What grade would you give Nelson in his collegiate debut?

What grade would you give Nelson?

  • A

    Votes: 7 6.3%

  • B

    Votes: 65 58.0%

  • C

    Votes: 34 30.4%

  • D

    Votes: 6 5.4%
  • Total voters
    112
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It depends on what the question is asking...

If it's asking us to judge his play considering all of the factors...I'd give him a B.
If it's asking us to judge him compared to other Big 10 QBs right now . . . I'd give him a C-
If it's asking to judge the entire decision process (with what we know). . .I'd give it a D.
 

C. No better, no worse than can be expected from a true freshman QB.

Now, if you are comparing him to Shortell's 1st start as a QB in Michigan, it is an A.

Would have to agree with Bob_Loblaw on the grades as well.
 


I'd give him a C- if my standard is what I expect from a quarterback taking the field as a starter for a Big Ten football team.

If I consider that he was a true freshman, making his first start midseason on the road, I give him a B or B-. He looked promising but certainly not great. His completion percentage wasn't great. That second interception was a bad decision throwing into coverage and then bad execution throwing behind the receiver. I think he will be a productive quarterback, but not a one man savior of the program.
 

I voted B but agree with most of the rest. If you are evaluating him against other QB's I would bring him down to a C. when you evaluate based on the situation I think he fits as a B given all the things working against him today.
 

Hard to say. Looks like he has the intangibles. Second interception was thrown into triple coverage, but it is his first game. I can see why Kill wants him in place. Reminds me of Chandler Harnish.

I can see both sides of the redshirt issue, but if he was our best chance to win today, why wasn't he our best chance to win when Gray first went down?
 

50PoundHead said:
Hard to say. Looks like he has the intangibles. Second interception was thrown into triple coverage, but it is his first game. I can see why Kill wants him in place. Reminds me of Chandler Harnish.

I can see both sides of the redshirt issue, but if he was our best chance to win today, why wasn't he our best chance to win when Gray first went down?
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PoundHead...just what are intangibles in the game of football? Somewhere along the line there is terminology that does not mean a phucking thing.
 



If we're grading on a curve, I'd probably give him a B for effort as a true freshman on the road. By the standards of a Big Ten quarterback it was a C- or a D due to the multiple picks and inaccuracy.
 

What would the score have been with Shortell? Probably about the same. Nelson did well under trying circumstances, but we can't seem to find a QB who can pass much above .500 and we haven't really had a running game (other than the read option) since Brewster arrived. Can't win in the B10 this way...
 

I'll give him a B, the second pick was bad, but he made some nice throws as well, not to mention he lead the team in rushing, considering we were missing a couple recievers and the olson brothers on the line, the defense were going to have to get it done today and we couldn't stop the run
 

Great Plains Gopher said:
What would the score have been with Shortell? Probably about the same. Nelson did well under trying circumstances, but we can't seem to find a QB who can pass much above .500 and we haven't really had a running game (other than the read option) since Brewster arrived. Can't win in the B10 this way...
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To be fair, Nelson started out 3/9 passing. That might have been nerves and/or being on the same page with the receivers. After that, he was 10/15. If nothing else, I think this is going to give the fan base something to get excited about for the Purdue game.
 



Breakin' The Plane said:
To be fair, Nelson started out 3/9 passing. That might have been nerves and/or being on the same page with the receivers. After that, he was 10/15. If nothing else, I think this is going to give the fan base something to get excited about for the Purdue game.
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Good point.
 

Bob_Loblaw said:
It depends on what the question is asking...

If it's asking us to judge his play considering all of the factors...I'd give him a B.
If it's asking us to judge him compared to other Big 10 QBs right now . . . I'd give him a C-
If it's asking to judge the entire decision process (with what we know). . .I'd give it a D.
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This.
 

I was at the game and would give him a C. That being said he looked very good for a true freshman. Stave is a redshirt freshman and people were griping about his first few games, until someone compared his stats to those of Stocco in his first year - Stave is better.

