Spencer Petras - Is he going to make it?

Hawkfnntn said:
We should be more patient It's just tough. The similarities to how JC started out are legit. Those of us that saw that still have a bitter taste in our mouths with how KF handled it. This kid has such an amazing resume that if times were normal and he had 2 or 3 cupcakes (and spring practice) to tune up with I'd have to think it'd have made a significant difference. So that alone is why I'm not throwing in the towel on him. I've seen where Stanley has vouched for the kid saying he was great in practice the last 2 yrs. So this yr is just a developmental let's see how much we can get better season. Look forward to hitting the ground running next yr
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I think your right, but I see nothing wrong with being patient with the progression of a QB (or any player for that matter) while being frustrated with the staff. We are not going to recruit QB's who can come in from day 1 and take over a team, but it drives me nuts that our QB's take over as redshirt freshmen, redshirts Sophomores, or even redshirt juniors while taking no, or very little, meaningful snaps. So while I don't think its fair to take that out on the player I definitely think its fair to target that frustration on the coaches.
 
#1DieHardHawk said:
With all due respect to Bill Walsh (assuming he actually said that), you absolutely can teach accuracy. QB coaches almost universally point to footwork as the key. That said, like with any skill, everyone has a glass ceiling. Arm strength definitely is a little harder.

What's really difficult to teach is the mental processing that's required to excel. All of the great QBs have that innate ability to process information pre and post-snap incredibly rapidly, and calmly. You also can't really teach some of the intangible qualities that we see in the great ones, such as moxie, mental toughness and leadership.
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What you suggest would seem to make logical sense, but with all due respect, I'm gonna trust Bill Walsh on this.
 
Hawkfnntn said:
They should certainly be trying that inside the 20 every dang time. I mean at least once a possession. If he's one on one he will either catch it or be interfered with. Plus it seems to be the best ball Petras throws so far. Those two TDs to him were by far the best balls Petras has thrown accuracy wise. I'm frustrated he only throws one a game. Why not 5 of em? I mean make em start doubling and stop it geesh
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Exactly, I said after 2 games it seems Petras's best throws and most confidence are the long out patterns and the long sideline pass between the corner and safety. There are less defenders by the sideline to have to see and over the middle even watching on tv looks like a Rome Italy traffic circle with players going all over the place.
 
Grady said:
Bill Walsh, former 49rs coach who is considered one of the best QB coaches of modern times, was who I was referring to. He actually identified 'accuracy' as the most important trait of a QB and one that can't be taught. I know the NFL values arm strength, for good reason,, but when you think about the best QBs in NFL history -- Montana, Brady, Brees -- none of them will ever go down as having even above-average arm strength. Accurate as hell, tho. Manning may be the exception. I trust Walsh on this, because I see it playing out at all levels in college ball. It's the difference between solid QBs and great QBs.
I would also add that in modern college football, if you are a QB and present no running threat, the offense REALLY needs an accurate QB to be a truly great team, and again, this is my concern with both Stanley, who was good, and Petras, who also looks like he will be good, but probably not great. I hope Petras ups his completion % consistently to 65-70% and I'm proven wrong. But like I said in my previous post, I'm not gonna hold my breath.
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Well, coaching Petras to check down to really open running backs and other open receivers is a must. Scratch where it itches. The last game had plays called and probably scripted that were easy throws to pretty open receivers and I think that might have been to settle Petras down.

There is nothing wrong with getting 4 yards with a short pass on first down and keeping the completion percentage up. Make the defense defend the whole width of the field to open up holes in pass coverage.

And as someone said to agree with me about BSmith and Tracy and ISM let's throw the ball downfield to also loosen up the defense.
 
He was still throwing high way too much against MSU. He also mixed in quite a few fastballs. It's only been three games but he's been in the program long enough that he shouldn't have those issues to the extent he does. And while we didn't have our MAC game and our FCS game we still had Purdue and Northwestern which isn't much different. Neither of those are good teams.
 
He's got three games under his belt and went straight into B10 competition under very odd circumstances (i.e. covid). I haven't seen anything that makes me rule out the possibility of him developing into a solid QB at this level. He seemed a bit hyped up in those first couple games, but looked a lot more comfortable in game 3.

That's a long winded way of saying give him some time. I don't think this was going to be Iowa's year to make a run at the national title irregardless of who was at QB.
 
#1DieHardHawk said:
With all due respect to Bill Walsh (assuming he actually said that), you absolutely can teach accuracy. QB coaches almost universally point to footwork as the key. That said, like with any skill, everyone has a glass ceiling. Arm strength definitely is a little harder.

What's really difficult to teach is the mental processing that's required to excel. All of the great QBs have that innate ability to process information pre and post-snap incredibly rapidly, and calmly. You also can't really teach some of the intangible qualities that we see in the great ones, such as moxie, mental toughness and leadership.
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"Glass ceiling"?
 
