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(10-04-2015 10:22 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  Who didnt thinking this year was a rebuilding year? I thought almost everyone was on that page, we have like 75 underclassman. Personally, i was hoping for a 6 win season in a rebuilding year. That might be tough, but we are gaining some valubale experience from a ton of young guys that will benefit us in the future.

Our original goal was to compete for our conference division title. The other goal was to make a bowl game. Im still in the corner that we need to give LaRussa a shot at the quarterback and try to make it to a bowl game.

(10-04-2015 11:06 AM)odu83alumni Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 10:22 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  Who didnt thinking this year was a rebuilding year? I thought almost everyone was on that page, we have like 75 underclassman. Personally, i was hoping for a 6 win season in a rebuilding year. That might be tough, but we are gaining some valubale experience from a ton of young guys that will benefit us in the future.

Our original goal was to compete for our conference division title. The other goal was to make a bowl game. Im still in the corner that we need to give LaRussa a shot at the quarterback and try to make it to a bowl game.

If Larussa isnt a superior QB, it doesnt help oue chances

(10-04-2015 11:14 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 11:06 AM)odu83alumni Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 10:22 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  Who didnt thinking this year was a rebuilding year? I thought almost everyone was on that page, we have like 75 underclassman. Personally, i was hoping for a 6 win season in a rebuilding year. That might be tough, but we are gaining some valubale experience from a ton of young guys that will benefit us in the future.

Our original goal was to compete for our conference division title. The other goal was to make a bowl game. Im still in the corner that we need to give LaRussa a shot at the quarterback and try to make it to a bowl game.

If Larussa isnt a superior QB, it doesnt help oue chances

And how do we do he isn't a little better if he is setting on the bench? He needs at least a shot at it. Bentley has gotten way more than that.

(10-04-2015 11:19 AM)odu83alumni Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 11:14 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 11:06 AM)odu83alumni Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 10:22 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  Who didnt thinking this year was a rebuilding year? I thought almost everyone was on that page, we have like 75 underclassman. Personally, i was hoping for a 6 win season in a rebuilding year. That might be tough, but we are gaining some valubale experience from a ton of young guys that will benefit us in the future.

Our original goal was to compete for our conference division title. The other goal was to make a bowl game. Im still in the corner that we need to give LaRussa a shot at the quarterback and try to make it to a bowl game.

If Larussa isnt a superior QB, it doesnt help oue chances

And how do we do he isn't a little better if he is setting on the bench? He needs at least a shot at it. Bentley has gotten way more than that.

They get to see him play every day. This is backup quarterback syndrome.

(10-04-2015 11:21 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 11:19 AM)odu83alumni Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 11:14 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 11:06 AM)odu83alumni Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 10:22 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  Who didnt thinking this year was a rebuilding year? I thought almost everyone was on that page, we have like 75 underclassman. Personally, i was hoping for a 6 win season in a rebuilding year. That might be tough, but we are gaining some valubale experience from a ton of young guys that will benefit us in the future.

Our original goal was to compete for our conference division title. The other goal was to make a bowl game. Im still in the corner that we need to give LaRussa a shot at the quarterback and try to make it to a bowl game.

If Larussa isnt a superior QB, it doesnt help oue chances

And how do we do he isn't a little better if he is setting on the bench? He needs at least a shot at it. Bentley has gotten way more than that.

They get to see him play every day. This is backup quarterback syndrome.

No this is ODU playing themselves out of a bowl appearance syndrome.

(10-04-2015 11:23 AM)odu83alumni Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 11:21 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 11:19 AM)odu83alumni Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 11:14 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 11:06 AM)odu83alumni Wrote:  Our original goal was to compete for our conference division title. The other goal was to make a bowl game. Im still in the corner that we need to give LaRussa a shot at the quarterback and try to make it to a bowl game.

If Larussa isnt a superior QB, it doesnt help oue chances

And how do we do he isn't a little better if he is setting on the bench? He needs at least a shot at it. Bentley has gotten way more than that.

They get to see him play every day. This is backup quarterback syndrome.

No this is ODU playing themselves out of a bowl appearance syndrome.

Being in a bowl game has always been best case scenario and we still have chance to do so.

(10-04-2015 11:25 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 11:23 AM)odu83alumni Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 11:21 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 11:19 AM)odu83alumni Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 11:14 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  If Larussa isnt a superior QB, it doesnt help oue chances

And how do we do he isn't a little better if he is setting on the bench? He needs at least a shot at it. Bentley has gotten way more than that.

They get to see him play every day. This is backup quarterback syndrome.

No this is ODU playing themselves out of a bowl appearance syndrome.

Being in a bowl game has always been best case scenario and we still have chance to do so.

Paul Simon,"Slip Sliding Away."

