Fall Camp - The QB Battle

[KembaKek]

Geez, did Fall practice start or something? Suddenly an awful lot of noise and tea leaf reading going on.

It is mildly amusing to hear so much fanboy adulation of the new staff and now so much impassioned opinion on who should be QB1. Somehow I think the coaches will figure it out. Whoever it is will have to be a dual threat QB with the ability to sling the ball accurately all over the field while on the run. Because the OL is a couple of years away from being effective. So if we are not questioning the competence of Charlton and Mora (and we are not) then whoever they settle on should be fine with us.

I don't see why the OL can't be effective now. This is the portal era, we built an OL over the offseason.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

Puma brought hope to the fans when he was playing. I will leave it up to Mora. but it would be awesome if Puma is our starting QB. Puma simply made good things happen while he was on the field.

The bigger concern should be the OL. Is our recently constructive OL off portal good enough for the season? Do we have depth? The quality of the QL will go a long way on the quality of the QB play.

 

[SubbaBub]

This is a high wire act for Mora. Thankfully, Randy isn't making this call. Zero chance he'd make the right pick. My main concern is that practice is practice, until we seen this live against real D1 opponents, it's all guesswork. Fingers crossed but it's another year of the worst offense in the country not having a clear #1 which means we are rolling the dice for another year. If it's not TP, then I will feel a little better if another guy beats him fair and square. I think TP is a player, better than anyone we've had in a while just on his short run as the starter.

 

[UCFBfan]

I like this. Sounds to me like Zion is realistic about wanting to win a starting gig but also realizing it's year one at the college level and he's got a lot to learn still. With the portal, I always worry about highly rated recruits and if they don't get PT that they think they want.

Mora has a good one here and I know he saw him as a "not this year probably" kid.

 

[Slick]

This is a high wire act for Mora. Thankfully, Randy isn't making this call. Zero chance he'd make the right pick. My main concern is that practice is practice, until we seen this live against real D1 opponents, it's all guesswork. Fingers crossed but it's another year of the worst offense in the country not having a clear #1 which means we are rolling the dice for another year. If it's not Tyler Phommachanh, then I will feel a little better if another guy beats him fair and square. I think Tyler Phommachanh is a player, better than anyone we've had in a while just on his short run as the starter.

I think there is a huge difference this year. Mora has several players who he feels can preform. It also looks like we have a much stronger offensive line which is huge.

 

[Nostical]

While Mora gets all the media attention and the QB questions—and provides the media with coach speak, Charlton is teaching and evaluating how each QB is handling the intricacies of his system—and delivering the ball most effectively. Mora has final say, but the starter will be whoever Charlton confidently confirms is “the guy” he wants to run his offense.

 

[Palatine]

While Mora gets all the media attention and the QB questions—and provides the media with coach speak, Charlton is teaching and evaluating how each QB is handling the intricacies of his system—and delivering the ball most effectively. Mora has final say, but the starter will be whoever Charlton confidently confirms is “the guy” he wants to run his offense.

That's probably right.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

While Mora gets all the media attention and the QB questions—and provides the media with coach speak, Charlton is teaching and evaluating how each QB is handling the intricacies of his system—and delivering the ball most effectively. Mora has final say, but the starter will be whoever Charlton confidently confirms is “the guy” he wants to run his offense.

I agree... Mora will trust Charlton to run the show.

I am actually excited to see a Charlton offense. He receives a lot of praise for his knowledge and schemes. It will be interesting to see how fast he can get this team on the same page to execute his offense.

 

[businesslawyer]

I don't see why the OL can't be effective now. This is the portal era, we built an OL over the offseason.

We brought one OL in who has been a starter. And that one was a starter in the Ivy League.

I’m not knocking any of the newcomers, but with the exception of some LBs I think it’s nothing more than hopeful thinking to act like we know they are going to make us much better. Look — Mora’s a pro and if he wanted them I want them. But we’re just going to have to wait to see if and how much they make us better. Because optimistic words don’t make us better at all.

 

[Chin Diesel]

While Mora gets all the media attention and the QB questions—and provides the media with coach speak, Charlton is teaching and evaluating how each QB is handling the intricacies of his system—and delivering the ball most effectively. Mora has final say, but the starter will be whoever Charlton confidently confirms is “the guy” he wants to run his offense.

