QB competition

[Eagle Talon]

Great report! Thanks for doing this.

 

[Rafter_Reese]

Good review, curious what you thought of the OL and DL?

I thought our D-line outperformed our O-line. Our D-line had 4 of the 6 total sacks and they seemed to consistently put quite a bit of pressure on our QB's. I wonder how much of that has to do with our youth up front on O, or, is it that our D-line (and really just our defense as a whole) has just improved? I believe it's probably a combo of both. Our pass-pro seems like it is still very much a work in progress, but it looks to me like our passing game is further along than our running schemes. We only rushed for a total of 31 yards on 33 carries. I believe sack-losses are factored into that as well. Our best runs of the day were by Gubrud and Hennessey and that has me a little concerned. I'm sure the coaches will be discussing that topic after films. I would like to see more push up front, and I do believe that will come over time with this group the more reps they get. Talented but youthful group up front on O.

Back to the QB's. There might not be a ton of clean pockets to throw from this year based on my early observations. That's why, to me, we'll need someone VERY mobile and able to escape to extend plays and keep them alive. I really do think highly of West in terms of what he can do with his arm, but I've got to think the chains will move much more consistently with Gage or Reilly. :twocents:

go eags!

 

[EdubU10]

Thanks for the in depth write up Rafter!

 

[Atomic Eagle]

Thanks for the updates for those of us not able to make it out to the practices.

 

[sammamisheag]

Per S/R:

The biggest: Redshirt sophomore Gage Gubrud is the front-runner at quarterback. If fans didn’t figure it out before Saturday, the stats were clear. Gubrud played exclusively with the first team and threw twice as many passes as Reilly Hennessey or Jordan West, the other top contenders.

Gubrud looked sharp, completing 25 of 34 passes for 208 yards; he ran for 16 more despite playing under what amounted to flag football rules.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/apr/23/gubrud-front-runner-at-quarterback-after-ewu-sprin/

 

[EWURanger]

Maybe Baldwin is leaning that way, but if the Spring game was any indication I think all 3 are very much in the mix going into fall.

 

[Rafter_Reese]

I am really excited about this fall. Gage is showing that he can keep the chains moving. It killed me last year how many drives stalled out on 3rd down. Sustaining drives will be imperative if we want to win the conference and it looks like mobility will be KEY at the QB position in order to sustain drives. It's starting to be more and more apparent to me that we are going to need to throw, and throw a lot next year while our O-line figures things out with the run game. Our QB better be able to run so the defense can't pin their ears back. We have to be able to figure out a way to run the ball though or I feel sorry for whoever is at QB. I trust that the coaches will figure it out....and I know that it is early.....just a little concerned. Very happy about the way our passing game is progressing though.

It's my opinion that Gage or Reilly is going to get the nod. Starting to lean towards Gage like many other fans but I do believe that Reilly is also a stud and could easily handle the job. My question is, who is the better passer between the two of them? If they are equivalent in Baldwin's eyes, you give the nod to Gage because he is even more elusive than Reilly....Right? Or, if Reilly is the better passer, but a little less elusive than Gage, do you give Reilly the nod because he can really pass but still gives you pretty decent escapeability? I know, it's a lot of questions. But I wonder.....

go eags!

 

[EAGLEFUZZ]

From my vantage point West is still telegraphing his throws....Not able to get out and run.

 

[sammamisheag]

Gubrud got most of the #1 team snaps. Very telling.

 

[SeattleBobcat]

Wow... Hennessey and West are both quality QB's, your recruiters seem to hardly ever miss on QB's these days.

 

[ewueagfan]

From my vantage point West is still telegraphing his throws....Not able to get out and run.

This. From what I saw in the Spring game either Gabrud or Hennessey will be the starter next year. Gabrud might have the slight edge. I like West but I don't think he's going to be the guy in the fall. We need to play someone we're going to get 2-3 years out of.

 

[Hambone]

I don't know what to make of the way the reps were distributed. I don't think Gubrud getting the majority necessarily means he's the favorite. He didn't get many this fall or last Spring whereas the other two did. They may just want to put him out there and see what he can do.

