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Laviano vs other QBs

Jonb127

Freshman
Sep 30, 2012
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I'm not saying Laviano is a star, but it's like some of you guys don't watch any other college football. Maybe you just watch Rutgers and the NFL and think everyone looks like manning? The picking apart of any throw CL makes that isn't perfect is insane. The last 2 games he's played and the majority of the season he's been a good college qb. Yes, he throws into double coverage sometimes, misses an open receiver or under throws a TD. SO DOES EVER QB AT EVERY LEVEL. He makes few big mistakes and plays with poise down the stretch that is impressive for a first year sophomore starter. Even without Carroo he finished off a great comeback yesterday, with a lot of help from Martin for sure but also with some clutch throws.
 
Let me summarize the hater responses that will follow.
1. Rettig is better.
2. Rettig has a higher ceiling
3. Arm is weak
4. Throws off his back foot.
5. He makes bad decisions
6. Flood is stubborn, will never change QBs
7. Fire Flood.
8. Fire McDaniels.
10. His passes have no zip
11. He underthrows his passes.

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

What a joke some people are on this board. At this point, there is little debate who should be the starter, but they will continue with their inane drumbeat.

The Final Drive on BTN was gushing over his performance yesterday. But what do they know?
 
I am not a hater and want the team to win. But I'll take #3 on

3. Think of the play....laviano runs 3-4 steps forawrd and heaves to unleash a bomb touchdown to LC. He under throws him, Carroo gets hurt.....it was a 43 yrd TD pass...43 yrds... He later under throws Agadosi, but based on CA height we are good to go.....if he is the best then leave him in, but that does not mean we all have say he has a strong arm.

Great job by CL leading us back. If he is the best, if he is in I support him.
 
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Haha, points 1-11 can still be true. We just happen to have 2 very good QBs.

Laviano's the man, and he earned it. He has a lot of intangibles, and a lot of things working for him. I think most teams in the country would be happy to have him as their QB, as we should be. The only potential question though... is what happens if Rettig is a superstar, and Flood's wrong about him? I mean the precedent is already there in his brother who was a superstar, and got to the NFL. And in Hayden's brief moments that we've seen - he looks the part.

So, I can fully respect the Rettig v. Laviano argument, and unfortunately it's heated because of the distrust in Flood's past personnel blunders. I don't think anyone's really against Laviano... it's more worry over Flood's decisions. I mean can you say 100% Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, or even Greg Schiano would play Laviano over Rettig? I can't.

But Laviano's our guy, and he's certainly played great football, and deserves it. We should stand by him, but it doesn't rule out that we may feel mighty stupid in hindsight if Rettig's a superstar. Heck, I mean Mariotta and Manziel were on the same team at one time. Tom Brady was backup to Brian Griese. We're just very lucky to have two promising QBs for once.
 
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I'm not saying Laviano is a star, but it's like some of you guys don't watch any other college football. Maybe you just watch Rutgers and the NFL and think everyone looks like manning? The picking apart of any throw CL makes that isn't perfect is insane. The last 2 games he's played and the majority of the season he's been a good college qb. Yes, he throws into double coverage sometimes, misses an open receiver or under throws a TD. SO DOES EVER QB AT EVERY LEVEL. He makes few big mistakes and plays with poise down the stretch that is impressive for a first year sophomore starter. Even without Carroo he finished off a great comeback yesterday, with a lot of help from Martin for sure but also with some clutch throws.

I'm very very critical of Flood, but I agree with you on Laviano. People are looking for an NFL caliber QB. Those don't grow on trees. He's far better than Teel and Nova in their first years. Our defense is by far the biggest problem with this team. Throw the 2012 D on this team and we're looking at a 5-1 record.
 
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Laviano has won me over a little bit. I wish he had better arm strength, but I think his decision making is really good considering he is a sophomore. I have yet to really seen him throw a nova like back breaking interception, which is nice.

I really wish we would have pulled out the win against wash st, especially since in retrospect that was a quality opponent.
 
Haha, points 1-11 can still be true. We just happen to have 2 very good QBs..

How do we know we have 2 very good QBs? Rettig only played against Norfolk State, and truth be told I would have looked good against them. Laviano has short comings, but obviously our staff who sees both of them everyday thinks Laviano is the better option. Maybe there are 2 good options, but as is it is with most teams who are not winning every game the backup QB is the most popular player.
 
How do we know we have 2 very good QBs? Rettig only played against Norfolk State, and truth be told I would have looked good against them. Laviano has short comings, but obviously our staff who sees both of them everyday thinks Laviano is the better option. Maybe there are 2 good options, but as is it is with most teams who are not winning every game the backup QB is the most popular player.
How much zip on your ball?
 
