The QB Issue | Page 4 | The Boneyard

The QB Issue

Who should start at QB going forward?

  • Evers

    Votes: 104 43.7%
  • Fagnano

    Votes: 78 32.8%
  • Mcdonald

    Votes: 3 1.3%
  • Welliver

    Votes: 53 22.3%

  • Total voters
    238
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The roll out just cuts the field in half and gives the D an advantage, in my opinion. Unless the QB is a huge run threat. That is obviously not the case here.
Further, it is helpful if the other players around Evers perform. Twice on a designed roll out play the Maryland linebacker knocked our running back onto his butt and then proceeded to force Evers into a bad throw. The running back has to either make the block or at least stay on his feet for a short pass. In each case he did neither.The first time it was Edwards and the second time it was Brown. Our QB's seem to have more success throwing the ball out of the pocket in this game.
 
It is almost impossible believe to have the level of QB play we have experienced since DanO.

Every Saturday I watch QBs at every level who pass better than our QB. Although I hope it is not the case, I would not be surprised if the Merrimac QB outplayed ours on Saturday. And I don't blame the offensive line who gave adequate protection on the majority of passing plays versus Maryland and who played well last season.

BTW, Evers made it an issue Saturday. He was very inaccurate.
 
It is almost impossible believe to have the level of QB play we have experienced since DanO.

Every Saturday I watch QBs at every level who pass better than our QB. Although I hope it is not the case, I would not be surprised if the Merrimac QB outplayed ours on Saturday. And I don't blame the offensive line who gave adequate protection on the majority of passing plays versus Maryland and who played well last season.

BTW, Evers made it an issue Saturday. He was very inaccurate.
Evers did not look fast when he ran. Did not see any wheels. Of course he should look good against Merrimack FCS team but concerned when they play Duke on the road then FAU the week after. This team could start off at 1-3 when week 4 rolls around. They need to win 6 games which means they will have to beat one of the teams they will be an underdog too. Coaching needs to improve significantly.
 
We need a few more games before deciding who the best QB should be for the team. It was clear there was a talent gap between us and Maryland, and it simply made everything look much worse than it is. If we play like this against a FCS opponent next week, then we got issues.
 
Further, it is helpful if the other players around Evers perform. Twice on a designed roll out play the Maryland linebacker knocked our running back onto his butt and then proceeded to force Evers into a bad throw. The running back has to either make the block or at least stay on his feet for a short pass. In each case he did neither.The first time it was Edwards and the second time it was Brown. Our QB's seem to have more success throwing the ball out of the pocket in this game.
We sorely miss having an Anthony Sherman in the backfield.
 
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Evers has to get 3 or 4 games. Judging him against the best team of our schedule game 1 is silly. If he doesn't look the part by game 4, give Cole a shot. I have seen all I want to see of Fagnano.

Fagnano had a great run at Maine. He just may be a level beyond his abilities now. I could see him shinning next week, then getting dog-walked against Duke. He started college in 2019. If the game hasn't slowed down by now, I doubt it will.
 
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Man, I watched Evers play in high school. Count me as someone who expected to see more out of him and the overall offensive schemes. I was expecting to see more play action and RPOs which he excelled at in HS. Then mix in some spread concepts which thins the defense and gives him more lanes to work with. There were maybe 5 or so total plays that were play action. Some here said there were too many rollouts. I don't think that's a bad thing, but our line is kinda not good at blocking in space. (We had big plays called back because of holding.) Which is why we had so many run plays that ended up with 1 or less yards. Plus Maryland is actually a really good defensive team with good team speed.

Our line actually did better forming a pocket. Was hoping we would adjust our play calling to more mid/long passes. Especially to Skyler Bell who was constantly getting behind the defense. It wasn't just pure speed either. He had a good bag of tricks to fake the defender out and they seem to always bite. Really impressed there. I think that's why Fagano did better -- he was asked to be more of a pocket passer or he recognized that Bell was torching the CBs.

Overall, our play calling was still pretty limited. I was hoping to see more schematic diversity. Maybe it's a function of not enough practice time with a completely new group of kids. But it made it easier for Maryland to defend if they knew you were going to run 60% of the time. Maryland actually didn't blitz much, if any at all. This tells me that pretty much expected UConn to run all the time and played contained. Our interior oline needs to be much improved if we want to run more. Hopefully, this is something more reps will fix.

Defensively, a lot of people brought up the tackling issues. I want to highlight some really good positives. Cam Chadwick was a shut down corner. Yes, he missed a key tackle that lead to a TD. But really that was his only blemish. Can't believe he's just a frosh. He might have been UConn's best player on Saturday. Langston Hardy also stood out to me. He was excellent as both a run stopper and a coverage line backer with some important open space tackles. Kid needs more snaps. Really good mobility.

We do have some good pieces. We just need to best utilize them...