Grady said:
Bill Walsh, former 49rs coach who is considered one of the best QB coaches of modern times, was who I was referring to. He actually identified 'accuracy' as the most important trait of a QB and one that can't be taught. I know the NFL values arm strength, for good reason,, but when you think about the best QBs in NFL history -- Montana, Brady, Brees -- none of them will ever go down as having even above-average arm strength. Accurate as hell, tho. Manning may be the exception. I trust Walsh on this, because I see it playing out at all levels in college ball. It's the difference between solid QBs and great QBs.
I would also add that in modern college football, if you are a QB and present no running threat, the offense REALLY needs an accurate QB to be a truly great team, and again, this is my concern with both Stanley, who was good, and Petras, who also looks like he will be good, but probably not great. I hope Petras ups his completion % consistently to 65-70% and I'm proven wrong. But like I said in my previous post, I'm not gonna hold my breath.
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Totally agree. The only thing I would add along with accuracy being such a differentiating thing is throwing with anticipation. To be accurate when you don't have the strongest arm is throwing it anticipating the player getting open before they necessarily are. A lot of strong arm Qbs don't do that so much cause they want to be sure and wait till they see a player being open first. Which with the speed of secondarys can often be too late to do.
 
We all know how STUBBORN the Captain can be. Gonna be a long 3 years. Petras just doesn’t have the ‘it’ factor. Prolly an amazing practice quarterback tho!
 
hawkdrummer1 said:
"Glass ceiling"?
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What I mean by that is that we all have genetic limitations on how far we can excel at a trait, physical or mental. We work within a predetermined confine/range.

For example, I used to be a sprinter, but I know that no matter how much I practice, I'll never run the 100 in under 10 seconds.
 
koralakers said:
We all know how STUBBORN the Captain can be. Gonna be a long 3 years. Petras just doesn’t have the ‘it’ factor. Prolly an amazing practice quarterback tho!
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Most Iowa QBs are lacking in the ‘it’ factor that’s why they end up at Iowa. Petras has an arm and he is young so at worst he will be a JVB or at best Nate Stanley. He’s never going to be Brad Banks.
 
I think we should give him a chance...usually takes some time to settle in. Remember, he's not looking at the sideline like most college QBs are doing...and getting signals from an OC about what the defense is doing and where the ball should go. He's make those decisions himself...and working through progressions on his own...so yes...there is more to being an Iowa QB than at other schools.

Hopefully, he relaxes...sees the field...and starts making plays. The screen game alone would benefit the offense greatly. BF has made three or four great calls, with everything working perfectly and Petras can't get the ball the back. Goodson would still be running at Purdue, and he had a touchdown against MSU if the ball is where it should be.

Friday night...Petras has to show up. Minnesota is going to sell out to force him to beat them. We are going to need to score points to beat them...likely 30 or more...as Minnesota's offense is starting to get their bearings.
 
MelroseHawkins said:
Ya' all need to be a bit more patient. The guy is only in his 3rd game as a starter and this year thrown to the wolves right away with BIG 10 games. He had no Ball State's or Miami of OH to get his fee wet.

Mark my words, he will end up being one of KF's top 3 QB's when all said and done, and a chance at #1. When done, he may be the best NFL QB prospect from Iowa with his skill set. He also may be the last starting QB for KF we watch.
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Thrown to the wolves? He played poorly against 3 teams that aren't very good. Sure he has a great skill set, so did Nate Stanley. He's the equivalent of a pitcher that throws 100mph with no control at all. Teams will stop the run, and make Petras beat them, and so far he hasn't been showing the ability to do that.
 
Caddy said:
Thrown to the wolves? He played poorly against 3 teams that aren't very good. Sure he has a great skill set, so did Nate Stanley. He's the equivalent of a pitcher that throws 100mph with no control at all. Teams will stop the run, and make Petras beat them, and so far he hasn't been showing the ability to do that.
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For all the offensive fireworks last Saturday Petras threw a whopping ONE toucndown.

Smith is the only player on the roster with a TD catch through three games.

I was happy to see us punch a few in, however, and not settle for field goals.

I think Northwestern is a little better than "not very good" Their front seven on defense is loaded with experience. And Ramsey gives them a playmaking QB.
 
Northside Hawk said:
For all the offensive fireworks last Saturday Petras threw a whopping ONE toucndown.

Smith is the only player on the roster with a TD catch through three games.

I was happy to see us punch a few in, however, and not settle for field goals.

I think Northwestern is a little better than "not very good" Their front seven on defense is loaded with experience. And Ramsey gives them a playmaking QB.
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I underestimated Northwestern but it was still a game we should have won. I've seen enough good from Petras that I'm sure he will be good, but it might not be good enough this year. Next year I see him being very solid. It's a good year to break into the Big with no real crowd noise for a QB.
 
Caddy said:
Thrown to the wolves? He played poorly against 3 teams that aren't very good. Sure he has a great skill set, so did Nate Stanley. He's the equivalent of a pitcher that throws 100mph with no control at all. Teams will stop the run, and make Petras beat them, and so far he hasn't been showing the ability to do that.
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You will so be eating your words by the time he graduates. Yes, thrown to the wolves meaning he didn't have a spring practice this year and didn't have any directional schools to play first. Doesn't matter how damn good the BIG teams are, they are still BIG 10 teams.
 
MelroseHawkins said:
You will so be eating your words by the time he graduates. Yes, thrown to the wolves meaning he didn't have a spring practice this year and didn't have any directional schools to play first. Doesn't matter how damn good the BIG teams are, they are still BIG 10 teams.
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He looked pretty damn good against the Michigan School of the Undesirables ;)
 
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