Very pleased with Whitmer

[metsfan2323]

Lets remember this is game one of his UCONN career, he will get better.

Much like the spring game he got the ball out very quick (I don't think we took a sack), very accurate, there were a couple drops. He has tremendous pocket presence and throws a very catchable ball. As a Jet fan who has seen every Jets game since the late 70's I can tell you that this kid reminds me a lot of Chad Pennington.

A well schooled, polished QB. Its been a while.

Full steam ahead.

 

[UCHuskies08]

The one thing that stuck out to me was that our successful passing plays actually looked like real, high level passing. Refreshing to see a normal throwing motion for once.

Whether he can be consistent enough, get good enough protection, or keep turnovers down is yet to be seen.

 

[FrostyNuggets]

Love to be wrong. Get the feeling he will throw some very dumb int's.

 

[metsfan2323]

Love to be wrong. Get the feeling he will throw some very dumb int's.

Which will make him like every other young QB who has ever played.

 

[pj]

He will certainly throw interceptions. I would like to see him look for Griffin more. The offense did very well at first going for high-percentage passes, but didn't stick with that approach, which is fine for UMass. Mike Smith looked good.

 

[VAHuskyFan]

The kid can throw. I loved his accuracy tonight. He hit receivers in stride and put them in position to be dangerous after the catch. He threw downfield into coverage a few times but placed the football where our WR was the only one with a chance at it. Can't really think of any passes that sailed on him or got away. His two INTs seemed to be right on target -- he just picked the wrong spot on those occasions. Very impressive first performance by Mr. Whitmer tonight.

 

[Waquoit]

Love to be wrong. Get the feeling he will throw some very dumb int's.

So he threw one ball in to quadruple coverage. Stuff happens.

 

[cheech63]

He needs to look off his receivers better.He's staring down everyone he's throwing to.

 

[huskynation]

first half stats:8-16 93 yards, int
second half stats: 7-9 126 yards, int
Overall: 15-25 219 yards, 2 ints

Positives: This is a very talented young qb. He gets rid of the ball fast on short and intermediate throws and shows good footwork . When the pocket breaks down, he's adept at avoiding the rush and he can step up and deliver with accuracy downfield. He seemed to get a little nervous and short armed some throws, but he still completed 60 percent of his passes. Its just a question of how fast he develops and adapts to the game speed. His second half was much better than the first. He might be the next star qb for uconn.

He needs to stop staring down receivers. He made some mistakes. His first int was freak play, but it proves a lesson, there are better athletes on defense in d1, so if you throw the ball away, throw it real far out of bounds. 2nd int he misread the zone coverage, stared down griffin and tried to force the ball into double coverage on an out route. Its safe to say that he will throw some picks, and it will be good to see how he improves from week to week. NC state is going to be alot better than umass.

 

[formerlurker]

"Very" pleased? I give him a C+, maybe B-.

Not knocking the kid but I just walked in from the game and if I had to list, in order, things I was very pleased with tonight they'd be:

1.) Overall Defense. (Very, very pleased).
2.) Chad Christen (See above)
3.) Yawin Smallwood
4.) Nick Williams finally becoming a 1st or second option on O while continuing to be a threat every time he touches the ball on specials.
5.) Everything else I'll remember after watching the DVR.

I think Chandler's going to find his way and lead this team where we want to go this year but the scouting report was right. He needs to make better decisions, this isn't Junior College anymore. And am I the only one who was pissed to see a QB change during the first offensive series? I know we're going to run the wildcat and McCummings did some nice things tonight...BUT, you name a starter 6 weeks ago, say he earned the job and then pull him on what I think was the 2nd or 3rd play from scrimmage? I don't understand that.

 

[Dann]

first half stats:8-16 93 yards, int
second half stats: 7-9 126 yards, int
Overall: 15-25 219 yards, 2 ints

Positives: This is a very talented young qb. He gets rid of the ball fast on short and intermediate throws and shows good footwork . When the pocket breaks down, he's adept at avoiding the rush and he can step up and deliver with accuracy downfield. He seemed to get a little nervous and short armed some throws, but he still completed 60 percent of his passes. Its just a question of how fast he develops and adapts to the game speed. His second half was much better than the first. He might be the next star qb for uconn.

