Thinking about Leidner
Nelson is gone and that is a fact. What does Leidner have to work on for next year?
Nelson started over Leidner as a freshman because Leidner wasn’t as fast as Nelson, Nelson was perceived to have more leadership ability and Nelson seemed to understand the offense better.
Coming into fall camp, Leidner was noticeably faster and had a much better understanding of the playbook. The coaches kept saying it was an open competition and I don’t think they were just saying it to motivate Nelson, although that could have been part of it. Leidner is bigger and stronger and has said after being just a passing QB in HS he enjoys getting the chance to run. He likes running. It seems to me, watching Leidner, that Mitch has the stronger arm and is more accurate overall and on the longer passes especially. I think going into the first game the coaches had the two QBs as more or less even but went with Nelson because of the “leadership” factor and Nelson’s experience. In the bowl game however Mitch was plenty fired up and had plenty of leadership.
Going into the spring game and fall practice I think Mitch needs to;
* Learn to read defenses - who is likely to get open and where will the pressure / blitz come from
* NOT fumble !
* Throw the ball away if no one is open and there are no running lanes - this requires knowing roughly where your receivers are so there is “someone in the area” so you don’t get called for intentional grounding.
I am looking forward to watching Mitch in the spring game
Nelson is gone and that is a fact. What does Leidner have to work on for next year?
Nelson started over Leidner as a freshman because Leidner wasn’t as fast as Nelson, Nelson was perceived to have more leadership ability and Nelson seemed to understand the offense better.
Coming into fall camp, Leidner was noticeably faster and had a much better understanding of the playbook. The coaches kept saying it was an open competition and I don’t think they were just saying it to motivate Nelson, although that could have been part of it. Leidner is bigger and stronger and has said after being just a passing QB in HS he enjoys getting the chance to run. He likes running. It seems to me, watching Leidner, that Mitch has the stronger arm and is more accurate overall and on the longer passes especially. I think going into the first game the coaches had the two QBs as more or less even but went with Nelson because of the “leadership” factor and Nelson’s experience. In the bowl game however Mitch was plenty fired up and had plenty of leadership.
Going into the spring game and fall practice I think Mitch needs to;
* Learn to read defenses - who is likely to get open and where will the pressure / blitz come from
* NOT fumble !
* Throw the ball away if no one is open and there are no running lanes - this requires knowing roughly where your receivers are so there is “someone in the area” so you don’t get called for intentional grounding.
I am looking forward to watching Mitch in the spring game
