Hope fully Kirk reads this article. I will never understand Kirk’s reluctance to play a mobile QB.
Running QB’s
Running QB’s
How running QBs have changed the NFL: Dual-threat history, value
- Thread starter ksihawk
- Start date
They don't even need to be running/dual threat QBs.
Quinn Ewers is not a true "dual threat". He's just mobile and can pick up yards with his legs.
It matters, though, because when you lack a QB capable of scrambling for positive yards to preserve drives, let alone be a legitimate threat, that gives an opposing defense so much more confidence to key in on one aspect or the other (and not have to worry as much about the potential for both within the same play).
Cade McNamara at Michigan was at least mobile enough that he could scramble for 3-5 yards if need be to make down and distances more manageable.
Cade at Iowa is a shell of that player. He's scared to run and take a bad bump, and his arm strength just isn't there even compared to the 2021 season.
Iowa State's defense could sit in its 3-3-5/3-5-3 and flood the field with defenders leaving no room for Cade to throw the ball, and they sat in it because they didn't fear Cade as a run threat to pick up 4-5 yards on 1st and 2nd downs when nothing was open.
That's why at the very least they need to explore the idea of having plays for Sullivan or even Lainez, especially if McNamara is so traumatized and washed that he can't even run an effective QB sneak............
Having mobility at QB, regardless of era of CFB you want to discuss, opens up anything you'd want to do offensively, including running boring, generic '90s era "Pro Style" concepts/offense.
