Headlines: Do The Eagles Have A Post Spring Game QB Controversy?
by Brian Favat on Apr 26, 2010 8:00 AM EDT
in Boston College Football
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PrintBrian: I wasn’t at the spring game, but had every intention of watching a replay on CBS Sports All-Access video player yesterday. No such luck. For whatever reason, the video hasn’t become available after the event which is unfortunate. I only have the Athletics Department press release and other writer/blogger write-ups to go off of in forming my thoughts.
Let us start with the biggest storyline coming out of the spring - the quarterback competition. Just Wednesday, Spaziani said that Shinskie is the incumbent and the other three quarterbacks are fine prospects but aren’t ready for prime time. Yet reactions from the spring game tell a different story.
ATL was impressed by Marscovetra and underwhelmed with Shinskie’s performance. Along the same lines, Soaring to Glory wrote that while he didn’t blow people away with his performance, Marscovetra was the day’s winner while Shinskie was the loser. Even Mark Blaudschun noted the progress Marscovetra has made in the Sunday edition of the Globe.
Let's take a look at the spring game final QB stat lines:
Michael Marscovetra (So.) - 13-of-16, 146 yards, 1 TD
Dave Shinskie (So.) - 6-of-12, 50 yards
Chase Rettig (Fr.) - 4-of-12, 49 yards, 2 INT
Joshua Bordner (Fr.) - 7-of-12, 83 yards
While Marscovetra did play against mostly a second-team defense, remember he also played with the second-team offensive line (who gave up 2 sacks). Given the four quarterbacks’ performances in the spring game, are you more or less comfortable with our quarterback situation going into the summer?
Jeff: Like you, I was unable to watch live but was planning on watching the replay. No such luck. I also read the same praises on Marscovetra and questions about Shinskie's play and here are my thoughts.
Based on stats alone, Shinskie's stats were not bad for a spring game. 4.2 yards per attempt but 50 percent completions and no mistakes on limited action isn't the worst outing either. Most importantly, there's no arguing that the first team secondary is far superior in experience and talent right now than the first team receivers. Also, Shinskie had no running game to ease the pressure of him as Montel Harris had a very unimpressive day as well.
Meanwhile, Marscovetra supposedly looked real good while putting up good numbers. This is great that Marscovetra made the most of his opportunities. However, we must not forget that he was going against the second team defense, which, considering injuries and everything contained many third stringers.
To quote ESPN Boston.com's Justin Rice,
"Marscovetra finished 13-for-16 passing with 149 yards but isn't exactly eclipsing sophomore Dave Shinskie (6-of-12 passing for 50 yards) on the depth chart anytime soon."
Marscovetra has had plenty of opportunities last season and in the offseason to overtake Shinskie but has not come close to doing so according to Spaz and many others.
Your thoughts? Are you more or less comfortable with the quarterback situation post-spring game? Who should be the starting QB on September 4?
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Well, they’re going to if this is how Shinskie is going to play. I know you don’t want to take too much from one performance on its own, but honestly, it looked like the same old Shinskie making the same kinds of frustrating mistakes he made last season. If we get to September or so and find that he’s still made little or no progress, there’s no benefit to keeping him as the starter. His “experience” is the only thing keeping him afloat right now.
Marscovetra isn’t going to be an All-ACC QB, but it looks to me like he can do enough to win and not make catastrophic mistakes that cost his team games like Uncle Dave is prone to do (see: BC vs. North Carolina, 2009, et al.).
Soaring to Glory: Come for the BC sports, stay for the asinine rants.
by SoaringtoGlory on Apr 26, 2010 10:06 AM EDT reply actions
I am more comfortable
I am much more comfortable post spring game. I hope M-squared gets reps over the next few months with the 1st team, and that Coach Spaz hopefully makes the best decision for the team, and doesnt just hand shinskie the reins because he’s 25 and has more game experience.
It was tough to see Shinskie regress throughout last season, and continue to put together solid quarters but fail to put together complete games. 6-12 for 50 yards is nothing to write home about, and i’d be interested to see where all 12 attempts went. Is he going through his progressions? If not, i say we start M-squared, what’s the worst that happens?
Mike- seems to be a game manager, and im very suprised at the yardage he put up, but i’m looking for a qb who doesnt make mistakes and gives us a chance to win. He could be the guy come 9/4/2010.
They were bad throws.
He just straight up missed receivers. I remember to start the 2nd half, Shinskie through a quick sideline pass 2-3 yards behind his receiver. They weren’t pretty.
by Richard Hill on Apr 26, 2010 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Second string argument
Only goes so far and I’m not particularly compelled by it. Yes, Marsco played against the second team defense. He also threw to the second and third string receivers (Lindsey, McMichael aren’t first string guys). But then again, maybe this is a plus considering the first stringers had a serious case of the drops last year.
BC Interruption, SBN's Boston College Eagles blog
The dropoff between first and second string defense is far greater
than the dropoff between first and second string WRs.
Might just be my opinion but I feel strongly about it.
Marscovetra has had opportunities to take the starting job in the past and hasn’t. True. The flipside of the same coin is that Shinskie hasn’t played well enough to shut the door on that possibility. Two sides of the same coin.
BC Interruption, SBN's Boston College Eagles blog
Lindsey deserves some PT this upcoming year...
…he bounced up after every hit and was very impressive with his hands.
by Richard Hill on Apr 26, 2010 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Plan
Redshirt both freshmen and let Shinskie and Marscovetra duke it out over the summer. Use Boek as a third string option or consider burning either Rettig or Bordner’s redshirt if the first two options blow up.
BC Interruption, SBN's Boston College Eagles blog
marscovetra
he looked good at the end of the v-tech blowout last year, which is impressive. We see what happened when shinskie was inserted after a dismal offensive performance at clemson, so i think we can get behind this kid.
D-Fense, D-Fense
Who e er is the QB is going to be just ok, not outstanding. We’re going to run, run run, with a mix of lots of short passes and the occasional long ball — to keep the D honest.
So no matter what BC is looking at maybe 20 pts a game
bq. We really need to not focus on QB issue, but look at the D. The D is going to get us bowling or not. the offense is really just along for the ride.
As for D, it all hangs on the DL…Not pass pressure, then weaker pass coverage etc.
I think
We know what were going to get out of our D, our Linebacking core is phenomenal, our secondary is very good, and judging by spring ball it looks like our D-Line will be atleast average, so it’s looking good there, probably only need 20 points and we’re in every game. The question is if our offense will be capable of CONSISTENTLY scoring 20+ ppg
by Jiftastic on Apr 27, 2010 11:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
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