Now your in emergency mode with 4&5 becoming 1&2. Graham steps up, does his job, and as fate would have it, he goes down with an injury. Hare and Maadie are out for the year, Santa comes back into the mix likely before he is ready, and Graham is unable to play. In spite of this perfect storm, the team goes to the MAC Champiosip game and another bowl game. How the hell can the coaches/the program be given nothing but praise for dealing with this?

(12-19-2015 10:34 AM)Djud Wrote:  C'mon...the coaches deserve some credit for how they dealt with an incredibly difficult situation. The stable of QB's post Lynch was full. Macintosh (the likely choice), Hare, Maddie (via transfer) and Root (highly rated). With the deck fairly stacked they get Graham (not highly recruited but from a solid HS program) who many felt would be a career backup. Hare earns the starting spot by performing at an unprecedented level for a Sophmore QB. Hare's year last season was so good It likely forced Mac and Root to transfer. So think back to this time last year; the staff has Hare around for two more years, Maddie as a solid back-up, Graham a true freshman, Santa, an early commit who BTW was recruited by a few Big 10 teams, and Mac who status was unknown. Even though the position seemed to be set, they still went after the Wisconsin kid hard. After they lose the Ingold to UW, they fill the roster with a couple of impressive walk-ons (Fiedler and Rotherman)...game on. Entering the summer you have your 6 QB's Hare, Maddie, Santa, Graham, Fiedler, Rothermam. Then the crazy stuff happens. Santa hurts his elbow (assume Tommy John?)...out; before the first game Maddie hurts his back...out; now your 4th becomes your 2; things still are looking okay with a healthy Hare, but he blows an Achilles...out. All 3 require surgery. Now your in emergency mode with 4&5 becoming 1&2. Graham steps up, does his job, and as fate would have it, he goes down with an injury. Hare and Maadie are out for the year, Santa comes back into the mix likely before he is ready, and Graham is unable to play. In spite of this perfect storm, the team goes to the MAC Champiosip game and another bowl game. How the hell can the coaches/the program be given nothing but praise for dealing with this?

Someone gets it.

(12-19-2015 07:02 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(12-19-2015 10:34 AM)Djud Wrote:  C'mon...the coaches deserve some credit for how they dealt with an incredibly difficult situation. The stable of QB's post Lynch was full. Macintosh (the likely choice), Hare, Maddie (via transfer) and Root (highly rated). With the deck fairly stacked they get Graham (not highly recruited but from a solid HS program) who many felt would be a career backup. Hare earns the starting spot by performing at an unprecedented level for a Sophmore QB. Hare's year last season was so good It likely forced Mac and Root to transfer. So think back to this time last year; the staff has Hare around for two more years, Maddie as a solid back-up, Graham a true freshman, Santa, an early commit who BTW was recruited by a few Big 10 teams, and Mac who status was unknown. Even though the position seemed to be set, they still went after the Wisconsin kid hard. After they lose the Ingold to UW, they fill the roster with a couple of impressive walk-ons (Fiedler and Rotherman)...game on. Entering the summer you have your 6 QB's Hare, Maddie, Santa, Graham, Fiedler, Rothermam. Then the crazy stuff happens. Santa hurts his elbow (assume Tommy John?)...out; before the first game Maddie hurts his back...out; now your 4th becomes your 2; things still are looking okay with a healthy Hare, but he blows an Achilles...out. All 3 require surgery. Now your in emergency mode with 4&5 becoming 1&2. Graham steps up, does his job, and as fate would have it, he goes down with an injury. Hare and Maadie are out for the year, Santa comes back into the mix likely before he is ready, and Graham is unable to play. In spite of this perfect storm, the team goes to the MAC Champiosip game and another bowl game. How the hell can the coaches/the program be given nothing but praise for dealing with this?

Someone gets it.

Indeed.

This might be the worst Thread topic for 2015. And that's saying something.

(12-19-2015 07:06 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(12-19-2015 07:02 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(12-19-2015 10:34 AM)Djud Wrote:  C'mon...the coaches deserve some credit for how they dealt with an incredibly difficult situation. The stable of QB's post Lynch was full. Macintosh (the likely choice), Hare, Maddie (via transfer) and Root (highly rated). With the deck fairly stacked they get Graham (not highly recruited but from a solid HS program) who many felt would be a career backup. Hare earns the starting spot by performing at an unprecedented level for a Sophmore QB. Hare's year last season was so good It likely forced Mac and Root to transfer. So think back to this time last year; the staff has Hare around for two more years, Maddie as a solid back-up, Graham a true freshman, Santa, an early commit who BTW was recruited by a few Big 10 teams, and Mac who status was unknown. Even though the position seemed to be set, they still went after the Wisconsin kid hard. After they lose the Ingold to UW, they fill the roster with a couple of impressive walk-ons (Fiedler and Rotherman)...game on. Entering the summer you have your 6 QB's Hare, Maddie, Santa, Graham, Fiedler, Rothermam. Then the crazy stuff happens. Santa hurts his elbow (assume Tommy John?)...out; before the first game Maddie hurts his back...out; now your 4th becomes your 2; things still are looking okay with a healthy Hare, but he blows an Achilles...out. All 3 require surgery. Now your in emergency mode with 4&5 becoming 1&2. Graham steps up, does his job, and as fate would have it, he goes down with an injury. Hare and Maadie are out for the year, Santa comes back into the mix likely before he is ready, and Graham is unable to play. In spite of this perfect storm, the team goes to the MAC Champiosip game and another bowl game. How the hell can the coaches/the program be given nothing but praise for dealing with this?

