Playing Laviano in this offense is waste of a Season

[RobertG]

Gentlemen,

For these past two seasons we have seen the limitations of our current QB, and they are many. And I understand the point of view, as a fan, to want to see another QB. But, I think we need to consider a few things:

1) I am sure the coaching staff is very aware of the limitations, these limitations are not hard to see.
2) There is more to QB position than handing off and throwing, including: Knowing defenses and calling plays at the line.
3) There are locker room and team management issues to consider, such as who is putting in the work, whom do the players respect. Much of these dynamics are unknown to us and are very important to keeping the team on track.
4) There are player development issues to consider. Getting a young guy who is not ready, manhandled could mess with his confidence or even have long term physical issues. Oden may not be ready yet to recognize a blitzing linebacker of a defensive shift by the DBs.
5) We lack players at other skilled positions which magnify the problems at QB (There is no Caroo to bail Laviano out)

I don't object to being frustrated with Laviano, and I understand the need to vent. But, I disagree with the idea that we should just throw Oden, Gio or Allen in to see what could happen. Because a lot worse could happen: Injuries, turnovers, bigger loses.

We can see that the coaches are tying to get Oden more and more involved, I think we have to be patient and take our lumps with the current situation, until he Gio or Allen are ready.

 

[Pils86]

I was in the small minority last year when I was OK with the selection of Laviano over Rettig. After the season I was still OK with Laviano based on the 60% completion percentage and 16/12 TD/Int ration - not too bad for a first year starter with some elite teams on the sched. This year though he seems worse, maybe due to the system, being less accurate and making poor decisions. The sack to take us out of field goal range was just terrible - you need to come out of the huddle knowing that is the one thing that cannot happen.

There are four other options to try and I found it frustrating to sit in the stands and see him coming out again and again while we go three quarters without scoring. Gio has one play this year, running for 40 yards and a TD - why the hell hasn't he seen the field again? Why not him and Hicks on the first and goal from the 3, our biggest QB and biggest RB? Why not Retting at the end of the half with 30 seconds left to throw some bombs? Why not Oden other times in the open field, not down at the goal line with his 186 lbs? Clearly there are qbs that can do some things better than Laviano and they need to be put in at least situationally.

 

[Knight Shift]

Mehringer said himself that Oden did not have enough "ass" behind him to make those runs on the goal line stand. But he gave him 2 shots at it anyway. And then you give it to CL on a triple option play, something he has not tried before in a game? Why not give Gio the shot there? Bad choices all around by the OC.

 

[newwavedave1]

My biggest concern with Laviano is that we have seen very little improvement over the course of two seasons. The kid has reached his not very high ceiling.

 

[BlockR]

My guess as to why Oden is not playing/does nothing while in there besides read option: Doesn't know the play book/has run very little of those plays in practice.

its now the end of September..while Oden would be behind in learning say progression of reads in game situations(since Ash hasnt let him throw a pass)..ect..Im certain by now he knows the playbook hes been at RU since the start of August,even though he didnt enroll early.more then enough time to learn the playbook,run the plays in practice.
thats like saying Harris didnt have time to learn the routes or playbook because hes been at baseball...seems like he knows the routes as true freshman..

 

[RUTBAY]

Mehringer said himself that Oden did not have enough "ass" behind him to make those runs on the goal line stand. But he gave him 2 shots at it anyway. And then you give it to CL on a triple option play, something he has not tried before in a game? Why not give Gio the shot there? Bad choices all around by the OC.

That's a head scratcher since Gio "assed" his way through five tacklers on route to a 42 yard TD run in the Howard game.

