2010 the season

[WestSideRabbit]

Re: 2010 the season

I've heard the same things Jimmy regarding our QB's. Shonka didn't see the field this year because he had back surgery in the offseason and decided to take a medical redshirt. We will be fine. We have a ton of young talent that the coaching staff will develop. It takes a very special kind of player to come in and play as a Fresh/Soph for SDSU.

[Rabbitlivinginverm]

Re: 2010 the season

I'm not hearing good things about Whittier's plans. Three different players have told me he's probably not sticking around, and that he hasn't been too happy since Coach Bailey (who had him #1) left.

I also hear that Mondol (who has been a great teammate, I'm told) might depart to be closer to his family (recall that his mother passed away early in the fall).

Even if they stick around, I'm sure QB will be an area of emphasis on the recruiting trail.

I can confirm the same. I hope Whittier stays, he provides something that is very tough to defend.

Also, Gant may be gone as well.

[Nidaros]

Re: 2010 the season

I can confirm the same. I hope Whittier stays, he provides something that is very tough to defend.

Also, Gant may be gone as well.

I think this a sign that our program is on a march forward, and competition is more than some can handle. I wish them both the best. Seems like Gant was having some problems in practice this year, I can recall what, where and when, but he did not get as many minutes as last year.

[JimmyJack]

Re: 2010 the season

I think this a sign that our program is on a march forward, and competition is more than some can handle. I wish them both the best. Seems like Gant was having some problems in practice this year, I can recall what, where and when, but he did not get as many minutes as last year.

Reminds me: I've heard the same transfer rumors about Gant from those same three players.

We'll see. We've got plenty of talent on the team. Two or three departures is nothing really to worry about. Do I wish they'd take on the challenge and work their way onto the field? Yes. But if they won't, maybe they just aren't comfortable here, and I don't hold that against them.

[joeboo22]

Re: 2010 the season

I was told Whittier is going to some NAIA college or DIII school around Saint Louis?

Seems he was told that it would be an open competition and he thought it wasn't....

[slosho]

Re: 2010 the season

Seems he was told that it would be an open competition and he thought it wasn't....

Sound's vaguely familiar, wait wouldn't a coach's mis-construed words say just that? As in the Coach Stig comments that got the board fired up prior to the U of M game.

[jackmd]

Re: 2010 the season

Sound's vaguely familiar, wait wouldn't a coach's mis-construed words say just that? As in the Coach Stig comments that got the board fired up prior to the U of M game.

Management, not all its cut out to be. You can please some of the people/employees/players/fans some of the time, you can please all of the..........................

[slosho]

Re: 2010 the season

Management, not all its cut out to be. You can please some of the people/employees/players/fans some of the time, you can please all of the..........................

Agreed, I was just saying if I'm a kid that really wanted on the field... I MIGHT take a comment like that and run (perhaps the wrong direction) with it.

[Jacks99]

Re: 2010 the season

I like O'Brien, I like O'Brien, I like O'Brien........ I am going to say that until I believe it. Just may take awhile. We need our QB to at minimum be a threat to run. Otherwise defending the Jacks offense is just to simple. He also needs to learn how to put the ball away. To many fumbles when being hit. Take care of the ball, take care of the ball, take care of the ball. Coaching staff needs to say that to O'Brien until he believes it.

Great season Jacks and I thank you for the excitement.

GBGBGJ

I don't think the TO's were that bad for TOB. Many were in sticky situations and most of the fumbles were from unabated rush at his back. It's not like you can be ready to pass with the ball cradled in your belly. That said, he needs to get that 6th sense or eyes in the back of his head as we have talked. That will come.

Seems his biggest issue is tipped balls. Not sure if he's telegraphing those?

Overall I think offenses can adapt to whatever QB style you have, especially if they have a whole off season to prepare this year with him the likely starter. If he can develop a better pocket sense and quick release like a Marino/Manning style he will be just fine even with a so-so line.

[Prairiehaas]

Re: 2010 the season

A threat to run by the QB would also be nice. I would expect that should TOB be the starter next year he will be allowed to change the play at the line when the D is in an obvious blitz package.

[SpeedRabbit]

Re: 2010 the season

Rabbits will have very good depth again next fall.. Coach Stig and his staff are doing a great job of recruiting and they know what it takes to get us to the top

[KUlawJack]

Re: 2010 the season

I don't think the TO's were that bad for TOB. Many were in sticky situations and most of the fumbles were from unabated rush at his back. It's not like you can be ready to pass with the ball cradled in your belly. That said, he needs to get that 6th sense or eyes in the back of his head as we have talked. That will come.

Seems his biggest issue is tipped balls. Not sure if he's telegraphing those?

