Flood will pick Rettig,they are tied,but less static about the backup

[ruready4somefootball]

For as long as I can remember, the fan base has always wanted the backup QB to start. When they say it's the most popular position to the fans, this fan base has proven that time and again. Not that it's fair to Chris, but last season when he came in for mop up duty, he looked average, and that's what most will remember. All things being equal, there will be less pressure on Flood with this pick.

 

[newell138]

yes, Flood and other coaches often make personnel decisions based on the pressure they may or may not receive from the fan base.

 

[RCTrooper]

I get the sense that more people will be happier with the Rettig pick as starter.

 

[ClassOf02]

I get the sense that more people will be happier with the Rettig pick as starter.

I agree -- I get that sense too. I think the consensus is that Rettig has a much higher ceiling and folks are hoping he approaches it. Whether he will or not remains to be seen.

 

[ruready4somefootball]

yes, Flood and other coaches often make personnel decisions based on the pressure they may or may not receive from the fan base.

I'm glad that's all you took from my post,have a nice day.

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

I'm glad that's all you took from my post,have a nice day.

You didn't put a space after your comma.

 

[sherrane]

I get the sense that more people will be happier with the Rettig pick as starter.

The poll on this site posted last week had about a 15+ point advantage for Rettig (~53% to ~36%), so you are probably right. But I can't imagine that anyone (excluding friends and family) has already locked themselves into a corner. Whoever is the starter will need to play well against Norfolk State and Wazzu or else we'll continue the trend mentioned in the OP. (As I recall, the last RU starting QB to have nearly 100% of the fan base's support was Mike McMahon.)

 

[srru86]

I'm glad I don't have to choose.
Not sure why people think reading the internet gives them to tools to make the choice.

 

[RUich]

With just the stats from the scrimmages to go with, this looks like a dead heat. The fact that they are not dealing with real game pressure of a real sack, etc. it is really difficult to know what they will do then.
I think we may see both quite a bit in the first game. Hopefully, we will not be a tight game with Norfolk St. and it gives the coaches time to see them both in a real game.

 

[Upstream]

I would guess that most fans don't have any idea whether Rettig is better than Laviano, or vice versa.

But many fans were may have been less than impressed from what they saw from Laviano last year. If Flood chooses Rettig, that gives those fans hope that Rettig is better than what they saw from Laviano.

If Flood chooses Laviano, some may assume that he improved during the off-season, but many will take that as confirmation that either we have no upside at QB, or Flood is a poor evaluater of talent.

So from a perspective of pleasing the average fan, Rettig is the safer choice. Of course that's a pretty poor reason to select one QB over the other.

 

[CranfordKnight]

I get the sense that more people will be happier with the Rettig pick as starter.

For me, I would be happier with Rettig as the starter, but not because I prefer one to the other, or don't like Laviano. It's really about the hype that surrounded Rettig when he transferred. At the time, no one was saying "hey, what about Laviano?" It was more that we had upgraded the talent at that position. So just from an emotional standpoint, it would feel like a letdown if he isn't the starter. But I would support 100% either as the starter.

From a football, not emotional standpoint, the fact that Rettig is neck-and-neck with Laviano seems to favor Rettig to me. He was so far behind in the spring, and has had so much less time to work in this offense that I just think there is so much more room for improvement than with Laviano, who if he was that much better would be way ahead still.

 

[RUMBA-JK]

I think that Flood , Fridge and McDaniels will lay it out - objectively as possible (and objectively it is pretty much a toss-up) - then factor in what their 'gut' tells them - and a lot is going to pivot around what they sense are the basic instincts of these two - does one of them just naturally have a more fierce competitive streak? does one of them tend to have a heightened sense of awareness when the situation become more intense?
I suspect that if Fridge says - 'ya know, it just seems to me that XXX has that intangible quality - that quality that I have always looked for that will make all the difference in crunch time' - that will likely be the guy

 

[RU Husky]

I'm hoping it"s Laviano so that we can get Shill and Bus to reappear

 

[newell138]

Since its so close I would imagine no matter who the starter is, the backup will see at least a quarter of game time against Norfolk St if not more.

 

[RedSpartan]

From a football, not emotional standpoint, the fact that Rettig is neck-and-neck with Laviano seems to favor Rettig to me. He was so far behind in the spring, and has had so much less time to work in this offense that I just think there is so much more room for improvement than with Laviano, who if he was that much better would be way ahead still.

Totally agree with this.

 

[JPhoboken]

Since its so close I would imagine no matter who the starter is, the backup will see at least a quarter of game time against Norfolk St if not more.

How about a half? Or alternate drives, we are going to win anyway, why not evaluate them in real game conditions. THen pick a qb and move on. After that I know Flood will be reluctant to play a backup. Its been his MO.

 

[DJ Spanky]

That's great: can you tell me what the next million dollar lotto jackpot numbers are gonna be?

 

[Section118]

Pretty sure Flood said he likes blondes more.

 

[wasiman]

If they are that close let them both play and then decide after game 2.

 

[RickB113]

Since its so close I would imagine no matter who the starter is, the backup will see at least a quarter of game time against Norfolk St if not more.

I doubt it. Whoever is selected needs to get as many reps as possible before. The WSU and PSU games. Pick one and that is who we will go with until at least after the PSU game.

 

[Ru2bnj]

First bad game by whoever is picked to start and the fans will be screaming for the backup. That is what fans do.

 

[DJ Spanky]

Pretty sure Flood said he likes blondes more.

Well that's because...

 

[mdk01]

I would guess that most fans don't have any idea whether Rettig is better than Laviano, or vice versa.

I certainly don't. That's while I'll go along with the coaches decision until it's proven wrong on the field.

 

[JPhoboken]

First bad game by whoever is picked to start and the fans will be screaming for the backup. That is what fans do.

Yes we do, but screaming is justified if Flood lets a QB having a bad day throw 6 picks in a game like he did with Nova. I don't have a problem with A head coach picking a starter. I have an issue with leaving him in "no matter what" which is what Flood does.

 

[srru86]

Fox Sports
Big Ten East QB races remain open as openers near
I know I should start getting used to it but I'm still excited to see our QB race mentioned in this company.