Let The Debate Begin For The Next Penn State Quarterback
by BSD on Jan 6, 2010 8:00 AM EST
in Football
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You thought the quarterback controversycompetition between Daryll Clark and Pat Devlin in 2008 was pretty intense? You ain't seen nothing yet. Somewhere between four to six players will be fighting to stick their hand under Stefen Wisniewski's butt and take that first snap against Indiana State next September. The contenders will include a couple true freshmen, a redshirt walkon sophomore that earned himself a scholarship, a journeyman wide receiver that started out as a quarterback, and a speedy true sophomore that played sparingly at wide receiver in 2009, but starred as a quarterback in high school and had more touchdown passes this year than the true freshman quarterback that served as Daryll Clark's backup.
You have to figure Kevin Newsome has the inside track to take over for Daryll Clark. He served as the primary backup all season, but he saw very little playing time and had more rushing attempts (20) than pass attempts (11). Newsome didn't exactly tear it up in his 11 pass attempts, but he didn't suck either completing 8 of them for 66 yards. He had no interceptions or touchdowns, but then by the time he saw the field the game was well in hand and Paterno had called off the dogs. So we never really got to see what he could do.
At one point this season after watching Newsome play I commented he reminded me a lot of Michael Robinson. Like Robinson, his throwing mechanics leave much to be desired, but he's an electrifying runner. He has tremendous burst seemingly going from stand still to top speed in two steps. He's a big, physical player that hits a hole hard and lowers his shoulder to get that extra yard. It doesn't hurt that he wears Robinson's old number 12 either.
If you believe in the Paterno Doctrine, Newsome will take over as the starter next year simply for no other reason than he was the backup this year and now it's his turn. That may be the case, and if it is, the race for the backup spot will be even more entertaining.
Redshirt sophomore Matt McGloin brings the most experience. 2010 will be his third year in the program, and he has always earned high praise from Paterno. The ultimate vindication came when he earned a scholarship prior to the 2009 season as a reward for his hard work. Observers rave about his mechanics and decision making, but there are questions about his arm strength and size (6-1, 204 lbs). And McGloin is more of a pure pocket passer. This is certainly not a bad thing as Penn State has succeeded with pocket passers before, but in 2004 Penn State made the transition to the spread offense. Michael Robinson and Daryll Clark thrived in the offense, but Anthony Morelli, who was strictly a pocket passer, struggled to run the offense effectively. If Penn State is committed to the Spread HD and using mobile quarterbacks that can run the zone read, wildcat, and roll out of the pocket, McGloin may find himself on the outside looking in.
True freshman Paul Jones may prove to be Newsome's biggest competition. Jones is enrolling this month which will allow him to compete in spring practice and learn the offense. Jones sat out a good portion of his senior year of high school with an ankle injury and only played in nine games. But he still threw for 1600 yards and 16 touchdowns. He may remind a lot of Penn State fans of Daryll Clark. He's an imposing physical specimen that is capable of running when he has to, but he prefers to beat you with his arm. He's excellent at throwing on the run and uses his feet more to create space and buy time than to pick up big chunks of yards like Newsome.
The other true freshman, Robert Bolden, may get a look, but he will be at a disadvantage to Jones since he will not enroll until June. Bolden is more of a running threat and regarded as more athletic than Jones. Though his senior passing stats don't jump out at you (1,013 yds, 7 TD, 8 INT), he has an absolute cannon of an arm and drew the raves of scouts on the camp trail. Due to the fact his skill set is similar to Newsome and he is not enrolling in January like Jones, I suspect we will see Bolden wear the redshirt in 2010 to create some separation with Newsome.
Two other names to consider are Curtis Drake and Brett Brackett. Both are currently listed as wide receivers, but Drake starred as a quarterback in high school and Brackett started his Penn State career at quarterback. I don't think they are serious contenders, but Paterno mentioned their names after the Capital One Bowl, so you have to figure they will get a look in the spring.
So pick your camp and strap yourself in. It's going to be a pretty tumultuous eight months.
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2010's First Opponent
is Youngstown State. Indiana State is 2011.
Here we go again.
Alabama will be on the schedule. That makes it OK in the eyes of MSM.
"Have I ever told the story of when I met Miley Cyrus?"
by Jeff Junstrom on Jan 6, 2010 11:10 AM EST up reply actions
It's a stain upon our legacy!
Our grandchildren will never forgive us for the role we played in this disgrace!
Joe knows bowl games.
by ReadingRambler on Jan 6, 2010 11:32 AM EST up reply actions
If we're weren't bombarded with "Success with Honor"
The Great Show, etc etc, …fine
But the fact remains, scheduling 1AA opponents is lazy and doesn’t benefit the program, the players or the fans
in a 500 words or less
what is your realistic solution to this problem? Your real world constraints are:
under $500k budget to pay for one and done games on a yearly basis
your requirement that they be a FBS team
and preferably not the same team every year
You cannot replace the MAC team on our schedule (not sure if Temple counts for our yearly MAC requirement or not, so no need for 2 MAC teams if you don’t want)
your requirement that it be a significant improvement in quality/interesting opponent (because honestly, do you care so much more about directional Michigan team Tulane or New Mexico or Western Kentucky or San Jose State than a FCS school that you are gonna say, “hey, I wasn’t planning on going before, but NOW that’s a matchup I can’t resist!”) We want that “Success with Honor” after all, and if we’re not getting it with an FCS school we won’t get it with one of these schools either.
