That assumes you have a decent OL to be able to pass downfield effectively against a heavy rush and free up the run. Mark's productivity significantly dropped with Siemian at QB, even though defenses anticipated the run more and would load the box more when Colter was QB. Stated another way, why did Mark's productivity drop so much when Siemian was at QB with his better ability to pass downfield?
Adding Colter to the WR's doesn't change the fundamental problem we had with the OL.
Again, while Mark wouldn't have broken as many longs w/ TS under center (as both safeties would likely be playing back), that doesn't mean there wouldn't have been an effective run game (albeit, JJtBC is a RB more suited to the style of play w/ a passing QB and a below avg. O-line).
And again, McC didn't make the most of Siemian's talents (TS can actually move a bit, unlike say, a Tom Brady type) and didn't use Trevor's legs (to take pressure off the O-line and extend passing plays) until towards the end of Siemian's career in purple (the 4th Q of the M00N game).
If you have a QB where the D has to take account for both the run (more so the run to extend pass plays) and pass, that opens things up for the run game, in addition to utilizing the RB more as a pass catcher.
Take, for instance, the drives during the dOSU game in 2013.
NU drives:
1 - Colter (5 plays; 23 yds - punt); Mark 1 run for -1 yd
2 - Siemian (5 playsl 23 yds - TD); VM 1 run for 7 yds
3 - Colter (3 plays; 8 yds - blocked punt for dOSU TD)
4 - KC/TS (10 plays; 75 yds - TD); VM runs of 5 and 3 yds w/ KC
- VM runs of 2, 6 and 8 yds w/ TS
5 - TS/KC (8 plays; 68 yds - FG); VM run for 4 yds and catch for 41 yds from TS
6 - TS (6 plays; 18 yds - FG); VM run for 8 yds
7 - KC (12 plays; 60 yds - FG); VM runs of 5, 1 and 1yds and catches for 3 and 4 yds
8 - KC (3 plays; 9 yds - punt); VM run for 5 yds
9 - TS (7 plays; 40 yds - punt); VM run for no gain
10 - TS ( 2 plays; 6 yds - INT)
11 - TS (6 plays; 80 yds - TD); VM run for 2 yds
12 - KC (6 plays; 25 yds; turnover on downs); VM runs of 1 and 3 yds
VM had a more productive day w/ TS at the helm.
I say this often because I like to razz ECat, but it's true. Colter was a better QB in our system, plain and simple.
What the heck are you taking about?
The NU spread system was never one predicated on a running QB/option, aside from spot starts (such a Kafka vs Minny).
Once Kafka developed as a passer, he was pretty much a pocket QB.
Colter could never have brought the 'Cats back in the M00N game w/ 2 long (almost the entire field) scoring drives.