Blade article

[mmisbg]

Nothing we didn't already know, but it pretty much sums things up:

http://www.toledoblade.com/BGSU/2013/08 ... nswer.html

[kdog27]

Gabe Martin needs to stay at rover PERIOD

[jg4242]

Apparently the Blade can't spell "Schilz"

[slashba33]

Apparently the Blade can't spell "Schilz"

No - The Blade got it right...having him back as our starting QB gives me the "Schitz"!!

[jpfalcon09]

Calling him Schlitz will make me thirsty for beer.

[footballguy51]

Calling him Schlitz will make me thirsty for beer.

Bad beer.

[slashba33]

Calling him Schlitz will make me thirsty for beer.

Bad beer.

Must be all in the name...bad.

[MarkL]

I think Matt Schilz is in for a good year. Receivers are back, good o line, and has to compete for his job. Last year was the only time where he did not have to compete for his job (even if the competition wasn't great) and it also was the only year where he didn't have any real improvement from the previous year. I think based off what I've seen of him he responds well to competition. Given the competition and experience factors and combine that with what should be a solid running game, I think we're in for a much improved passing game.

[factman]

[jpfalcon09]

I think Matt Schilz is in for a good year. Receivers are back, good o line, and has to compete for his job. Last year was the only time where he did not have to compete for his job (even if the competition wasn't great) and it also was the only year where he didn't have any real improvement from the previous year. I think based off what I've seen of him he responds well to competition. Given the competition and experience factors and combine that with what should be a solid running game, I think we're in for a much improved passing game.

Hearing him say that he needs to improve his pocket presence and leadership is already a good sign. I agree, I think he got lazy last year and wanted to rest on his laurels of the previous season. Let's hope that the coaching staff and Johnson keep pushing him all season long and that we won't see another regression.

[mscarn]

What will be fascinating to watch is how much of a leash he'll be given should he struggle. Hopefully he'll light it up and it won't have to come to that.

[jpfalcon09]

What will be fascinating to watch is how much of a leash he'll be given should he struggle. Hopefully he'll light it up and it won't have to come to that.

I imagine he'll have a long leash. My guess is that Clawson wants to ride out this year with Schilz and then have Johnson/Knapke battle it out for the future starting position...of course that's if Dave is still around here.

[kdog27]

If it is the same ole Schilz winning the job and neither Johnson or Knapke can beat him out than we have big time QB issues going forward. Number 7 has never impressed me much, I hope there is something to the optimism you guys are showing for him.

[MarkL]

kdog - yeah there is good reason for optimism. I knew from his first start at Troy in 2010 that we had a special QB. He made good reads, had good pocket presence with a bad line and scrambled well, again with a bad line. If it weren't for the shoulder injury a few games later I think he would have had an outstanding season, but he played the second two thirds of the season with a painful throwing shoulder. A big factor in this success was he had to fight off Hurley, Pankratz, Pagel, and Watkins to win the job.

In 2011 he took a big, big step forward. Good chemistry with Jorden and Cooper was a huge part of that. Also, this was after a QB battle with Hurley. He had a bit of a slump late in the season but ended the season at UB on a very, very high note.

2012 he definitely took a step back. Three factors ... one, we didn't need to pass as much to win and that certainly is part of why he threw for half as many TDs. Two, new receivers everywhere. Three, he didn't have to win the job. There was no threat after 2011 with Schilz's finish and Hurley's transfer of Matt Johnson or anyone else starting at QB.

As I put in an above post ... he's got QB competition, a good line, a good running game to keep pressure off the passing game, and a very good returning set of receivers. All the factors are there. My full expectation is he is going to respond to the competition and the questions of his leadership by having an outstanding season and leaving the program on a high note as a truly great QB and leader.

[slashba33]

I agree with kdog27, I have been following BG football since the mid-90's and watched many college quarterbacks closely and it is obvious he doesn't have it in him to be a leader or the killer instinct to do what it takes to win. He more concerned about how he looks and running to the sideline as quickly as possible after 3rd down to put his hat on backwards and stroll the sideline. He is a primary/1st read QB and very robotic when it comes to his mechanics. No way should a QB regress in his 3rd season with the RBs and WRs we had last year to throw to. I will give him credit to come to Ohio from California to play ball here, but I just can't understand after having Harris, Jacobs and Sheehan, this is what we are stuck with for 4 years!

I'm optimistic because I love BG football and we have a good team, but our season (AGAIN) is riding on Schilz.