Also, preferably in a new thread, so this one can focus on the QB situation. Just make a new fanpost, and let everyone critique your grand plan, because if you don’t have a viable alternative, then complaining about it isn’t going to get you anywhere.
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 6, 2010 12:05 PM EST up reply actions
The year 2064
Because what you’ve been tasked to do is impossible. That’s the point.
Just keep swimin'...
Wasn't
Boise State just recently saying they’d play an away game with anyone who would sack up and invite them? They’re pretty good.
Not for the same cheap price as a FCS team though
Black Shoes. Basic Blues. No Name. All Game.
"Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth."
Yeah Boise costs like 1.5 mil or something
"I'm colonel cool! And I'm the captain on this rocket to the stars!"
Correct
Boise was willing to play an away game for anyone that would sack up and pay them a million dollars.
I’d fight Mike Tyson for a million dollars.
Just keep swimin'...
are you ok with toffee candy?
or Busch Light beer?
How about Dalmatians?
All have as much relevance to who the next PSU QB will be.
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 6, 2010 11:20 AM EST up reply actions
No. No. Yes.
"Have I ever told the story of when I met Miley Cyrus?"
by Jeff Junstrom on Jan 6, 2010 11:54 AM EST up reply actions
there's nothing wrong with it, nor toffee candy, nor dalmations
just wondering if you are ok with them
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 6, 2010 12:19 PM EST up reply actions
though actually I liked
Dalmatians are like the most neurotic dogs I’ve ever met, but they can still be cool ;-)
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 6, 2010 6:43 PM EST up reply actions
Nothing, per se.
BUSCH light beer however…
"Have I ever told the story of when I met Miley Cyrus?"
by Jeff Junstrom on Jan 6, 2010 12:52 PM EST up reply actions
...usually means...
a few quality hours in the WC.
One man doing the work of 100's for the good of 1000's
I'll agree on the 'few hours' part...
but there’s nothing ‘quality’ about that time.
"I thought the kid we were using had the potential to be a good quarterback, and I blew that one." - Joseph V. Paterno
Disagree.
In college, for some reason, our house got free Playboys. Made the WC time a little more quality, even if you were in there on account of Busch Light (or Natty Ice).
"Have I ever told the story of when I met Miley Cyrus?"
by Jeff Junstrom on Jan 6, 2010 1:48 PM EST up reply actions
man, Natty Ice was my first "beer"
and for the longest time I thought I didn’t like beer because it is nasty (still drank it of course). Now it just tastes like water.
By the way, I love my non sequitur question poking fun of getting off on a tangent has resulted in its very own tangent. BSD for the win!
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 6, 2010 6:45 PM EST up reply actions
beast ice was mine
"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week. "
George S Patton
by psu in the w-b on Jan 6, 2010 9:13 PM EST up reply actions
u had the money for the rock? LOL
"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week. "
George S Patton
by psu in the w-b on Jan 7, 2010 7:20 PM EST up reply actions
Luckily for me
Yuengling was my first beer. First weekend of college: Akron game (I think it was Akron anyway), Bob Dylan at BJC, then a keggar with a friend of mine afterwards. Luckily his friend that was hosting the party wasn’t a cheap SOB and got the kegs of Yuengling.
I had friends once from out of town
didn’t know what they were doing. Went to get a keg, knew to get Yuengling. Saw “Premium” and thought it had to be better than regular, right?
Waste of a keg (though I still did my darndest to help finish it off)
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 7, 2010 8:36 PM EST up reply actions
Disagree too
With wireless internet hooked up the house, I can do some true multi-tasking.
For the record, this comment is not being posted under that particular circumstance.
"the secret to loving your job is having a hobby that you really despise"
1AA teams
I’m cool with 1AA teams — I’m more concerned with getting a second decent team on the OOC schedule than worrying about who our patsies are. Play Alabama as well as (say) Rutgers and I wouldn’t care if the other two OOC teams were Coastal Carolina and Indiana State.
The key to the OOC schedule is who the “good” teams are not the “bad” ones.
I just feel like it will be Newsome.
I also feel like we will see a lot more of the M-Rob spread than the DC spread. Less chucking it around and more zone-read, option, running in general.
Black Shoes. Basic Blues. No Name. All Game.
"Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth."
Agreed, especially since there will be more backup options, 3 of whom (PJ, Bolden, Drake) are similar athletes.
Couldn’t afford a DC17 concussion this year, so he couldn’t tuck, run, and drop his shoulder very often.
Bacon is almost as great as being a Penn Stater
Newsome
will get first crack.
McGloin is the new Paul C….will always get mentioned that he is in the running, but will never actually get the chance to start.
Hopefully the QB that wins will be able to throw some passes during week 2 on the road…that will be key.
Big Ten Titles for everyone.