 

[DHajekRC84]

IMHO later on in the game we should have tried more passes on first down....It just seemed too much to expect for Martin
to continually get 4, 5 yards on first down....

it appeared that Idaho loaded up on the line on the first down, then, if we were 2nd and 8, in come the extra defensive backs, and we were immediately in a more tough spot... yes, I realize that we did have some success running first down, but I contend that it was too difficult to sustain an 80 yard drive if you run up the middle every first down....we did succeed with that on a limited basis

passing on first down might have done two things....it would have gone against the Idaho running defense on the field, and had a greater possibility of success than the 2nd or 3rd down pass....not to mention possibly getting Laviano a bit of passing confidence.

saw exactly the same thing. when we did open it up that is when Goodwin came in...
I'm scratching my head about the OC a bit more these days. Lot's of improvement to go around but I think Drew is making some and sometimes bizarre decisions/calls (if they are his to make)

 

[BlockR]

Meheringer play calls at goal line were not that great,and thats being nice...lets be honest..our coaching staff will also be learning on the fly this season...should we bring up the time out game management ?

 

[WGLTAUD]

I can't take these excuses anymore. if oden can't make the easy throws that Laviano misses, he would not have been a qb in high school. Time to put him in.

This to me is what is very obvious. The fact is, Laviano can't complete a pass more than 5 or 7 yards. The Grant play which was over a third of his passing yards was a predetermined screen pass. It's not like we are discussing a running qb v. a passing qb scenario. We are discussing a running QB and one who can't do either.

Another poster noted that Lav needs to start the next 2 due to our opponents and I agree. It's harsh but I'd rather him served up to the lions than our future QB.

 

[WGLTAUD]

I was in the small minority last year when I was OK with the selection of Laviano over Rettig. After the season I was still OK with Laviano based on the 60% completion percentage and 16/12 TD/Int ration - not too bad for a first year starter with some elite teams on the sched. This year though he seems worse, maybe due to the system, being less accurate and making poor decisions. The sack to take us out of field goal range was just terrible - you need to come out of the huddle knowing that is the one thing that cannot happen.

There are four other options to try and I found it frustrating to sit in the stands and see him coming out again and again while we go three quarters without scoring. Gio has one play this year, running for 40 yards and a TD - why the hell hasn't he seen the field again? Why not him and Hicks on the first and goal from the 3, our biggest QB and biggest RB? Why not Retting at the end of the half with 30 seconds left to throw some bombs? Why not Oden other times in the open field, not down at the goal line with his 186 lbs? Clearly there are qbs that can do some things better than Laviano and they need to be put in at least situationally.

Oden doesn't weigh 186. He's put on considerable weight.

And while we are talking about decision making, not pitching the ball on the goal line play was a terrible decision.

I keep hearing that we can't change QBs because they others can't or won't make good decisions, while our current one is being given plays where he almost doesn't have to make any. When he does, more often they are the wrong one.

Also in terms of decisions, it was very, very, very obvious that the 3rd down fumble should have been a draw play followed by a punt. I'm questioning Ash's decision making on the field....never mind his personnel decisions.

Yesterday was not a good day for him. He's a young coach, so I'm sure he'll learn from it.

 

[zappaa]

I did not to read this thread, CL is the worst QB in all of D1 and probably worse than the majority of QB's in 1AA.

So that's what you're dealing with.

 

[PaKnight]

Let Oden play... Why not? Let him get experience, we aren't doing jack this season, what's the worst that happens?

Patience grasshopper.

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

Laviano is not great at anything.
He is a subpar college football QB that will lose you games instead of win you games.

I can't take much more of him.

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

Taking the sack on the 1st drive showed no poise, mobility or football sense.

 

[PaKnight]

its now the end of September..while Oden would be behind in learning say progression of reads in game situations(since Ash hasnt let him throw a pass)..ect..Im certain by now he knows the playbook hes been at RU since the start of August,even though he didnt enroll early.more then enough time to learn the playbook,run the plays in practice.
thats like saying Harris didnt have time to learn the routes or playbook because hes been at baseball...seems like he knows the routes as true freshman..

There is a lot more responsibility on the QB, he has to know what everyone on the field is doing.

 

[j10oreo]

I was supportive of Nova through his rough stretches because I knew he could do it, hence the good Nova VS bad Nova. This situation is so much worse, I just don't think there is a good Laviano.

 

[Scarlet_Monster]

I was supportive of Nova through his rough stretches because I knew he could do it, hence the good Nova VS bad Nova. This situation is so much worse, I just don't think there is a good Laviano.

There's not even an average Laviano. The guy can't even be a mediocre game manager.