I think Nelson will be a good QB. At least you didn't say "What was THAT about?", which was often the case with Gray.
 

Dr.Don said:
PoundHead...just what are intangibles in the game of football? Somewhere along the line there is terminology that does not mean a phucking thing.
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He seemed composed and didn't force too many things. Didn't have a "deer in the headlights" look. Looks like a guy who will be the calmest player on the offense, which is what you want out of your QB.
 

I bet Nelson has a great game @ TCF vs Purdue....I bet we win!
 

I give him a B, a true freshman in his first start on the road against our biggest rival, behind a horrible O-line, no running game to help and inexperienced/incompetent receivers. Nelson was put in a tough situation and I think he handled himself well. The coaching staff's grade on the other hand is a completely different story.
 

Considering it was his first start, considering it was on the road, considering they were playing a quality B1G opponent, considering he was missing his 2 best OL, considering the QB-Center snap has been a struggle, I think he did ok. I give him a B, there is certainly room for improvement, I liked what I saw though.
 

A solid B

At first I didn't like giving up his red-shirt, but now we need to realize next year we will have a three year starter with experience. I feel bad Gray is not the answer and as well as Max has played at times I do not think he is the answer. Nelson did not give up his red shirt without his approval or his parents approval so I think this is a decision that will benefit all parties in the future!
 

An L. For locking on to receivers. At least once before the snap.
 

I gave him an "A". Loved his skills and wish he was a badger. Quick feet, good arm, quick release-he's a very talented guy and somebody you can build a program around. If he's diligent and learns from his mistakes while working hard he'll be a superb quarterback next year.
 

A couple plays stand out, the run with the nice move and his first completion. He can be very good. Reminds me of Weber a bit - tough, strong arm, good runner, poised as a freshman. Ceiling hopefully higher than Weber both passing and running.

I'd give him a B because of the one bad pass but we have to expect that. I heard after the game that Kirkwood was 5 for 8 yards. Superman couldn't do much with that.
 

GeorgiaGopher said:
Gave him a D because Kill wasted his redshirt...
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Who should have started in place of Nelson? I am under the impression the first and second string QB's were hurt. Maybe they should have started somebody else like me.
 

Consider this

Nelson is a true freshman playing quarterback in the Big Ten. Jerry Kill pretty much has called Gray a savior, saying we desperately need him healthy. The team has been built around Gray all spring, summer and fall. Nelson is going to his hometown and Jerry tells him Friday night on the plane he's the starter. Did the team know? Gray was healthy enough to start at wide receiver but not quarterback? Did Gray feel that way? His body language was not that of a happy guy. Shortell was the backup. He's standing ready to play on the sidelines. How comfortable could Nelson possibly be? My impression was Gray was unavailable, period going into today.

Our offensive line is patchwork and "young". Our running game not effective. I think Nelson did well. As stated, he was 10 for 15 after a rough start. How many balls did we drop again today. Yes, Nelson threw a couple off target passes and a bad interception. The other one, Barker let the defender take it away from him again. AJ had position, the ball was very catchable, the defender stole it. Like Max, Nelson was under duress a lot.

I think he can be very good. I hope he convinces me he can be great. He didn't do that today but our field position sucked all day. When it didn't we scored. If he is our starter the rest of the way, Jerry has balls because Gray was telling me he wanted to play quarterback TODAY. By next week as he is healthier, how hot will it get in the kitchen? Jerry has a lot riding on Nelson. How loud and how long was the phone call from Max's dad? Who is the team behind as their guy? Lot of stuff goin' on.
 

60's Guy said:
Nelson is a true freshman playing quarterback in the Big Ten. Jerry Kill pretty much has called Gray a savior, saying we desperately need him healthy. The team has been built around Gray all spring, summer and fall. Nelson is going to his hometown and Jerry tells him Friday night on the plane he's the starter. Did the team know? Gray was healthy enough to start at wide receiver but not quarterback? Did Gray feel that way? His body language was not that of a happy guy. Shortell was the backup. He's standing ready to play on the sidelines. How comfortable could Nelson possibly be? My impression was Gray was unavailable, period going into today.

