The fall scrimmage put players in pressure situations with high expectations. Red Zone drills are all about scoring touchdowns (70% last year, 17 via passing better than 90% of FBS schools) and a field goal is a backup plan. Defenses can bend but shouldn’t break in the Red Zone. Offenses fighting out from their own 1 yard line, deep throws downfield and goal line scoring were on display. This scrimmage was higher scoring and kept your interest. 60 passes were thrown in less than 90 minutes.
The QB’s didn’t disappoint either.
Eli Drinkwitz said the Boise State QB better put points on the board and that was the bottom line. They produced. Yes, we saw interceptions and near ones, but when you are fighting for a job and its 4th down or you are working on the vertical passing game, you let it fly. So, the risk reward is lower to me. Here is what I saw out of the QB’s.
Ryan Finley: He is the man for now. He had the advantage of playing vs the 2nd team with the most experienced group around him. He didn’t have a full play book, SWR or Kelsey Young though so he will improve. I was impressed with his decision making especially in the 2 minute drills. He was 13-17 on the night, hit a lot of check down throws and did well enough that he was never pulled from the #1’s. That tells me he did enough. For now. Because of #2.
Brett Rypien: He started hot and showed off his big arm with frozen rope throws from one side of the field to the other and a perfect red zone TD toss. He had a bad interception and one that was dropped that could have been returned for a TD. He may be a bit more of a gunslinger or just a Freshman.
Or both.
He was 10-19. But, the promise he showed was undeniable. He was no Nick Patti (who is now a WR at Central Florida) out there. He had poise, a big arm and was going at it with backup’s vs the #1 Defense. If Finley were to have a few miserable performances and Boise State got off to a poor start record wise, say 1-3, I can see Harsin turning over the job to Rypien before Hawaii at home and MWC play. But, there would be no looking back for the program. I do feel they will see how far Finley can take them. They would have to be certain that Finley couldn’t handle the big moments and be patient to turn it over to a true Freshman. I feel a real QB race coming in the Spring of 2016 completely depending how the big games go for Finley. Washington and on the road at BYU and Virginia will be real tests.
Tommy Stuart: Rough outing for him. Incompletions, limited opportunities and few completions tell me he fell behind Rypien and maybe even Ogle, the surprise of the scrimmage. When the reps dwindle, it tells me they have seen enough and know what they have. Stuart is a JC transfer who could be a perfect back up and team guy.
Alex Ogle: Biggest arm of the bunch maybe but has not been consistent enough. He played real well throwing long balls and was 11-16 but was playing #3 versus limited experience guys. Have to wonder about his game management skills and accuracy in this system. To make it at Boise State you need to be good early or you just don’t get a shot to be the starter until your senior year.
Maybe.
Ask anybody who backed up Dinwiddie, Zabransky, and Moore.