Underthrown!
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Shift, be objective. While the throw to Patton was a beauty, that does not mean Laviano did not underthrow other passes in the game. Are we not allowed to point that out?

I've been on the Rettig side of the debate for the most part but was very happy with what Laviano did yesterday. If either he or the coaches (whatever was holding this back) continue to stay on board with going long to receivers not named Carroo, then I'm more than happy to see him continue to develop. Mason said it multiple times in the broadcast: if everything is short and the defense presses up to cover that, you have to take some shots deep. Yesterday, we did that. Whaddya know, more running room can open up if the safeties are not always within 10 yards of the LOS at the snap?
 
Is it impossible to have the following opinions at the same time? i.e., Laviano is playing well as a starter but Rettig might do just as well or better? Neither opinion will be proven either way since, barring injury, Rettig will be the backup. What is it with people on this board calling people out all of the time questioning their fandom? It's stupid and childish.
 
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Is it impossible to have the following opinions at the same time? i.e., Laviano is playing well as a starter but Rettig might do just as well or better? Neither opinion will be proven either way since, barring injury, Rettig will be the backup. What is it with people on this board calling people out all of the time questioning their fandom? It's stupid and childish.

Does a good fan rip a player for every little error? That is the biggest issue.
 
Shift, be objective. While the throw to Patton was a beauty, that does not mean Laviano did not underthrow other passes in the game. Are we not allowed to point that out?

I've been on the Rettig side of the debate for the most part but was very happy with what Laviano did yesterday. If either he or the coaches (whatever was holding this back) continue to stay on board with going long to receivers not named Carroo, then I'm more than happy to see him continue to develop. Mason said it multiple times in the broadcast: if everything is short and the defense presses up to cover that, you have to take some shots deep. Yesterday, we did that. Whaddya know, more running room can open up if the safeties are not always within 10 yards of the LOS at the snap?
Who is not being objective? You show me a QB who threw every pass perfectly yesterday, and I'll step down.

Sudfield? Nope. Any others? But some of you people just want to harp on the negatives. Sad way to be.
 
I haven't seen players rip Laviano as much ask about the question of leaving him in games where he should not have been....

That is a question for the COACHES, not Laviano.

The blue sky has not seen Rettig play more than one half against an FCS team, yet they have formulated enough data to tell us he is within certainty not better than Laviano?

Yet another reason they and their pronouncements about who is a good fan and everything else is BS.
 
Does a good fan rip a player for every little error? That is the biggest issue.

No the biggest issue is when people put everyone in a group and then uniformly criticize them. Calling anyone who expresses a dissenting opinion a "hater" is the perfect example above in this thread. People who think Rettig may be a better option are not uniformly critical of Laviano. After 3 three and outs in the third Q I said that if he doesn't move the team on the next drive then he should be replaced by Rettig. Fortunately he did move the team and we eventually won. Am I a "hater" or just someone who would like to see a bit more flexibility in the coaches thinking. Was I wrong yesterday? Perhaps, but I am not a "hater". I'm sure in the mind of one of the people above I am and therefor am not a good fan.
 
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I look at Laviano as a safe, capable, back up QB in the B1G. He is a D1 QB, no doubt. There is also no question he lacks arm strength. It's not even a question. He cannot make all of the throws that threaten the full field. His arm limits the playbook and that which the defense has to defend. His percentage is so high because we dink and dunk and throw underneath stuff 95% of the time. He better have a very high percentage or we would lose every game.

He epitomizes Flood's philosophy. Conservative and risk adverse. Most coaches would play the guy with higher ceiling and bigger arm and have him grow into the role to reach his potential. Flood does things different.

I'm not sure how anyone who watches any other teams play would even consider debating this.
 
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I haven't seen players rip Laviano as much ask about the question of leaving him in games where he should not have been....

That is a question for the COACHES, not Laviano.

The blue sky has not seen Rettig play more than one half against an FCS team, yet they have formulated enough data to tell us he is within certainty not better than Laviano?

Yet another reason they and their pronouncements about who is a good fan and everything else is BS.
You understand, right, that these blue sky people are mostly in your imagination? You're inventing "enemies" out of people who simply aren't as obsessed with negativity as you are.

And if you haven't seen people (which is what I assume you meant, not players) ripping Laviano, then you're just seeing what you want to see. Look a little harder. He's getting reamed. The OP is definitely right that a lot of people that post here seem to never watch other college QBs because other college QBs, even those considered to be really good, are making lots of the same "horrific mistakes" that people are beating up Laviano for (particularly the underthrown ball thing).

