Article with some comments on the QBs

[Duff Man]

http://www.timescall.com/sports_story.asp?id=15426

Interesting comments in there and some interesting discussion on rivals about the subject, but this one stood out:

At quarterback, Cody Hawkins’ 23 career starts dwarf the number made by Ballenger (none) and Tyler Hansen (two). Helfrich said whichever quarterback is the most efficient and gets the team in the end zone will be the one who wins the starting job.

Keep a couple of things in mind as this battle evolves: Helfrich said Hansen and Ballenger, both sophomores, will not be asked to run the same plays on offense as will Cody Hawkins, a fourth-year junior, due to Hawkins’ experience.

Secondly, Ballenger said he needs to improve on being more assertive, and Hansen said he needs to understand what defenses are trying to do. Asked what he needs to improve, Cody Hawkins said “manipulating” the opposing defenses, which includes changing plays at the line of scrimmage and other nuances that make veteran quarterbacks so valuable.

Ballenger is entering his third year in the program. Shouldn't he be running essentially the same playbook as Cody by now?

 

[96 Buff]

Not if he can't learn it all. That's clearly what's being implied here.

 

[sackman]

I read that column this morning and thought the exact same thing. Why are there different plays for different QB's? You run the plays you want to run. I suppose there are some plays that are better suited to the talents of different players, but to base the play calling on experience alone seems to be limiting.

 

[Lt.Col.FrankSlade]

Showing once again that Cody Hawkins will be the starting QB next season.

Ballenger doesn't know the offense.
Hansen can't read defenses.

 

[buffs04]

I really have a difficult time buying the "Doesn't know the playbook" thing. How many times have we heard that in the past year or so? How many times does that "issue" come up with other programs?

Seems really odd to me.

 

[Rraalph 3000]

This spring & summer will help Hansen immensely, and I would be surprised if we hear this same song & dance come August....but if we do, then there's no doubt that you have to go with the guy that gets it (i.e. Hawkins)

 

[absinthe]

I really have a difficult time buying the "Doesn't know the playbook" thing. How many times have we heard that in the past year or so? How many times does that "issue" come up with other programs?

Seems really odd to me.

Maybe he knows them in the film room and just cant run it effectively against a live defense? It might not be a purely academic issue, as for different plays I think that fine, i.e. cody cant run so shouldnt be asked to.

 

[BuffsRising]

I say we wait until fall practice and see how Hawk and Hansen do in real scrimmages with the job on the line.

But regardless, I'm happy with our qb situation if the line is healthy and the skill players do anything at all to help the qbs.

 

[Dark Bohner]

I read that column this morning and thought the exact same thing. Why are there different plays for different QB's? You run the plays you want to run. I suppose there are some plays that are better suited to the talents of different players, but to base the play calling on experience alone seems to be limiting.

:yeahthat:

 

[Hugegroove]

Not much of a level playing field if they are all running different plays. I understand them playing to their strengths, but It would appear that they should all be evaluated running the same plays. I don't recall any of my professors at CU giving different questions to different students because they could answer them better than others.

 

[somebody]

I don't think you're gonna run pass plays for Ballenger to over/underthrow. His accuracy may be his biggest limitation, Hawkins can't throw deep or over some rushers, and Hansen has a lot to learn and experience. I think you get him the experience, because Evans will have that same two year learning period.

 

[14er]

Not much of a level playing field if they are all running different plays. I understand them playing to their strengths, but It would appear that they should all be evaluated running the same plays. I don't recall any of my professors at CU giving different questions to different students because they could answer them better than others.

If some students are more advanced you don't hold them back because of the slow students. I am disappointed in Ballenger, but I was hoping Hansen would be the QB that won the starting job. Seems like this situation just doesn't ever change, or improve.

 

[insandiego]

I was at the coach's clinic and I did not see Cody receiving a more advanced package of plays. As a matter of fact, I saw Cody participating in the same package and Tyler having a variety of run, pass, etc...

This seems to be another manipulation from the media. I don't think Mark H. stated the comment in the manner it appears. ALSO, I was watching practice and after viewing the cubuffs.com practice video, it seems their is a 'love' affair with Cody. The video shows his best of the practice and not Tyler's or even Matt's. As a matter of fact, the videos are showing all of Matt's mishaps. WHY? So those who do not attend practice think it is the accurate coverage of the practice. JUST wait until the scrimmage or Spring Game.

 

[buffaholic]

I was at the coach's clinic and I did not see Cody receiving a more advanced package of plays. As a matter of fact, I saw Cody participating in the same package and Tyler having a variety of run, pass, etc...

This seems to be another manipulation from the media. I don't think Mark H. stated the comment in the manner it appears. ALSO, I was watching practice and after viewing the cubuffs.com practice video, it seems their is a 'love' affair with Cody. The video shows his best of the practice and not Tyler's or even Matt's. As a matter of fact, the videos are showing all of Matt's mishaps. WHY? So those who do not attend practice think it is the accurate coverage of the practice. JUST wait until the scrimmage or Spring Game.

Great info! I read the Longmont paper and was struck by that statement as well and baffled. Hansen has been there long enough to "know the playbook". Actually doing it on the field will take some reps to get it right, but that's what practice is for - isn't it? I like this writer, but I'd like him to stick to the facts when it comes to this QB battle, as it's the MAIN item that is really newsworthy in spring practice to me.

 

[buffsyko]

Okay so, let me pencil in cody as the starter. Unless, when cody's in we will pass and when hansen is in we'll run or vice versa. That will fool the defense.

