Question for the Board Re: Quarterback

[ChupacabraDawg]

The thread about Schrader got me thinking about something... Do you guys think the one thing that is really been our Achilles heal (for pretty much the entire existence of a football program at MSU) has been the lack of a truly elite quarterback? I mean a quarterback that was elite in highschool and all the rankings and performed that way in college as well. We've had great defenses over the years. We've had really good RBs and WRs. But it seems like that has been the one thing that we've never really had. I'm a big Dak fan but no one will ever say he's an elite passer. He's a playmaker. I'm just curious what everyone else thinks on this.

 

[Requiem For A Dawg]

He was elite his senior year for sure. 3,800 yards passing. 66% completion percentage. 29 TDs 5 ints.

 

[notoriousD_O_G]

Agree overall that we don't have the most stellar history with QBs but Dak in 2015 completed 66% of his passes had 29 TDs and only 5 picks. He is not an elite passer in the NFL but as a Sr he was damn near automatic even with the limited running game and OL problems.

 

[ChupacabraDawg]

I hear that but what I'm getting at is that we've never had someone that came in a 5 star qb and rolled out into the draft in the same position. I don't know if we've ever had an elite HS qb come in have we?

 

[coach66]

I'd look at it in two ways, modern era and pre integration. In the modern era

we have built our teams around defense and the running game with a few good passers mixed in every now and then. Pre integration we weren't really trying, Ole Miss signed players just to keep them from signing with us, it was a Vaught and Bear Bryant tactic that worked well and kept your rival down and it was legal. I am hopeful that Moorhead can be successful with bringing more balance to our offenses and the QB's will show up to run it.

 

[missouridawg]

It probably has a lot to do with the high school football in MS as well. Elite QBs who can throw the ball we’ll begin practicing that **** in middle school.

This isn’t a knock on MS high school football.... cause it’s very good football. But I don’t think many teams go out and sling it a ton, traditionally.

I am excited to see what’s KT and JM can do with this offense next season though. They both threw the ball a lot in high school.

 

[maroonmania]

I hear that but what I'm getting at is that we've never had someone that came in a 5 star qb.

FIFY. You could have just ended your statement right there.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

The vast majority of MS high schools can't go out and sling it a ton. You need 22 guys to do that. Slinging it a ton in hs is going to give you a lot of 3 and outs and clock stoppages. You need 11 guys on defense for that and most of our schools can't do that

 

[kired]

Exactly. It's not that MS highschool football lacks kids that could be good QBs. It's the lack of talent surrounding them. You don't find many HS teams here with enough players to have a great passing QB and guys who can actually catch those passes. So for years coaches did the only thing they could with the few players they had.

I'd guess most kids that have grown up in MS and could have been great QBs were probably pushed towards playing baseball instead.

 

[Cooterpoot]

Well, MS has one now and Moorhead was in to see him 2 weeks ago.

3050 yards, 68% comp, 34 TDs, 6 INTs as a Soph (11 games)
4562 yards, 66% comp, 45 TDs, 8 INTs as a Fresh (16 games)

 

[Dr. Funke.sixpack]

I’m going to slightly disagree. It doesn’t take a special talent to learn route running or to catch a football. It’s just easier to teach the running game, and that’s the style in MS for generations.

Most of the good QB coaches who can teach the passing game head for greener pastures where pay is better.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

It has nothing to do with running routes. It’s pass blocking and having enough guys for both sides. Again, most schools in MS don’t have the talent to do that.

 

[Cooterpoot]

Most schools in MS are running some form of a spread offense now.

 

[tcdog70]

we signed the #1 QB in the Nation --Rodney Hudson.. he was a bust but we did get Walt Harris who came with him.

Melvin Barkum might have been a 5 star if back then they had stars. or Don Smith.

 

[fishwater99]

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school/article220664490.html

He's a runner too.

Garrett Shrader, Charlotte Christian: Scored game-winning touchdown with no time left in a 33-32 win over Providence Day. The Mississippi State recruit had 29 carries for 176 yards and four touchdown. He threw for 163 yards and a touchdown.

 

[Dr. Funke.sixpack]

So you’re saying what, below 5A wouldn’t be able to sling it? Even if that is the case that leaves quite a few big programs in state that would have enough.

I also do do not agree that you have to be a large school. Or that you can’t have two-way players.

 

[paindonthurt_]

Please explain why it matters to have a 5 star out of high school who is also a top 2 round draft pick?

Percentage wise compared to success how does that even compare historically?

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

I said most schools. And that is fact. All you have to do is look at what the schools in our state run. If they can throw it, they do. But, there aren’t a lot of them, and I never said you have to be a large school or anything about school size. I said you have to have enough guys to field an o and d. Any school can do it, IF you have the players. Don’t you think most of these schools would love to sling it? You want to be that offense you see maybe once a year and teams aren’t used to preparing for. But again, we don’t have the guys do to that. With soccer, basketball, and baseball being year round football has been hit hard. Used to every kid played multiple sports. That ain’t the case anymore. When schools started offering sports blocks for soccer and baseball football numbers took a hit.
Take a look at Long Beach. They have a great QB who is an MLB prospect and they sling it all over the field. But guess what? They won 2 games because they don’t have the guys up front, or enough guys on defense to make it work.

 

[Rezpup]

Please explain why it matters to have a 5 star out of high school who is also a top 2 round draft pick?

Percentage wise compared to success how does that even compare historically?

Because it helps in recruiting wide receivers.

 

[BiscuitEater]

Well, MS has one now and Moorhead was in to see him 2 weeks ago.

3050 yards, 68% comp, 34 TDs, 6 INTs as a Soph (11 games)
4562 yards, 66% comp, 45 TDs, 8 INTs as a Fresh (16 games)

Current Soph? Name? School? Classification? Dual QB? Spread team?

Thanks!

 

[thatsbaseball]

Our true Achilles heel has always been depth to play in the SEC

 

[coach66]

Very true.

nm

 

[mount lefroy]

I hear that but what I'm getting at is that we've never had someone that came in a 5 star qb and rolled out into the draft in the same position. I don't know if we've ever had an elite HS qb come in have we?

We actually have, but they were before the 'star' system and what proved to be true is that a qb cannot stand alone. Todd Jordan in the late 80's would have been 4 to 5 star. Don Smith would have been considered a 4-5 star. I think Kevin Fant was a 4 star.

We've had the top notch qb's but Bama proves almost every year that it is the offensive line that makes most of the difference. A qb like McElroy can be a mid range talent and lead a team to success. What negates any of the qb talent is a weak OL or weak WR's and RB's who cannot protect him.

 

[Cary Hudson's little bro]

Current Soph? Name? School? Classification? Dual QB? Spread team?

Thanks!

Prob Ty Keyes from Taylorsville

 

[sandwolf.sixpack]

We've had really good RBs and WRs.

We've had some pretty good RB's, but we damn sure haven't had good WR's....our WR talent over the past 30 years is probably in a dead heat with Vandy for dead last in the conference.

 

[PapaDawg]

Ladies and gents- We have a winner. Well said “that’s baseball”!