I agree... Mora will trust Charlton to run the show.

I am actually excited to see a Charlton offense. He receives a lot of praise for his knowledge and schemes. It will be interesting to see how fast he can get this team on the same page to execute his offense.

Mora can trust Charlton and hopefully he does but ultimately Mora has to make the call. His call may very well be agreeing with Charlton but no way does Mora defer his choice to a different choice by Charlton.

 

[Bongo Fury]

Mora can trust Charlton and hopefully he does but ultimately Mora has to make the call. His call may very well be agreeing with Charlton but no way does Mora defer his choice to a different choice by Charlton.

Mora doesn’t seem like a micro manager like RE. He seems more like a delegator with the amount of staff hired. But if things aren’t going well, who knows.

 

[ZooCougar]

We brought one OL in who has been a starter. And that one was a starter in the Ivy League.

I’m not knocking any of the newcomers, but with the exception of some LBs I think it’s nothing more than hopeful thinking to act like we know they are going to make us much better. Look — Mora’s a pro and if he wanted them I want them. But we’re just going to have to wait to see if and how much they make us better. Because optimistic words don’t make us better at all.

All they have to do is be better than last season’s crew.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Mora doesn’t seem like a micro manager like RE. He seems more like a delegator with the amount of staff hired. But if things aren’t going well, who knows.

A HC can dole out a lot. Deferring to an OC over QB is a big step. If an HC isn't sold on his OC's QB decision there will be doubt on everything else. HC and OC have to be 100% aligned on QB and I'd there is any doubt HC has to have the hammer for that decision.

 

[RSTuthill]

I like this. Sounds to me like Zion is realistic about wanting to win a starting gig but also realizing it's year one at the college level and he's got a lot to learn still. With the portal, I always worry about highly rated recruits and if they don't get PT that they think they want.

Mora has a good one here and I know he saw him as a "not this year probably" kid.

There are worse things than having to redshirt the first year. A matter of being careful what one wishes for. The first year behind a new OL? Likely to be a bit chaotic, perhaps not great for developing a QB. He will get his chances.

 

[ZooCougar]

The best QB, the QB that can give us the best chances should start.

If you’re considering keeping the best player on the bench to redshirt in the age of NIL and the transfer portal then you are coaching in the wrong decade.

 

[gopher2]

My guess is TR starts and is given to at least mid-season to show he should continue to start. Some of the others may get snaps during the first half of the season after games have been decided or if TR is just completely ineffective in any given game. Looking forward to the season and to the QB discussions on the BY, which will run hot and lively I'm sure!

 

[ktuck911]

The reality is he's going to be a player for us. Whether he wins the QB battle or not, he's going to play because he's a player. He has that extra gear and quick step.

He's not a guy that's going to win you 8 games because he doesn't have the arm strength. But he could be the starter on a .500 squad.

I really hope he does end up winning us 8 games...Rooting hard fir it to happen.

 

[CL82]

That would be wonderful if it happens. The likelihood of that, however, is far from a done deal at this point in time.

You are not wrong here, but I’m hopeful we make a quantum leap. Having competence in the OL is where the offense begins. So, yeah, it is not likely to be a finished product and day one, but I fully expect to see improvement. Substantial improvement.

 

[CL82]

I’m not knocking any of the newcomers, but with the exception of some LBs I think it’s nothing more than hopeful thinking to act like we know they are going to make us much better.

 

[businesslawyer]

What he went through in that movie is nothing compared to what UConn football fans have been put through for the past dozen years.

 

[RSTuthill]

Mora can trust Charlton and hopefully he does but ultimately Mora has to make the call. His call may very well be agreeing with Charlton but no way does Mora defer his choice to a different choice by Charlton.

Not sure. I suspect it is Charlton's call. You don't hire an OC and then tell him he can't make fundamental calls like that. THAT would be micro-managing. Help with the OC's job comes only when the O has proved itself to be dysfunctional and the OC seems to be out of ideas or has no plan. Although the current plan of battle may not survive the first contact in Utah, UConn is a long long way from micro-managing the OC.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Not sure. I suspect it is Charlton's call. You don't hire an OC and then tell him he can't make fundamental calls like that. THAT would be micro-managing. Help with the OC's job comes only when the O has proved itself to be dysfunctional and the OC seems to be out of ideas or has no plan. Although the current plan of battle may not survive the first contact in Utah, UConn is a long long way from micro-managing the OC.

