Penn State quarterback room has best possible options with Sean Clifford returning: Analysis
Penn State will have Sean Clifford in its quarterback room for a sixth and final season in 2022. What does it mean for the Nittany Lions?
Analysis: Penn State quarterback room has best possible options with Sean Clifford returning
- Thread starter GregPickel
- Start date
I'd love to hear from some of our "expert" posters why this take is the wrong one
This thread should get interesting.Penn State quarterback room has best possible options with Sean Clifford returning: Analysis
Penn State will have Sean Clifford in its quarterback room for a sixth and final season in 2022. What does it mean for the Nittany Lions?www.on3.com
We’ll never win a NATTY.
in 2022 with Clifford.We deserve better.
F*ck Clifford.
Good start?
This ‘take’ only considers next year, and not implications for the future. We aren’t going to compete for a B1G Championship next year so no reason not to get a head start on developing our QB for the next few years now. Our incoming offensive talent will have a year under their belt in 2023 (Saunders, Singleton, etc.) and we should be better positioned to compete, but we’ll be breaking in a new starter at QB. Predict our starter at QB in 2023 and how much experience he has…
Or were you not serious?
Well offense will be another snooze fest in 2022. Was hoping that there would be some change and perhaps a QB that could take us to that next level. I don't think Cliff is the player to do so. As a fan, this is a disappointment. I'm tired of hearing "another year to build, or to prepare players." Blah Blah Blah.... All other programs across the country are playing top players, if they don't perform, on to the next one (heck we are even seeing this with coaches now). If Cliff is the best we will have next year at QB.... we are going to be in trouble for the next 4 years. Not thrilled on this Clifford return. Looks like I'll have my Saturdays back next year to head to the pumpkin patch with the kids and rake leaves around the house.
Promise? I can add you to my list.
as long as Sean has to compete with CV, DA and BP for QB, and playing time reflects this. If you have a SC gets all meaningful snaps, this is not moving us forward.
Did Franklin tweet “We are not better!“ today?
The article also seems to presuppose that Franklin would pull Clifford if he struggles or one of the young QB's surpasses him. I am not sure that's accurate.
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. YOU deserve better !
Honestly, all of us on our death beds are going to wish we had those three hours back from the Illinois game. What a complete and utter waste of time. My lasting memory of Clifford‘s tenure at PSU will be tripping over his own feet and stumbling and bumbling and failing to catch that pass from Warren. Just a perfect summary of his careeer.
I usually read all your articles, but only a CNN worthy spin could describe Clifford's return as "best possible options" given his mediocre performance the last 2 season and Franklin's propensity to play upperclassmen even if it leads to losses.Penn State quarterback room has best possible options with Sean Clifford returning: Analysis
Penn State will have Sean Clifford in its quarterback room for a sixth and final season in 2022. What does it mean for the Nittany Lions?
PSU is not going to win a B10 title or get to the playoff with or without Clifford, and Clifford continuing to clog up the development of the young QB's, of whom there were to be 3 talented one's for 2022, is not a positive for the future of the team.
And Clifford returning for 2022 may also cause PSU to lose one of Veilleux, Allar and Pribula before Clifford is finally gone in 2023.
The top teams have sat QB's that have performed better than Clifford in favor of younger more talented freshmen and sophs, and until PSU gets more talent on the field at the QB position PSU won't likely sniff another B10 title and won't even be in the conversation for the playoff.
I don't have a problem with Clifford coming back. He was playing pretty well before he got hurt vs. Iowa. He was, in my opinion, pressed into service too soon vs. Illinois when he could have used the time to heal. My issue is why was CV able to competently run the offense against Rutgers, presumably coming in cold with little first team work in practice, yet the staff didn't take the two weeks leading up to Illinois to get CV (or Roberson) ready to play? Illinois was a bad team, much like Rutgers. I say CV didn't get much work during the week because if you recall, all the QBs were sick during the week leading up to Rutgers.
That is where Penn State's philosophy with QBs isn't good. I don't necessarily think a guy should be on a short leash, but if he is at 50% or less, play a backup. They had 2 weeks vs Illinois to get someone ready. They didn't do it.
Hopefully Franklin added backup QB prep to his notes, right next to the note of "don't get the guys Chik-Fli-A during a stupidly long weather delay."
That is where Penn State's philosophy with QBs isn't good. I don't necessarily think a guy should be on a short leash, but if he is at 50% or less, play a backup. They had 2 weeks vs Illinois to get someone ready. They didn't do it.
Hopefully Franklin added backup QB prep to his notes, right next to the note of "don't get the guys Chik-Fli-A during a stupidly long weather delay."
Not arguing that fact, but he did throw for, what, 300 yards against a playoff team and had them beat before a freshman DB got blown up in coverage. Little things like that told the story of the whole season. Well, that and a completely ineffective OL. Just sayin'.
I think when Clifford is really 100%, meaning he can do all his function normally, then he is an effective QB. Will agree the defense actually lost the UMichigan game and a kicker lost the MSU game. The Illinois game is really my biggest issue, and that is the PSU staff lets the tough guy QB (Trace and Sean) self-determine that they are going to stay in the game at far less than 100%. This is not a net winning position. When Clifford is in a game and the defense knows he cannot run and has full passing capability, they play defense entirely different. At that point, right now, CV is far better than Clifford. That was proven v Rutgers, as SC was going nowhere - not sure we would have won the game if he stayed in. We were lucky he got injured and had to leave. I think he would have kept himself in the game and nobody would have pulled him.
That is why in 2022, we need to see all 4 QBs get a chance. SC might be #4 by the end of the season, and not see much time.
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