(10-04-2015 12:43 AM)Monarch Asylum Wrote:  Duhart had a HUGE drop on the first drive of the game, after the kick off fumble. If he makes that catch they're in FG range and Shuler has some confidence rolling.

Perspective people. If we weren't averaging 5-6 drops a game Shuler's stats would be better.

I also fail to see how replacing a Red Shirt Freshman QB with a TRUE Freshman walk-on QB would be a better solution?

I presume you weren't at the Spring game or the other open scrimmages when BL was clearly the better QB. I assure you that, at worst, there would be no drop off from SB to BL.

Sent from my XT1095 using Tapatalk

(10-04-2015 11:27 AM)Monarchblue Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 12:43 AM)Monarch Asylum Wrote:  Duhart had a HUGE drop on the first drive of the game, after the kick off fumble. If he makes that catch they're in FG range and Shuler has some confidence rolling.

Perspective people. If we weren't averaging 5-6 drops a game Shuler's stats would be better.

I also fail to see how replacing a Red Shirt Freshman QB with a TRUE Freshman walk-on QB would be a better solution?

I presume you weren't at the Spring game or the other open scrimmages when BL was clearly the better QB. I assure you that, at worst, there would be no drop off from SB to BL.

Sent from my XT1095 using Tapatalk

This.
BL was at least as accurate. IMO had much better pocket awareness and substantially more mobility.

Well, I thought Verheagh was the best, but I thought BL was next.
However, the QBs had a lot more time, making BL with his mobility more desirable now.

(10-04-2015 11:27 AM)Monarchblue Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 12:43 AM)Monarch Asylum Wrote:  Duhart had a HUGE drop on the first drive of the game, after the kick off fumble. If he makes that catch they're in FG range and Shuler has some confidence rolling.

Perspective people. If we weren't averaging 5-6 drops a game Shuler's stats would be better.

I also fail to see how replacing a Red Shirt Freshman QB with a TRUE Freshman walk-on QB would be a better solution?

I presume you weren't at the Spring game or the other open scrimmages when BL was clearly the better QB. I assure you that, at worst, there would be no drop off from SB to BL.

Sent from my XT1095 using Tapatalk

No he wasnt. Come on

For the people that are hating on Blake LaRussa.

Reason he didnt get recruit to play football on the college level is because his heart was with basketball. One of the reasons he left a good Grassfield football team was to play basketball at Bishop Sullivan which was better in basketball.

LaRussa reclassified at Bishop Sullivan hoping his chance to get notice for basketball would improve but he failed to get notice. Area coaches believe his size and not playing AAU basketball had a lot to do with not getting looked out. His high school career avg ppg was 18 at point guard.

In football LaRussa junior year he alone had over 5000 yards with 50 plus TDs.
After his junior year Coach Turner was fired and Bishop Sullivan went to a run first offense with a new coach. Even with the change LaRussa had 3000 yards of offense. If private school stats counted in VA he would be the leading leader in most the QB stat lines.

The reason I like LaRussa is his mobility. Go google his basketball and football videos. He makes plays with his feet.

Do I think he is the answer to fix our troubles, no. I do feel he could help a lot when SB is playing poorly YES.

LaRussa is a mix of TD and TH. Great feet and pocket awareness

(10-04-2015 12:11 PM)AimHigh Wrote:  For the people that are hating on Blake LaRussa.

Reason he didnt get recruit to play football on the college level is because his heart was with basketball. One of the reasons he left a good Grassfield football team was to play basketball at Bishop Sullivan which was better in basketball.

LaRussa reclassified at Bishop Sullivan hoping his chance to get notice for basketball would improve but he failed to get notice. Area coaches believe his size and not playing AAU basketball had a lot to do with not getting looked out. His high school career avg ppg was 18 at point guard.

In football LaRussa junior year he alone had over 5000 yards with 50 plus TDs.
After his junior year Coach Turner was fired and Bishop Sullivan went to a run first offense with a new coach. Even with the change LaRussa had 3000 yards of offense. If private school stats counted in VA he would be the leading leader in most the QB stat lines.

The reason I like LaRussa is his mobility. Go google his basketball and football videos. He makes plays with his feet.

Do I think he is the answer to fix our troubles, no. I do feel he could help a lot when SB is playing poorly YES.

I tend to agree with AimHigh. Sometimes a young QB needs to observe the game from the sideline for a bit when things are going consistently poorly for him. In this case, Bentley gets a break to regroup himself and LaRussa gets a chance to show his skills. To me, everyone wins if it is handled well by the coaches. Likewise, ODUalum78 has a good point about LaRussa's mobility. Perhaps that adds a dimension to our offense that would open up other parts of our offensive game plan.

(10-04-2015 12:11 PM)AimHigh Wrote:  For the people that are hating on Blake LaRussa.

