2013 Captains selected...

[MarkL]

I didn't get to watch the game, was travelling at the time. From Clawson's comments, Schilz didn't have much of an O line to work with and was being harassed all day by Montgomery at DE. That does not excuse poor footwork or short passes as I've read on here.

My take is Matt Johnson is really close to being the starting QB. It sounds like he had a great day. His biggest problem last year, and it's not going away, is his height. He had a lot of passes patted down at the line last year and sounds like it happened again Friday. If he can get some more air under his passes quickly or be more judicious about throwing bullets through windows I think he could very easily be the guy. I remember an article on an all PA high school football game. Johnson played in that one. The writeup said if Johnson were about two inches taller he could have gone anywhere to play. We got a steal.

I haven't seen a thing from Knapke yet. If he were a little more experienced I think he'd be right there. Clawson said in the post game that Knapke doesn't quite have a grasp on the speed of the game yet but he's been very good thus far. Sign of good things to come.

Does this QB competition sound a lot like 2007 to anyone? There's a veteran at QB (AT / Schilz) who didn't quite live up to expectations of an explosive passing game the previous year. He has to prove in camp that he can be the guy. There's a hot up and coming guy who got some time in the previous year (Sheehan / Johnson) and now he's a season more mature and has some experience leading an offense. And you also have an X factor (Glaud / Knapke) who is young but very very talented. Obviously in 2007 the hot up and comer won. No clue how this one's going to shake out. I just hope that all three guys make each other better and whoever is the starter has a fantastic season for us.

[mscarn]

You wonder if Schilz is so shell shocked from last year that it's permanently damaged his psyche and ability to play the position. He reverts back to old, bad habits.

We're also going to need the receivers to get themselves open and catch the ball much more consistently. I was really hopeful about the kid Dieter from SMU...any update on his eligibility status for next year?

[MarkL]

I think we'll be fine at receiver. Joplin should hopefully have the drops out of him and be explosive for us. Gallon has all MAC written all over him. Burbrink had a good year making catches over the middle and should hopefully continue improving. We get Hosley back from injury and he should be very good for us. He had a good upper gear. Herve Coby has got some big potential. We've got a lot of young guys at receiver. I wouldn't worry too much there. I feel much better at WR than I did last year at this time.

[BGSU33]

My concern with Johnson in the limited action I saw of last year was one, batted down passes, and two, and most concerning, locking in on a target and stayed there. I remember the VT gm where guys jumped routes because he was locked in and they should have had a couple pick sixes. I do like his mobility though.

[Falcon137]

My concern with Johnson in the limited action I saw of last year was one, batted down passes, and two, and most concerning, locking in on a target and stayed there. I remember the VT gm where guys jumped routes because he was locked in and they should have had a couple pick sixes. I do like his mobility though.

Agreed 100%. A 2011 type year from Schilz makes this year special. I'm not very high on Johnson as a passer, I don't think he has nearly the same arm strength, the experience (obviously) as Schilz not to mention all the knockdowns which come with being a 5'11 QB.

However, if the gameplan is to pound the ball and run the read option, Johnson gives another dynamic. But, he's not exactly explosive back there, he will make some plays with his feet, but, he's not going to bust one 70 yards.

People don't give Schilz enough credit for his mobility. I think the biggest knock on Schilz is his refusal to run the ball. There are several instances where he could have scrambled for 5-8 yards and instead forced a pass. He has shown the ability on a read option to keep and get some yards, the TD run against Buffalo comes to mind. Of course in the same game he refused to scramble, forced one and threw a INT.

[MarkL]

My concern with Johnson in the limited action I saw of last year was one, batted down passes, and two, and most concerning, locking in on a target and stayed there. I remember the VT gm where guys jumped routes because he was locked in and they should have had a couple pick sixes. I do like his mobility though.

Agreed 100%. A 2011 type year from Schilz makes this year special.

Agreed. He had some great and veteran receivers in 2011. I think he has it again this year. If .. if he regains his form from two years ago and is able to spread the ball out efficiently to Gallon, Joplin, Hosley, Burbrink, etc we will be in great shape. If Schilz can get back to that form in terms of passing while retaining his 2012 form of managing the offense I'd take him over any other QB on roster without even thinking about it.