And I don't think Laviano's a superstar either. Just tired of idiots judging him against Peyton Manning standards.
 
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You understand, right, that these blue sky people are mostly in your imagination? You're inventing "enemies" out of people who simply aren't as obsessed with negativity as you are.

And if you haven't seen people (which is what I assume you meant, not players) ripping Laviano, then you're just seeing what you want to see. Look a little harder. He's getting reamed. The OP is definitely right that a lot of people that post here seem to never watch other college QBs because other college QBs, even those considered to be really good, are making lots of the same "horrific mistakes" that people are beating up Laviano for (particularly the underthrown ball thing).

And I don't think Laviano's a superstar either. Just tired of idiots judging him against Peyton Manning standards.[/QUOTE


That's exactly what I mean. Poor throws that happen in every game at every level get their own threads around here as proof he can't play. Even Cali pointing out the dink and dunk seems to no longer be true. The last 2 games we've went deep with success and made smart plays otherwise. You can't say we're playing conservative and risk adverse when we're putting up points every game outside of PSU.
 
Shift, be objective. While the throw to Patton was a beauty, that does not mean Laviano did not underthrow other passes in the game. Are we not allowed to point that out?

I've been on the Rettig side of the debate for the most part but was very happy with what Laviano did yesterday. If either he or the coaches (whatever was holding this back) continue to stay on board with going long to receivers not named Carroo, then I'm more than happy to see him continue to develop. Mason said it multiple times in the broadcast: if everything is short and the defense presses up to cover that, you have to take some shots deep. Yesterday, we did that. Whaddya know, more running room can open up if the safeties are not always within 10 yards of the LOS at the snap?
No ...you're NOT allowed to point anything out today ...not after the Laviano kid just put up 386 yards 3 TD's and managed the game for Rutgers quite well...Was he perfect ?...hell no but very few QB's even on top 10 teams are far from perfect...I really want to see this kid playing as a 3-4 year starter at Rutgers...then we can honestly discuss the lack of talent possessed by Chris Laviano.
 
I really want to see this kid playing as a 3-4 year starter at Rutgers...then we can honestly discuss the lack of talent possessed by Chris Laviano.
This is crazy talk. By this reasoning, we couldn't say anything about Nova until he finished his eligibility. So - how do you think Nova did versus Kent State? Should he have been benched after the fourth INT that game?
 
Is it impossible to have the following opinions at the same time? i.e., Laviano is playing well as a starter but Rettig might do just as well or better?////

Evidently not. Too much investment for some.

Laviano hit the nice third down throw yesterday. Had some solid plays. Wasn't a game changer but overall didn't hurt and helped by not forcing throws at key times. Its like everyone here forgets the third down % is last because Indiana imploded with an improbable punt gaffe and two picks in the last 1.5 quarters.

That being said, was there really anything Laviano did that you thought another qb couldn't do? I have no horse in this race and know neither. I just want to see RU compete and in games like PSU, we didn't try everything and would have liked to see the other qb. Laviano will get all the chance he needs against OSU. Hopefully he can bring some O to the table and perform as the last 24 hrs of posts indicate. Would love to see it and most of all lo ve to see RU first and not the internecine look at me I'm right qb posts.
 
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Nice list.. easy to make because it is all true.

Let me summarize the hater responses that will follow.
1. Rettig is better.
2. Rettig has a higher ceiling
3. Arm is weak
4. Throws off his back foot.
5. He makes bad decisions
6. Flood is stubborn, will never change QBs
7. Fire Flood.
8. Fire McDaniels.
10. His passes have no zip
11. He underthrows his passes.

12. Takes unnecessary sacks.
13. Doesn't look off safeties enough
14. Sometimes forgets he has a ball in his hand, drops it
15. Seems his LOS audibles never work

But the worst feature of Laviano is that the coaches don't call plays that feature his strengths... his accuracy on the short ball.

My main issue is with the coaching. It sucks.
 
I'm so sick of Floods BS! Fire this clown! You guys have no idea the star talent he and his staff continues to overlook.
 
Nice list.. easy to make because it is all true.



12. Takes unnecessary sacks.
13. Doesn't look off safeties enough
14. Sometimes forgets he has a ball in his hand, drops it
15. Seems his LOS audibles never work

But the worst feature of Laviano is that the coaches don't call plays that feature his strengths... his accuracy on the short ball.

My main issue is with the coaching. It sucks.