Someone gets it.

Indeed.

This might be the worst Thread topic for 2015. And that's saying something.

#PJ2016

(12-19-2015 07:09 PM)zdsmith Wrote:  

(12-19-2015 07:06 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(12-19-2015 07:02 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(12-19-2015 10:34 AM)Djud Wrote:  C'mon...the coaches deserve some credit for how they dealt with an incredibly difficult situation. The stable of QB's post Lynch was full. Macintosh (the likely choice), Hare, Maddie (via transfer) and Root (highly rated). With the deck fairly stacked they get Graham (not highly recruited but from a solid HS program) who many felt would be a career backup. Hare earns the starting spot by performing at an unprecedented level for a Sophmore QB. Hare's year last season was so good It likely forced Mac and Root to transfer. So think back to this time last year; the staff has Hare around for two more years, Maddie as a solid back-up, Graham a true freshman, Santa, an early commit who BTW was recruited by a few Big 10 teams, and Mac who status was unknown. Even though the position seemed to be set, they still went after the Wisconsin kid hard. After they lose the Ingold to UW, they fill the roster with a couple of impressive walk-ons (Fiedler and Rotherman)...game on. Entering the summer you have your 6 QB's Hare, Maddie, Santa, Graham, Fiedler, Rothermam. Then the crazy stuff happens. Santa hurts his elbow (assume Tommy John?)...out; before the first game Maddie hurts his back...out; now your 4th becomes your 2; things still are looking okay with a healthy Hare, but he blows an Achilles...out. All 3 require surgery. Now your in emergency mode with 4&5 becoming 1&2. Graham steps up, does his job, and as fate would have it, he goes down with an injury. Hare and Maadie are out for the year, Santa comes back into the mix likely before he is ready, and Graham is unable to play. In spite of this perfect storm, the team goes to the MAC Champiosip game and another bowl game. How the hell can the coaches/the program be given nothing but praise for dealing with this?

Someone gets it.

Indeed.

This might be the worst Thread topic for 2015. And that's saying something.

#PJ2016

Can we trade Rod Carey for him?

i get why all this happened, very bad luck.

but we need to stop running so many qb draws and qb powers. - for the health of our fragile, goofy-running, young qbs and for the future of our offense.

(12-20-2015 09:27 AM)huskie61032 Wrote:  i get why all this happened, very bad luck.

but we need to stop running so many qb draws and qb powers. - for the health of our fragile, goofy-running, young qbs and for the future of our offense.

Perhaps, but the Hare injury was non-contact, and the Graham injury was on a pass play where a RB completely missed his assignment and he was hit hard on a sack.

(12-20-2015 03:27 PM)17Huskies Wrote:  

(12-20-2015 09:27 AM)huskie61032 Wrote:  i get why all this happened, very bad luck.

but we need to stop running so many qb draws and qb powers. - for the health of our fragile, goofy-running, young qbs and for the future of our offense.

Perhaps, but the Hare injury was non-contact, and the Graham injury was on a pass play where a RB completely missed his assignment and he was hit hard on a sack.

Play selection had nothing to do with the injuries.

As you stated, Hare was hurt on a non-contact play, Graham got hurt on a blown pass protection, and Maddie & Santa got hurt in practice.

Blaming the coaching staff for injuries that are out of their control is pretty ignorant. If the guy's obviously concussed and they send him back out into the game, ala Brady Hoke at Michigan, then yeah, they're dumb, but if it happens on a play like the ones Hare & Graham got hurt on, no coaching staff in the country is going to be able to prevent that from happening.

I don't recall one person ever blaming Novak & co for what happened in '07 when it felt like half the team got hurt.

(12-20-2015 03:34 PM)BarsemaBone2 Wrote:  

(12-20-2015 03:27 PM)17Huskies Wrote:  

(12-20-2015 09:27 AM)huskie61032 Wrote:  i get why all this happened, very bad luck.

but we need to stop running so many qb draws and qb powers. - for the health of our fragile, goofy-running, young qbs and for the future of our offense.

Perhaps, but the Hare injury was non-contact, and the Graham injury was on a pass play where a RB completely missed his assignment and he was hit hard on a sack.

Play selection had nothing to do with the injuries.

As you stated, Hare was hurt on a non-contact play, Graham got hurt on a blown pass protection, and Maddie & Santa got hurt in practice.

