SPRING GAME NOTES

Schadenfreude · Post by **Schadenfreude** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:40 am

Brian McClure started about midway into his freshman year.

He led us to a MAC title.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:45 am

Nate Davis played last year for BSU as a true freshman and played admirably.

I think Charlie Frye started at Akron as a true Freshman.

Didn't WMU start a true freshman in the game Omar got hurt and they destroyed us?

True freshmen can start, and they can be successful. It's not the ideal situation, but with the way our QBs look right now I see no reason to believe that Nate Brown shouldn't be given an opportunity at the very least. Hell, for all we know the reason why Brandon is saying that QB is the least of his worries is because he's got Brown penciled in as the starter anyways (although doubtful).

At this point all I know is the conclusions that I can draw from watching the team play last year and then in the spring game. My conclusions are:

1) When Anthony Turner plays we are running an offensive scheme that has little chance of succeeding. Too many dink 'n' dunk passes and we don't complete them in stride to turn them into more. If he cannot throw downfield he's not nearly accurate enough for a short passing game.

2) Sheehan has a long ways to go toward protecting the ball. We are not good enough to survive 3 turnovers a game from our QB. We saw him throw a lot of INTs last year and that continued in the spring game. He can throw more deep balls than Turner, but if he cannot protect the ball he will not be our QB.

3) We've seen very little of Glaud, but what we saw was promising in this year's spring game. Still way to much to draw any conclusions one way or the other on his play.

4) We have a very nice recruit coming in with Nate Brown. Is he the type that can come in and start right away? I don't know, but he was well regarded and his HS film was encouraging.

From what I've seen and the conclusions that I've drawn we don't yet have a QB. The two that we've seen the most of need more seasoning and we have 2 that we essentially know nothing about. As far as I'm concerned it should be an open competition between all 4 of them and whoever wins, wins. I don't care if it's the true freshman or if it's Turner, so long as we're putting the best guy out there.

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:07 am

Hammb, I agree. I would like to think that maybe AT has more than we showed, but we have no reason to think that other than plain hope. The other thing I hope is that whoever wins the job keeps it. I think it is distracting for the team to wonder who the QB is going to be every week. This is probably wishful thinking, too.

Schad--Brian McClure was a once-in-a-generation QB.

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:25 am

hammb...I think you're putting far too much weight behind the offense we ran on Saturday. Not only that, but the impression is building that all AT did or was allowed to do last year was hand the ball off or throw six yards downfield. That just isn't the case. The offense was more open against Buffalo, Akron, FIU and Toledo. When he was given the chance to look downfield, AT made some plays last year. He missed a few too but I guess that's why he isn't the solid number one. He lacks consitency.

Gregg Brandon has stated that they want to open things back up again...I don't think what was shown during the spring game carries any more weight than what the coaches have said in the offseason.

You guys need to lighten up...a lot.

Rollo83 · Post by **Rollo83** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 3:50 pm

Flipper wrote:hammb...I think you're putting far too much weight behind the offense we ran on Saturday. Not only that, but the impression is building that all AT did or was allowed to do last year was hand the ball off or throw six yards downfield. That just isn't the case. The offense was more open against Buffalo, Akron, FIU and Toledo. When he was given the chance to look downfield, AT made some plays last year. He missed a few too but I guess that's why he isn't the solid number one. He lacks consitency.

Gregg Brandon has stated that they want to open things back up again...I don't think what was shown during the spring game carries any more weight than what the coaches have said in the offseason.

You guys need to lighten up...a lot.

Isn't the spring game the time you experiment and open it up to see what you got? If not then...when? That's my concern.

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 3:57 pm

As discussed a few times earlier in this thread, in years past we didn't run our full offense in the spring game. There have been years like 2003 where we didn't run our full offense in OOC games against 1AA teams to keep things under wraps.

I don't know what they're doing with the offense this year other than what Brandon has said, but history suggests the spring game isn't the barometer to check.

So far as when you should work on the offense...the spring game isn't any thimg more than a glorifoed scrimmage...you can accomplish the same thing lining up at practice.

factman · Post by **factman** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 5:16 pm

The "REAL" spring game is usually the last practice before the spring game, and you can see alot more of the real offense and defense. Opening game teams normally exchange game films of their spring game, thus nuch is kept under wraps.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:35 pm

ONLY 128 days till kickoff!!!

I guess we'll find out then...and I am jacked to get this season underway...anything to forget last year.

GO FALCONS!!! BEAT MINNESOTA!!

Falconboy · Post by **Falconboy** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:42 pm

We will all know probally a bit more about who will be playing qb, who's good who's not and whatever by the last pre-season scrimmage in August sometime.

BGSUFootballFan · Post by **BGSUFootballFan** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:50 pm

[quote="hammb"]Nate Davis played last year for BSU as a true freshman and played admirably.

I don't know what it is about him, but I love watching him play football. He is a great player and really helped Ball State out last year. I don't care what their record was, anyone who watched them play Michigan knows they are an improving team!

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 9:29 pm

BGSUFootballFan wrote:
hammb wrote:Nate Davis played last year for BSU as a true freshman and played admirably.

I don't know what it is about him, but I love watching him play football. He is a great player and really helped Ball State out last year. I don't care what their record was, anyone who watched them play Michigan knows they are an improving team!

I think he'll be an all MAC player before it's said & done.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 4:23 pm

factman wrote:The "REAL" spring game is usually the last practice before the spring game, and you can see alot more of the real offense and defense. Opening game teams normally exchange game films of their spring game, thus nuch is kept under wraps.

FM is correct. I just talked with Mrs. Freak's cousin, Mike Foor, last night and he said the same thing. Mike was a 2nd team All MAC DL for the Falcons from 82-85. He said half the time he'd play one series in the spring game and sit the rest of the day. The REAL game is the day before.

GO FALCONS

SPRING GAME NOTES

As things look.....