BREAKING: Lopina to start, Lobster to help
by Grady Clapp on Aug 30, 2009 6:12 PM PDT
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PrintGrippi has the news we've been waiting for: Lopina will start. Not unexpected, or surprising.
However, Marshall Lobbestael will play as early as the third possession.
Poll below for your knee-jerk reaction.
[Photo credit: Marco Garcia, AP]
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I'm ok with the two trading off
But I don’t think that their should be a set time limit for him to get in. I don’t know how serious the 3rd series mark is set in stone, but, If Lopina goes down and scores three TDs in the first three possessions and is perfect statistically and fundamentally, there is no reason he should come out of the game. Obviously that won’t happen, I mean this is the Washington State Cougars after all, but that’s just an example. If Lopina struggles, give the Lobster a shot, if he struggles, put Lopina back in.
If that happens...
…I don’t think you need to worry about Lobster coming in.
I'll go on record again as saying I absolutely hate two-QB rotations
Unless it’s a situation where each guy is doing something with a unique skill set, it’s almost always turns out terribly. Pick a freaking guy, and let him be the guy until he shows he can’t be the guy.
I like it in this situation
Neither one of these guys is so much better than the other that it is obvious. Now they may not have what you could say are “unique skill sets” but they each have something that the other does not. Lopina the mobility and Lobster the arm.
If Lopina takes the majority of snaps this year, it will be nice come next year that Marshall has taken a few more snaps this season in live action. Could it be possible that Wulff wanted to evaluate them against something more than the Cougar defense, one of the worst in the nation a season ago? Something that was mentioned in an earlier thread and it may carry some value; Wulff and company might want to give the job to Marshall because they know it helps the team past this season, but Lopina has simply played too well in camp to keep him out of the starting role. This is their compromise.
by Craig Powers on Aug 30, 2009 7:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Compromises in sports usually turn out badly
However, your point about evaluation is well taken. That’s kind of what I mentioned in my QB preview — I think Lobbestael is the only one of the two with the physical tools to actually be a Pac-10 caliber passer. Perhaps their waiting to see if Lopina can be an effective enough passer against a decent defense in Stanford.
Hip Hip Hooray!!!
I know you didn’t say so in this post (you mentioned it in another), but why don’t you think it’s advantage WSU by forcing Stanford to prepare for two different Pac-10 caliber QB’s?
I haven’t read or heard one thing that alarms me about this situation. Believe me, I don’t think it works in all situations. I don’t think it has squat to do with Wulff feeling any heat either. I believe this gives us the best chance for success on the field, nothing more.
It’s pretty obvious to me both Lopina and Lobbestael have got each other’s back. That seems to be the theme of this whole team, a refreshing feeling for me. Let’s get behind these two kids and go out and put a thumping on Stanford.
This situation will play out to it’s logical conclusion. Both have earned this opportunity.
Go Cougs!!!
how much extra work is it to prepare for two guys who run the same system?
not much.
This is a waste of time. If they both give you the same chance to win, then play Lobster as he has the potential to have a lot more impact on the program over a long time.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
Same system, different skill sets....
I hope Harbaugh thinks it’s a waste of time as well.
I take it a season at a time. This shouldn’t retard Lobbestael’s development at all.
Go Cougs!!!
Wulff's own words
"If somebody’s got a hot hand, he’ll stay in the game," Wulff said. "Whoever’s in there, we need them to do well."
Hopefully he holds to that. If this is a move where he is simply setting up that if Lopina isn’t getting it done, he won’t get to play the whole game then that is fine with me. What I hate seeing is the Mike Price patented play one series at the start of the second quarter in every game, despite score or effectiveness of the offense.
I think it's just kinda proof that Wulff really isn't convinced that Lopina can do the job, and they really want Lobbestael to give them a reason to give it to him
There’s really no other logical way to explain this.
What this says to me:
Neither one ‘won’ the contest, and that Lopina is slightly ahead. Therefore, the competition is continuing into the regular season, and I would expect a permenant starter to be named within 2-3 games.
lets not forget some things...
as much as I hated seeing Lopina play in some games last season and was calling for his head after the 4th interception or so…he has the drive and the desire to prove himself..he is a tough competetior and was never one to shy away from blame, I love the kids grit…in a majority of games last year he was playing against some stout defenses with lil or no pass protection due to injured O-line, and a hurt back…he has the physical tools to get us somewhere I just wish he made some better decisions as when to pass or run…. if we can get some solid pass protection and Lopina stays healthy I really think he can do the job and do the job well…
Hot hand?
What a novel idea! Maybe someone should mention that to Doba.
O2Coug, I agree MP’s QB sharing was putrid, but it did 2 things: It kept Kegel happy that he wasn’t getting garbage time and prevented him from transferring (remember him coming in on the Cougs own 2 yd line!) and put him in pressure situation (see above).
All we know is that it worked. We were successful football team with the sharing and Kegel was an above avg QB for us when he finally started.
But I digress. I think you have a coach feeling some serious heat. I know Nuss keeps ringing the bell that PW will get at least 4 if not 5 years, but last yr was such a colossal failture (and I beg you to pull up stats of any first time Cougar coaches before and show anything comparable and I don’t mean simple W-L record because losses can be deceiving if you are losing OT games or games on the final play), that PW needs to hedge his bets. I think from the reports, everyone agrees that Lopina is playing the part and should be the starting QB, but we all acknowledge that this season would be a huge success if we win 4 or 5 games or are at least win 2 and are competitive in the other ones, except SC and maybe Cal, and therefore, I believe PW has to create hope for the future of the program with Lobster because less than 2 wins and some non-competitive football is going to light a fire under the mob unless the mob has something to pins their hopes on.
Hot hand, what about bad knee?
Maybe Marshall isn’t exactly back to 100% and this is their way of playing it somewhat safe with him. They may find that Lopina has the grit and the leadership ability to gut out a close game while the Lobster is able to get his footwork and timing back in practice, both in and out of games. This is probably Wulff just hedging his bets that Marshall is able to go 100% right now, and he’s going to give him a game or two to prove that he can or can’t.
That said, I’m pulling for both of these guys, Lopina is in one of my classes this semester and he’s a classy guy that gets it, while Lobbestael is from my home town and I wanna see him do well. If the Cougs get through the first three games intact and with a solidified starter and at least a couple of victories then Wulff can throw more on the shoulders of his team and its leader and turn them loose completely to see what happens.
This year I’m not terribly worried about the QB situation because after having seen Tuel in scrimmage a couple weeks ago with the ones and twos I’m pretty sure that he’ll be the new face of the Cougs next year unless Marshall really begins to break out this season or in camp next year. No matter what happens this year (barring 0-12), Coach Wulff will have the time to develop his hand picked guy and get this team back into bowl games. If Lopina or Lobster emerges this year and makes that dream come true woohoo, but if they don’t or can’t then at least guys got experience and set themselves up for a solid year next year.
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