Blaming the coaching staff for injuries that are out of their control is pretty ignorant. If the guy's obviously concussed and they send him back out into the game, ala Brady Hoke at Michigan, then yeah, they're dumb, but if it happens on a play like the ones Hare & Graham got hurt on, no coaching staff in the country is going to be able to prevent that from happening.

I don't recall one person ever blaming Novak & co for what happened in '07 when it felt like half the team got hurt.

Well Novak is a walking God, remember?

(12-20-2015 04:22 PM)DogPoundNorth Wrote:  

(12-20-2015 03:34 PM)BarsemaBone2 Wrote:  

(12-20-2015 03:27 PM)17Huskies Wrote:  

(12-20-2015 09:27 AM)huskie61032 Wrote:  i get why all this happened, very bad luck.

but we need to stop running so many qb draws and qb powers. - for the health of our fragile, goofy-running, young qbs and for the future of our offense.

Perhaps, but the Hare injury was non-contact, and the Graham injury was on a pass play where a RB completely missed his assignment and he was hit hard on a sack.

Play selection had nothing to do with the injuries.

As you stated, Hare was hurt on a non-contact play, Graham got hurt on a blown pass protection, and Maddie & Santa got hurt in practice.

Blaming the coaching staff for injuries that are out of their control is pretty ignorant. If the guy's obviously concussed and they send him back out into the game, ala Brady Hoke at Michigan, then yeah, they're dumb, but if it happens on a play like the ones Hare & Graham got hurt on, no coaching staff in the country is going to be able to prevent that from happening.

I don't recall one person ever blaming Novak & co for what happened in '07 when it felt like half the team got hurt.

Well Novak is a walking God, remember?

I think it's more like fans were a wee bit less likely to jump all over the coaching staff for stuff that's out of their control.

NIU QBs Anthony Maddie and Drew Hare look on while Ryan Graham does a post-practice interview.

For some reason there is no link to the pic but it's rather funny.

(12-20-2015 09:00 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  NIU QBs Anthony Maddie and Drew Hare look on while Ryan Graham does a post-practice interview.

For some reason there is no link to the pic but it's rather funny.

(12-19-2015 10:34 AM)Djud Wrote:  C'mon...the coaches deserve some credit for how they dealt with an incredibly difficult situation. The stable of QB's post Lynch was full. Macintosh (the likely choice), Hare, Maddie (via transfer) and Root (highly rated). With the deck fairly stacked they get Graham (not highly recruited but from a solid HS program) who many felt would be a career backup. Hare earns the starting spot by performing at an unprecedented level for a Sophmore QB. Hare's year last season was so good It likely forced Mac and Root to transfer. So think back to this time last year; the staff has Hare around for two more years, Maddie as a solid back-up, Graham a true freshman, Santa, an early commit who BTW was recruited by a few Big 10 teams, and Mac who status was unknown. Even though the position seemed to be set, they still went after the Wisconsin kid hard. After they lose the Ingold to UW, they fill the roster with a couple of impressive walk-ons (Fiedler and Rotherman)...game on. Entering the summer you have your 6 QB's Hare, Maddie, Santa, Graham, Fiedler, Rothermam. Then the crazy stuff happens. Santa hurts his elbow (assume Tommy John?)...out; before the first game Maddie hurts his back...out; now your 4th becomes your 2; things still are looking okay with a healthy Hare, but he blows an Achilles...out. All 3 require surgery. Now your in emergency mode with 4&5 becoming 1&2. Graham steps up, does his job, and as fate would have it, he goes down with an injury. Hare and Maadie are out for the year, Santa comes back into the mix likely before he is ready, and Graham is unable to play. In spite of this perfect storm, the team goes to the MAC Champiosip game and another bowl game. How the hell can the coaches/the program be given nothing but praise for dealing with this?

DJud - love your passion, but are we overstating a bit?

Hare performed at an unprecedented level for a sophomore QB? His season was so good it forced kids to transfer?

I'm not sure if we were watching the same games. I think he's a hard nosed kid who did a decent job when he was given the opportunity, but by no means did he set the world on fire. Hare makes the most of his abilities, but I think his ceiling is fairly low.

Also, how are Fiedler and Rotherham impressive walk ons? We've never seen Rotherham play and our small sample of Fiedler left us longing for the glory days of the unrecruited fourth stringer, Ryan Graham.

What do I mean by unprecedented...I would like to know which QB in the program's history had a better sophomore season than Hare (measured by individual stats, W/L %, quality wins, Championships)? His season resulted in Macintosh being moved to a DB...then ultimately transferring.
In spite of a full stable of QB's, the staff went hard after Ingold, who chose to stay in state and go to UW (sorry, tough to compete against the Badger program). At that point the staff was only going to get a walk-on to fill the remaining QB roster spots. Is Fiedler the program's next great QB? Probably not; but what he did given the circumstances, to me, has been impressive. Finally, Graham, like Harnish and Lynch, was lightly recruited. He was our 4th string QB (behind Maddie and Santa) coming into the season. His performance is not only a testament to the kid's hardwork and abilities, but to the program"s judge of talent/potential, and the staff's preparation.