What are you talking about? We just scored 55 points. If he doesn't look off safeties enough why doesn't he have more picks? If we're not featuring his strengths how come the offense has played well most of the year...again I'm not saying the guy is great and maybe by the end of the year we'll have to replace him with Rettig, but to make these assertions now after the start he has had just doesn't make sense and shows a lack of understanding of college football or any football for that matter. No QB at any level could live up to the standards some of you think he should be at.
 
I look at Laviano as a safe, capable, back up QB in the B1G. He is a D1 QB, no doubt. There is also no question he lacks arm strength. It's not even a question. He cannot make all of the throws that threaten the full field. His arm limits the playbook and that which the defense has to defend. His percentage is so high because we dink and dunk and throw underneath stuff 95% of the time. He better have a very high percentage or we would lose every game.

He epitomizes Flood's philosophy. Conservative and risk adverse. Most coaches would play the guy with higher ceiling and bigger arm and have him grow into the role to reach his potential. Flood does things different.

I'm not sure how anyone who watches any other teams play would even consider debating this.

Yet I believe he leads the Big Ten in yards per completion ... how is THAT possible with only dinks and dunks?

Against IU he completed passes for 39 yards, 58 yards, 23 yards, 43 yards and 40 yards. Only 1 of those was on a short pass run in for a TD (the 58 yarder by Carroo).

It IS true that Laviano's arm strength is only so-so. No one really argues with that. BUT ... he obviously has other strengths that help him and help the team.

I have to say I am more than pleasantly surprised by Laviano (and yes, I thought Rettig ought to have been named the starter after August practice reports, and after the Norfolk State game). Rettig is on pace for about 2800 yards passing, 24 TD and 12 interceptions on the season (and yes, I understand "on pace" is a somewhat stupid metric - but we all look at that), and has completed 69% of his passes. What the heck more do fans want from a Sophomore QB who has made only 5 starts in his career? Jeez ...

For those who say Rettig MIGHT be better ... I say pffftt. "Might," "could," "should" ... ridiculous. YOU HAVE NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER, just your opinion as a fan, and an uninformed fan ... as I am uninformed also. Why uninformed? Because other than against Norfolk State, you have not seen Rettig in practice, with the team or anything else ... so if ALL of us are actually HONEST, we would have to admit we are like Jon Snow... We know nothing.

All we can do is judge by what we see on the field ... and on the field, Laviano has been better than ANYONE could have anticipated (except, I HAVE to eat crow, there were a few posters who I derided, who argued pre-season that either Rettig or Laviano would be an improvement over Nova - I am not sure that has occurred, but it MIGHT have, and at the very worst the drop off has been much more limited than I anticipated).

And based on actual performance NO ONE CAN ARGUE WITH ANY CREDIBILITY that choosing Laviano over Rettig has been a mistake. You . Just . Cannot.
 
I'm so sick of Floods BS! Fire this clown! You guys have no idea the star talent he and his staff continues to overlook.

I'll choose this post as the mantra for the posters who continue to be Pro-Rettig / Anti-Laviano as starter. So a question to all of you who are pining for Rettig. How much better do you think he will do?
  • Over the past 2 Games Laviano as a first year starter has averaged about 300 Yards per game with 6 TDs - 1 INT
  • He is currently ranked 7th in the Nation with a 69% completion percentage
  • He is 20th in the Nation in Passing efficiency
  • Laviano is currently 2nd in the Big 10 in Yards per Attempt (8.36) - and 26th in the Nation in this Stat
  • He has a yards per Completion Ratio of over 12 which ranks 7th in the Big 10 and 64th Nationally
Is the contention that Rettig can throw it harder/farther so therefore he must be better? I just don't understand the angle that everyone is so confident that Rettig is a star or vastly superior to Laviano. Based on CL's stats, that would mean that Rettig would likely have to be a Top QB in the Big 10 and the Nation.
 
I'm done worrying about the situation. It's clear Laviano has won the job and is playing as if he deserves it. I treat the situation like the NY Rangers back when they had Vanbiesbrouck and Richter. I wasn't a big fan of Richter as he had a tendency to give up one bad goal per game back then, but the coaches obviously saw something in him. And he ultimately paid off for them. Hopefully, Laviano will too.

With all of the reports over the summer about how close they were -- with many who saw both saying Rettig was the better QB -- I thought he should have at least been given a chance to see what he could do. Both guys are young and inexperienced at the college level. I don't think it was wrong of fans to have wanted a QB switch at least in the games in which Laviano was struggling mightily. And let's face it, he had games in which he struggled big time. If this had been in the pros, there is little doubt in my mind that a QB switch wouldn't have been made on a rookie QB. Games like Penn State certainly come to mind.

But Flood appears to have been looking at a long-time plan here. And it's starting to pay off. The controversy is over imo.
 
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