 

[dio]

Hansen had better win out this Spring/Summer. We need someone with his versatility back there. CH would be okay if, and only if, the OLine stays healthy (and is as good as we expect).

Hopefully Tyler steps up and gets ahold of the playbook.

 

[leftybuff]

The article says: "We want to be a team that pounds it and throws it deep".

CU has a problem then. Apparently, CH is the only QB who can master the playbook, but throws a deep rainbow. The other two guys can get it deep, but don't know the whole playbook. Great.

 

[sackman]

This concept that Hansen doesn't know the playbook is mystifying to me. The guy has been in the system for a year now. He should know the playbook. If he doesn't, he certainly will by the time Fall camp closes. He's played in real games, he is familiar with game speed. He'll have three "gimmes" to start the year before hitting the road in Morgantown. He should be well up to speed by then. If not, it's the coaches fault, not his.

 

[Duff Man]

This concept that Hansen doesn't know the playbook is mystifying to me. The guy has been in the system for a year now. He should know the playbook. If he doesn't, he certainly will by the time Fall camp closes. He's played in real games, he is familiar with game speed. He'll have three "gimmes" to start the year before hitting the road in Morgantown. He should be well up to speed by then. If not, it's the coaches fault, not his.

I tend to agree, but I can at least understand Hansen being a little behind because this is his first Spring in the program, but I'm still very confused about Ballenger's situation. Some posters say the quote is being taken out of context, I'm not so sure.

 

[buffaholic]

This concept that Hansen doesn't know the playbook is mystifying to me. The guy has been in the system for a year now. He should know the playbook. If he doesn't, he certainly will by the time Fall camp closes. He's played in real games, he is familiar with game speed. He'll have three "gimmes" to start the year before hitting the road in Morgantown. He should be well up to speed by then. If not, it's the coaches fault, not his.

:yeahthat:In spades.... That's what Spring Practice is for. Hansen is a very smart student of the game. He may not have the experience running the full playbook like Cody, but I am pretty sure he knows what he is supposed to do. Spring is for REPS. Get him some! Then let him get accustomed to game-speed in the first 3 games.

I think Cody may have in reacting to what he sees right now. But that's not "knowing the playbook". Get the two sophomores some reps please!

 

[BlackNGold]

Not if he can't learn it all. That's clearly what's being implied here.

That is not clearly implied nor is it stated anywhere in the article. Hawkins gets 85% of the snaps in practice for the last 2 years so he has had an opportunity to practice plays that the others have had almost no reps.

If you want to take something out of context - how about Hawkins and Helfrich saying that running the ball is key to winning as if they just found that out.

 

[SINKRATZ]

I think the whole "knowing the playbook" argument is being somewhat overblown. All three QB's have been around long enough to "know the playbook". The issue, as others have stated, seems to be getting enough reps to apply what they are learning on the chalkboard to the field and to develop a comfort level and confidence in their own ability (reading defenses, making adjustments at game speed etc). It should be no surprise that Cody has the highest comfort level having 20+ starts under his belt. Hansen will get there, but 7 on 7's don't prepare you to start against Big 12 opponents - he needs to play. It's one thing to memorize a playbook, it's another to apply that knowledge, and it only improves with reps.

Ballenger worries me a little bit. I just get the feeling he doesn't have enough command in the locker room or enough confidence to go out and take the job from the other two. He seems tentative and afraid to make a mistake. I hope I'm wrong because he has all the physical tools, but that's my view from 30,000 feet.

 

[96 Buff]

That is not clearly implied nor is it stated anywhere in the article. Hawkins gets 85% of the snaps in practice for the last 2 years so he has had an opportunity to practice plays that the others have had almost no reps.

If you want to take something out of context - how about Hawkins and Helfrich saying that running the ball is key to winning as if they just found that out.

I didn't take anything out of context. It clearly stated that only Hawkins knows the full playbook and also that the other QBs don't know enough of the playbook to run very much of it. Clearly Hansen & Ballenger can't learn the entire playbook on only ~15% of snaps. I didn't say that they were stupid or whatnot, so don't get your panties in a bunch.

 

[BlackNGold]

I didn't take anything out of context. It clearly stated that only Hawkins knows the full playbook and also that the other QBs don't know enough of the playbook to run very much of it. Clearly Hansen & Ballenger can't learn the entire playbook on only ~15% of snaps. I didn't say that they were stupid or whatnot, so don't get your panties in a bunch.

IT never stated anywhere in the article that the other QBs don't know the playbook. That is only your interpretation of the comment. Let me give you the exact quote and see if you can get your head around it...Like show me where it is clearly stated.

"Keep a couple of things in mind as this battle evolves: Helfrich said Hansen and Ballenger, both sophomores, will not be asked to run the same plays on offense as will Cody Hawkins, a fourth-year junior, due to Hawkins’ experience."

Sounds like a coaches decision to me. Just like when Hansen throw the TD pass against KSU last year...the comment after the game from Hansen was that was not his play - it was Cody's play.

Here is a comment from Cody on Hansen...


"The next time Hansen drove the Buffs downfield, Hawkins stayed on the sideline and Hansen hit Scotty McKnight with a 21-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline for a 14-6 lead.
Cody Hawkins said that was the first time Hansen had ever run the play, a sign that he's a quick study and had been paying attention all along even though he wasn't planning on playing in a game until 2009."

 

[96 Buff]

Fine.