Which game should Croft be phased in to split time?

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Triple D

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I was looking ahead at the schedule. I have no doubt that we roll 100% with Leidner for the Michigan game, that is looking to be an almost must win game since it's at home and then we have to travel to Ohio State and Iowa. Assuming we lose the Michigan game, which looks like a real possibility when should we give an increased role to Croft?

On the road against #1 ranked Ohio State?

How about in a huge rivalry game at Iowa the following week?

My guess is the Illinois game but I think he should be given 3-4 series a game from here on out.

Trial by fire, even going against highly ranked Ohio State and Iowa.

Thoughts?
 

With all due respect... Leidner is NOT the issue with this football team.

I hope you're just asking this question more as a means to get our backup some game reps and not that Croft is the guy next year and the reason we haven't won this year.

Leidner is better in every statistical category than last season. The difference between last season and this season can be summed up by the following:

1) Offensive Line Play
2) No big play threats - Cobb & Maxx
3) Injuries
4) Lack of Turnovers forced

I have no issues with Croft gaining experience, but I still believe that Leidner gives us the best chance to win football games, and to the dismay of many should probably start his senior season. Give the guy a healthy offensive line, some skill position weapons and he'll be just fine.
 

Problem is we need two wins. There isn't much time available.

I Jerry & Co. believe Mitch is their best option.... so short of him getting hurt they'll play him as much as possible.

The worrisome thing is Mitch is a Junior, seems to have the same balance of good and bad, not sure it changes next year.

Not much room for Croft time there.
 

Triple D said:
I was looking ahead at the schedule. I have no doubt that we roll 100% with Leidner for the Michigan game, that is looking to be an almost must win game since it's at home and then we have to travel to Ohio State and Iowa. Assuming we lose the Michigan game, which looks like a real possibility when should we give an increased role to Croft?

On the road against #1 ranked Ohio State?

How about in a huge rivalry game at Iowa the following week?

My guess is the Illinois game but I think he should be given 3-4 series a game from here on out.

Trial by fire, even going against highly ranked Ohio State and Iowa.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

First off I think they should be phasing him in some since they have pulled the redshirt. That being said I think the only way he gets in is if Mitch gets hurt or we get way up or way down in a game. If the game is in doubt at all I think the coaches will continue to roll with Mitch. I assume Croft will get more time this season but if he doesn't it will make the decision to pull his redshirt a very strange one when they could have just gone with Perra during garbage time.
 

GopherTrev said:
With all due respect... Leidner is NOT the issue with this football team.

I hope you're just asking this question more as a means to get our backup some game reps and not that Croft is the guy next year and the reason we haven't won this year.

Correct, not a thread to bash Leidner at all, just wondering when would be the best time to get our back up some valuable playing experience.
Click to expand...
 


I wanted Croft to play in the non conference, but understood and supported the redshirt idea. Now that they burned the shirt, they need to get him some snaps, even if it is a series here or there and not a true split.

I support and defend the coaches often, but this one I might have trouble defending
 

Don't play croft while the line is struggling this bad.
 

Good post Triple D. It is a hard question. I am sure the coaches want to play him, but when? We can't throw away the season at this point so we have to play ML7 if he gives us the better shot to win. Hate to waste the redshirt. I don't have the answer. Should have played last Saturday tho.
 

Perhaps Croft should have had a long discussion with Coach Kill prior to having his Red-Shirt burned to find out what he could expect for playing time the rest of the Big Ten Schedule. Maybe one of the other quarterbacks could have gotten some playing time during the 2015 Big Ten Season...you know, one of the kids who had already "benefited" from a red-shirt season already. I often times feel the red-shirt burning only matters in retrospect. For most kids, it really doesn't matter too much. It is only a matter of importance IF the kid turns out to be an All-Star and graduates just as he is peaking. So many times, fans are all fired up to have the scholarship open up by the time the kids have been there four years.

Guess "Croftf-nicks" should be wishing that the "plan" for the red-shirt burn would have included something "in writing..." between the Coach and the Kid.
 



MNVCGUY said:
If the game is in doubt at all I think the coaches will continue to roll with Mitch.
Click to expand...

That's fine and what they should do, but I hope they realize sooner when the game is no longer in doubt. If we're behind by 18 or more in the 4th quarter against Michigan or Ohio State, then the game is no longer in doubt. This team can't outscore those teams by 18 or more points in 15 minutes or less. This isn't just about getting Croft more experience; it's also about saving Mitch from needless wear and tear (both physical and psychological).
 

GopherTrev said:
With all due respect... Leidner is NOT the issue with this football team.

I hope you're just asking this question more as a means to get our backup some game reps and not that Croft is the guy next year and the reason we haven't won this year.
Click to expand...

Leidner is not the primary problem with this team this year, that's true. And Croft does not give us a better chance to win this year. While I don't know if Croft can be the guy next year, he should get snaps in every game so he at least has a chance to compete to be the guy next year.
 

GopherTrev said:
With all due respect... Leidner is NOT the issue with this football team.
Click to expand...

jump_conclusions-600x356.jpg
 

My biggest concern about the question is that at least at this point it appears there was no plan in place...

Without seeing practice, I would argue he should get at least one series a game regardless of opponent. I get that the line is in rough shape and I also agree the best chance to win right now is with Leidner. But he offers a different package that hopefully keeps defenses off guard, plus he gets experience. Realistically, if he isn't in a position to do that, then the real question is why in the world did they burn the shirt? There were how many other choices to play those meaningless series? Why not play Rhoda or Parra to reward the walk-ons?

