Spring Practice: Sterling and Defense Have Good Day, Young Receivers Too

sounds like Shane is winning the competition....

Cal I wouldn't bet the house on that. I expect Sanders to win again and be the best he's been. But....he has been a bit injury prone. That could cause a change up.

I agree, they will likely do the PC thing, but IMO we should put in the best QB, and it's not dual threat... never has been, not for the past decade.

Our last, and only, successful dual threat QB was Zach Robinson. It also took him until his Junior year to get the passing game figured out and truly become a dual threat. He was pretty good as a Junior and Senior. I prefer recruiting guys that can throw the ball well, and then if they can run well that's a bonus. Our most consistent offensive success has come with teams that have a QB that executes the passing game well and is augmented by a good RB.

CaliforniaCowboy said:

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I agree, they will likely do the PC thing, but IMO we should put in the best QB, and it's not dual threat... never has been, not for the past decade.

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Gundy has a history of sticking with QBs that have started. When he switched from Bobby Reid to Zac Robinson was that PC? Gundy stayed with a hurt Robinson after Weeden had come on and won the CO game. Was that PC? Gundy will probably stick with Sanders because of experience and versatility. Not sure that has anything to do with PC. I do not have a "dog in the hunt" just what history has shown. Did you get to watch Illingsworth in HS out in Norco, CA? I believe he will be a great QB here but, as history has shown, he will need to wait his turn and once presented perform well. I was impressed with Illingsworth last year.

I realize that is the popular mantra, but I've never bought into any of that gibberish. Nothing personal, but I heard that story line way to many times.

Robinson was good and could pass. Weeden, reportedly, did not practice well (he was THIRD string). Nowhere near the same.... Robinson was a gamer and could stand in the pocket without getting happy feet.

A better example might have been the questionable redshirting of Rudolph, which clearly was not the correct choice (but again, he was a "freshman" and was third string). Gundy has started true freshmen at QB.

Illingworth has already come in, as a true freshman, and proven he can get the job done, with no spring, no summer and practically no Fall, and was able to be successful moving the team, even coming in as the third string QB in his first game to pull off a come from behind against what turned out to be a good Tulsa team.

where as, Sanders could not beat out Corndog, and could not separate himself from Brown, in consecutive seasons. I HOPE he can be CONSISTENTLY successful this year, but there is no real evidence to support that.

Passing teams are always more dangerous and more prolific, at all levels, especially combined with a strong running game.

and to answer your other question, yes, I saw him, I live in Norco, but don't have a dog in the hunt. I believe that good passing QBs are the #1 option. If you need a rally, or come from behind, then you'd better have somebody that can throw the ball.

CaliforniaCowboy said:

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I realize that is the popular mantra, but I've never bought into any of that gibberish. Nothing personal, but I heard that story line way to many times.

Robinson was good and could pass. Weeden, reportedly, did not practice well (he was THIRD string). Nowhere near the same.... Robinson was a gamer and could stand in the pocket without getting happy feet.

A better example might have been the questionable redshirting of Rudolph, which clearly was not the correct choice (but again, he was a "freshman" and was third string). Gundy has started true freshmen at QB.

Illingworth has already come in, as a true freshman, and proven he can get the job done, with no spring, no summer and practically no Fall, and was able to be successful moving the team, even coming in as the third string QB in his first game to pull off a come from behind against what turned out to be a good Tulsa team.

where as, Sanders could not beat out Corndog, and could not separate himself from Brown, in consecutive seasons. I HOPE he can be CONSISTENTLY successful this year, but there is no real evidence to support that.

Passing teams are always more dangerous and more prolific, at all levels, especially combined with a strong running game.

and to answer your other question, yes, I saw him, I live in Norco, but don't have a dog in the hunt. I believe that good passing QBs are the #1 option. If you need a rally, or come from behind, then you'd better have somebody that can throw the ball.

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So, what is PC about Sanders over Illingsworth? HC Gundy will pick Sanders over Illingsworth because of what reason in your view? Illingsworth had a very limited playbook. Sanders has 20+ game experience and showed in the Cheez-it Bowl, with the opening drive and 10+ straight plays of throwing it, he is not too bad. Not real gibberish just what he has shown on the field and how Gundy has picked QBs in the past. Not sure PC had anything to do with any of his QB choices.

PC may not have been the best choice of terms, but meant "the easy choice" (win a game today at the risk of developing for the future) rather than making the move that will benefit the team both now and longer term.

maybe Sanders is "better", but he's clearly not the better passer. He appeared to do okay in the bowl game, but everybody has a story about bowl game participation or lack of, and possible lack of effort by this team or that team. I'm not going to go back and rehash that. Besides, Illingworth didn't have much experience, and didn't have spring and summer to develop... that was then.

this is now...

I think you could give Sanders 60 games and he would not be better than Illingworth, but there is only one way to know that (aside from Gundy looking at practice, and going with his preference towards running QBs).

It's just a discussion between us fans, but it's hardly fair to claim Sanders is better because he has more reps, and not give the other guy reps to demonstrate that he's better.... case in point, Rudolph didn't get any reps until he was forced into the game, and the coaches changed everything just to keep him mostly on his feet the first game, after that it was smooth sailing and off to the future.

If Illingworth had been available last spring and summer, I don't think he would have come out after Sanders went down... but that's just this one fan's opinion.

We don't get to see the QB grading sheets from practice, but my goodness we lost to a freaking marginal TCU team, scoring only 6 points in the 2nd half and going 7-19 on 3rd downs, and they fumbled the ball 4 times.