Per Coach Fitz.
Hopefully he'll be our starter for the next four years
Hopefully he'll be our starter for the next four years
Clayton Thorson starting
- Thread starter NUHockey
- Start date
This kid is either gonna lead us to the promise land or our offense is a total f'ing disaster. When was the last time we had a four year starter? Baz? Or was he a soph. starter?
If memory serves (a stretch goal for me these days), Baz was pressed into service in his freshman year after the poor start by Stauss (sp?), and Webb going down with an injury.
Surprised that there was a public announcement, but happy (relieved?) that it is Thorson. I just feel like he provides the best upside and any growing pains could result in development for 2016 and beyond, which wouldn't be the case if Oliver got the starting nod.
Yep I'm excited that this was where we ended up also. He has the physical tools from what we've seen and heard. No doubt there will be bumps along the way, but now we begin the process of getting him lots of reps so that he can develop mentally and adjust to playing football at a B1G level (and speed). Have fun starting off against Stanford kid, getting thrown into the fire.
Go Cats
Go Cats
Correct. I was there against Air Force in 2002 . Probably the most one-sided game I have ever seen in my life .Stauss look like a deer in the headlights.
Also a brutally unforgiving sun made for meltdowns off the field as well as on.
The quickie story...
Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald made it official today: redshirt freshman Clayton Thorson will be the Wildcats' starting quarterback.
Story: Thorson gets the job
I was coming from South Florida where it can get a trifle warm. Sitting in that stadium at that altitude in the sun with no clouds I roasted
I would guess our O will be up and down this year with Thorson as the starter Especially the first few games while he gets Frosh mistakes out of the way. But likely the future will be better once he works those things out.
While I thought they would start with Oliver and work Thorson into the starting lineup, this is fine as well. Going forward, I would guess that after this year, Aviti might switch positions. That will be the best opportunity for him to get on the field. Probably cannot do it this year..
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I seem to remember Stauss going against Penn State, which might have been even worse. I think that one ended up something like 49-0. One of the worst games I've seem NU play in the last 20 years, with the possible exception of the debacle of a few years ago against Ohio State and the loss to a 1-11 Duke team.
Wouldn't it be better for us if Stanford didn't prepare for a dual-threat QB, and then we sprung it on them? I completely trust the coaches on their decision, but I don't see the benefit to NU of announcing it.
Stanford would have prepared essentially the same way, as the offense won't be much different with Thorson at the helm. The zone-read was always part of the offense that Stanford would prepare to face, but is probably a bigger threat with Thorson back there.
IIRC Larry Johnson set the Penn State single game rushing record in the first half or something utterly ridiculous like that.
Hdhntr1-what position do you think Alviti would switch too? QB with all the injuries seems like a much better bet
He had to play against Wheaton South, so he should be prepared for what Stanford can bring. Heh heh
He won't switch positions. He's an important backup, and will probably play a lot and could end up starting. Remember both these guys are young, and will continue to develop.
Remember a guy Denard Robinson. He lost the QB battle to Tate Forcier. Many people said he should switch positions but stayed at QB and worked hard and won the job... And then switched positions late his senior year after losing the job to Gardner who then lost it to Morris who in turn lost the job to Ruddock.
Point being situations are fluid
This is a good sign for the development of the Hammer, as Fitz usually errs on the side of seniority. Looking forward to seeing his debut!
First, I said he could not switch this year. We are too thin. But next year, he would find himself in second position with the guy ahead of him having a year more eligibility than he has. It is one thing when have a year he other guy leaves but he will not. THat puts him in a difficult position. In the recent past, we have had two year eligibility guys at QB (and missed years of QB recruiting) and no real log jam but if we have a potential 4 year guy, someone is likely to have to switch positions or we might see them transferring.
My guess is WR ala Brewer, etc
I think this would be terrible for the team. Alviti would likely be one snap away for seeing action at any given time as the number 2. We missed a year at QB, so his only competition would be a Freshman for that spot.
To me if anyone switched positions from QB it would be Yates. I don't even think that would happen unless Smith passed him on the depth chart and Smith would likely redshirt like just about all of our recent QB's especially if Thorson develops into a top flight guy.
The two teams playing for the B1G title last year both started QB's in the championship game and bowl games that didn't begin the season as starter. Hopefully, Alviti continues to work, improve and be prepared when his number gets called.
I would like to see Oliver as the back up this year at the quarterback position, Alviti the third stringer, and Alviti moonlighting as a wide receiver. In a world where 10 receivers might see the field and catch balls in the game, I think Alviti can learn the offense and make a positive impact at Northwestern's thinnest, or at least least experienced, spot. He's a very good athlete, from what little I've seen.
I'm onboard with the decision. I feel like each QB will have their roles. Oliver will have a chance to contribute in the relief role should The Hammer struggle...would have been very difficult to throw the RS frosh in off the bench. Let the Thorson Era begin. #mightythorson. #thorsonrising
I understand what you are saying but people wanted to see KC at WR when we were every bit as short. It depends on a lot of things including development of other QBs, but the alternative is that one of the most athletic guys on the team might never see the field. And that might lead to him wanting to transfer. Maybe they set up wildcat formations as special packages for him to get him on the field. I hate missing a year at QB. It screws things up for years.
I'm glad that Fitz finally gave up on his conservative approach!
A freshman QB will make mistakes, but he has a lot of upside.
Len Williams. Baz started as a Soph.
This said, there have been plenty of RS and even true Frosh that have done well. Manziel for one. Clayton Football anyone? Someone doesn't have the same ring to it.
He transferred to North Dakota State University and played there.
So if Thorson stops going to class and has a loudmouth dad alienating the coaches and the team, Alviti should be ready to take over.
Brett started as redshirt freshman after Alexander Webb went down. In fact, he played part of the season with a broken leg. He also kept the job through his worst year (2003) and eventually surpassed 10,000 yards passing as senior in 2005.
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