Edit: Wanted to add that people here seem to revere Lashlee. Well, one of this main philosophies is up-tempo offensives to stagger the defense. Would love to see hurry up play calling in the future.
 
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Eh, Pindell was plenty fast enough. Go back and watch his TD run against Syracuse. I just want a QB that hits guys in stride and every other throw isn't off the mark or behind the guy. What I'm really concerned about is Sammis as OC. That was less than inspiring.
I thought the offensive design was a bigger issue. The dependency on called rollouts was scary. Neither QB looked accurate doing it, and both were much better when stationary. I assume he didn't think the O-line wouldn't be able to stop their pass rush, but they held their own, for the most part.
 
I thought the offensive design was a bigger issue. The dependency on called rollouts was scary. Neither QB looked accurate doing it, and both were much better when stationary. I assume he didn't think the O-line wouldn't be able to stop their pass rush, but they held their own, for the most part.
It felt like Sammis was actively trying not to look like your typical run, run, pass offensive line coach turned OC. We’ll see how it looks against lesser opponents, but it felt like he was getting way too cute for the personnel he has to work with.

I’m hoping the rollout accuracy issue was first game jitters and we didn’t build a playbook around something our guys can’t do.
 
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I thought the offensive design was a bigger issue. The dependency on called rollouts was scary. Neither QB looked accurate doing it, and both were much better when stationary. I assume he didn't think the O-line wouldn't be able to stop their pass rush, but they held their own, for the most part.

Being unable or unwilling to modify game plans seems to be a constant theme for our team over too many years.
 
I was happy to see more quick hitters from the running game. They hardly ran the slow developing stuff we’re used to seeing. Thinking maybe the rollout were called to accomplish the same thing. Get out of the pocket and deliver quickly. A few got blown up by poor blocking, Nick may have held on to the ball a little longer than he should.
I think the thought process was sound, but the execution wasn’t there.
 
I want Welliver at the beginning of the year but they started Evers and now let's see how he does after another game. If he bombs again then we can have this discussion next week
 
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Maryland has some beasts on defense. I’m not out on Evers but we need to give Cole at least a series vs Merrimack
 
It’s not that I wanted to see him leave but rather why bring in and pay the same skill set QB that you’ve had rostered already and it was obvious, Roberson was not the long term solution or gap closer in regards to overall talent. I agree Evers deserves the benefit of the doubt with his actual experience, but I think the only true QB difference maker on the roster is potentially Welliver. I’m rooting for em all though.
In an NIL world there is no long term solution, I do think Roberson made strides last year and looked a bit faster as the season went along as he was trusting his legs a bit more, a full year as a starter and a year removed from the ACL injury, I think it would've helped a great deal but he moved on.

The most hopeful and ideal scenario this year is that Evers is good enough to be poached in the portal which means we have a winning season, then you go to Welliver as our qb, and hopefully have more NIL money by then.
 
You can’t bench Evers after one game, that his team was badly outmatched in, playing on the road. If he puts up the same performance this week, that’s when the conversation can start. But this thread is super premature and emotional.
 
If Welliver gets any time at QB I would love us to run some snaps under center with play action and stop trying to pretend we are running read option with a QB that never keeps the ball like we have done the last 2 years. We have good RBs and a decent line.
 
If Welliver gets any time at QB I would love us to run some snaps under center with play action and stop trying to pretend we are running read option with a QB that never keeps the ball like we have done the last 2 years. We have good RBs and a decent line.
Every good run of offense we’ve had in the last 5 years seemingly came out of the shotgun.
 
I was happy to see more quick hitters from the running game. They hardly ran the slow developing stuff we’re used to seeing. Thinking maybe the rollout were called to accomplish the same thing. Get out of the pocket and deliver quickly. A few got blown up by poor blocking, Nick may have held on to the ball a little longer than he should.
I think the thought process was sound, but the execution wasn’t there.
Part of the soundness of your thought process is matching the execution to the personnel.
 
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Evers. Everyone looked pretty bad last week, but a lot of it is correct able.
 
If Welliver gets any time at QB I would love us to run some snaps under center with play action and stop trying to pretend we are running read option with a QB that never keeps the ball like we have done the last 2 years. We have good RBs and a decent line.
We have a decent pass blocking line, run blocking is another story
 
Evers is a game time decision.

With him not really practicing this week, this should go great if he plays.
 
It felt like Sammis was actively trying not to look like your typical run, run, pass offensive line coach turned OC. We’ll see how it looks against lesser opponents, but it felt like he was getting way too cute for the personnel he has to work with.

I’m hoping the rollout accuracy issue was first game jitters and we didn’t build a playbook around something our guys can’t do.
This. I think running at them might have worked. We'll never know.
 
Why do people keep saying Welliver as if he isn't 4th on the depth chart? Throw McDonald out there if you're already bailing on Evers.
 
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