Kansas Jayhawks Name Jordan Webb Starter At Quarterback
by Owen on Aug 19, 2011 3:46 PM CDT
in Kansas Jayhawk Football 2011
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PrintTurner Gill and Chuck Long have their man for now and it's exactly who most people expected. Sophomore Jordan Webb has been named the starting quarterback for the Kansas Jayhawks as the Jayhawks enter the final stretch of practices before the first game against McNeese State.
"After evaluating our quarterback position with (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach) Chuck (Long), we decided at this time to announce that Jordan Webb will be our starter at that position, Jordan has shown great leadership and consistency all throughout Fall Camp. His improved quarterbacking skills put him in the position to lead our team."
Since Spring, Gill has pretty much framed this as a two horse race between Webb and senior Quinn Mecham but some were holding out hope that one of the newcomers might make an impact. With the delay surrounding Brock Berglund and Michael Cummings coming off an injury, that never materialized although Cummings does appear to be in a position to contribute according to offensive coordinator Chuck Long.
The move to name Webb the starter is the right move and it's definitely the right time, perhaps it could have even been done sooner. While Mecham was serviceable at times last year, Webb is the best option right now and the right choice if we're looking at this team as a work in progress.
In the offseason Long has been quoted as saying that year one to two is the biggest year of improvement for a quarterback. If that's the case and the game has slowed down for Webb, then Kansas could be in a good spot to improve what was an abysmal offense a year ago. If you're an optimist, a strong offensive line and a stable of running backs could also help ease the burden for Webb and further help the cause.
Webb was 121-of-214 for 1,195 yards and seven TDs on the season. His 1,195 passing yards were the second most by a freshman in KU history. Webb's best passing game of the season came in a win over New Mexico State as he threw for 249 yards. He also threw for over 200 yards as he had 228 yards passing versus Kansas State.
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But Webb's obviously a higher upside QB
Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.
Rock Chalk Talk
Not just higher upside
Their down side is the same. Their numbers were virtually identical last year, despite Mecham having two years of junior college starts under his belt.
No touching!
I like Meeeeeeeeeeeeeecham too
But, as I’ve said a few times earlier on here, the dude is a senior. If there isn’t much difference between the two, and we aren’t going to be very good win/loss wise next year… might as well play the Sophomore. In time, Webb could develop into a very serviceable if not good QB1.
It is nice though that should Webb get hurt, we got a capable backup who led us to our only conference win last year waiting. Now the big question is… who DO we play if Webb gets hurt? Remember, Jordan Webb doesn’t have good odds of staying injury free this year. Consider:
1) He had injury problems last year
2) Gill likes to use Webb on zone read runs and a few QB draws (so he is getting hit a lot)
3) Todd Reesing is the ONLY starting KU quarterback since 2003 to not miss games due to injury. Literally. The ONLY ONE (how ridiculous is that?)
Now the question becomes, to you play Mecham or give a young guy a shot? If it happens later in the year, you play Mecham and save a guy’s redshirt. BUT, what happens if Webb gets hurt in week four, and KU is 1-3? Do you insert Mecham, or give a guy like Michael Cummins (aka VInce Howard 2.0) a shot? Cummins has been tearing it up in practice since he arrived. Or hell, maybe even Berglund if he is close to being ready?
These are the things I think about on a daily basis. Sometimes, I wish I had a life… sometimes
Shit happens when you win championships
by Andrew Clark on Aug 20, 2011 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh dear God you don't watch Friday Night Lights...
Shame on you http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Friday_Night_Lights_characters
Shit happens when you win championships
by Andrew Clark on Aug 20, 2011 6:37 PM CDT up reply actions
No, some people actually have interesting things to do with their Friday nights
…now, I’m not one of those people, but they do exist.
Anyway, I’ve never watched that show.
No touching!
I don't watch em on Friday night...
I just get the seasons and watch em then. Show is dank
Shit happens when you win championships
by Andrew Clark on Aug 20, 2011 8:37 PM CDT up reply actions
It might be the best show of the last 10 years...
Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.
Rock Chalk Talk
Webb
He is the man for the staff and therefore the Jayhawks, to those about to Rock Chalk, we salute you.
Go get im brother.
Just Win baby.
as the originator of the jordan webb bandwagon
big fan. hopefully the line gives him some more time this year
I write everywhere. You're probably better off following me on twitter
The OL is the key
especially to AC’s comment above about QB’s getting hurt.
I like Jordan Webb because
When he arrived as a true freshman he was quoted as saying he expected to beat out the incumbent for the starting QB job. That person was Todd Reesing.
You gotta have cajones muchos grandes to make a statement like that!
"No time for questions. No time for games. Start kickin' ass and takin' down the names." - Dave Mustaine.
Or be batshit crazy
Personally, either one is fine with me
Shit happens when you win championships
by Andrew Clark on Aug 20, 2011 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I met him last summer and
he introduced himself as KU’s starting QB. I found this hilarious in that: A. anybody would introduce themselves like that, and B. I was pretty confident (and correctly so) that Kale Pick was going to be named the starter soon after that.
But at the same time, it was nice to hear some arrogance from a guy trying to be the guy leading the team.
I love confidence and arrogance...
That can be backed up. He’s yet to live up to that end of the bargain.
by hiphopopotamus on Aug 20, 2011 5:49 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
True
But Peyton Manning couldn’t live up to expectations behind the OL we put on the field last season…..
"No time for questions. No time for games. Start kickin' ass and takin' down the names." - Dave Mustaine.
Rivet...defending someon's play from last year?
I agree completely. Spikes was out, Hatch looked like something you could milk, Thorson was playing on a broken foot, Marrongelli blew out his knee halfway through the season, Zlatnik was seeing his first action on the offensive side of the ball…that line was dicey at best.
As a result, we don’t know much about what Webb will truly look like as a QB under normal circumstances.
No touching!
im with penhawk...
All last preseason the talk from players on the team was that webb was the guy they were confident in. different situation this year. Anxious to see what he can do.
Questions, Comments? email me at denverjhawk@hotmail.com
by Owen on Aug 20, 2011 11:08 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Last summer
I thought the talk was about Kale leading the voluntary off-season stuff?
He did end up becoming the starting QB, so he backed that up.
The Reesing thing, not so much.
never forget...
1.7%
anything is possible...
by wrigleyrocker12 on Aug 21, 2011 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions
Agreed. But I'm willing to give him a mulligan if he can turn it around this year.
Side note: we then proceeded to destroy him, Kevin Young, Huldon Tharp, and Tyrone Sellers (along with several KU vball players) in some sand volleyball.
It was then that we knew it would be a rough fall for KU Athletics.
If he can be half the QB Todd Reesing was, I'll be pretty happy.
That being said, he doesn’t have Meier, Briscoe, or Henry, or any receivers even close to their skill.
never forget...
1.7%
anything is possible...
by wrigleyrocker12 on Aug 21, 2011 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions
I think
most who have been following the story saw this coming a mile a way.
Check out my blog!
Follow me on Twitter! @AustinJanzen
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