Scranton people in the know (people who know his Dad) say he is not coming back. That was the last rumor I heard. We’ll see
Proud to be a PSU Homer
If he leaves, good luck to him.
From all I have heard he is a very serviceable QB, just not at the major cfb level. If what he really wants is a chance to play, go for it. I personally wouldn’t want to sit for 5 years and rarely sniff the field. Nothing personal to any program, I would just rather play.
Black Shoes. Basic Blues. No Name. All Game.
"Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth."
Wait?
Brett Brackett? Is that a joke? Did I miss something?
Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!
and for the record, I realize he was vaguely referred to in the post.
Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!
How does Brackett
have any votes? How does he have more votes than actual quarterbacks in the poll??? Twice as many as McGloin?!
I voted for Brackett
It worker in ’06 at Oklahoma for Paul Thompson. He was buried on the depth chart at QB, so he moved to WR. Bomar was kicked off the team, and Thompson led them to a BCS berth (and the infamous loss to Boise State).
Also, M Rob. QB to athlete and back again as a senior. We all know how that worked out.
Bracket isn’t as good an athlete, but he has massive size, an arm and should know the offense really well at this point. It’ll probably be Newsome in the end, but Brackett is the dark horse candidate based on class standing and experience.
Brett Brackett
Was actually a pure QB coming out of highschool but was converted to a WR because it was a position lacking depth during his freshman year I believe. His certainly didn’t hurt any as a possession type receiver
by Domin8ing the Big Ten(11) on Jan 6, 2010 9:33 AM EST up reply actions
didn't he only convert to WR
because he was playing Jeff Samartzija in practice to emulate a guy of that height/build, and he just turned out to actually be pretty decent?
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 6, 2010 9:42 AM EST up reply actions
Yes
Bacon is almost as great as being a Penn Stater
During Brackett's recruiting...
I made a comment on PennLive that we should try to turn him into a TE. As far as I know, that’s the closest I’ve ever come to having a hare-brained idea turn out to be totally accurate.
"I thought the kid we were using had the potential to be a good quarterback, and I blew that one." - Joseph V. Paterno
by leeharvey418 on Jan 6, 2010 10:36 AM EST up reply actions
I guess I just can't believe Brackett will get a serious look at this point.
We have 2 highly touted recruits coming in this year, one incumbent backup and a guy that earned a scholarship after walking on…and Brackett is gonna step back into the role and be better than all these guys? I just don’t see it.
Well that will kind of be a gauge
If Brackett is our 1st stringer, we may have very serious problems, or he really is a diamond in the rough at QB, and I’m an idiot.
i would have thought
that if the coaches had seen potential, they would have utilized.
now if you’ll excuse me, i have to go make myself a tin-foil beret.
Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!
Brett Brackett
Has been a college-level QB since his sophomore year of high school. He stood a head taller than everyone else on the field, threw 60 yards with the flick of his wrist, and looked like Usain Bolt as he ran for 60 yard TD after TD. Coming from another LHS graduate and current PSU student, you can trust me when I say Brackett should always have been considered for the starting job at Penn State.
My heart says Paul Jones, but my head says Newsome.
I was so pumped on landing Newsome and thought that we would be set at the QB position for a while. However, once we landed PJ, I almost totally forgot about/over-looked Newsome, which isn’t really fair. Because PJ is such a huge recruit, I feel like the fan base (Penn Live anyway) will be calling for Newsome’s head after his first incomplete pass, which sucks. I say that we see how Newsome performs as a starter for the entire season and then reevaluate him after the bowl game (unless he is just completely pitiful, which I don’t see happening anyway). After all this is supposed to be a "transition year" anyway. Have PJ sit behind Newsome to learn the offense and to develop as a complete college QB and then give him the steering wheel in a year or so. Then again, with PJ as the full time starter down the line, I can see Bolden either switching positions or transferring out (a la Devlin). I would be a bit disappointed if I saw McGloin, Brackett or Drake taking snaps as a full time starter, I just think Joe was giving them their propers. I cannot wait to see PJ sitting in the front seat of the Blue Bus, but I think that option has to wait, for now anyway. I think that having Newsome/Jones/Bolden is a win/win/win situation with my only concern being QB transfers and bitterness amongst the players, and less importantly, the fans.
Why not both?
Use them like we tried to use Mills and MRob, except that hopefully they’ll both he healthy most of the time. Newsome looks to be a fantastic runner who can also deliver the ball downfield. On the few occasions when we lined up DWill behind center and AntKnee was out wide, the defense immediately knew what was coming, but if it was Newsome out wide or next to PJ, there are several options that could develop out of the play.
"I thought the kid we were using had the potential to be a good quarterback, and I blew that one." - Joseph V. Paterno
I agree, but I do not see that happening. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see something similar to what Florida ran with Chris Leak and Jesus a couple of years ago, but if the coaching staff were to run a package like that, then why didn’t they at least try it a couple of times this season? I guess that Newsome’s inexperience probably had something to do with it, but they could have at least tried to have given it a shot once one of the earlier games was already well in hand.
yeah, the only reason we used Mills and MRob at the same time
was that MRob, unfortunately, was our best WR, as well as our backup QB. It was done more out of necessity and to get our best player out on the field than to do trickery with QBs.
