BG should recruit a JUCO QB this year

[kdog27]

I think that may be a "tad" overstated, concerning Schilz! After all, the TEAM did vote him as a captain!!!

But will he be next year... and didn't we have like 26 captains on this team

The glaring weaknesses of this team are QB play, redzone efficiency, winning close games and inconsistent special teams play. 3 of those 4 come back mainly to him. Our worst starter on the team happens to be at the most important position. He only completed 55% of his passes on a team that throws a great number of screen passes! I can't think of one game this year and say wow did our quarterback look good. His best game was probably the Kent game but at the end of the day we lost, he only completed 50% of his passes and he still threw 3 interceptions. The first 4 or 5 games of 2011 it looked like he was turning into a good quarterback but since then it has been nothing but decline. His pass percentage has actually went down each season. Good receivers helped him when he was young, why isn't he making young receivers look better after 40 career starts? He is nearly a zero threat to run yet insists on throwing awkwardly on the run. I don't get that because in the rare cases that he does run he will pick up first downs. All the time there is a lane for him to run but instead he throws a pass that has no chance of being completed to our team.

His goal coming into this year was to throw less interceptions. Congratulations you threw less interceptions (by 1 and threw 14 less touchdowns). Yes we won 8 games but I believe we won 8 games in spite of him, not because of him. I didn't see anything from him that leads me to believe that he can lead a team to a MAC championship. 19 returning starters or not we are still going have a couple close games next year where we need him to be clutch in the fourth quarter. Do you think he will be?

If none of these other recruits can push him to start then the coaches are failing in evaluating QB talent because our 3 year starter is not even average at his position.

[Globetrotter]

I don't mind trying Schilz next year, but if the position isn't completely up for grabs this offseason then someone wasn't paying attention all year. A team with this good of a running game, defense and with what it returns on the line needs a QB who can get first downs. I would have atleast tried Johnson AND Stokes this year in certain situations if just for their ability to run and get first downs when things break down. If they prove to be turnover machines then you go back to Schilz. You atleast have to try it.

[Falcon137]

...and how great of a player Joplin is.

I now have 0 confidence in Schilz's decision making and thought process.

[MarkL]

I have seen 0 indications of Schilz being anything less than a respected leader on the team. I have seen no such indications in his three years as a starter.

I hope he improves more this year. One thing he did not have this year that he had in 2010 and 2011 ... competition. In 2010, he had to beat out Pankratz and Pagel for the job, and in 2011 he had a tough competition with Hurley. This year, the job was his from the start and he never had to look in the mirror. I hope the coaches allow Johnson, Knapke, and Stokes to all compete for the starting job this next year. Barring any quantum leap or massive upset, Schilz is the starter in 2013, but I hope he has to earn it and continuously has to reaffirm to the coaches that he is the leader and the quarterback of this team.

[Globetrotter]

quantum leap.

If the QB from Necessary Roughness could leap into Schilz body for the season that would solve all of our problems.

What's Ziggy think?

[Falcon137]

Just some stats for everyone to chew on....Remember this team played 1 more game than last year.

Schilz
Had the most attempts of his career this year - 413 (would have been 378 without bowl game. 1 more than freshman year where he missed several games.)

Tied for the fewest amount of completions - 228 (His freshman year he also completed 228, had 36 fewer attempts)

Threw the fewest INT's - 12 (other years, 14 & 13)

Threw 1/2 has many TDs as last year - 14

Was sacked 9 fewer times - 22 total (the offensive line was clearly better)

Completion % - 55.2%

Team Rushing attempts - 453....In the 12 game regular season the team rushed for a total of 423 times. In 2011 they ran the ball a total of 402 times.

Total offensive TDs - 35 (2011 - 41)

I don't have the defensive / special team TD stats. But, I would expect those units scored more TDs in 2012 than 2011.

[Flipper]

If the corner route is wide open for six and the WR reads the post and runs into a safety coverig that route....I WANT my QB to come off the field hot at him.

[Oldballcoach61]

If BG wants to make a leap forward next year, it won't be with SCHILZ at QB. The kid is NOT a leader . Period. I have watched this kid regress this year. That is not a sign of a true QB. I have been silent on this kid all year, but after the bowl game and watching his performance , one has to wonder what DC and the staff are afraid of if they pull him. I will now say what I think is wrong :

While watching the OU game, and setting within a few feet of the bench, I watch this kid come off the field , throw his helmet, and literally cuss out the coach and WR coach. Then proceeds to cuss his teammates. Next drive, he is in the game and no consequences for his actions. That is the WRONG message , as a coach , team, and damn sure for your so called leader.

Weeks later , while at the Kent St. Game, watched the same scenario play out again. Comes off the field ranting and raving, throws his helmet, and again starts ranting like a baby at the WR corp and coach. Back in the game he goes. No consequence for his piss poor actions and total lack of leadership.

