Just left the scrimmage. Graham and Santa rotated with the ones and Childers and Thompson with the twos. Graham was best today, get used to it kids. I'll post more when I get home later.

Thanks 81!

Graham is 1a, Santa is 1b. If Graham lays an egg in comes Santa.......just my prediction

Thanks 81!

Looking forward to a full recap

Carey on QBs: "...like I said I got to get in there and see the film but I think Ryan might have seperated himself from the other two."

Doug Free visited and spoke to the players today.

(08-15-2017 07:28 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  Carey on QBs: "...like I said I got to get in there and see the film but I think Ryan might have seperated himself from the other two."

Yep. Wouldn't surprise me if he's officially named the guy tomorrow.

(08-15-2017 07:43 PM)7 Wrote:  

(08-15-2017 07:28 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  Carey on QBs: "...like I said I got to get in there and see the film but I think Ryan might have seperated himself from the other two."

Yep. Wouldn't surprise me if he's officially named the guy tomorrow.

It would surprise me. Why name a starter unless you have to

(08-15-2017 07:46 PM)armour248 Wrote:  

(08-15-2017 07:43 PM)7 Wrote:  

(08-15-2017 07:28 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  Carey on QBs: "...like I said I got to get in there and see the film but I think Ryan might have seperated himself from the other two."

Yep. Wouldn't surprise me if he's officially named the guy tomorrow.

It would surprise me. Why name a starter unless you have to

There's 10 days left in camp. Start giving him all the reps with the 1s.

I went to this scrimmage because it was probably the last big, full contact session they'll have and I wanted to see how the QBs were shaking out. It looks like the coaches have narrowed it down to a two horse race by having only Graham and Santa work with the ones today. Childers did some nice things, including a goal line TD pass, but it seems like he's not a contender to start at this time given the little time remaining before the season starts. A year from now Childers could be the guy but right now they have to get ready to play a game in 17 days.

Santa did some nice things, including a really good, long drive early in the scrimmage. He also threw a pick and threw two others right to the defense that should have been picked while Graham did nothing of the sort. Graham made great decisions all day and was reasonably accurate. He did mix in the occasional sideline airmail which is part of the package with him, but he made some very good throws too. At the very end he hit Parchment right in the hands with a beautiful deep ball that Parchment subsequently lost when he went to the ground. That was a great throw, right on the money about 45 yards downfield.

Basically the guys were who we know they are. Santa is a bit of a gunslinger who makes some plays but also takes some risks while Graham is more conservative. My best guess is that Graham starts at BC and stays in as long as he's moving the chains. Santa very well may play in that game but it seems unlikely that Childers will. If Graham plays like he did today we'll be fine.

In other news, Nate Veloz was at right guard with the ones all day. That unit left to right was Scharping, Steckler, Shively, Veloz and Roberts. Alex Schlee and Benn Olson took turns at center with the twos so about half the team has been tried there.

Several guys did not play including Jordan Huff, Sutton Smith, Josh Corcoran and Shawun Lurry. Albert Smalls was in for like one play. None of those guys need to prove anything.

Marcus Jones was the first tailback today and had a few nice carries before they got him out of there. Jordan Rowell was dressed and had about eight carries late in the scrimmage. He got to the second level a few times for nice gains.

Anthony Thompson had several terrific throws late in the scrimmage. He really made an impression and based on what he did today there's no reason he couldn't compete for playing time down the road.

(08-15-2017 07:28 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  Carey on QBs: "...like I said I got to get in there and see the film but I think Ryan might have seperated himself from the other two."

Lmao. This is like a North Korean beauty pageant

If Graham is the #1, then I am 100% behind this guy. I hope he makes all of us eat our words. Kids been kicked when he's down quite a bit and it would be a great redemption story. The sooner he's named the starter, the quicker we can move onto other things like who should be #3 WR or how impressive the D-tackle rotation might be.
Impressive for Veloz to step right in with the 1s after being moved back and forth between O and D lines.

Anyone who thinks this was a competition, I just don't know what can be said at this point. Carey has his favorites no doubt about that. Being a junior probably gave Graham the job. At some point talent needs to be a factor. Carey shopping for a QB reminds me of someone car shopping and what they need the car to do is drive back and forth from work all in a 30 mph zone. You can test drive 100 cars along this route , but how do you differentiate the best one when you are only going 30 mph and don't need performance. I wish Ryan all the best too, seems like a great kid

I will lose my voice cheering Graham (being honest here)....he has a ton of experience and still has 2 years.

It seems like he has been playing for twice that long.....but this may be for the wrong reasons.

It's good to see some separation IMO but I'm sure we will see Santa in for some runs against BC. Graham has taken a lot of hard ones and I'm sure if he becomes "the guy" they are going to spare him somtimes.

I forgot to mention that Ference killed some punts today. I think he's our punter this year.

What about Nettles? I thought Carey said he was doing well.

I don't think Graham is the right QB for the offense we run. And Carey realized that last year when he switched to Maddie. The problem is, I don't think there is a QB on our roster that's a good fit. We were very fortunate Lynch and Harnish who were both athletic and good passers. Our current QBS are neither. With all the success NIU had for many years, it's surprising Carey couldn't recruit better at that position.

Nettles was mostly in there in short yardage today so he didn't have a chance to break any long runs.

(08-15-2017 09:47 PM)Field Turf Wrote:  I don't think Graham is the right QB for the offense we run. And Carey realized that last year when he switched to Maddie. The problem is, I don't think there is a QB on our roster that's a good fit. We were very fortunate Lynch and Harnish who were both athletic and good passers. Our current QBS are neither. With all the success NIU had for many years, it's surprising Carey couldn't recruit better at that position.

The type of offense we have ran for over a decade now is growing old. Defenses have figured it out, and not just NIUs offense. The spread offense has become much less effective, as defenses have now adjusted. You need a freak athlete at QB to be successful in the Lynch/Harnish offense of old. Without them you need a QB who limits mistakes and can make the throws when they matter. The RBs will carry the water when it comes to rushing yards now. It will be a bit of a hybrid between the early 2000s offense and the Harmish/Lynch offenses.