01-07-2021, 01:41 PM
As I've posted before, we've done fine with QB's in their redshirt freshman year taking over the playbook:
Andrew Luck (yes, under Harbaugh, but similar offensive style) became a starter his RS freshman year; his QB rating (143) was the top in the Pac-10
Kevin Hogan became a starter midway through his RS freshman year; his QB rating (148) would have been sixth in the Pac-12 had he qualified, and was actually higher than Luck's his RS freshman year.
Keller Chryst became a starter midway through his RS sophomore year; his QB rating (134) would have been sixth in the Pac-12 had he qualified
KJ Costello became a starter midway through his RS freshman year; his QB (143) would have been fifth in the Pac-12 had he qualified
Davis Mills had a QB rating of 145 last year, his RS sophomore year (technically he didn't become the starter over Costello, but started while Costello was injured). That QBR would have tied for second in the Pac-12 last year.
Bottom line is that we have had QB's start and thrive as redshirt freshmen, with QB ratings in the 140's, which is respectable and typically ranks in the middle of the Pac-12. The theory that young QB's struggle in our system is not supported by the facts. I think an alternate theory is that Shaw is biased towards starting more experienced QBs (e.g. Nunez in 2012, Burns in 2016, Chryst in 2017, and Costello in 2019) when arguably more talented QBs were sitting on the bench. But when forced to put in younger QBs (due to poor performance of the more experienced ones or injury) they have done fine.
All of this is to say that I don't think the playbook will be an obstacle to McKee being a serviceable to good QB next year.
BC
Andrew Luck (yes, under Harbaugh, but similar offensive style) became a starter his RS freshman year; his QB rating (143) was the top in the Pac-10
Kevin Hogan became a starter midway through his RS freshman year; his QB rating (148) would have been sixth in the Pac-12 had he qualified, and was actually higher than Luck's his RS freshman year.
Keller Chryst became a starter midway through his RS sophomore year; his QB rating (134) would have been sixth in the Pac-12 had he qualified
KJ Costello became a starter midway through his RS freshman year; his QB (143) would have been fifth in the Pac-12 had he qualified
Davis Mills had a QB rating of 145 last year, his RS sophomore year (technically he didn't become the starter over Costello, but started while Costello was injured). That QBR would have tied for second in the Pac-12 last year.
Bottom line is that we have had QB's start and thrive as redshirt freshmen, with QB ratings in the 140's, which is respectable and typically ranks in the middle of the Pac-12. The theory that young QB's struggle in our system is not supported by the facts. I think an alternate theory is that Shaw is biased towards starting more experienced QBs (e.g. Nunez in 2012, Burns in 2016, Chryst in 2017, and Costello in 2019) when arguably more talented QBs were sitting on the bench. But when forced to put in younger QBs (due to poor performance of the more experienced ones or injury) they have done fine.
All of this is to say that I don't think the playbook will be an obstacle to McKee being a serviceable to good QB next year.
BC