Matt Johnson and Other Thoughts

[kdog27]

Also, have we REALLY seen enough from Johnson yet to just assume that he can't throw a deep ball? He's only had 51 throws in his entire career and 23 of them came last night. And before last night he really had just one game played with 17 throws in mop-up duty in that lost cause at VT last year.

And let's not forget that we've never really had that much of a downfield threat with this current offensive coordinator anyway!

+ 1

[Flipper]

At times, it looks like it takes Johnson a looooong time to get rid of the ball. He didn't look to have much zip on the deeper throws that I saw. Will he develop more arm strength with more reps or as he gets comfortable? I hope so because we all saw how much trouble we can have moving the ball relying on the short game and running the ball in our losses at Toledo and in the Military Bowl

[thewebboy]

We have to play with the cards we are dealt. We may not have the 'perfect' QB on our roster. At this point, I trust our coaches to put us in the best position to win.

Honestly, I am fine if Johnson has the same arm as Schilz, but can tuck and run. I'm excited to see what he can do against Kent.

[BGSUFanatic7]

Looking back on it, if Schilz would have went 11-for-23 with a pick, 100% of us would be calling for his head. I understand that Matty J had 50 some rush yards and I honestly believe in him and am excited about his potential improvement. But I really don't know if we made the right decision. Clawson appeared to have 0 confidence in Johnson to throw the ball down the field. And to me, it looked like Johnson looked at his first read and if it wasn't there, he tucked it and ran. Now, I know that is good, but that can easily be defended by spying on the QB.

That being said, it was the first time that Johnson played in a meaningful game. And the lack of throws down the field could easily be explained by Johnson's inexperience and the way the D was playing.

Next game is huge for me. It will say a lot about Johnson. I think he is capable of throwing down the field, and he did a few times yesterday (a few 20 yard passes or so). I know his arm may not be as strong as Schilz, but I do think his mechanics are better. And I do think that he can make throws on the run/off balance better than Schilz.

I also feel like Johnson managed the game well (like Schilz did last year), but he seemed to make some huge plays too that maybe Schilz would not have made. I also like that when plays break down, Johnson is a threat to run AND pass.

But it's also important to point out this:

It seems to me that Johnson's big knock right now is his inability to throw the ball around. And if that continues to be a problem (which maybe it won't be) and we shrink the playbook -- much like we did last year according to Schilz's inabilities -- then don't we pretty much have the same problem?

Nevertheless, I really am excited about what Johnson brings to the table. Just not sure if it will all pan out well. I love how fired up he was getting (something Schilz didn't really seem to bring) and I like the fact that the team seemed to rally behind him.

As far as Schilz and the decision to bench him quick, I don't know what to make of it. We got two 1st downs our first drive and then stalled the second. He was 1-for-4. Two of the incompletions were because the two rookie tackles got beat and Schilz got hit. The other incompletion was a bad throw to an open Joplin.

[zete]

A four year starter that still is not head and shoulders above the rest is not the guy to lead us to a championship. Remember guys like E White, J Harris and O Jacobs? Somehow m schilz just doesn't make the grade. As for the running backs: quick and small all and all we have the makings for a great year probably not top 25 but with some luck we could get some votes should be a fun year a new head coach in place for next year

[Redwingtom]

Looking back on it, if Schilz would have went 11-for-23 with a pick, 100% of us would be calling for his head. I understand that Matty J had 50 some rush yards and I honestly believe in him and am excited about his potential improvement. But I really don't know if we made the right decision. Clawson appeared to have 0 confidence in Johnson to throw the ball down the field. And to me, it looked like Johnson looked at his first read and if it wasn't there, he tucked it and ran. Now, I know that is good, but that can easily be defended by spying on the QB.

That being said, it was the first time that Johnson played in a meaningful game. And the lack of throws down the field could easily be explained by Johnson's inexperience and the way the D was playing.

Next game is huge for me. It will say a lot about Johnson. I think he is capable of throwing down the field, and he did a few times yesterday (a few 20 yard passes or so). I know his arm may not be as strong as Schilz, but I do think his mechanics are better. And I do think that he can make throws on the run/off balance better than Schilz.

I also feel like Johnson managed the game well (like Schilz did last year), but he seemed to make some huge plays too that maybe Schilz would not have made. I also like that when plays break down, Johnson is a threat to run AND pass.

But it's also important to point out this:

It seems to me that Johnson's big knock right now is his inability to throw the ball around. And if that continues to be a problem (which maybe it won't be) and we shrink the playbook -- much like we did last year according to Schilz's inabilities -- then don't we pretty much have the same problem?

Nevertheless, I really am excited about what Johnson brings to the table. Just not sure if it will all pan out well. I love how fired up he was getting (something Schilz didn't really seem to bring) and I like the fact that the team seemed to rally behind him.

As far as Schilz and the decision to bench him quick, I don't know what to make of it. We got two 1st downs our first drive and then stalled the second. He was 1-for-4. Two of the incompletions were because the two rookie tackles got beat and Schilz got hit. The other incompletion was a bad throw to an open Joplin.

