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https://blazervictory.com/index.php/2023...rview-3-6/

good interview

I enjoy these player interviews. Hopefully, these will be a regular part of the podcast.

I know you would always expect to hear the player praising his current coaches, but.... what stood out in that interview to me was Zeno talking about how much knowledge Mortenson and Coleman (and Dilfer) have about playing quarterback and how much he is looking forward to gleaning from them--almost as if to say, in contrast with my previous coaches. Maybe I am reading more into that than he meant, but I think by now the players would notice the difference in the coaching staffs, especially in the QB room.

You just get the feeling that he knows he's about to be the leader of this team and he's perfectly comfortable with it

That’s the first time I’ve ever heard him speak. Just sounds like a leader. I wanted him to earn the starting job last year. I hope he earns it this year and just crushes it

He played a darn good game vs UTSA last year. When he came on vs WKU, I evaluated his outing more as a coaching deficiency than a reflection of his talent.

(03-07-2023 12:45 PM)FNblazer Wrote:  He played a darn good game vs UTSA last year. When he came on vs WKU, I evaluated his outing more as a coaching deficiency than a reflection of his talent.

Yep, for all the talk preseason and during season of giving Zeno reps, BV only threw him out there for maybe 1-2 passes in one possession and he would put him in when Hopkins was actually doing well. The QB roster management was terrible.

(03-07-2023 12:45 PM)FNblazer Wrote:  He played a darn good game vs UTSA last year. When he came on vs WKU, I evaluated his outing more as a coaching deficiency than a reflection of his talent.

What specifically led your evaluation to that conclusion?

His PT when Hopkins was healthy was just plain dumb. "Rotate QBs" aka play Zeno for one possession a game and hand the ball off on every down when he's in the game, OR put him cold for one of the pivotal possessions late in the first half when Hopkins was playing great, only to kill momentum and let the other team back in it. I remember both scenarios happening multiple times before Hopkins got hurt.

When Zeno had a game or two under his belt as THE MAN, he was really good.

I think he will continue that this season as the starter.

(03-07-2023 02:04 PM)busch Wrote:  

(03-07-2023 12:45 PM)FNblazer Wrote:  He played a darn good game vs UTSA last year. When he came on vs WKU, I evaluated his outing more as a coaching deficiency than a reflection of his talent.

What specifically led your evaluation to that conclusion?

For me, it was how the play calling was flat out ignorant and did not play toward the game setting. Specifically, the play where Zeno threw the interception in the end zone was uncalled for. You cannot put your QB in that position...or if you do, make sure he's practiced up and prepared.

You could tell he was "ready to go" by UTSA. The coaching staff didn't let him spin it in his limited roles prior to taking the starting role, which as Answer points out above, served only to break up momentum and run predictable plays, not to win. The sets we ran in those moments looked like garbage time playcalling, instead of actual gameplay where you're trying to win.

(03-07-2023 02:04 PM)busch Wrote:  

(03-07-2023 12:45 PM)FNblazer Wrote:  He played a darn good game vs UTSA last year. When he came on vs WKU, I evaluated his outing more as a coaching deficiency than a reflection of his talent.

What specifically led your evaluation to that conclusion?

He put us in pretty good position to win the game against the best team in the conference. He also had some good throws against LSU when he was brought in. There's no doubt that his ceiling was higher than Hopkins'. The WKU game I blame him coming in cold/unexpectedly. When he was given time to prepare, he usually looked decent.

(03-07-2023 02:04 PM)busch Wrote:  

(03-07-2023 12:45 PM)FNblazer Wrote:  He played a darn good game vs UTSA last year. When he came on vs WKU, I evaluated his outing more as a coaching deficiency than a reflection of his talent.

What specifically led your evaluation to that conclusion?

Have you ever seen a qb more ill prepared to take over mid game?

I am really eager to see how much Jacob improves with a QB coach who knows how to develop him.