He needs to stop staring down receivers. He made some mistakes. His first int was freak play, but it proves a lesson, there are better athletes on defense in d1, so if you throw the ball away, throw it real far out of bounds. 2nd int he misread the zone coverage, stared down griffin and tried to force the ball into double coverage on an out route. Its safe to say that he will throw some picks, and it will be good to see how he improves from week to week. NC state is going to be alot better than umass.

several times 2night he did a good job in the pocket and got yards running forward or getting rid of the ball somewhere. last year every single one of those jmac took a knee for the sac. the field position was great 2night as result. its those type of improvements i was real happy about 2night. the rest will come in time. i think he will develop a real nice deep ball also fwiw.

 

[Dann]

"Very" pleased? I give him a C+, maybe B-.

Not knocking the kid but I just walked in from the game and if I had to list, in order, things I was very pleased with tonight they'd be:

1.) Overall Defense. (Very, very pleased).
2.) Chad Christen (See above)
3.) Yawin Smallwood
4.) Nick Williams finally becoming a 1st or second option on O while continuing to be a threat every time he touches the ball on specials.
5.) Everything else I'll remember after watching the DVR.

I think Chandler's going to find his way and lead this team where we want to go this year but the scouting report was right. He needs to make better decisions, this isn't Junior College anymore. And am I the only one who was pissed to see a QB change during the first offensive series? I know we're going to run the wildcat and McCummings did some nice things tonight...BUT, you name a starter 6 weeks ago, say he earned the job and then pull him on what I think was the 2nd or 3rd play from scrimmage? I don't understand that.

the first quarter was scripted to get everyone who was going to play important roles this year a feel for the game. it was obvious. one time we had a play where we got it called back for a holding, we ran the exact same thing next snap for a gain. P had a plan and stuck 2 it the whole game. whitmers development over the length of the game was obvious to me. give him and the o time. everything looks good enough that it will come together nicely as a unit. the only thing on o i'm worried about int he oline.

 

[formerlurker]

Lets remember this is game one of his UCONN career, he will get better.

Much like the spring game he got the ball out very quick (I don't think we took a sack), very accurate, there were a couple drops. He has tremendous pocket presence and throws a very catchable ball. As a Jet fan who has seen every Jets game since the late 70's I can tell you that this kid reminds me a lot of Chad Pennington.

A well schooled, polished QB. Its been a while.

Full steam ahead.

In full disclosure I do have to add that I was extremely impressed with his ability and intestinal fortitude to hang in the pocket. That's a huge reason why I see him doing great things for us but doesn't change the fact that he had an average game tonight.

I think he's our guy and there were a lot of positives in his game, but very pleased isn't a feeling I got tonight. I have faith he's our man though and he's got my full support as a fan.

Also, not too sure about the "catchable ball" part either. His ball kind of reminded me of Zach's "It'll get there eventually, but it's gonna flutter a bit".

 

[formerlurker]

the first quarter was scripted to get everyone who was going to play important roles this year a feel for the game. it was obvious. one time we had a play where we got it called back for a holding, we ran the exact same thing next snap for a gain. P had a plan and stuck 2 it the whole game. whitmers development over the length of the game was obvious to me. give him and the o time. everything looks good enough that it will come together nicely as a unit. the only thing on o i'm worried about int he oline.

Dan, I've played and watched enough football to know that PP had this game fully scripted. But to take a kid you publicly named your starting QB early in camp and swap him out in the first series was very odd to me. I love the change of pace Scott offers but will never understand giving Chandler, a kid we all hope is the next Dan O, one snap before making a substitution? There was plenty of time to get everyone reps. Why so quick without giving our starting offense some time to gel?

His first home game, first D1 exchange at the line and you shuttle him out on the next play? I don't see how that did anything for the young man's confidence or any butterflies he may have had. You mentioned it was done to get everyone who'll play an important role this year a "feel for the game". Unless we plan on utilizing 2 QB's the first series of every game I would have written a different script.

 

[Dann]

Dan, I've played and watched enough football to know that PP had this game fully scripted. But to take a kid you publicly named your starting QB early in camp and swap him out in the first series was very odd to me. I love the change of pace Scott offers but will never understand giving Chandler, a kid we all hope is the next Dan O, one snap before making a substitution? There was plenty of time to get everyone reps. Why so quick without giving our starting offense some time to gel?

His first home game, first D1 exchange at the line and you shuttle him out on the next play? I don't see how that did anything for the young man's confidence or any butterflies he may have had. You mentioned it was done to get everyone who'll play an important role this year a "feel for the game". Unless we plan on utilizing 2 QB's the first series of every game I would have written a different script.

fair enough. i'm not in love with it either and if it was me i would have whitmer for 80% with mccumings more goal line and a few other times out there. it didn't look like whitmer was bothered by it at all which makes me think he knew exactly how it was going to go and it was just all fine. with mccumings missing a good portion of camp i think P wanted to really work him a bit into game shape.