It seems like we are dancing around the same idea.

My point was an HC isn't going to risk his job by going with a QB he doesn't think should have the job. It's more hypothetical or a way I would do business as an HC than it is referencing Mora's and Charlton's relationship. At the end of the day though, all personnel decisions are ultimately the HC's and if a coordinator doesn't like it, they can always step away. And that's not different than any other work relationship between subordinates and supervisors.

 

[pepband99]

You guys are horribly overthinking this...

One must also keep in mind that it would be "weird" if the former interim HC, and current DC (and friend)'s judgement was publicly ripped.
This is 100% charlton's call.

 

[ZooCougar]

Why is Mora taking so long to make a decision. Gosh.

 

[Chin Diesel]

You guys are horribly overthinking this...

One must also keep in mind that it would be "weird" if the former interim HC, and current DC (and friend)'s judgement was publicly ripped.
This is 100% charlton's call.

I don't think any decision made by Charlton or Mora with this year's squad positively or negatively reflects on decisions made by Spanos with last year's squad.

I mean the Mora/Charlton combo already evaluated Krawjeski and said thanks but no thanks. Is that supposed to reflect poorly on Spanos playing SK last year?

 

[pepband99]

I don't think any decision made by Charlton or Mora with this year's squad positively or negatively reflects on decisions made by Spanos with last year's squad.

I mean the Mora/Charlton combo already evaluated Krawjeski and said thanks but no thanks. Is that supposed to reflect poorly on Spanos playing Steven Krajewski last year?

I'd believe your first line if Spanos weren't on the current staff. He is, so it would be awkward, at a minimum.

As for your 2nd, who else would have played? He played TP until he was hurt, when possible (I don't count the short week going into Purdue).

 

[Nostical]

This is 100% Charlton's call.

Agree. It would take something extremely unusual for Mora to reverse it. One example would be if Zion Turner is better than expected but Charlton wanted TP. The idea of redshirting (and losing Zion to the portal) might influence the final decision. NIL will become a big factor in allowing kids to stay longer.

 

[CL82]

Agree. It would take something extremely unusual for Mora to reverse it. One example would be if Zion Turner is better than expected but Charlton wanted Tyler Phommachanh. The idea of redshirting (and losing Zion to the portal) might influence the final decision. NIL will become a big factor in allowing kids to stay longer.

People say that like Charlton is going to be making it in a closet somewhere and then suddenly is going to jump out and tell Mora his decision. There’s not a doubt in my mind that they are going to discuss pros and cons of each player and come to a decision.

 

[Exit 4]

Agree. It would take something extremely unusual for Mora to reverse it. One example would be if Zion Turner is better than expected but Charlton wanted Tyler Phommachanh. The idea of redshirting (and losing Zion to the portal) might influence the final decision. NIL will become a big factor in allowing kids to stay longer.

Agreed, If Zion shows well in practice this season there will be some pressure to get this kid into games at some point. I expect other programs to circle back to him this fall with whispers.

I could see the season starting with Roberson (narrowly beating out the others) followed by Zion, TP and even Millen getting some starts in the last 6 games to help determine we will really have running this program in 2023. Roberson will have some serious internal competition on his hands all season long. Of course, if Roberson is crushing it and the others don't push, then this wont happen...but I am guessing that the others will be hungry and push all fall.

Looking to December, this roster might have a very new challenge- keeping players from taking the portal to float up rather than across or down.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Agreed, If Zion shows well in practice this season there will be some pressure to get this kid into games at some point. I expect other programs to circle back to him this fall with whispers.

I could see the season starting with Roberson (narrowly beating out the others) followed by Zion, Tyler Phommachanh and even Millen getting some starts in the last 6 games to help determine we will really have running this program in 2023. Roberson will have some serious internal competition on his hands all season long. Of course, if Roberson is crushing it and the others don't push, then this wont happen...but I am guessing that the others will be hungry and push all fall.

Looking to December, this roster might have a very new challenge- keeping players from taking the portal to float up rather than across or down.

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