Our offensive line is patchwork and "young". Our running game not effective. I think Nelson did well. As stated, he was 10 for 15 after a rough start. How many balls did we drop again today. Yes, Nelson threw a couple off target passes and a bad interception. The other one, Barker let the defender take it away from him again. AJ had position, the ball was very catchable, the defender stole it. Like Max, Nelson was under duress a lot.

I think he can be very good. I hope he convinces me he can be great. He didn't do that today but our field position sucked all day. When it didn't we scored. If he is our starter the rest of the way, Jerry has balls because Gray was telling me he wanted to play quarterback TODAY. By next week as he is healthier, how hot will it get in the kitchen? Jerry has a lot riding on Nelson. How loud and how long was the phone call from Max's dad? Who is the team behind as their guy? Lot of stuff goin' on.
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I was 100% in favor of Max starting if he was healthy. However, if the call from Max's dad was loud, I hope to god it wasn't very long (and Kill hung up on him). He's a grown man, his pops shouldn't be whining about PT to the Coach.

That said, the Gray dilemma is intriguing. I think it's obvious that Gray gives us the best chance to win games and we aren't that far from being bowl eligible. With a team as young as we are, going to a bowl game would be huge (for the program but also for the additional month + of practice). So it would seem like you'd have to start the guy who gives us the best chance to win as many games as possible.

On the flip side, burning Nelson's RS kind makes you "pot committed" to this gamble, doesn't it?
 

Bob_Loblaw said:
I was 100% in favor of Max starting if he was healthy. However, if the call from Max's dad was loud, I hope to god it wasn't very long (and Kill hung up on him). He's a grown man, his pops shouldn't be whining about PT to the Coach.

That said, the Gray dilemma is intriguing. I think it's obvious that Gray gives us the best chance to win games and we aren't that far from being bowl eligible. With a team as young as we are, going to a bowl game would be huge (for the program but also for the additional month + of practice). So it would seem like you'd have to start the guy who gives us the best chance to win as many games as possible.

On the flip side, burning Nelson's RS kind makes you "pot committed" to this gamble, doesn't it?
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It's weird. Miami's QB showed up in a walking boot, played the whole game against FSU. They're different styles of player, but each was battling an ankle injury. Did Gray volunteer to go back to WR, knowing that's his best chance to get paid at the next level?
 

Bob_Loblaw said:
I was 100% in favor of Max starting if he was healthy. However, if the call from Max's dad was loud, I hope to god it wasn't very long (and Kill hung up on him). He's a grown man, his pops shouldn't be whining about PT to the Coach.

That said, the Gray dilemma is intriguing. I think it's obvious that Gray gives us the best chance to win games
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Not picking on you, Bob, as many others have made this very same comment but I just don't understand why this is such a widely held belief. Gray is a Senior more than halfway through his final season. Just about every offensive coach that he has played under, it seems, has come to the sobering realization that he's not a very good QB.

Today he played a good chunk of the game at WR. Makes it hard for me to believe he's not healthy enough to play QB. This staff wants to win games, needs to win games. If Shortell doesn't ding his head against NU, it's very possible Gray never takes any snaps at QB in that game either. So maybe it's not all that "obvious" that Gray gives them the best chance to win, unless the staff are a group of masochists who had every intention of losing the last couple games.

Let's face it, if you're healthy enough to take the field, and you've been replaced in a rivalry game by a kid who has never taken a college snap, it's hard for me to believe the staff has much confidence in you. He was clearly healthy enough to play last week against NU, and yet Shortell started that game. These aren't exactly ringing endorsements from the people who see you day in, day out.

Not looking to get into an argument, it's just that the actions/decisions of the staff would lead a reasonable person to believe there's just not a lot of faith there.
 

B

He was thrown to the wolves with a beat up OL in Camp Randall against one of the B1G's better defenses in his first start.

Everything is relative Nelson ran tough, made some good throws, and only threw one pick I would say was his fault.
 

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