Anyone else excited to see if Derby can probe he needs to stay at QB. Now that Rudock has signed his LOI I just think AJ might be feeling the pressure to show that he has advanced enough at QB to warrant staying in at the position. I know you really want to have 3 QBs, but Iowa will have that next year if Derby moves positions. Just because Rudock is redshirting doesn't mean he can't be #3 on the depth chart. A redshirt can be pulled at anytime during the year.
Excited to see if Derby has progressed at the Spring Game
- Thread starter Foval21
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homerHAWKeye777
Well-Known Member
From what I've heard ... Derby has been made very good progress. I could definitely be wrong, but I really don't expect Derby to switch position SOONER than the 2012 spring camp. If Rudock can catch him by then ... then yeah, I anticipate that he'd probably be more amenable to a position change. However, until then, I still think that he's pushing to follow in Vandenberg's "footsteps." Of course, that said, while I do anticipate that Vandenberg is an obvious front-runner for us at QB in 2011 ... I also believe that the QB competition will be more heated than most folks anticipate (in a good way). The great news there is that competition can be good ....
tm3308
Well-Known Member
I've been hearing a lot of the same. Weinke was a touted prospect for a reason, too. I still think Vandy wins the job, but I definitely think that Weinke will push him to be even better.
I also still think Derby switches eventually. But if he improves to the point where he can win the starting job over Rudock, then that's great too. But if Rudock beats him, I'd rather see Derby move. He's just too good of an athlete to let waste away on the pine.
Nope. I think Derby is an idiot if he think he will play QB here, in a system that doesn't fit his style, or in the NFL.
He had the best opportunity with our LB holes to switch to a position that he has a bright future at.
I for one think after 2011 that Ruddock is the future QB at UI for 4 years. Derby is wasting his talent by being stubborn.
He had the best opportunity with our LB holes to switch to a position that he has a bright future at.
I for one think after 2011 that Ruddock is the future QB at UI for 4 years. Derby is wasting his talent by being stubborn.
tm3308
Well-Known Member
I don't see Rudock knocking off Vandy/Weinke in 2012. 3-year starter? I buy that.
Derby is much better than people give him credit for. He really isn't a Tim Tebow type other than he is very strong and can do the the running that Tebow did. Derby is a much better passer and is very skilled at putting his passes on target. The only QB I really am unfamiliar with is Wienke. I followed his HS career and he was highly touted. Vandy is a stud but I could guess who will be number 2. Rudock will RS and be the QB of the future. Derby just might surprise us all. I can say this, if he does, everyone will be talking about him for the next 2-3 years.
I think Derby should move too. I just think Rudock signing might light a fire under him to show how much he has progressed so he doesn't get changed. Ultimately I think he does. He is not a very accurate passer. In HS he threw under 60% even with his running skills. Tim Tebow's running skills made him look like a better passer, AJ's haven't done that. Weinke is the back-up, Derby has 1 more year max as the #3 then Rudock may become the #2 in his RS FR year. I don't even count Rudock as the #3 out for this year with a RS on him because if injuries happen you can take it off of him so he can play. My post is I am just excited to see how Derby has advanced.
Thomzahawke
Well-Known Member
I would guess; and I stress the word guess here because I know nothing, but if he really wants to play QB and can't win the job then he might ship out. I don't see him on the bench his whole career like Weinke has been so far. I hope that doesn't happen tough, I'd like to see him at LB.
goods10
Well-Known Member
Replacing the turf? It was just put in a couple years ago. The game is set for April 16th I believe.
coralville
Well-Known Member
he could start for 4 years at LB instead of one year at QB. Dumb move on his part in my opinion. I think thatJake will beat him out once he gets here.
Hawkfromnorwalk
Well-Known Member
I agree. Rudock doesn't knock out Vandy or even Weinke but I do think he knocks out Derby after rudock red shirts a year.
JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
The great thing for Derby is this will be his second spring...he should have a real good idea of where he stands...and a better idea this fall when Rudock arrives.
He will be a redshirt freshman in 2011...him coming in early is going to benefit him greatly if he does make a position change. He could conceivably make that move after spring 2012, play special teams in 2012 and fight to be a two year starter at LB in 13 & 14.
He will be a redshirt freshman in 2011...him coming in early is going to benefit him greatly if he does make a position change. He could conceivably make that move after spring 2012, play special teams in 2012 and fight to be a two year starter at LB in 13 & 14.
JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
I highly doubt four year starter at LB...that would mean he would have to start this fall. I don't see that. Morris and Nielsen are two guaranteed starters...one position left...granted, its the position I would project Derby to play, WLB
hawks263344
Well-Known Member
LOL You can not be serious! First off Tebow is one of the best college QB's ever. He threw for over 400 yards in his last college game. I watched Derby play some high school games since I live in Coralville. He can't throw worth a lick! He is not at all skilled at putting his passes on target. For how strong he is he certainly has a weak arm. He does need to stop being stubborn and swith to defense.
homerHAWKeye777
Well-Known Member
Arm strength hasn't really been an issue for Derby. Consistency and accuracy seem to have been more of the issue.
As for claiming that Tebow was a "best ever" QB ... I'd recommend that folks put "scheme" into context. If you don't ... then there are grounds to claim that Leach's Texas Tech teams always had the "best college QBs." The thing is that college football is more than just production.
Of course, that said, I think that Tebow could have developed wonderfully as a QB in a pro-set system too. Ferentz and Co went pretty hard after Tebow too.
A big contrast between Tebow and Derby is that Tebow was a much more polished passer coming out of high school than Derby. However, both guys are football-smart guys who are very strong runners.
homerHAWKeye777
Well-Known Member
I wholeheartedly disagree. While I don't really care where AJ Derby ends up ... if he develops favorably (in the passing game) ... then I think that his skill set would fit VERY NICELY in Iowa's system.
Just remember Brad Banks. How much did Iowa's running and passing game benefit from the ability of Banks to make plays with his feet? You do play action and you have nobody to throw to ... do you realize how demoralizing it is for the D then to have the QB still gash you for 20 yards on the ground?
If Derby can also manage the passing game ... then his legs could give our running game an extra "dimension" that can end up freezing an extra defender. That MATTERS!
Of course, that said, Iowa loves balance. We like being able to pass the ball too. We like to develop NFL-ready players ... and that means that they have to be proficient with regard to how they contribute to BOTH the running and passing games.
