The player most likely to win close games is the QB. Callahan had Zach Taylor; Pelini had Taylor Martinez. Next year DR should be the type of QB who can pullout close games for us.
You expected too much from a true freshman. Your analysis is correct, but true freshmen QBs have deficiencies which hopefully will be rectified as they mature. He got us to a Bowl which no other QB has done in the last eight years.
Next year will be the yest for me. In 2023 and 2024 he had to navigate primarily with a rookie QBs. We will also see more of his own recruits on the field.