(unconfirmed) Cliff is back

[GregInPitt]

Greg I just see it differently regarding SC. Frankly I'm not enamored with SC. I get that he has a low ceiling. But he may be the best option. Coaches don't play guys hoping they reach their potential, you play them because they are your best at the position. SC never played in the same offense 2 years in a row. A year 2 in MY offense should improve his efficiency. He played pretty well before the injury. No one was calling for his benching through the 1st 5 games. CV did fine against Rutgers, maybe the worst team on the schedule. But new qbs have an advantage because they haven't been scouted and scrutinized by DCs. Sure you can cherry pick Lawrence as an example of a true freshman performing at a high level but that is the exception. Most coaches would never want to start a true freshman. Now if 1 of the 2 freshman perform so well that they should leap frog SC so be it. Lastly I'll submit SC is as good as the kid from Michigan. And now Michigan is in the playoff. Michigan is a good example that a good OL with a run game can make an average qb efficient. It's rare that a qbs play makes the OL better. We have no Russell Wilson or Lamar on this squad.
I'll let the coaches figure it out since they see these guys everyday. SC was the least of the offenses problems this season imho. He is not why the offense was inept.
Everyone of the playoff teams have run games that must be respected. Until PS gets to that point the offense will struggle.

The problem as I see it is that if SC comes back, from what we have seen of Franklin's afinity with the upper classmen, the best QB may not be playing. And given the young talent that has been recruited that is not a recipe for getting the most our of the talent for 2022 and also won't prepare a talented QB for 2023...... And regarding MY's offense, Veilleux and the 2 incoming freshmen were recruited by MY to have success in MY's offense.

I don't believe SC is as good as UM's QB. Did you see the play the UM QB made rolling out to the right sideline when he winged it deep? When has SC done that at PSU. Never.

I don't agree that most coaches don't want to start freshman. Look at the most successful coaches. Haven't Clemson, OK, and Bama started freshmen, very talented freshmen, recently with great success?

The only way it would make sense for SC to come back, from a competitive stand point for 2022 and the future, would be if PSU had a returning team that would have a chance to win a B10 championship in 2022, and that an average or slightly above average QB could lead to wins without top QB play. But that is not the case. At this point in the PSU team development and player turnover it would seem to be more logical to develop a young QB for a future run at a B10 title and possible spot in the playoff. The downside of SC returning is that the next QB will not get started with actual playing time in his development, and I see no upside in SC returning as the 2022 team is not set up to compete for a spot in the playoffs. Time for change at QB for PSU.

 

[GregInPitt]

1) It was Rutgres.
2) Lawrence is not a good comparison as he was a generational talent.
3) Agree that other QBs have greater potential than Clifford, but Clifford is above avg., you know what you are getting, and would be second year in MY's system, where he showed improvement over last year.
4) Need a veteran QB bc can't expect a true frosh to learn the offense that quickly, and Veilleux is a Redshirt freshman.

1) Rutgers blew out UM and is not as bad as you imply. What did SC do against Rutgers? 2 of 8.
2) Allar is the #1 QB rated by 247. A very good comparison.
3) Yep you know what you are getting with SC. And it's not a B10 championship. Has Franklin lowered his goals?
4) Lots of the very top talented true freshmen excel. Allar looks to be the best and most prepared QB PSU has recruited possibly ever. And Veilleux will not be a true freshmen in 2022.

 

[1000 OaksLion]

I think the facts prove that cjf will play the best players regardless of class. Last year Jacob, Washington, Holmes, Lee, KLS and Johnson all got substantial playing time. And to your point that MY recruited the young guys, if he wants Cliff back what does that say about his confidence in the young guys. I'm all for what MY wants. Again you are cherry picking freshman qb starters at Clemson, OK and Bama. How many true freshman qbs have these programs made #1 qb over the years? Not many. Maybe they were the best qbs on the team and maybe Allar or whoever will beat out SC. But hope is not a strategy to win. I see no downside with SC returning assuming it's something all parties want.

 

[Waaaaaaaany]

Cliff should hurry up and decide so that Veilleux can decide if he wants to hit the portal or not. The sooner the better, if that makes Christian bail, then at least maybe a backup can be portaled in from somewhere.

 

[LionInNC]

Using a Chuck Noll phrase, Cliff needs to get on with his life's work".

 

[dcf4psu]

He was on BIG network talking about the upcoming bowl game. Here's a link: 51:32 to the interview:

 

[J.E.B]

If I only have two choices to choose from.
1- having Clifford return for his 6th year or
2- pull a QB with 1 year of eligibility from the portal.
I would choose Clifford because he already knows the system, personnel and surroundings at PSU.
If I had a third choice of letting Clifford leave and go with the 4 QB’s we have next year with the best man starts. I would choose #3.

Poor QB recruiting has led to them picking between Clifford or a “one and done” transfer. You go with what you know. There is no way any of the other QBs should start the season as the QB. That spells disaster. Clifford has been hurt every year. Let the backups compete for #2. They will get their chance. But you need an experienced QB to start and Clifford is their best option. Cliffords senior year was better than McSorley’s in passing. He isn’t the reason they lost to Iowa, Illinois, scUM, or M$U...

 

[GregInPitt]

Poor QB recruiting has led to them picking between Clifford or a “one and done” transfer. You go with what you know. There is no way any of the other QBs should start the season as the QB. That spells disaster. Clifford has been hurt every year. Let the backups compete for #2. They will get their chance. But you need an experienced QB to start and Clifford is their best option. Cliffords senior year was better than McSorley’s in passing. He isn’t the reason they lost to Iowa, Illinois, scUM, or M$U...

Cuddling up to "experience" is a crutch that middle of the road teams use to keep from being poor teams.

The best teams play the best players, and the best players perform. How much experience did Stroud have at oh-high-ya before this season?

Unless Franklin plays the best young players he will never be able to recruit consistent top 5-10 classes, which is what he needs to break into the playoff. If Allar and/or Pribula and/or Veilleux are in deed great talents, they need to be on the field in 2022.

 

[step.eng69]

I think the facts prove that cjf will play the best players regardless of class. Last year Jacob, Washington, Holmes, Lee, KLS and Johnson all got substantial playing time. And to your point that MY recruited the young guys, if he wants Cliff back what does that say about his confidence in the young guys. I'm all for what MY wants. Again you are cherry picking freshman qb starters at Clemson, OK and Bama. How many true freshman qbs have these programs made #1 qb over the years? Not many. Maybe they were the best qbs on the team and maybe Allar or whoever will beat out SC. But hope is not a strategy to win. I see no downside with SC returning assuming it's something all parties want.

Thank you so much for a reasonable response on Sean returning.
Tom