If anybody thinks that there is a player on the team that has any respect for him you are completely mistaken. You can not expect growth from a player that has NO concern for his security at his position. If one has no sense of responsibility to perform and lead, then they wont do so.

It is well past time to I've Johnson and the younger QB 's a real look , and not a token look in spring, and then go back to #7. And , by the way, he is a 3 year starter, not 4. Lets hope there is a change in the process of evaluating the QB, or you may see other players jumping off the DC train and heading elsewhere.

This was way too dramatic. Bash on him for his play, but Matt is a clear leader. If you don't believe me, ask anyone on the team. I have talked to a lot. Clawson loves Schilz too and he has said in multiple press conferences that his play needs to improve. And hopefully with all of the receivers that played this year coming back, Schilz will look more like he did against Miami and Kent. I am not too sure you heard him swearing at everyone, that is a little ridiculous. He is a fiery guy. But I have never seen anything like you are talking about and I think everyone here would agree that Clawson runs an extremely clean program. He would not stand for anything like that.

Not saying he has been very good this year, but this rant was a joke. His teammates voted him a captain and he never singles out anyone, even in press conferences after tough losses. After the Kent game, he was asked if he was pressured at all during his final throw, and even though he was clearly flushed out of the pocket and forced to throw one up in the endzone, he didn't call out his line and said multiple times that he had time to make the throw. He also talks all the time about how "Proud" he is of how the WR's such as Gallon have progressed and how great of a player Joplin is.

I know these things are little, but defending your players in the press are just simple examples that I can point to. And to say that he is not a leader is a joke. Trust me when I say that DC would not stand for players doing what you claimed he did. He is not that type of coach and Matt is not one to be disrespectful like that to his teammates or players. He is just not. As for Matt's play, yes, it obviously has to improve for this team to take the next step.

Fan 7 - Think what you want, but trust me , to think that the players respect him is a joke. I too, speak to several players on both sides of the ball. They DO NOT respect this kid as a leader , but see him as an under performing QB.

Of course he would give the public press standard blah blah , i am the leader and take the high road , or DC would say something. But his actions on the field speak volumes over what a thirty second sound bite to the local press does. If you believe he didn't carry out the antics I spoke about, do yourself a favor, and watch closely next year. Then you can see for yourself.

The QB position has to be wide open next year, or we will continue to lose the close ones and win the others in spite of his play.

[Rollo83]

If BG wants to make a leap forward next year, it won't be with SCHILZ at QB. The kid is NOT a leader . Period. I have watched this kid regress this year. That is not a sign of a true QB. I have been silent on this kid all year, but after the bowl game and watching his performance , one has to wonder what DC and the staff are afraid of if they pull him. I will now say what I think is wrong :

While watching the OU game, and setting within a few feet of the bench, I watch this kid come off the field , throw his helmet, and literally cuss out the coach and WR coach. Then proceeds to cuss his teammates. Next drive, he is in the game and no consequences for his actions. That is the WRONG message , as a coach , team, and damn sure for your so called leader.

Weeks later , while at the Kent St. Game, watched the same scenario play out again. Comes off the field ranting and raving, throws his helmet, and again starts ranting like a baby at the WR corp and coach. Back in the game he goes. No consequence for his piss poor actions and total lack of leadership.

If anybody thinks that there is a player on the team that has any respect for him you are completely mistaken. You can not expect growth from a player that has NO concern for his security at his position. If one has no sense of responsibility to perform and lead, then they wont do so.

It is well past time to I've Johnson and the younger QB 's a real look , and not a token look in spring, and then go back to #7. And , by the way, he is a 3 year starter, not 4. Lets hope there is a change in the process of evaluating the QB, or you may see other players jumping off the DC train and heading elsewhere.

This was way too dramatic. Bash on him for his play, but Matt is a clear leader. If you don't believe me, ask anyone on the team. I have talked to a lot. Clawson loves Schilz too and he has said in multiple press conferences that his play needs to improve. And hopefully with all of the receivers that played this year coming back, Schilz will look more like he did against Miami and Kent. I am not too sure you heard him swearing at everyone, that is a little ridiculous. He is a fiery guy. But I have never seen anything like you are talking about and I think everyone here would agree that Clawson runs an extremely clean program. He would not stand for anything like that.

Not saying he has been very good this year, but this rant was a joke. His teammates voted him a captain and he never singles out anyone, even in press conferences after tough losses. After the Kent game, he was asked if he was pressured at all during his final throw, and even though he was clearly flushed out of the pocket and forced to throw one up in the endzone, he didn't call out his line and said multiple times that he had time to make the throw. He also talks all the time about how "Proud" he is of how the WR's such as Gallon have progressed and how great of a player Joplin is.