Reason he didnt get recruit to play football on the college level is because his heart was with basketball. One of the reasons he left a good Grassfield football team was to play basketball at Bishop Sullivan which was better in basketball.

LaRussa reclassified at Bishop Sullivan hoping his chance to get notice for basketball would improve but he failed to get notice. Area coaches believe his size and not playing AAU basketball had a lot to do with not getting looked out. His high school career avg ppg was 18 at point guard.

In football LaRussa junior year he alone had over 5000 yards with 50 plus TDs.
After his junior year Coach Turner was fired and Bishop Sullivan went to a run first offense with a new coach. Even with the change LaRussa had 3000 yards of offense. If private school stats counted in VA he would be the leading leader in most the QB stat lines.

The reason I like LaRussa is his mobility. Go google his basketball and football videos. He makes plays with his feet.

Do I think he is the answer to fix our troubles, no. I do feel he could help a lot when SB is playing poorly YES.

No one is hating on Larussa at all. Bringing up his stats is pointless though. Private school football locally just doesnt compare.

He was a surprise in the spring for sure, but it was no comparison with Bentley. I dont think anyone dislikes the guy, i dont know anyone at Cathoilc that does. But even they were surprised he made the ODU team. If be improves and takes over, i will be his biggest fan.

(10-04-2015 12:40 PM)The Doctor Is In Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 12:11 PM)AimHigh Wrote:  For the people that are hating on Blake LaRussa.

Reason he didnt get recruit to play football on the college level is because his heart was with basketball. One of the reasons he left a good Grassfield football team was to play basketball at Bishop Sullivan which was better in basketball.

LaRussa reclassified at Bishop Sullivan hoping his chance to get notice for basketball would improve but he failed to get notice. Area coaches believe his size and not playing AAU basketball had a lot to do with not getting looked out. His high school career avg ppg was 18 at point guard.

In football LaRussa junior year he alone had over 5000 yards with 50 plus TDs.
After his junior year Coach Turner was fired and Bishop Sullivan went to a run first offense with a new coach. Even with the change LaRussa had 3000 yards of offense. If private school stats counted in VA he would be the leading leader in most the QB stat lines.

The reason I like LaRussa is his mobility. Go google his basketball and football videos. He makes plays with his feet.

Do I think he is the answer to fix our troubles, no. I do feel he could help a lot when SB is playing poorly YES.

I tend to agree with AimHigh. Sometimes a young QB needs to observe the game from the sideline for a bit when things are going consistently poorly for him. In this case, Bentley gets a break to regroup himself and LaRussa gets a chance to show his skills. To me, everyone wins if it is handled well by the coaches. Likewise, ODUalum78 has a good point about LaRussa's mobility. Perhaps that adds a dimension to our offense that would open up other parts of our offensive game plan.

If Larussa is more mobile (I have never seen him play) it would add a huge element to our offense. When plays break down SB is no threat to escape or punish the defense for not accounting for him. When he does escape and get out of the pocket, he is just too slow to get more than 3 or 4 yards. Big DL run him down with no problem whatsover. TH and TD could usually get 10 or 12 yds when they decided to run, but when SB runs at best it is 3 or 4 yards.

(10-04-2015 01:05 PM)ODU FrontRunner Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 12:40 PM)The Doctor Is In Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 12:11 PM)AimHigh Wrote:  For the people that are hating on Blake LaRussa.

Reason he didnt get recruit to play football on the college level is because his heart was with basketball. One of the reasons he left a good Grassfield football team was to play basketball at Bishop Sullivan which was better in basketball.

LaRussa reclassified at Bishop Sullivan hoping his chance to get notice for basketball would improve but he failed to get notice. Area coaches believe his size and not playing AAU basketball had a lot to do with not getting looked out. His high school career avg ppg was 18 at point guard.

In football LaRussa junior year he alone had over 5000 yards with 50 plus TDs.
After his junior year Coach Turner was fired and Bishop Sullivan went to a run first offense with a new coach. Even with the change LaRussa had 3000 yards of offense. If private school stats counted in VA he would be the leading leader in most the QB stat lines.

The reason I like LaRussa is his mobility. Go google his basketball and football videos. He makes plays with his feet.

Do I think he is the answer to fix our troubles, no. I do feel he could help a lot when SB is playing poorly YES.

I tend to agree with AimHigh. Sometimes a young QB needs to observe the game from the sideline for a bit when things are going consistently poorly for him. In this case, Bentley gets a break to regroup himself and LaRussa gets a chance to show his skills. To me, everyone wins if it is handled well by the coaches. Likewise, ODUalum78 has a good point about LaRussa's mobility. Perhaps that adds a dimension to our offense that would open up other parts of our offensive game plan.