 

[Rafter_Reese]

I don't know what to make of the way the reps were distributed. I don't think Gubrud getting the majority necessarily means he's the favorite. He didn't get many this fall or last Spring whereas the other two did. They may just want to put him out there and see what he can do.

These are my thoughts exactly. I've said all along that there wasn't a big enough sample size from Gubrud with live action. I think Baldwin really wants to know what he has with Gage. Practice is one thing, but
gamelike-reps (when pads are flying) are really the best way to make a decision about a QB. This could explain the disproportionate amount of reps he's getting. Baldwin already knows what he has in Hennessey. I mean shoot....we all watched Hennessey come off the bench cold and carve up Oregon last year as a freshman. Not many freshman quarterbacks IN ALL OF AMERICA could have done that. I also believe we would have won that game at N. Iowa if Hennessey didn't get hurt. Still frustrated about the way that one ended. All this being said, Gage is making a huge case for himself. Our defense seems to be improving and he has led some pretty long scoring drives in the last couple of scrimmages against them. I am intrigued by this QB battle.

go eags!

 

[Vic E. Wallace]

Rafter_Reese,
I think Jordan West will still be the #1 QB, I will also say this, anyone of those 3 QBacks can start and win games. Two more practices to go Tuesday and Thursday, will make the Tuesday, Thursday my son is PE/Track Coach at West Valley High, this is their last for the year, so I want to go and see his 4x100 Relay. I am impressed with the improvement all have made. I noticed Gage last year, he impressed me, along with his skills, and the running ability. Yes you are correct, those Quarter Backs will be battling this year, there are two others on the team, Andrew Zimmerman, and Joey Zamora, they are also coming into their own. Good Morning. Vic Wallace

 

[Seattle Eagle]

I think people are forgetting about a very important aspect of who is actually going to start in game 1: Game experience.

 

[clawman1]

I'm sure Beau learned from the "platooning" experiment in Missoula last and the disaster that happened there. I certainly hope he ultimately decides who is the leader of the team and goes with him whomever that may be. Leadership is the quality we can not see in a spring game and probably the most important quality in a QB. Which one is the leader and the other players rally around him and give their best play.

 

[DefendtheRed]

So our number three from 2015 is beating out the numbers one and two? I don't know if this is a good or bad thing.

 

[DefendtheRed]

I'm sure Beau learned from the "platooning" experiment in Missoula last and the disaster that happened there. I certainly hope he ultimately decides who is the leader of the team and goes with him whomever that may be. Leadership is the quality we can not see in a spring game and probably the most important quality in a QB. Which one is the leader and the other players rally around him and give their best play.

I don't think he wanted to platoon them. He pulled West for poor play and then Henessey got injured. Gubrud was the only QB left on the sidelines by that point.

 

[EWURanger]

So our number three from 2015 is beating out the numbers one and two? I don't know if this is a good or bad thing.

I think it means we have a lot of options, and they're all a year older.

 

[EWURanger]

I don't know what to make of the way the reps were distributed. I don't think Gubrud getting the majority necessarily means he's the favorite. He didn't get many this fall or last Spring whereas the other two did. They may just want to put him out there and see what he can do.

These are my thoughts exactly. I've said all along that there wasn't a big enough sample size from Gubrud with live action. I think Baldwin really wants to know what he has with Gage. Practice is one thing, but
gamelike-reps (when pads are flying) are really the best way to make a decision about a QB. This could explain the disproportionate amount of reps he's getting. Baldwin already knows what he has in Hennessey. I mean shoot....we all watched Hennessey come off the bench cold and carve up Oregon last year as a freshman. Not many freshman quarterbacks IN ALL OF AMERICA could have done that. I also believe we would have won that game at N. Iowa if Hennessey didn't get hurt. Still frustrated about the way that one ended. All this being said, Gage is making a huge case for himself. Our defense seems to be improving and he has led some pretty long scoring drives in the last couple of scrimmages against them. I am intrigued by this QB battle.

go eags!

This.