We actually have some pretty good WRs now, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a 2 QB package on a couple occasions the next few years.
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 6, 2010 9:22 AM EST up reply actions
Exactly- on a couple of occasions
I’m not talking about having them both on the field for every down, but at least 10 or so plays a game would be enough to get Newsome’s talent out there without devoting all of his practice time to lining up as a receiver. It’s not like we’re facing a shortage of QBs for the next year or two, and I’d rather see people get shuffled around to make the most of the talent that we have than see one or two kids get fed up with riding the pine and transfer.
"I thought the kid we were using had the potential to be a good quarterback, and I blew that one." - Joseph V. Paterno
by leeharvey418 on Jan 6, 2010 10:32 AM EST up reply actions
"It's not like we're facing a shortage of QBs for the next year or two"
man, remember just over a year ago when Devlin transferred? That’s about as quick a restocking as I imagine has ever happened anywhere.
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 6, 2010 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
we also worked a QB system with Casey and Thompson
granted, it was a totally different offense, but there is some history there.
so we're just bringing out 2-3 of the most disappointing seasons in recent Penn State history?
I think you guys have just proved something. Let’s NOT go with the 2 QB system.
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 6, 2010 6:48 PM EST up reply actions
Let’s give Paul Jones the 16 jersey. Then, it could be like Thompson- Casey years all over again. We can feed carries to our huge tailback Dukes and party like 1999. Except all of our stud defensive players just went pro, and maybe we skip out on the whole embarrassing end-of-year collapse thing.
by ChrisHarrell's_stache05 on Jan 6, 2010 11:27 AM EST up reply actions
I think we did try to send KNew out for some meaninful snaps, didn’t we put KNew in against Northwestern or Indiana? He tried a zone read and got trucked by a D-lineman, that’s all I remember.
"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.
Newsome will be the starter
Really is there even a debate on this topic? If you’ve been following PSU football at all the last 40 years you know the QB with more seniority is going to win out. It took an act of God and complete suckitude by Matt Seneca for Zach Mills to become the starter in 2001.
how recently has the most experience QB been a true sophmore
with like 30 snaps in garbage time?
Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!
It is definitely Newsome's job to lose
but I think 2007 supposedly did a lot to show JoePa to give the underclassmen a chance (though I really don’t know why we didn’t use Newsome a bit more this year, if anything to just get him the experience, since he will be the starter next year).
If Jones really shows a clear advantage over Newsome, though I hope they at least give him serious contention, a la the Clark/Devlin battle. Sure, Clark won that battle, perhaps because he was the upperclassman, but he also apparently had some pretty good skills as well, if you hadn’t noticed.
Devlin also looked pretty impressive in the limited playing time he had as well. In fact there were times that Devlin looked better than Clark in the early going last year.
Clark won the job over Devlin because pure and simple he had put in more time at PSU. It may have been the right choice the last two years, but it left us with the big question mark at the position we have next year.
Devlin did look good
and the deciding factor for Clark getting the starting job may have been his class standing, but I guarantee if Clark wasn’t as good as he was, they would have put Devlin in. By all accounts they were dead even (and with the way Clark performed I’d have to believe that), so might as well use class standing as the differentiator. If I was playing NCAA 2009 I probably would have started Devlin, but only because then I’d have a 3 year starter instead of a 2 year starter, but that’s not the “fair” way to do it in real life. Also, if Devlin was the starter, then we probably wouldn’t have landed 3 top 10 QBs over 2 recruiting classes.
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 6, 2010 11:29 AM EST up reply actions
In my opinion
We need a pass-first QB: a guy who can make the reads, deliver the football down field, and force a defense to respect the pass. If things break down or if the situation calls for it, then take off. Clark did that, he did it so well that even when the coaches totally removed his ability to run, we still had our way with most of the teams we faced.
My concern is that we’ll go into next season with Newsome, who will be 70/30 on the run to pass ration (if we’re lucky), and defenses will just stack the box and force us into a typical run for 3 on 1st, run for 1 on 2nd, pass for 5 on 3rd, punt. We just don’t have the offensive line or star-studded backfield to support a QB who can’t throw the football.
I know Newsome will be our QB, but I also hope that Paul Jones comes along quickly. I also hope that Newsome isn’t such a disaster that we’ll be in a position where a change at QB is even on the table — but it’s a real possibility.
I predict following an ugly Alabama game Paul Jones will be to Kevin Newsome what Daryll Clark was to Anthony Morelli in 2007. A guy we all know will be a better QB but that has to wait his turn simply b/c that’s the law of the land.
"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.
Little harsh
We don’t know anything yet. I know what you’re saying, but let’s give the kid a chance before we compare him to A.M. There is honestly no way anyone can make that claim, because before last year we had no idea if Clark had any ability to throw the ball.
true
And to directly compare him to QB14 is unfair. Newsome came to Penn State for an opportunity to play for 3 years, and had he not done that who knows what kind of shape we would be in. We’re lucky to have him on our team.