 

[junglehusky]

Yeah I'd also guess it has to do with developing McCummings and getting him game reps more than anything else. Hopefully over the long term it pays off, as others have said if he can develop as a throwing threat it'll make our O more dangerous.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

The one thing that stuck out to me was that our successful passing plays actually looked like real, high level passing. Refreshing to see a normal throwing motion for once.

Whether he can be consistent enough, get good enough protection, or keep turnovers down is yet to be seen.

Indeed. Very encouraging.

 

[Sean]

Shocked to see so much positive accolades on here. He threw some nice balls, but he also threw two of the dumbest interceptions I've seen in awhile - and I watched Johnny McEntee last year. Both of those balls are throws that lose you a ballgame, just not a ballgame against UMass. It's nice having SOME confidence he can move the ball forward and I'm happy about that, but need to see the decision making improve A LOT before I feel good at this position.

I do agree that putting in McCummings so much really does a disservice to him as he tries to get going, though.

 

[mattp]

i can't say i was very pleased with Whitmer, but he's obviously a big upgrade. he made some puzzling throws, and his deep balls fluttered quite a bit, but overall i really like his throwing motion. most importantly i really liked his poise and sense of the pocket. our oline looked fine today, but not exactly great and i don't think he was sacked which i think speaks a lot for his poise and quick release. his short and intermediate throws look really sharp

 

[CTMike]

Let's remember that this is his first D1 start, and that his mistakes are largely correctable. It's gonna be fun watching him mature at that position- he's got the tools.

 

[noeynox]

I counted three easy drops. 1st by Osiecki, then McCombs, and finally Griffin.

What I found really encouraging after one drop, that left us in third and long, the very next play he threw a rope for first down to Geremy Davis. Too many times in the past a drop on second down would eventually lead to a punt.

Whitmer looked good, but like others in this thread, I would love to see him get two or three consecutive series' without looking over his shoulder for the wildcat. I really want to see him in a rythm.

 

[RedSoloCup]

Shocked to see so much positive accolades on here. He threw some nice balls, but he also threw two of the dumbest interceptions I've seen in awhile - and I watched Johnny McEntee last year. Both of those balls are throws that lose you a ballgame, just not a ballgame against UMass. It's nice having SOME confidence he can move the ball forward and I'm happy about that, but need to see the decision making improve A LOT before I feel good at this position.

I do agree that putting in McCummings so much really does a disservice to him as he tries to get going, though.

It may be a lot of the first win 'rush' that we are all happy with. He did take a few divots with his throws, and I do feel the wildcat may have affected his ability to get into a rhythm as well. There is the INT count from last year to think about, so he's probably in film study for a couple hours today.

I liked that more guys held it when he put it where they could catch, that was my positive on the passing game.

 

[gioff23]

I thought he was ok - dumb int's and several low throws, but overall I think he showed better pocket presence, more mobility, and decent touch for a kid playing his first CFB game. I would not over/under react as this was a game PP was determined to (a) control the ball and (b) show little on tape. We'll be able to better evaluate over next few weeks.

And I think folks need to let go of the Wildcat - we are using it while SM is here. It's like fighting the tide wanting to see it less or in different spots.

 

[johnhuskies95]

He makes the defense have to respect the passing game. That is big. I think we can rely on them to move the ball fairly consistently through the air, and we haven't been able to say that in awhile.

 

[Dann]

i'll say it because u guys wont, i'll take last nights game minus that first int every freaking week from him. just throw that ball more out of bounds a bit more and last night was fine. he made 1 bad read in his first game here. thats all. maybe we catch 1 or 2 drops and maybe our running game looks better. he was fine last night and its been years where i didn't wake up the next morning and go out and throw the football thinking what if. we have him for 3 years, think he may develop a bit more? i do.

the problem with our schedule this year is ncst 2nd and not 4th or 5th game in. its going to take us a couple games to smooth things up and then i think this o is going to get on a roll. i'm not sure what to think yet about next week. the d was nasty and tob will play conservative which may work well for us. but i'm not sure how far along our o is considering the ncst d has 2 guys that are highly thought of.

either way, i'll take whitmer last night again and again. he didn't take sacks, made some great 10+ yard throws etc...now give him those 4th quarter snaps and a few of the wild cat snaps and what are his stats last night? also were going to pound the ball on the goal line which will hurt his td count this year it seems.