Adam Rittenberg: Minnesota QBs immersed in competition

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Let's assume Weber wins/retains the job. With Brew publically stating that his starting QB will take all of the snaps, and there will be no platooning, what do you do with Marqueis Gray in 2010 (again, assuming Weber keeps the job/is not injured)? With all his athletic ability, it seems like a waste of talent to keep him on the bench? Do you plug him in at WR / the slot, and/or possibly RB, at times? Or, do you focus more on 2011 and be content with him holding the clipboard and advancing his knowledge of the offense? Is the QB learning curve hindered if he is utilized elsewhere this year? And, if so, is it just more important to get him on the field this year?
 

GoldenRose said:
Let's assume Weber wins/retains the job. With Brew publically stating that his starting QB will take all of the snaps, and there will be no platooning, what do you do with Marqueis Gray in 2010 (again, assuming Weber keeps the job/is not injured)? With all his athletic ability, it seems like a waste of talent to keep him on the bench? Do you plug him in at WR / the slot, and/or possibly RB, at times? Or, do you focus more on 2011 and be content with him holding the clipboard and advancing his knowledge of the offense? Is the QB learning curve hindered if he is utilized elsewhere this year? And, if so, is it just more important to get him on the field this year?
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I for one can't imagine Weber not starting and Gray not getting some time at qb. I just don't see how there won't be some platooning.
 

GoldenRose said:
Let's assume Weber wins/retains the job. With Brew publically stating that his starting QB will take all of the snaps, and there will be no platooning, what do you do with Marqueis Gray in 2010
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The question is whether Brewster is serious about having his starting QB take all the snaps. Let's say, hypothetically that that is the case. If Adam Weber is going to take all the snaps barring injury, I propose a novel approach (remember, this is assuming Brew absolutely won't platoon QBs).

Why not RS MarQueis Gray?

From what Brew and Horton have said, Alipate looks very good in spring ball. Weber has been very durable in his time at the U, at one point playing days after knee surgery. If Weber stays healthy/plays at a high level it makes no sense to waste another year of MQ Gray's eligibility.

Again, this is contingent on Brew refusing to platoon, and Weber staying healthy.

MQ Gray was the #2 dual threat QB in the country behind TP. He has unlimited potential. If he isn't going to start this year I'd like to see him have 3 more years here.

Am I crazy, or does this sound reasonable to anyone else?
 



I thought the same thing but I give it a 15 chance of happening. Honestly if MG is the backup we probably won't see a ton of him, but I see 0 harm in giving him about 10 plays designed for him. He should know the offense too so putting him out there at WR a few times a game and letting him make a play shouldn't be that hard either
 

AhliBobwa said:
Why not RS MarQueis Gray?
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This thought has crossed my mind, but to me it's unlikely because whoever is the #2 QB needs to get reps during the season in case Weber gets sick or injured. I don't think its good team management to not get your backup QB some experience and then expect him to carry the load when the #1 goes down. It would also help Gray for the following year if he had more playing time this year.

I was disappointed last year when Gray didn't get more playing time. He did at the OSU game, but there were a couple other times when he could have gotten in for a series or two. On second thought, maybe that's a good thing with how Fisch ran the show.
 

WAGopher said:
This thought has crossed my mind, but to me it's unlikely because whoever is the #2 QB needs to get reps during the season in case Weber gets sick or injured. I don't think its good team management to not get your backup QB some experience and then expect him to carry the load when the #1 goes down. It would also help Gray for the following year if he had more playing time this year.

I was disappointed last year when Gray didn't get more playing time. He did at the OSU game, but there were a couple other times when he could have gotten in for a series or two. On second thought, maybe that's a good thing with how Fisch ran the show.
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What? Are we talking Big Ten football or 5th grade flag football? At this level, you do not just play a guy to get him experience.

Sure, if the season is a loss, that may change things. But, we all hope that is not the case.
 

Rittenberg obviously is not doing his research.
 



GoldenRose said:
What? Are we talking Big Ten football or 5th grade flag football? At this level, you do not just play a guy to get him experience.

Sure, if the season is a loss, that may change things. But, we all hope that is not the case.
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So you want to go into next season with a rookie quarterback when he could have gotten real game experience this year? The college level is so much more complicated than anything before that yes, you do play the number 2 guy to get him experience.

If you're thinking I meant to play MG at anytime, no, that's not what I meant. I meant when the game situation is right, you get him in for a few series.
 

If it seems likely that Gray won't start ahead of Weber and Alipate isn't a drop off as a back up I think you'll see Gray as a WR and the third QB with Parish a RS. Otherwise expect Weber to start with a short leash. One way or the other Gray is playing this year.

The reason he doesn't red shirt is because in order for that to make sense Alipate has essentially moved ahead of him anyway and then what's the point unless he is changing positions to the other side of the ball and needs to learn a whole new position, I don't see that happening.
 

If Weber is the starter, and Brew is truly committed to giving the starter all the snaps why wouldn't you want to RS MQ Gray?

Gray is a special VY or TP level talent. Those don't come around every year. If Gray isn't going to be the starter this year, and Weber stays healthy/performs well it seems insane to burn another year of Gray's eligibility for spot duty. If Weber gets hurt or is terrible this train of thought immediately goes out the window.

As for Gray at WR, I just think that's a misuse of his talents. The Gophers have lots of athleticism and budding playmakers at WR. Gray is the best QB prospect to don the maroon and gold since Sandy Stephens roamed the Brick House.

Why not maximize his playing eligibility as the Gophers' starting QB?
 

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