I’m just soured a little on this idea that a run-first QB is going to work in the B10, because I don’ tthink it will ever be successful. This conference stops the run better then any other, and if you want to compete for the conference title you need to throw the football well.
"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.
Well there you are right
A QB in the Big 10 has to have at minimum medicore passing abilities to be at least respectable because of these defensive lines.
How is that different than QB14?
QB14 came to PSU thinking he too would play for 3 years also taking over for Mills when he graduated after ‘04. It’s the whole reason he didn’t redshirt if I’m not mistaken?
correct on dad being a d-bag
Told the school his son was too good to redshirt and was “better” than Robinson…
Big Ten Titles for everyone.
Maybe he didn't redshirt
because the coaches wanted to move him through the program as fast as possible?
Also possible
He couldn’t read a defense halfway through his college career.
"I'm colonel cool! And I'm the captain on this rocket to the stars!"
The real questions are...
Who is the most ready now and who has most upside at QB.
With Newsome’s build and speed he might be an awesome Hero/LB…but we have a ton of LBs.
PJ and Boldin seem to be pure passers compared to Newsome.
Give em all a shot and its a good problem to have…could be worse
100%
I don’t think any speculation that goes beyond our rooting interest is fair, because we as fans really have no clue about anything about these guys.
I agree
My only fear is a situation where the starter is there because he is older not better (such as the John Sacca over Kerry Collins or Seneca over Mills). I could see that happening in a hypothetical situation where PJ comes in (or Bolden for that matter) and is very good, but Newsome starts over him anyway. However, there is really no point in debating this issue until at least after the Blue White game.
However, there is really no point in debating this issue until at least after the Blue White game.
Joe knows bowl games.
by ReadingRambler on Jan 6, 2010 10:27 AM EST up reply actions
I’ll be honest, aside from the weather and tailgating, I’m not sure what value the game itself has for fans to evaluate the players. McGloin looked great out there last year, and in 2007 Morelli looked like a Heisman candidate.
That being said I’m already counting down to the B&W game.
"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.
best part about B/W
will be getting able to sit in the $1,000/per seat donation section!!!!
STEP program baby!
and the tailgating is fun
Big Ten Titles for everyone.
IF
you “start” 2 QBs, you have NO starting QBs…the rotation thing rarely if ever works.
I have to admit, I'm now squarely in the PJ camp.
At first I was all “Give Newsome a chance” and then I was all “Bolden is supposed to be nasty out of Michigan” and now I’m all “Jones is nasty, just plain filthy on the pitch.” However, I can’t think of a problem I’d less like to have than three really good (by all pre-college accounts) qb’s fighting for the starting job. And a harem of rb’s that, especially if Lattimore comes along, look to be nasty for 3-4 years.
"Have I ever told the story of when I met Miley Cyrus?"
by Jeff Junstrom on Jan 6, 2010 10:25 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Agreed.
Newsome would be fine, but I bet Jones is starting come Big Ten season. I don’t see any way Newsome comes out of the Alabama game without everyone screaming for PJ.
NittanyWhiteOut.com. Arguably the second best Penn State blog I know of.
Only idiots
Would call for the backup QB after a loss on the road to Alabama. That’s not really giving whoever the starter is a fair chance.
by STU Boy on Jan 6, 2010 11:27 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
a thousand times this!
I love how some people are already predicting Newsome’s benching, not because of anything they’ve seen of him, but because no one thinks we have a chance against Alabama, and so people will call for his head.
By the same token we could assume PJ wins the battle in the summer, and so Newsome takes over after the Alabama game, because “I don’t see any way PJ comes out of the Alabama game without everyone screaming for Newsome”
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 6, 2010 11:33 AM EST up reply actions
Seriously
the only way Kevin Newsome is not the starting QB this year at Penn State is if he transfers or gets hurt (i hope neither happens).
Jones will not start. He’ll get some time during the Youngstown State game…but you konw that he will not start.
Clark/Devlin was an open battle for the job….this Newsome/Jones/Bolden/Drake/Brackett/McGloin/Kelly battle is not…It’s Kevin Newsome’s gig.
Newsome may not be able to wing it around the field like Clark (YET), but you have to give him a chance. The run first style worked for MikeRob and we have plenty of “depth” behind Newsome if he were to get dinged up. None of these QBs really have much experience in college, so it is really anyone’s guess who is the best for the job.
Big Ten Titles for everyone.
Alabama.
He may start the season, but a game like that really has to be a big test for if he will keep the job. I’m not saying he needs a win, but 3 lost fumbles and only a handful of passes that were actually on target could cost him the starting job.
I believe we could see someone like PJ before the OOC stuff is over with.
Computers rank me number 1, blame the BCS...it's their fault.-Joe Budden
well if the poll shows us anything
It’s that AT LEAST 49% of fans will be unhappy with the qb selection if Newsome is selected starter. And that’s only if Newsome is starter. If Brackett or Drake get the nod, then upwards of 98% of fans will be unhappy.
And yes I’m dealing in absolutes (i.e. not allowing for fans who are just making a choice but could be happy with a different player) here but it just shows that no matter who gets the nod, there will be people calling for the backup from Day 1 before the first play is ran.