Obviously if they get way ahead or way behind throw him in.

If the last game was anyone other than Wisconsin, I'd argue to give him an entire half depending on the record (not if they're 5-6, otherwise yes). But winning that game would make the season for most fans, regardless of the final record, ergo it's too important to mess around.

Obviously if Leidner is hurt, Croft should play (even if Leidner is banged up but can play Croft should be in some to lighten his load). I would even suggest having him play nearly half time this week if they had a game due to the thumb injury.
 



Looks like Croft's shirt was pulled for no good reason - doubt he'll get much, if any, playing time - unless Mitch is hurt. Mitch has improved and passed very well against Nebraska. He's the commanding presence now. Maybe Croft will get into the Illinois game a bit, but they played Nebraska close, winning, and beat us last year with Cobb and Maax in the lineup. I don't see our coaches working out any kind of two-QB plan, not even next year.
 

well

the game that Croft should be mingled in was the Ohio Game

since it wasnt then it should be the 2nd possession of the Nebraska game

he lost a year for those 5 minutes in NW and if that is all you are playing him then shame on the coaching staff

they could have used Perra or even streveler for those last 5 minutes
 

Great Plains Gopher said:
Maybe Croft will get into the Illinois game a bit, but they played Nebraska close, winning, and beat us last year with Cobb and Maax in the lineup.
Click to expand...

Why would you think that it's OK to put him in a game that we might have a decent chance to win but not OK to put him in a game that will take a minor miracle for us to win (like OSU or Michigan)?
 

Is Croft even better than Leidner? People seem ready to crown him as the savior of out QB situation, but he has shown very little in the time he has played.
 

DoubleB said:
well

the game that Croft should be mingled in was the Ohio Game

since it wasnt then it should be the 2nd possession of the Nebraska game

he lost a year for those 5 minutes in NW and if that is all you are playing him then shame on the coaching staff

they could have used Perra or even streveler for those last 5 minutes
Click to expand...

He also played against Purdue. Why would you choose to use a backup like Streveler who you already have decided to switch to another position?
 

Whenever a game gets out of hand, one way or another, will be the time to do that. This team still
has a lot to fight for. Its not an easy question, and I doubt the coaches even have more of an answer than
we do at this point. Just take it a game at a time.
 

imthewalrus said:
Perhaps Croft should have had a long discussion with Coach Kill prior to having his Red-Shirt burned to find out what he could expect for playing time the rest of the Big Ten Schedule. Maybe one of the other quarterbacks could have gotten some playing time during the 2015 Big Ten Season...you know, one of the kids who had already "benefited" from a red-shirt season already. I often times feel the red-shirt burning only matters in retrospect. For most kids, it really doesn't matter too much. It is only a matter of importance IF the kid turns out to be an All-Star and graduates just as he is peaking. So many times, fans are all fired up to have the scholarship open up by the time the kids have been there four years. Guess "Croftf-nicks" should be wishing that the "plan" for the red-shirt burn would have included something "in writing..." between the Coach and the Kid.
Click to expand...

I think burning the Croft RS if you weren't going to make him the permanent starter was incredibly stupid.

I think RS absolutely matter more than you give it credit. I think it's huge for building depth. If your starters can be 23 year old RS Seniors, back ups 22 year old RS juniors, etc. that is better and more successful IMO than players a year younger with a year less of experience. Especially that it gives O Lineman in particular more time to bulk up and get stronger and get acclimated to school and such.

It's one thing that really disappointed me about Kill. I wish he would have taken more lumps his first couple of years to preserve red shirts and play for the future. But on the other hand, the early success got us new facilities so I can't complain too much.
 

Another example of how badly these coaches botch up the QB position. They don't even want Croft to make one mistake, so they won't even put him in for a play or two. Why did Kill even bother to burn his redshirt? Next time, just use a RB as the QB if Leidner gets injured.
 

Ski U Master said:
Is Croft even better than Leidner? People seem ready to crown him as the savior of out QB situation, but he has shown very little in the time he has played.
Click to expand...

Not sure anyone in this thread has said anything like that about Croft. I think the whole discussion is about getting an inexperienced QB some playing time now that his RS is burned. This may actually be the most rational QB related thread on GH ever.
 

Ski U Master said:
Is Croft even better than Leidner? People seem ready to crown him as the savior of out QB situation, but he has shown very little in the time he has played.
Click to expand...

In this thread I think folks are more interested in giving Croft some time.... to find out.
 

Spoofin said:
Not sure anyone in this thread has said anything like that about Croft. I think the whole discussion is about getting an inexperienced QB some playing time now that his RS is burned. This may actually be the most rational QB related thread on GH ever.
Click to expand...
Not in this thread, no. In other threads that seemed to be the implication, of course some on here say the same about Perra too...
 


Because Leidner is back next year we might as well red shirt Croft then.
 


The time to phase Croft in would be the Michigan game, if you're going to do it. The team has two weeks to prepare and will be at home, that's about the best situation you can put a freshman in at this point in the season. If you're not intending to play Croft, then I really don't understand the decision to put him in during the Northwestern game.
 

I'll admit I don't watch much Minnesota football, but is there a chance that Croft is "injured" and the staff plans on applying for a medical redshirt? Has he played less than 30% of the season?

Hoke was famous for this...
 


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