If Larussa is more mobile (I have never seen him play) it would add a huge element to our offense. When plays break down SB is no threat to escape or punish the defense for not accounting for him. When he does escape and get out of the pocket, he is just too slow to get more than 3 or 4 yards. Big DL run him down with no problem whatsover. TH and TD could usually get 10 or 12 yds when they decided to run, but when SB runs at best it is 3 or 4 yards.

Runs just like Thomas DeMarco. Keep in mind this is high school film!!! Enjoy

(10-04-2015 11:21 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  They get to see him play every day. This is backup quarterback syndrome.

I'm with you. I find it impossible to believe that Wilder and the staff wouldn't make a change to Larussa if he was outperforming Bentley in practice. I just have to believe the coaches think, of our QBs, Shuler gives us the best shot to win.


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So you guys saw BL play exactly 1 practice game against our 3rd string D and now know he's better than someone rated a 3-4 star recruit by people who watched him a LOT more than you did and know what they are talking about.

Back off the ledge people. Has he played well... no. But we just came off probably the toughest 3 game stretch in the history of the program, 3 of the 5 games he played have been in terrible weather conditions.

It hasn't looked pretty, but the wide view is this: we're 2-3, he beat the teams he was supposed to beat, and lost to the ones we expected to lose to.

(10-04-2015 12:51 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 12:11 PM)AimHigh Wrote:  For the people that are hating on Blake LaRussa.

Reason he didnt get recruit to play football on the college level is because his heart was with basketball. One of the reasons he left a good Grassfield football team was to play basketball at Bishop Sullivan which was better in basketball.

LaRussa reclassified at Bishop Sullivan hoping his chance to get notice for basketball would improve but he failed to get notice. Area coaches believe his size and not playing AAU basketball had a lot to do with not getting looked out. His high school career avg ppg was 18 at point guard.

In football LaRussa junior year he alone had over 5000 yards with 50 plus TDs.
After his junior year Coach Turner was fired and Bishop Sullivan went to a run first offense with a new coach. Even with the change LaRussa had 3000 yards of offense. If private school stats counted in VA he would be the leading leader in most the QB stat lines.

The reason I like LaRussa is his mobility. Go google his basketball and football videos. He makes plays with his feet.

Do I think he is the answer to fix our troubles, no. I do feel he could help a lot when SB is playing poorly YES.

No one is hating on Larussa at all. Bringing up his stats is pointless though. Private school football locally just doesnt compare.

He was a surprise in the spring for sure, but it was no comparison with Bentley. I dont think anyone dislikes the guy, i dont know anyone at Cathoilc that does. But even they were surprised he made the ODU team. If be improves and takes over, i will be his biggest fan.

Why was there no comparison? Private School football is irrelevant with respect to speed, quickness, and throwing accuracy.

Through the 2nd week in April, LaRussa threw 159 passes, completing 61 percent for four touchdowns. He only had two interceptions.

All three were close statistically, and IMO the "eye test" advantage went to Verheagh. To me, he clearly was a "man" competing with "boys".
Additionally, both Verheagh and LaRussa haven't had to "unlearn" last years system.

The biggest issue to me is that in the Spring, all three QBs had time to set up and throw, and the receivers got separation such that they had someone to throw to.
That's not happening in real life.

We know this:
LaRussa is quick and fast. He can scramble and he can run and he can throw accurately on the run. Bentley cannot.
LaRussa has an accurate arm. Even Heinick remarked on that. There is no need to covet Bentley's arm strength on the long ball as there will hardly be time for a bomb, at least this year.

What we don't know:
How will LaRussa react to his first FBS hit?
How well will LaRussa do reads and checks in real game pressure and a pursuing DLine?

Under any circumstances, these are things we ought to know so as to prepare David Washington to be the backup if Bentley goes down. If Bentley goes down now, and LaRussa can't cut it, then DW certainly won't be ready to immediately move back into the QB position and be effective after all this time at WR.

(10-04-2015 01:53 PM)MonarchCAM Wrote:  So you guys saw BL play exactly 1 practice game against our 3rd string D and now know he's better than someone rated a 3-4 star recruit by people who watched him a LOT more than you did and know what they are talking about.

Back off the ledge people. Has he played well... no. But we just came off probably the toughest 3 game stretch in the history of the program, 3 of the 5 games he played have been in terrible weather conditions.

It hasn't looked pretty, but the wide view is this: we're 2-3, he beat the teams he was supposed to beat, and lost to the ones we expected to lose to.

Get your facts right

BL and JV played 3 practice games during spring. There was no 3rd string D.

It was 1st team and 2 team defense mixed with both.

BL and JV led their team by two TDs vs. SB until Wilder flipped field position on two back to back drives for SB team to win the game during the last spring game.