[NU Sports] New QB's and prospects for success

[Jeff Beamsley]

We all want Fitz to do well and we all want to see success on the football
field.

At the same time, I think that we should also recognize that our offense
depends on the QB making a bunch of reads and executing the right play based
on the adjustments that everyone else is also making.  Expecting brand new
QB's to be effective in this system on day one may be setting yourself up
for disappointment.

You also have to figure that every other team is going to recognize that we
are starting an inexperienced QB, so they are going to setup their defenses
to stuff the run and see whether or not we are going to be able to throw the
ball with any consistency.  We'll see our receivers jammed at the line of
scrimmage to disrupt the short pass pattern until we are able to complete
some passes down the field.  We'll also see a lot of blitzing until our QB
proves that he can execute at game speed under pressure.  Other teams are
going to be giving our new QB lot's of chances to be a hero, but that's
because their DC's know that it is rare for a new guy in this position to
hit the field ready to play.

I like everyone else on this list hopes that whomever wins the QB battle
grabs the position by the throat like Baz did and doesn't let go.  But I'm
prepared to have a season like '99 where half the season was gone before
Kustok emerged as the guy who could get it done (before everyone responds,
yes this was also complicated by his eligibility).

Jeff




-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On
Behalf Of DPENDERG at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2006 1:24 PM
To: rstetson at capps-assoc.com; nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] ESPN.com Article on Fitzgerald

 
Yes, it's great to see NU and Fitz get all of the media attention, but  of
course "youngest coach in D-IA" picking up the mantle of his mentor is a
compelling story. Certainly there's a short-term boost for  recruiting,  but
in the end what the Cats do on the field will  determine if this media
honeymoon will continue and the recruits continue to  flock to Evanston.
The media and many Cat fans (including myself) will not  be ready to give
Fitz a free pass for several seasons while he learns how to be  a head
coach. Mark Murphy decided that Fitz was the best successor to Randy
Walker.  I respect that decision (even if some of us had reservations), but
what happens starting on August 31 (against a beatable, inexperienced MAC
team devastated by graduation much more than NU) will validate Murphy's
choice.  All Cat alums and fans desperately want Fitz to succeed --  he's
the first NU alum at the helm, I guess, in decades
-- but media and  alumni enthusiasm do not of course win games.  We will
expect  competitive, well-coached teams from Pat Fitzgerald no less than we
would Randy  Walker.  I'm sure Pat himself would have it no other way.
 
 
In a message dated 8/3/2006 12:18:13 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
rstetson at capps-assoc.com writes:

Lets  face it guys, the only other "story line" in the Big 10 Kickoff was
how  old Joe Pa is, so Fitz being 31 only gave them lots of grist for the
mill.

In addition Pat is a poster boy for NU Football. Grew up in  Chicago area,
played in the burbs, went to NU, All American, Team went to  Rose Bowl, and
that other one [Tennessee], played a few weeks of NFL,  coaching ever since.

Is articulate, intense, and looks like a head  coach. 

The age is just the hook they're hanging the lead on, and I  love all the
coverage.

Go  CATS

rsl

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Roy S.  Lamberton - Senior Associate
Computer Applications & Support  Associates and Publisher of Purple Reign,
The Scout.com Northwestern  University Site
(http://www.purplewildcats.com)
AIM Handle:  CoachRoy74
======== Go Cats -  Beat 'em All =========== "You have a  Republic Madam --
If you can keep it" - Benjamin  Franklin
============================================

>  -----Original Message-----
> From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com
>  [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of Jim Bendat
> Sent:  Thursday, August 03, 2006 11:41 AM
> To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
>  Subject: Re: [NU Sports] ESPN.com Article on Fitzgerald
> 
>  
> Bob Voigts became NU's FB coach in 1947 at the age of 31.  We 
> struggled a bit his first year, but in his second year in
>  1948, we went to the Rose Bowl - and won it.    --   Jim  B.
> 
> 
> >Before anyone starts worrying abou  Fitzgerald's age keep in mind 
> >that Madden was 32 when he became  head coach of theOakland Raiders.
> >
> >John  DeGroat
> 
>  _______________________________________________
> nwu-sports site  list
> nwu-sports at tssi.com
>  http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports
>  


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