I know these things are little, but defending your players in the press are just simple examples that I can point to. And to say that he is not a leader is a joke. Trust me when I say that DC would not stand for players doing what you claimed he did. He is not that type of coach and Matt is not one to be disrespectful like that to his teammates or players. He is just not. As for Matt's play, yes, it obviously has to improve for this team to take the next step.

Fan 7 - Think what you want, but trust me , to think that the players respect him is a joke. I too, speak to several players on both sides of the ball. They DO NOT respect this kid as a leader , but see him as an under performing QB.

Of course he would give the public press standard blah blah , i am the leader and take the high road , or DC would say something. But his actions on the field speak volumes over what a thirty second sound bite to the local press does. If you believe he didn't carry out the antics I spoke about, do yourself a favor, and watch closely next year. Then you can see for yourself.

The QB position has to be wide open next year, or we will continue to lose the close ones and win the others in spite of his play.

Two things...

1. It's clear that Clawson doesn't trust Schilz enough to open the playbook.

2. Seperated at birth...(looks, attitude and no respect)

[kdog27]

I don't know one way or another but if I had to guess i would lean on the side of no longer having the respect of his teammates. He doesn't me the impression of someone that other players will rally behind.

[jpfalcon09]

I have a hard time believing Schilz isn't respected by his teammates. I agree that his attitude on the sidelines isn't something you want from your starting QB and leader of the offense, but I don't think he'd be starting if the players felt he wasn't the right person for the job, nor would he have been named one of the captains. He has a lot of growing up to do though if he wants to be more than a mediocre MAC quarterback.

[Beaker]

I have been as disappointed in our QB play as anyone else and agree that's the one glaring weakness this team has going into next year. I don't know if a JUCO player is the answer, but if the coaches aren't at least looking at that option, then they are operating with blinders on. If there's a quality JUCO guy out there that the coaches feel is someone capable of stepping in and improving the position next year, then they should give him a shot. If not, there simply must be an open competition for the position, starting now. The evaluation process should include offseason conditioning, film study and anything else football related where leadership qualities can be evaluated. It needs to be a true competition, not just lip service coach speak about a competition, then hand Shilz the ball for the opener.

I think Clawson is smart enough to know that this coming year has the possibility of being a very special season if things come together on the field the way they look on paper. He also knows that QB is the one postion that could negatively influence wins and losses more than any other position on the field, so I hope he will give any and all other options a very long and hard look before handing the ball back to Shilz. He has built a team capable of doing some very good things next year and I don't think he wants to miss the opportunity by settling for the same level of QB play we got this season. From a personal standpoint, he has a lot to either gain or lose financially, depending on how next season goes.

[footballguy51]

From watching our transformation in our offensive scheme, it appears we've transitioned from the spread that Meyer and Brandon ran into more of a pro-style offense. We are lining up under center more, definitely running the ball more, and throwing the ball less. We need a pro-style quarterback. What that means is we need somebody that can take a 3-step or 5-step drop and unload the ball on target, be comfortable under center and in the gun, and be able to read progressions. We do not necessarily need a speedster scrambling quarterback.

Schilz may not be fast, but he is mobile. When he does run, he is effective. However, since he isn't a consistent running threat, his occasional scramble catches the offense off-guard. I think he's pretty good from under center and in the gun, and his short passing game is accurate. He also knows when to throw it in the dirt when the first read on a one-read play isn't there, which shows football IQ.

The part of his game that I think he struggles with the most would be the mide-range passing game that involves multiple reads, partly because he doesn't often have the time to go through the necessary progression. His long-range passing game is actually fairly good. Unfortunately, the mid-range game (10-20 yards down field) should constitute 30-40% of a pro-style passing game, with the short game being 40-50% of the passing game. These are the percentages in my eyes.

So, how does he improve on the 10-20 yard passes? First, the protection needs to improve some (it improved drastically from 2011 to 2012). Then, he needs to work on reading his keys and working through the progressions. His accuracy seems okay; his main struggle is the time he takes to release the ball. The release time can be improved by practicing and watching lots and lots of game film. I think he may just shock everybody next year and be better than Sheehan was his senior year.

[kdog27]

We may line up under center more but we still run a heck of a lot of shotgun with 4 WR sets and 5 WR sets with the running back motioning into the backfield. That and we run a crap load of read "options". Good mobile or pro style QB is needed, #7 is neither.

[Oldballcoach61]

We may line up under center more but we still run a heck of a lot of shotgun with 4 WR sets and 5 WR sets with the running back motioning into the backfield. That and we run a crap load of read "options". Good mobile or pro style QB is needed, #7 is neither.

Agree 100%. And I surely wouldn't place his inadequacy on the OL. That is just plain BS talk. He is very inaccurate, struggles to read the route progression, and is a zero run threat. Again, after three years and still having these struggles on a consistent basis, it is time to give others a REAL chance. And one ting that Footballguy 51 is true, is that DC has a lot riding on next year, and all the pieces are inline for a great year.