QB battle

fishwater99

Freshman
Jun 4, 2007
14,073
54
48
Last year with the NFL prep year. He will
return to running the QB in a power running
game mode but with the ability to throw it very
effectively. Multiple QBs will play.

I agree and DAK wanted to throw 1st. He didn't want to run as much as our offense needed.

I see it like this.

1. Fitz
2. Tiano
3. Staley
4 Williams
 

aTotal360

Heisman
Nov 12, 2009
21,847
14,620
113
I wouldn't be shocked at all if he started game 1. And if he slips, I think Fitz gets the next look. If Fitz then slips, I wouldn't be shocked if Williams goes right back in.
 

Dawgzilla

Redshirt
Mar 3, 2008
5,406
0
0
Edited because, well, I didn't read the whole thread before responding. I think Williams has a legitimate shot to start some games.
 
Last edited:

coach66

Junior
Mar 5, 2009
12,693
318
83
Agree but Relf was huge and still faster that DW, DW is very slow. DW is a baby

bull he will run over you and made some great runs in the Arkansas game.
 

maroonmania

Senior
Feb 23, 2008
11,160
833
113
I watched and re watched our spring game.....althought the stats show a few INTs from the spring, there were several passes that could have and should have been intercepted, and there were a lot of passes thrown into double coverage......this is the MOST glaring thing i personally noticed during spring game over offense, defense, etc....

True, but we also had several bobbled passes by our WRs that led to at least one or more INTs that hit them right in the hands. Thomas and Mixon seemed to be the worst offenders.
 

ronpolk

All-Conference
May 6, 2009
9,165
4,773
113
True, but we also had several bobbled passes by our WRs that led to at least one or more INTs that hit them right in the hands. Thomas and Mixon seemed to be the worst offenders.

I felt bad for him the egg bowl that he started. He made some great throws and our WR's could not catch it for him. He throws a nice pass though.
 

RiverCityDawg

All-Conference
Dec 30, 2009
2,865
4,354
113
Am I the only one who thinks Williams will see the field? No, I have never thought him to be as capable as the others, but I thought he looked the best in the Spring Game, and he clearly showed the most improvement through the Spring. Combine that with Mullen's love of upper classmen, and I think he will get a serious chance early in the season.

I'm not sold on Fitz as a runner, or decision maker, but that could improve.

Are you saying you're not sold on Fitz as a runner relative to the others? I think he's clearly the best or equally the best with Tiano (though somewhat different styles).

I don't think any of the really stood out in the spring game. If Deddrick Thomas turns his hands the right way and catches that long pass from Fitz in the endzone people would be saying Fitz had the best day. If I had to pick, I was most impressed with Tiano that day, Williams in the second scrimmage and Fitz in the first.

I agree Williams showed the most improvement throughout the spring, in large part because his performance in the first scrimmage was the most gosh awful thing I've seen on a football field since the days when our coach drove a golf cart during practice.
 

Junction John

Redshirt
Oct 22, 2014
3,249
0
0
I think you're right, except Tiano gets a chance if Fitz slips. Apparently, the other players like NT a lot, which might matter.
 
Aug 26, 2015
4,054
284
83
I am just glad MSU Football has moved past the days of QB Battles between Kyle York vs. Mike Hening or Mike Hening vs. Josh Riddle vs. Wesley Carroll or Wesley Carroll vs. Tyson Lee.
 

kired

All-Conference
Aug 22, 2008
7,026
2,349
113
I fully expect Fitz to start and DW to be the first guy off the bench to take snaps when September 3rd rolls around.

The one thing that gives me hope about our OL is that we have much more experience than last year's group. We only had 3 guys who had ever taken a meaningful snap in an SEC game coming into 2015, and one of those honestly hadn't played much (Desper). It was probably the least experienced OL we've had in over a decade.

This year we've got 3 guys returning that have at least 1 season or more worth of starts, plus 2 more guys that saw a decent amount of playing time last year (Jenkins & Calhoun). I'd say we have twice as much experience to start this year than we did last season.
 

RightOfCenter

Redshirt
Dec 5, 2015
1,135
0
0
The talk about upper classman getting reps gave me a vision of Shumpert running east and west and losing two yards. Someone needs to start a running backs thread. **
 

Dawgzilla

Redshirt
Mar 3, 2008
5,406
0
0
I think people are greatly over estimating Fitz's running ability. He is big, but he's not very fast. He had that one long run against Southern where he looked fast, but the reactions form everyone on the sideline revealed how shocked they were that he was able to pull that off. If he can learn to make the right decisions, though, he can likely work out.
 

coach66

Junior
Mar 5, 2009
12,693
318
83
Disagree, Fitz has good speed, especially for a guy his size. He played WR in

High School until his senior year.
 

121Josey

Redshirt
Oct 30, 2012
7,503
0
0
Merlin called him Alex Smith with speed. Fitz has a funny stride, but he has above average speed for a QB.
 

Dawgzilla

Redshirt
Mar 3, 2008
5,406
0
0
His high school teammates would disagree. At least, that's where I'm getting my information. Fitz had good rushing stats in High School because he was far and away the biggest guy on the field. He was not a WR turned QB...he was a backup QB who played WR a little to get on the field.
 
Last edited:

BertleTheTurtle

Redshirt
Nov 4, 2013
288
19
18
I think everybody is underestimating Damian Williams. He had a solid spring, and we all know Mullen loves to play his more experienced guys.

This has to be one of the more disappointing rumors coming out of camp so far. From everything I've read and heard Damian is a stand up kid and an all around great Bulldog, the kind we like to get on campus. His career numbers are 37/70 for 3 TDs and 2 INTs and 7 sacks. He's a good, solid back up who does a good job preparing the younger guys, but he sort of lucked his way into an SEC scholarship on signing day. If he starts, it would only make sense to stick Shumpert right there with him in the back field and be satisfied scoring fewer than 3 TDs per game. He has no elusiveness, he's not a big guy, and he has no top speed. He throws a pretty ball and that's really where the compliments end. Somehow we have to start playing the younger talent and riding out the learning curve, allow those guys to gain on the field experience, and then have a monster coming back in 2017.
 

aTotal360

Heisman
Nov 12, 2009
21,847
14,620
113
With the way Mullins handles upper classmen, I would not be shocked to see Williams for a 2nd stint because we see ES or NT.
 

hotdawg88

Redshirt
Jul 17, 2015
16
0
0
Not sure what former player of mine you are referring to Dawgzilla but Nick was probably top 3 in speed on our team. He ran a laser timed 4.67 his senior year.
 

Drebin

Heisman
Aug 22, 2012
21,667
25,310
113
I think everybody is underestimating Damian Williams. He had a solid spring, and we all know Mullen loves to play his more experienced guys.


Meh. Playing Damian would definitely be a Dan Mullen thing to do. And it would be disappointing.
 

aTotal360

Heisman
Nov 12, 2009
21,847
14,620
113
If Nick is top 3 in speed on our team, we have bigger issues than who plays QB.