"I'm driven by greatness" - Derrick Williams
Okay then,
Let’s do another poll to ask if there’s anyone with whom we wouldn’t be happy as QB next year.
"I thought the kid we were using had the potential to be a good quarterback, and I blew that one." - Joseph V. Paterno
I like to call those people "idiots"
People who think they know any better than the coaching staff regarding who should be getting playing time are stupid. You saw a glowing highlight film of some guy on rivals.com? Fantastic. Take what the coaches decide and be happy with it, that’s what I say. Rare exceptions for situations like 2007Morelli, etc. No one is capable of knowing who our best QB is before the conference schedule next year.
I don't remember specifically, but I guarantee there was a post before 2008
along the same lines of Clark/Devlin. Same sort of 50/50 rift in the fan base. Start of the season 50% were pissed off Devlin got shafted. Then after a few months, those people swallowed their original displeasure and were happy with the coaches decision.
I think the moral of this story is: trust the coaches to pick the best possible player for the starting job, and don’t cry too loudly when your favorite gets the 2nd string spot, because the 1st team guy probably earned it (excluding Morelli, but Joe has admitted he made a mistake)
you must not have been paying attention very well
as there is still a large Devlin contingent out there.
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 7, 2010 8:38 PM EST up reply actions
Well those idiots can suck it
I’d go find the dog, but I’m too lazy, and don’t feel the need to waste my time with that level of douchebaggery.
+1 for "harem of rb's"
"Every player we have, someone-maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone-poured their soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it's our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world."
-J.V.Pa.
Fun fact:
The Drake has more touchdown passes this year than Newsome, Bolden, or Jones.
Joe knows bowl games.
by ReadingRambler on Jan 6, 2010 10:37 AM EST up reply actions
Take it easy, Francis.
"I thought the kid we were using had the potential to be a good quarterback, and I blew that one." - Joseph V. Paterno
by leeharvey418 on Jan 6, 2010 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
Jerry: You don’t like the Drake?
George: Hate the Drake.
Elaine: I love the Drake.
Jerry: How could you not like the Drake?
George: Who’s the Drake?
Elaine: “Who’s the Drake”?
Jerry: The Drake is good!
/but seriously, I do not really want him starting over Newsome or PJ
by Bob Sacamano on Jan 6, 2010 11:03 AM EST up reply actions
The Drake has more experience than any other candidate.
Joe knows bowl games.
by ReadingRambler on Jan 6, 2010 11:33 AM EST up reply actions
ha
I voted him, too. He’s a playmaker and I think Joe goes with the ‘we need to win games’ motif this year. Means transfers, to be sure.
"We just forgot our pants. Nothing against the team or anything like that." -- take a guess
The Wild Drake
We should coin a name for it, b/c I hope there’s a package where he’s allowed to run some of those sets that DWill ran.
"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.
Millzners fix your Gerg pic! Now a red x! We can't lose it!
Joe knows bowl games.
by ReadingRambler on Jan 6, 2010 2:42 PM EST up reply actions
eh?
looks good from over here. that’s an SBNation thing, they make you upload it other wise it would have animated gerg
"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.
He's pointing to it.
"I thought the kid we were using had the potential to be a good quarterback, and I blew that one." - Joseph V. Paterno
by leeharvey418 on Jan 6, 2010 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Newsome...
I will be shocked if he isn’t the starter next year. Who knows, maybe he is a stud from day 1 and we shock ‘Bama next year. I’m more worried about the losses on D than the offense.
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Jan 6, 2010 10:36 AM EST reply actions
disagree
D is never a problem, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we have at least one legitimate AA candidate at LB by week 6.
"Every player we have, someone-maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone-poured their soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it's our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world."
-J.V.Pa.
I disagree with your...
diagreement. 3 new starting linebackers, new players on the line. I’m not saying the D won’t be good. It probably will, but I don’t think they will be at level we are used too. I do think the D will be lights out in 2011 though.
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Jan 6, 2010 12:59 PM EST up reply actions
All signs are pointing to yes in 2011. That ish is gonna be exciting.
"Have I ever told the story of when I met Miley Cyrus?"
by Jeff Junstrom on Jan 6, 2010 1:50 PM EST up reply actions
The D is going to be shaky and here's why
3 new LBs, 1 coming off a serious knee injury coupled with the loss of Odrick, who repeatedly ate up double teams and kept O linemen from getting to the second level of the D.
The system Bradley plays (BBDS) relies heavily on the D line getting to the QB before he has a time to make the reads and the throw. Without that pressure, BBDS gets ugly in a hurry.
We have this same fear and argument every single year
We lose starters and everyone is OMG SKY IS FALLING D-LINE/LBs ARE GOING TO BE TEH SUCK, and then we all calm down when we realize we have some of the best if not THE best defensive coaches in the nation, who know exactly how best to coach and develop their players. If you want examples see: Project Mayhem (after an Evans/Koroma suspension), Lavarro (after Sean Lee tore his ACL), and Josh Hull (when both Lee and Navorro were hampered with injuries this year).
