Dolph sez that Jake is an outstanding quarterback out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School.
It's simply because Kirk is stubborn and loyal to a fault. He loves Jake. He loves his attitude, his personality, and his work ethic. He doesn't want to give up on the kid. His loyalty to him clearly inhibits his ability to see things clearly, and it's becoming painful to watch. Jake played downright awful in the Minnesota game. I was ****** that CJ didn't get in earlier. There was absolutely no reason not to give CJ a chance earlier on in that game. It was clear that Jake was struggling.
I hope I am wrong, but I really think that this stretch run is going to be really hurt by KF decision to stick with JR as the QB of this team. If KF would have made the switch to CJ after the Purdue game, he would have played in 5 1/2 games in a row (1/2 Pitt game, Purdue, Indy, Maryland, jNW, and Minny). I think that is about the time where his top end talent would start outproducing JR's game experience advantage. Nothing can replace actual game time, and even if we laid an egg at Maryland and got blown out at Minny with CJ at the helm, he would still have that game experience, and his arm might well have made the difference in the Maryland game. Lets just say we still lose both of those, and still beat Indy and jNW. We still have the same record, but now we have a weapon at QB who can be a game changer these last 3 games.
As I said I hope I'm wrong, but listening to the Miller and Deace podcast I think about how good OSU is now with JT at the QB spot, and the same with Cook at MSU for that matter. Both players were put in by the coach, as they had more top end talent than the other guy, and once they both had about 5 games of experience (or even less in JT's case) they really hit their strides.
I guess we will see if it is an opportunity lost in about 2 1/2 weeks.
Also just because **** snowballed during the Minnesota game doesn't mean it had to go that way. If CJ comes in and scores a couple times in the first half, mindsets can change dramatically for the second half.
Does the defense have a little more pep in their step if it's a 4 point game? Does our offense sustain drives to keep their offense from getting into such a rhythm? Does the game become a shootout? Who knows.
If Northwestern would have blocked our punt instead of us blocking theirs, it could have been a completely different game. Sometimes it only takes 1 play to change momentum.
I think Dean made some valid points when he started this thread; as a poster, he is typically reasonable and candid. I do not know if switching QB's earlier in the year would have helped. Why? Because I think we have two very average QB's each of whom has some significant weaknesses. Now, these are two very fine young men who have been team players, hard workers, good students, so I am NOT bashing them. If you look at the other QB's in the league, or even in the West Division, I just don't think we measure up.
There is a night and day difference between what you just said and saying that Kirk purposely plays the worse player. I don't understand how so many people on here can confuse the 2. Kirk isn't playing Jake even though he thinks CJ is better. He thinks Jake is better because he is blinded by his love of him.
I'm not making Beathard out to be Andrew Luck, but what are his "significant weaknesses"? He's not as accurate? He takes too many chances, i.e., he won't take the safe play but always goes for the big play? He runs too much? He doesn't know the plays? He's not good in practice? Not challenging you, but I'd like to read what you think they are. I think I know Rudock's limitations, they're baked into him now. Other than inexperience, what dearth does Beathard have that keeps him off the field?
CJ isn't as accurate as JR, and JR gets the team into the correct plays more often than CJ on the audibles. Those are the only 2 things I think he does better than CJ, or at least things you can see outside of practice.
CJ isn't as accurate as JR, and JR gets the team into the correct plays more often than CJ on the audibles. Those are the only 2 things I think he does better than CJ, or at least things you can see outside of practice.
I'm just not convinced that CJ is that good.
I don't think he's as dynamic runner as others believe. He's not been a consistent passer.
I started out in support of Jake. After ISU, I was all for CJ. After NW, I was back on Jake.
Now I'm back to thinking that neither are good QBs.
I think it is a little far fetched to think that CJ changes the Minny outcome. It would take 5 momentum changing plays to sway a game by 40 points.