[Cider Jim]

I read this in the hard copy fishwrap this morning, but I can't find it online anywhere. Hopefully Lang can provide a link sometime, but here is the quote I liked best, which probably deserves its own thread about our QBs next year:

The quarterback battle will be an intersting one in the spring. Mike Bown, who was the No. 3 QB this fall and spent time at wide receiver, will work with the quarterbacks and battle junior Spencer Landis for time there. Redshirt freshman Tyler Brennan could fit into the mix as well.

Let the QB discussion begin...

[SuperJon]

1) Spencer
2) Tyler
3) Mike


Even with that order, Mike will see more time at QB than Tyler. It'll be like this year where if Spencer goes down, Tyler will run the offense. If we need a play, Mike will come in.

[thepostman]

I like using Mike all over the field anyways and I really think Spencer will do a very solid job just running the offense and not making too many mistakes

I know nothing about Tyler, so can't say much about him...I have heard good things though

[flameshaw]

I would like to see Mike at the QB because of a true double threat possibility and he has a fantastic arm. (It has worked pretty good for ASU the last few years). That being said, I have enough faith in Rocco to make the right decision.

[treyjman24]

Rocco Said tonight that he's thinking about starting Mike Brown in the spring.....

[Cider Jim]

starting Mike Brown in the spring.....

The LU fans would LOVE that!

[Kolzilla41]

starting Mike Brown in the spring.....

The LU fans would LOVE that!

I'm not sure if LU fans would love that. I think Mike is a very unique guy on this team and feel he might be used best as a receiver because he has shown he has some of the best hands on the team. I think Spencer would be used best at QB.

[flameshaw]

A very unique talent on the team should be handling the ball every play IMHO. Make the most out of his talent. I am not at all impressed by Landis, but then again have only seen him in mop up duty. Again, I will be happy with whatever Rocco decides ( I think).

[coolhandluke]

I'm torn on this issue. On one hand, I would love to see Mike Brown as a receiver because he has the potential to be one of the best of all time at that position here at LU. Also I think we will be a little short handed at WR next year, so having him there makes me like our depth and play making ability from our receivers.

But on the other hand I think he could be something special at QB for us. ZT was a RB with a decent arm. Mike Brown is an all around player with a really good arm. Maybe Landis will be good at QB for us. Or maybe this Brennan kid will turn out to be really good. But I gotta say that I think Mike Brown will do the most for our offense at QB. When you have a quarterback that can run the ball but also has a really good arm it really opens up the offense. You have to worry about him running for the first down, so when the Safety plays up in a QB spy it opens up the deep ball. It has worked really well for Appy.

Look at some of the best teams in the past few years in FBS football. A lot of them have duel threat QB's.

Tim Tebow - Florida
Vince Young - Texas And Colt McCoy can scrabble in his own right...
Pat White - West Virginia
Dennis Dixon - Oregon
Ryan Periloux - LSU

And go back a few years.... VT's Mike Vick. And this year Tyrod Taylor pretty much saved them from having a horrible year.

I am just not sure how Landis will be able to handle running our offense. We'll just have to see who plays the best ball this spring.



I love the traditional pocket quarterback, but in college football a lot of times it works to have a fast guy with a great arm running your offense.

[luflame15]

I would like to see Mike Brown at QB next fall. He provides a combination threat with being a speedy guy along with being mobile with his feet. It will be interesting to see who wins the starting job next fall.

[SuperJon]

Luke, you're either forgetting or don't know what type of QB Spencer is. He is very mobile and is a legit dual threat QB. He doesn't have the speed or shiftiness of Mike, but he's the type of QB that you're describing at all of those other schools.

[olldflame]

There are a lot of factors which will weigh into this decision. First and foremost of course will be who plays the best in Spring and Fall practices. Second, the development of our returning receivers (IMHO Chris Summers in particular) will play a role in determining if Mike is needed more there. Third, because it doesn't look like we will have a "hammer" in the backfield, we will be more speed-oriented in our running game, and having a QB who is a threat to take it to the house would be a plus. Is Rocco prepared to totally overhaul our offensive approach? I have a feeling that if Landis plays well in the Spring, he will be our starting QB, with Mike at WR most of the time, but available to run "wildfire" plays from the single wing.

Putting your best athlete at QB where he has the ball in his hands on every play works great at the HS level, less so in college, and at the pro level only occasionally for a change of pace. We have been playing pretty much a pro style offense, and I'm not sure we want to go away from that.