The defense should never be a huge cause for concern to a PSU fan, yet it inevitably is every year. We know what we’re doing. We were a top ten defense this year (and that was with the injuries to our two star LBs, and a brand new 2ndary), and sure, we may not be as dominant next season, but not enough to get run over. If there’s one piece of evidence I could offer you as a sign of comfort, it’s the D-line. This year, we had a relatively young D-line, with the only significant loss of Odrick, and to a lesser extent Hayes, who didn’t have the season we all wanted him to after the past few. We had a freshman see time on the line this year (Hill), and he looked great. WIth Ogbu anchoring and leading the line, I think our D-line has the potential to be downright nasty this season.
My vote goes to
whoever can move the offense, not turn the ball over, and can put up points. I don’t care who it is as long as they can do that!
Ding ding ding! Winner!
"I thought the kid we were using had the potential to be a good quarterback, and I blew that one." - Joseph V. Paterno
by leeharvey418 on Jan 6, 2010 10:39 AM EST up reply actions
People are quick to discount KN
But the most development of a QB comes between their first and second year. While Newsome’s mechanics aren’t great I think him getting more first team reps and focus will help to bring him along. The bowl practices were probably very beneficial for him too. IMO The Drake and Brackett references are just classic Paterno motivation techniques. He’s just trying to light a fire under Newsome.
It will be interesting to see how PJ progresses considering he is more of a DC type QB. Apparently he’s tearing it up at the AA practices.
"I'm colonel cool! And I'm the captain on this rocket to the stars!"
I became a cynic about Newsome
When he was given some snaps against Syracuse and fumbled the ball thus killing the shutout. I sat there through that craphole of a game to watch a shutout, and I got one until KNew went in and gacked it up on our own 10…
It may not have even been his fault, but ever since I was skeptical.
"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.
Well perhaps..
we should just recruit superman for quarter back?
Seriously, the kid was like 18, playing some of his first meaningful snaps. Hopefully he’ll settle down.
by Artiefufkin10 on Jan 6, 2010 11:36 AM EST up reply actions
What a jerk
making a mistake as a freshman, hes done here at PSU.
Me I have a little more faith in the kid. Another year will work wonders for him.
"I'm colonel cool! And I'm the captain on this rocket to the stars!"
It wasn't the fumble that was bad
It was the complete inability to read the blitz that was scary.
But you do make a good point about being a freshmen — and perhaps his 2nd string receivers and RB were complicit on that play.
Yeah I don't remember the exact details
But I just refuse to lambaste the kid for this year.
"I'm colonel cool! And I'm the captain on this rocket to the stars!"
A lot of that was his running mechanics (holding it high and loose) that led to that fumble
All things that will most definitely be worked on and corrected with another year of practice on his belt.
It should also be noted that I believe he was playing with the second string O-line as well, which given the 1st strings difficulties, probably gave Newsome zero time to work with.
Don't rule out Brackett
Joe likes maturity and Brackett is a 5th year senior. If he has any semblance of a QB left in him he could be the guy. This would give Jones and Bolden as the recruiting services predicted a year ago.
If Newsome is the starting QB in 2010 then it will be his for the next 3 years. I don’t see Jones or Bolden overtaking him as he would always have a leg up with experience.
Sorry for the above screw up - What you see is not what I typed.
Joe likes maturity and Brackett is a 5th year senior. If he has any semblance of a QB left in him he could be the guy. This would give Jones and Bolden a year to mature and compete. Newome would be converted to another position (tight end?) as the recruiting services predicted a year ago.
If Newsome is the starting QB in 2010 then it will be his for the next 3 years. I don’t see Jones or Bolden overtaking him as he would always have a leg up with experience.
the only problem I have with this theory...
is that such a move should have been made for the 2009 season if they seriously think that Brackett can still do it at QB. The QB cupboard was thin then too…so switching Brackett to QB for this season would have made more sense since we have plenty of WRs and he could have taken second or third string snaps during practice and garbage time.
Now you’re talking about putting a guy in who hasn’t had meaningful snaps at QB since high school for just a year. I think it makes more sense to cultivate the incoming talent since they are going to be around longer.
by Artiefufkin10 on Jan 6, 2010 12:06 PM EST up reply actions
You make a good point about 2009
I ‘m looking for a scenario where Jone and Bolden to get a fair shot at QB. Neither one will start as true freshmen. It it’s Newsome next season then it will be very difficult to overtake him in subsequent years. His experience will always give him the edge.
thats sort of the crux of the PSU/Paterno system...
he’ll give him every opportunity (and maybe too many) to prove himself, so a bad year in 2010 could be forgiven for 2011….unless hes absolutely horrendous.
However, I’d like to think that the staff plans on using highly ranked QBs in one way or another.
by Artiefufkin10 on Jan 6, 2010 12:52 PM EST up reply actions
Newsome will start.
The real question in all of this is which one of the incoming freshman QB’s will redshirt. (Although that answer will be “neither” if McGloin indeed transfers.)
Twitter: @scrappled
"When it’s third-and-10, you can take the milk drinkers and I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time" - Max McGee
by Run Up The Score on Jan 6, 2010 12:14 PM EST reply actions
PJ in this semester,
Bolden coming in the summer. I have to think that’s too much time to make up. Unless he’s blowing PJ out of the water.
