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Sorry for the delay, but work interferes. Time to get to the heart of the matter and discuss our QBs. Unfortunately for the team, but fortunately to save time, this discussion is easier than it looked like it would be a month ago.
QB play has held this program back from the moment Dan Orlovsky graduated. We had competent, in the range of conference average, QB play in '07 under Tyler and '09 behind Endres and Frazer. But that's been it. We've been at or very close to the bottom of the league in QB play in '05, '06, '08, '10 and '11. Frankly, it is remarkable that we have had the success we've had with the QB play we've had. Will it get better this year? Well, if it does it will be because of the group below.
The job belongs to Cody Whitmer, the RS Soph Juco transfer. Originally recruited by Illinois, lost the job to a good QB, had a good year, but with too many picks, in JUCO and is now here. Had a very good spring game but for (here it is again ) interceptions. Hopes are high. We'll have to see.
Johnny McEntee, now a RS Sr. walk-on from CA, is now the back up. We've covered last year extensively, and there is no need to beat the young man up again. I still think he throws it well enough to be a productive QB, but whether the footwork, decision making and other tools improved -- who knows. Assuming that he learned from last year, he should be a competent backup if needed. But if we need him too much ....
Scott McCummings, now a RS Soph, is back. It is not clear to anyone if McCummings is, or ever will be, ready to be an every down QB -- he missed badly some stunningly easy, open throws last year -- but there is no question that he was a terrific weapon in a wildcat offense last year and played a significant role in us getting to 3-4 in conference after the horrid OOC start. The Syracuse game, he was simply unstoppable. There is no reason to think he can't be improved this year, with everyone being more familiar with the offense, but what we don't know is whether we'll use the wildcat more or less. Presumably, if Whitmer is effective, it will be less. Note that there have also been reports that Michael Smith and Kamal Abrams, who was a high school QB, got snaps as the wildcat QB while McCummings was out of camp.
Casey Cochrane's injury makes it highly unlikely that he will take the redshirt off this year, so we can save a longer discussion about him for another time. Additional depth is provided by walk-ons Driscoll, who has at least had time to learn about our system, and the newcomer Leu.
The play of Cody Whitmer, and the ability to get something out of McCummings and the wildcat if we finally have a QB we can count on, will, obviously, play a large role in how well we do this year. I'll say it again as we get to the start of the season, but I still believe that if we get Big East average QB play we can content for the conference title and the Sugar Bowl bid.
QB play has held this program back from the moment Dan Orlovsky graduated. We had competent, in the range of conference average, QB play in '07 under Tyler and '09 behind Endres and Frazer. But that's been it. We've been at or very close to the bottom of the league in QB play in '05, '06, '08, '10 and '11. Frankly, it is remarkable that we have had the success we've had with the QB play we've had. Will it get better this year? Well, if it does it will be because of the group below.
The job belongs to Cody Whitmer, the RS Soph Juco transfer. Originally recruited by Illinois, lost the job to a good QB, had a good year, but with too many picks, in JUCO and is now here. Had a very good spring game but for (here it is again ) interceptions. Hopes are high. We'll have to see.
Johnny McEntee, now a RS Sr. walk-on from CA, is now the back up. We've covered last year extensively, and there is no need to beat the young man up again. I still think he throws it well enough to be a productive QB, but whether the footwork, decision making and other tools improved -- who knows. Assuming that he learned from last year, he should be a competent backup if needed. But if we need him too much ....
Scott McCummings, now a RS Soph, is back. It is not clear to anyone if McCummings is, or ever will be, ready to be an every down QB -- he missed badly some stunningly easy, open throws last year -- but there is no question that he was a terrific weapon in a wildcat offense last year and played a significant role in us getting to 3-4 in conference after the horrid OOC start. The Syracuse game, he was simply unstoppable. There is no reason to think he can't be improved this year, with everyone being more familiar with the offense, but what we don't know is whether we'll use the wildcat more or less. Presumably, if Whitmer is effective, it will be less. Note that there have also been reports that Michael Smith and Kamal Abrams, who was a high school QB, got snaps as the wildcat QB while McCummings was out of camp.
Casey Cochrane's injury makes it highly unlikely that he will take the redshirt off this year, so we can save a longer discussion about him for another time. Additional depth is provided by walk-ons Driscoll, who has at least had time to learn about our system, and the newcomer Leu.
The play of Cody Whitmer, and the ability to get something out of McCummings and the wildcat if we finally have a QB we can count on, will, obviously, play a large role in how well we do this year. I'll say it again as we get to the start of the season, but I still believe that if we get Big East average QB play we can content for the conference title and the Sugar Bowl bid.
) . I'm excited about the prospect of an pro offense. It is more fun, especially for the casual fan, to watch. Still, the New Englander in me is hesitant to start naming bowl locations just yet. Might want to wait until a snap or two before we start that.
