Post Blue White Game Reaction

Paul Jones threw three incomplete passes — one was dropped and another would have been ruled complete with instant replay. Jones was able to move the offense down the field. The other two looked two fraternity brothers who got their big chance to move from the intermural league to major college football, not unlike the 1993 Disney film, “Rookie of the Year.”

Does Jones have a chance to start against Youngstown State? Maybe not. But lets not forget that Michigan won the Big Ten in 2004 with a freshman quarterback, Chad Henne. After we get smacked by Alabama, I think we’ll have new perspective on starting Jones.

However, Jones is clearly the best pure passer of the group; whether that means he can master enough of the playbook to make a legitimate push this year is another thing, but he WILL be our qb within 2 years (barring miraculous growth from the other two).

That said, I think the balance of their strengths and weaknesses weighs in favor of Newsome. He ran with the ball tucked (a major issue from last year), and he was LIGHTYEARS faster than McGloin. Newsome was really only inaccurate on his deep balls, but his inaccuracy is preferable to the kind McGloin was displaying: Newsome was WAY long; Little Red was inches from another pick 2-3 times. The times Newsome displayed accuracy, his long balls were better than McGloin’s. Note that I use inaccuracy here in light of DC’s passing: never exactly on target, usually a little high, but generally catchable.

Lastly, Newsome forced fewer passes (I can only think of one – where he evaded the rush, juked Latham, and pegged a LB in the chest) while McGloin tried to force 3-4 (one of which was completed to Moye in fantasmagoric manner).

In sum, Jones will be the man. Newsome is presently the man. The flaws we’ve heard about are not as bad as McGloins (at least on that day) and his strengths were equal/better than McGloins.

On a related note, I’d like to remind everyone that we had this anxiety two years ago. We even had similar competitors: an athletic black dude who had strange mechanics and a slow white guy who threw better. Neither had played much, but the former had proven that he could run. Things turned out pretty well. Don’t worry, we’ll get Newsome out there, and if the OL gets a little better on the run for next year, we’ll be fine. At least this time around, we have the option at our disposal since Joe won’t be worried about losing one qb.

Dont we say that every year

First, watching the game with fellow Penn Staters and having the chance to see each of the QBs, I broke down the differences this way:

Each of the three names worth mentioning have a major wart to work on. However, those warts have varying impact on both wins this year and potential over the long term.

1 – Newsome’s major issue is mechanics. He gets us the most wins THIS year. He wasn’t used in the zone-read MRob offense in order to work on his flaws, which looked a lot like T Pryor in the drop back game. He had a great strike to Kersey that shows a flicker of hope. If we run the zone-read, run the ball 50 times a game and throw 15 this year, we can grind out 8 or 9 wins this season. Over the long-term, does Newsome progress far enough to take us much better than 10 or 11 wins over his career?

2 – Jones’ major issues would all have enormous implications on this season. But his issues of confidence, experience, and comfort are the easiest to cure of the three QB’s warts. The game showed him at his best and worst. He made some awful plays early, particularly under pressure, but as he got comfortable we started to see his natural ability. Forget the fades to Kersey. He made the two best throws of the day, both deep outs to JB (one was dropped for a TD). He represents the only QB (currently on the roster) that can stretch a defense, forcing it to defend the entire field (beyond just simple go routes).

If he were to start this year, we may only win 5 or 6 games. HOWEVER, does he need that experience to achieve his full potential? Or can he get to that potential in spot duty and on the practice field? I don’t care if it was against 3rd teamers. I saw big time ability in his flashes. PJ can lead us to 12 or 13 wins in 2012 or 2013. Just to have three relatively competent QBs available (and to stagger PJ and Bolden), I’m not sure he redshirts.

3 – McGloin. He really struggled today. Stat-wise and physically. I was hoping that he could at least show some ability to lead the team, but I didn’t see it. Even his good throws seemed difficult.

No information – Bolden. He’s going to be the big mystery, but also coming in so far behind the other three that a redshirt is virtually assured. From tape, he has the best mechanics of the four but least experience by miles and miles.

If I’m ranking them short term/long term it is as follows:

SHORT TERM (this season):
1. Newsome – if for no other reason, pass protection mandates this
2. McGloin (barely ahead of Jones and could quite conceivably be past come September)
3. Jones – will have the fastest learning curve with the highest ceiling

LONG TERM:
1. Jones
2. Newsome
3. McGloin

I know Joe hates the rotation, but come 2011 we might want to think about running a dual-offense given that our playbook accommodates (for lack of a better term) the “morelli-package” for Jones and the “Robinson-package” for Newsome. Gameplan based on the opponent and “hot hand” use each appropriately.
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Other players that jumped off the film at me:

Justin Brown. He may already be our best receiver and by the time he leaves, he could be the highest drafted since Bryant Johnson.

Eric Latimore. Wreaked havoc all day. Worried that we didn’t see more out of Crawford. Both had a tendency to disappear last year. We need pressure out of those two.

Brandon Moseby Felder. Didn’t do a whole lot, but looked very comfortable, fluid, and natural out there. Subtle but pleasant surprise but needs another year or two to add mass.

Stupar. Was worried he might be hitting his ceiling last year, but perhaps his struggles last year were a result of the lingering injuries he dealt with. Was also worried about putting some good weight on him. He appears to have addressed both well, and will be a starter for us this year.

Silas. Just as I imagined from seeing his HS film. Real Deal.

Hodges. Occasionally lost or took false steps, but he had some collisions with Dukes. Only guy that sent Dukes backwards all day.

Gary Gilliam. Big boy. Looks like he could still add 15 pounds comfortably and still move well. World’s of potential there.

I hate to be the one that says this, as I’m usually the first one calling for the back-up QB and screaming to fire Fredo from the rooftops. However, remember this was a glorified practice.

Coming out of this I would hope the most we can take from this is Newsome and Jones are your #1 and #2 respectively. McGloin bless his heart just seemed to be pressing way too much in that game and made a lot of “he whom should not be named” mistakes.

Hopefully Joe doesn’t put a lot of stock in those handful of snaps that Newsome took last year. This is not a Senior vs a Sophomore match-up. These are two young student athletes and it would be best to have a fair quarterback tryout.

I know Joe hates freshman , and the Irish