Computers rank me number 1, blame the BCS...it's their fault.-Joe Budden
Also
I’d expect 1 of the 3 to transfer/change positions by year-end, particularly if Newsome looks locked in as a 3 year starter.
ZING
(or is it…since this specific type of transfer he’s talking about are the kind that happen at the premier schools)
Doesn’t matter, I still like any burn on Michigan!
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 7, 2010 8:41 PM EST up reply actions
The problem with the redshirt
Is that it still only creates one year of separation, so you’d then have Newsome a year ahead of PJ a year ahead of Bolden. That gives the two prize recruits one year as starter if KNew starts for three years. The ideal sitch would be a redshirt, but the middle guy transferring/chaning positions. I’d hate to see this opportunity blown, but again I’m happy to deal with this. So this is what if feels like to be a USC running back…
"Have I ever told the story of when I met Miley Cyrus?"
by Jeff Junstrom on Jan 6, 2010 12:55 PM EST up reply actions
Except you can split carries with RB, no one wants to see a two QB rotation like MSU had — it just never works.
"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.
Really?
Didn’t work for Florida when they won the MNC? Or LSU, the very next year?
NittanyWhiteOut.com. Arguably the second best Penn State blog I know of.
or OSU,
in the Fiesta Bowl last year?
NittanyWhiteOut.com. Arguably the second best Penn State blog I know of.
OSU in the Fiesta Bowl wasn't really using a 2 QB system
they just realized their best shot at winning was moving Pryor to WR and letting Boeckman play QB.
As for Florida in 2006, Tebow was basically a FB getting a direct snap, as RR says, way different than what MSU was doing, which was just substituting 2 QBs because Dantonio couldn’t make up his mind on who he wanted to be a starter.
In a situation where you have 2 guys that are for all intents and purposes equal, find something to use to pick a starter. Flip a coin if you have to. It will work better than having the OL and WRS constantly needing to readjust to a different QB under center.
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 6, 2010 6:57 PM EST up reply actions
Um, no Devon.
Bringing in Tim Tebow for run plays is not close to the stupidness MSU was running this year.
Joe knows bowl games.
by ReadingRambler on Jan 6, 2010 3:23 PM EST up reply actions
For Linebacker U, we're loaded at QB
I say we start all six. I call it the Mega Wildcat. Or maybe Thundercat Offense. Maybe Voltron.
Who’s taking the snap? Who’s throwing? Maybe they’re running? But who’s running?
Massive confusing for the opponents ensues. Then comedy as we run all over them.
"dok, dok, dok, dok, dok, dok, dok, dok, dok, dok" - bored Boise State Cowbell Girl (who's apparently blind)
by Mr. Rosewater on Jan 6, 2010 3:01 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
hahaha, this idea amuses me, I like it
The Voltron HD offense and the Thundercat Wildlion formations. How could we lose?
Well
People do not seem to be confident that Newsome can make enough progress in his mechanics and passing ability.
MRob was dreadful behind center before 05 and lacked many people’s support until somewhere around 4th and 15 out in Chicago.
I’m not saying Newsome = MRob. However, they both are/were great athletes who happened to be able to pass. I think there is no way anyone on this board can say one way or another what QB Newsome will end up being. Signs don’t point to him being the second coming of Joe Montana, but with this time to develop(which will likely stretch into the season some) he could become very good.
Black Shoes. Basic Blues. No Name. All Game.
"Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth."
Also Clark pre 2008
my memories of him: concussion against Michigan, and running all over Texas A&M. Didn’t really turn out how I expected.
Newsome had a few months to get ready for the season. It isn’t like he was even a RS freshman. Cut the guy some slack, and let’s see how he does with the first team.
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 6, 2010 7:00 PM EST up reply actions
Exactly.
I hate how people refuse to give anyone a chance unless they are OMG 5* SURE THING WOOT.
If I recall correctly, in recent memory, our 2 highest rated QBs sucked or transferred and our 2 best were not really considered much before given the opportunity to start. Obviously the coaches think he has a chance of becoming a good QB, or else they would have went after someone else. They kind of put a lot of the eggs in the Kevin Newsome Basket, and I don’t think they would have done that if there is no way he can develop.
Black Shoes. Basic Blues. No Name. All Game.
"Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth."
On the other side of that coin
They had to place a lot of eggs in the Newsome basket…this year. There was literally no one else. I guess they could’ve put Brackett back to QB but Brackett as a #2 QB this year wouldn’t have been smart IMO. Now that we have some options back there it’s not necessarily Newsome’s job next year, though it’s probably his to lose right now.
True
They did kind of have to go all out for Newsome, I guess I was just trying to say if he was really that bad at throwing the ball, they just as well could have gone after someone else who they liked better.
Black Shoes. Basic Blues. No Name. All Game.
"Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth."
Aren't we bringing in two more Quarterbacks this year?
Newsome didn’t do himself any favors on the field this year. He has a long way to go. But at least he’ll have a line, some recievers and Royster to help him out. Assuming he gets the gig. Which I assume he will.
Just keep swimin'...
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