1. Clawson doesn't call plays does he? Doesn't Ruggerio?
2. I don't think a starter has been named for Kent yet has it?
3. We didn't need to throw the ball much last night. We were ahead and the ground game was effective.

[footballguy51]

Wait, so did Clawson give a thorough explanation as to why Schilz was pulled so early? I tried finding something but wasn't able to. Watching from the stands yesterday it sure looked like Schilz didn't have enough time to prove his worth one way or another and pretty much everyone sitting around me was curious as well, especially after seeing a few of Johnson's throws, but I definitely think MJ's mobility was a huge positive for the offense. Could it be that the coaches identified that we were going to win the game by running over Tulsa instead of throwing over them which is what made Johnson the prime choice for the rest of the game?

Either way, I was glad to see us dominate Tulsa and was encouraged to see that our defense hasn't lost a step. Boo Boo Gates looked like a grown man out there.

I'm waiting for the explanation. I was wondering if perhaps Schilz got injured slightly, but he stayed in full pads, helmet in hand, but a ball cap on. I have no clue. Towards the end of the game, he didn't look too happy standing in the offensive team huddles on the sidelines, arms crossed, half paying attention. I tend to agree he wasn't really given the opportunity. Johnson came out and looked worse to begin with. After halftime, the game got better, but only because he started running. If Schilz were in there, would we have had better throws? I'm not really sure what's going on here. Somebody mentioned in a different thread that it's a shame to not play the veteran running backs, and that they could get discouraged and speak negative in the locker room. You don't think that will happen with Schilz?

I went back to watch the first two series with Schilz. Maybe it's just me, but I don't see where there was this huge bad thing with his play. In the first drive, he completed 1 of 3 passes, but his first pass was a quick throw away to keep from getting sacked. He completed his second for a first down, and his third pass wasn't great but wasn't horrible considering he was under pressure. His fourth pass, the only pass on the second drive, should have been better. But, is that enough to pull him that quick?

[gspointer]

I agree with football guy. Schilz really was not given an adequate chance to prove what he could do. I just do not see us winning wit a weak arm against a good defense. They will stack us up make us throw and if we cannot we will struggle. His arm clearly is not as live as any QB I recall seeing here.

[Bassdrummin]

As far as pulling matt, i have to wonder if that was the plan from the beginning. How many times will we play against a young defense in a meaningless non-conference game?

I agree with what was stated earlier - if Schilz would have completed 47% of his passes for only 151 yards - id be calling for some changes.

[Flipper]

I agree with football guy. Schilz really was not given an adequate chance to prove what he could do. I just do not see us winning wit a weak arm against a good defense. They will stack us up make us throw and if we cannot we will struggle. His arm clearly is not as live as any QB I recall seeing here.

Well...he's better that Freddie Barnes was in 2006...

[hammb]

I agree with football guy. Schilz really was not given an adequate chance to prove what he could do. I just do not see us winning wit a weak arm against a good defense. They will stack us up make us throw and if we cannot we will struggle. His arm clearly is not as live as any QB I recall seeing here.

Well...he's better that Freddie Barnes was in 2006...

Is he?

I know that Johnson will get better, of course he will. It was his first real taste of playing time, he will only get better with experience.

But I'm not seeing a whole lot of arm talent out of him. You can win with a guy like that, but I'm not convinced you can win what this team wants (and should be expected to).

[kdog27]

Schilz is not a good QB. 35 games starting gives more than enough proof of that. He isn't going to come out and suddenly be an All MAC guy. He is who he is. A 55-60% passer, no threat to run, throws interceptions, looks down defenders, and looks like crap in the pocket. Sorry that is all I have ever seen from him. To make matters worse he has gotten steadily worse since the 4th game of 2011.

I'm not ready to declare Johnson a star but I can live with mistakes from a new guy when the veteran has never learned from his. After 35 starts you would think he would come out poised and with a fiery attitude. I saw neither. Clawson did the right thing

[gspointer]

I know that Johnson will get better, of course he will. It was his first real taste of playing time, he will only get better with experience.

But I'm not seeing a whole lot of arm talent out of him. You can win with a guy like that, but I'm not convinced you can win what this team wants (and should be expected to).[/quote]

Schilz is not a good QB. 35 games starting gives more than enough proof of that. He isn't going to come out and suddenly be an All MAC guy. He is who he is. A 55-60% passer, no threat to run, throws interceptions, looks down defenders, and looks like crap in the pocket. Sorry that is all I have ever seen from him. To make matters worse he has gotten steadily worse since the 4th game of 2011.

I'm not ready to declare Johnson a star but I can live with mistakes from a new guy when the veteran has never learned from his. After 35 starts you would think he would come out poised and with a fiery attitude. I saw neither. Clawson did the right thing

You saw all that in two series?

[kdog27]

No I have seen it in 35 starts and 2 series that pointed to more of the same.

[Flipper]

Schilz has had some MONSTER games here...we're going to need him to do again this year. I'm skeptical that Johnson's the guy that can carry us.