[givemethemic]

And this year Tyrod Taylor pretty much saved them from having a horrible year.

What VT team have you been watching? Glennon has gotten them out of several jams the last month. If Tyrod played the whole Duke game they would have never beaten them...

[ToTheLeft]

Luke, you're either forgetting or don't know what type of QB Spencer is. He is very mobile and is a legit dual threat QB. He doesn't have the speed or shiftiness of Mike, but he's the type of QB that you're describing at all of those other schools.

Spencer is quite the dual threat, and a good game manager. I think people just forget about Spencer because he only comes in in garbage time... but do you remember him at the Spring Game? He looked really good... and how about against Elon, when he came in and scored our only points to make sure it wasn't a 42-0 embarrassment.

[coolhandluke]

Luke, you're either forgetting or don't know what type of QB Spencer is. He is very mobile and is a legit dual threat QB. He doesn't have the speed or shiftiness of Mike, but he's the type of QB that you're describing at all of those other schools.

Spencer is definitely mobile. And I know he is a good quarterback. But I just don't know who will be better at that position next year for us. I just think with Mike Brown we will have a bigger threat to run from the QB position. I also think he will give us the chance to try running the option at times. But will Rocco want to try something different? I think Spencer is the logical choice if he wants to run the same pro style offense we ran this year.

And our receiving core looks like it is going to be thin, so he may be better used as a receiver. Either way Mike Brown is going to be a huge part of our offense next year.

[ToTheLeft]

I also think he will give us the chance to try running the option at times.

Actually, Spence would be perfect for the option. Heck, Brock could run the option, and did a couple times this year. You are really underestimating Spencer's athleticism. He's also more of a game manager than Mike. Mike is good, but he's not Armanti Edwards, he's just a sick athlete with an arm. Line him up at QB? Sure. Start him there? I dunno, not with a guy like Spence who can run the offense and manage the game.

[FlamingChick]

I also think he will give us the chance to try running the option at times.

You are really underestimating Spencer's athleticism. He's also more of a game manager than Mike. Mike is good, but he's not Armanti Edwards, he's just a sick athlete with an arm. Line him up at QB? Sure. Start him there? I dunno, not with a guy like Spence who can run the offense and manage the game.

I dont know if we've seen enough of either of Spencer or Mike to determine which is more of a game manager. I dont think either has been in a position to really manage a game since Brock did such a good job this year and end of last year. Spencer only comes in as the clean up guy, and with a lot of the games being so close this year, I dont remember him getting very many snaps. With Mike, he may have gotten just as many snaps as Spencer, but I think we need to see them both as "the man" to really judge who will be the better QB for '09. I think it will definitely be an exciting spring watching all 3 of the guys battle it out for the starting position.

[flameshaw]

I don't see Landis as being a TRUE dual threat, I will be happy to defer to those who have seen him more than I have. The Elon game was mentioned earlier and I saw nothing there that would lead me to believe he is the answer.

I am not saying that MBrown is AE, but he appears to be in the ballpark or have similar capabilities ie. strong arm, quick feet, excellent game knowledge, etc. Watching the ASU game on TV today, it just gives the defense too many things to think about, cover, even though AE is not having a great game (2 int's so far).

Not sure how much the offense will have to be changed to take advantage of MB's talents, but doesn't appear that it would require a complete overhaul.

Regardless looking forward to next year, wish it started again next week.

Go UNI Panthers.

[jcmanson]

This will all work out in the offseason, but since everyone is giving their .02 cents here's mine:

I'd like to see Landis win the starting job, and have Brown have a package of 10-15 plays he has at WR/A-back while Landis is at QB. Then one series each half, like the third offensive series of each half, have Brown handle the QB duties. Mike could have another 10-15 plays to run as QB so as to not overwhelm him with too many plays.

This way if Landis goes down to injury, we'd have a QB with some experience, and for the 2010 season Mike would be getting some good game experience. Of course, Brennan's play could completely mess those reasonings up if he is ready to play this fall.

[Mixitup]

You guys must not have heard Coach Rocco at half time of the game fri. He said "Mike Brown is going into spring practice as the QB". Sounds like a good move to me.

[SuperJon]

You guys must not have heard Coach Rocco at half time of the game fri. He said "Mike Brown is going into spring practice as the QB". Sounds like a good move to me.

You also didn't hear Coach Rocco earlier in the year. He said Mike would play QB in the spring because that's where he needs the most work. He will get more improved by playing QB than playing WR.