Overall I think offenses can adapt to whatever QB style you have, especially if they have a whole off season to prepare this year with him the likely starter. If he can develop a better pocket sense and quick release like a Marino/Manning style he will be just fine even with a so-so line.

As one of my friends told me (former player on the offensive side of the ball for the Jacks), TOB failed to make the proper checks at the line and adjust his protection schemes on a number of plays this year. That led to a heavy portion of his fumbles, including the fumble for a TD at Minnesota. I watched for it against Montana and understood exactly what he was talking about.

Hopefully with another year under his belt TOB will be able to make those reads at the line and make the proper adjustments, that will help a lot.

Pocket sense will come. He already has a quick release, something that you can't teach or practice as far as I'm concerned. Its just familiarization with the schemes.

[SpeedRabbit]

Re: 2010 the season

Any more news on Gant on the possibility of transferring? Can't seem to figure that one out..

[Kemo]

Re: 2010 the season

As one of my friends told me (former player on the offensive side of the ball for the Jacks), TOB failed to make the proper checks at the line and adjust his protection schemes on a number of plays this year. That led to a heavy portion of his fumbles, including the fumble for a TD at Minnesota. I watched for it against Montana and understood exactly what he was talking about.

Hopefully with another year under his belt TOB will be able to make those reads at the line and make the proper adjustments, that will help a lot.

Pocket sense will come. He already has a quick release, something that you can't teach or practice as far as I'm concerned. Its just familiarization with the schemes.

I completely agree with this assessment and I will expand on it further:

TOB needs to work on his hard count (or go on 2/3 on his silent count, usually indicated by raising/lowering one of the the QB's legs) in the shotgun. This forces defenses to tip their blitzes or at least will delay them so they can't get as good of jump.

Once the blitz/defensive scheme is revealed, don't be afraid to make an audible at the line to attack the defense's weakness (or at least not go into their strength). This will especially help when the defense is stacking the box on first down.

Don't stare down the receivers. This resulted (as Jacks99 mentioned) into many of the tipped balls this year and also leads to routes getting jumped by defenders. The great thing about being the QB is that you know were all the receivers are going to be, therefore the QB needs to be keying off of the defenders. Make use of your peripheral vision and have your head facing the spot were you want the defender to be, not the receiver, and then look at your receiver after you decided he is/will be open to ensure accuracy (having one's footwork down pat is also the key making these throws come out quickly and accurately).

...and the main thing: have confidence in your ability to do all these things! I think TOB has a lot of confidence in his arm, but he has to have confidence in his knowledge and preparation in order to make these kinds of adjustments.

I know TOB was just a freshman and actually played very well for the most part, but I feel like he has the potential to be great, and if he can start getting the hang of these other aspects of the quarterback position, the Jacks could advance past the first round of the playoffs next year even with a tougher schedule.

[jackrabbit1979]

Re: 2010 the season

As one of my friends told me (former player on the offensive side of the ball for the Jacks), TOB failed to make the proper checks at the line and adjust his protection schemes on a number of plays this year. That led to a heavy portion of his fumbles, including the fumble for a TD at Minnesota. I watched for it against Montana and understood exactly what he was talking about.

Hopefully with another year under his belt TOB will be able to make those reads at the line and make the proper adjustments, that will help a lot.

Pocket sense will come. He already has a quick release, something that you can't teach or practice as far as I'm concerned. Its just familiarization with the schemes.

Did anybody else listen to WNAX pre-game on Saturday? They had interviews with both Coach Bubak and Coach Meadows about their planning for the afternoon. Coach Meadows relayed some information that I found very interesting. He basically said that their plan against Montana was to make things as simple as possible in the passing game - screens and outs, only passes down the field vertically, no routes over the middle, and nothing too complex. Said specifically that they weren't asking TOB to make any checks, any reads, no audibles, just go out and perform what play is given to him. I think his exact words were "just play quarterback".

I'm openly admitting that I'm not a great football mind, but my thoughts are it's hard to blame TOB when he wasn't given the opportunity to fully use his tools and that of a normal college QB - a great arm and the ability to read what the defense is giving you. We can't be upset that we didn't check out a three straight runs in the 2nd half as Montana stacked the box if we don't have the audible calls in the package. We can't be upset that we didn't call the right hot route on the blitz if it wasn't an option.

The bigger question at hand would be though, why wasn't any of this included in our plan? Is TOB not skilled enough to succeed in those situations? Is it because he is a Freshman and lacks that experience? Did our coaching staff feel overconfident that our defense would win the game for us? Did they not trust our players to make the proper reads/plays? All questions that I, and most of us on the board, can't answer. But I don't think we can put all the blame on the QB by what we see on the field - it sounds like he might have been working without a few tools in his toolbox for most of the year.