Latravis Washington Parallels Abound
13 comments so far
April 1, 2009 by
If you're old enough to remember the 1994 season, then you probably recall the drama surrounding the quarterbacks that year. Tommie Frazier was out with blood clots. Brook Berringer collapsed a lung. Walk-on Matt Turman ended up playing in one of the bigger games of the season. At one point, safety Tony Veland was approached about playing quarterback, a position he'd played in high school. Veland declined, but it was inconsequential as the Huskers went on to win the national championship that season (and the next one). Veland went on to be drafted by the Denver Broncos and collected a Super Bowl ring on their roster. All in all, not a bad decision.
With the departure of Patrick Witt and Cody Green entering spring with a minor injury, the Huskers needed help at quarterback. But unlike Veland, Latravis Washington left the defense where he was competing for a starting linebacker spot to provide depth at quarterback. So in some ways, Washington gives a look at the road not taken by Veland.
Of course, obvious parallels were drawn between Washington and Frazier because they both hail from Bradenton Florida, and they both wear number fifteen. They also both have strong throwing arms that aren't overwhelmingly accurate.
But if you look at the physique of Washington, it's very similar to star recruit Cody Green or former signal caller Jammal Lord. If Washington could play like either one of those guys, then he would be a great asset to the position. Physically, he's built to take the punishment that a spread option would require. He's got to be fairly fast if he was in the mix at linebacker. So that suggests, he could be quite a weapon carrying the ball too.
Too bad he's not as fast as his cousin Fabian Washington, though. If that was the case, we'd be comparing him to another Husker quarterback - Eric Crouch.
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darren Apr 01 09
Great comparisons, Steve.
Thinking back to that 1994 season and comparing it to today... hmm, yeah I would rather have had Veland taking the snap than Turman. No offense to Turman, the guy is a legend. But, you want a better athlete at QB on the road against a ranked team, right?
For 2009 what is the comparible? Maybe it would be like having to face KU on the road in November. Would you rather have Jim Ebke or Washington at QB? Personally, I'll take the better athlete...and hope like crazy that we have 1994s defense and running game. :-)
Mark Apr 01 09
I remember reading that T. Veland actually attended QB meetings and took some practice snaps during that time in case they needed him. I'm not so sure that he was approached to play QB full time, but was asked as a cautious measure to be prepared. I think this because they also had M. Cristo available and I would assume that both would be better options than Veland since they knew the plays. If I remember correctly.
bnahusker Apr 01 09
I know that I am in the minority on this subject but please do not compare anyone on this team to Eric "Me First" Crouch. Crouch is worthy of all of the awards and accolades that he received and was a great QB. I'm just not convinced that he was a team player.
GBR!
Bob
JBLING22 Apr 01 09
BNAHUSKER
AGREED!
Fleeingpepper Apr 01 09
He's just comparing the physical attributes like speed and such.
Hopefully nobody on this team has an ego like Crouch did! I loved watching him play but had some problems with the way he handled lots of things. But that's a whole other can of worms.
teamster Apr 01 09
Wasn't Oklahoma playing a converted receiver at quarterback just a couple years ago?
Dwayne Apr 01 09
I've never really understood that angle fans have about Crouch. I could care less either way, but what's wrong with someone wanting something like playing a certain position, wanting to start, or whatever the issue fans have with him? Isn't some of what a team player about is being true to yourself? I don't get that angle. Fans ripped him because he didn't want to play a position other than qb after college. It's his choice. If any one of us were moved to a different position in a company and we truly didn't want to do it, why would we do it?
bnahusker Apr 02 09
Dwayne..........
Sometimes things aren't about what you do or don't do but how you go about it. Your point is well taken. I didn't have a problem with his NFL choices. The inner drive required to be a QB could make other positions a let down.
GBR!
Bob
Aaron Apr 02 09
Speaking of Crouch, I was just thinking how great it was in NCAA 2001 when you had like a 4th and 15, ran the QB option out of shotgun, boom TD, it was great. But to the matter at hand I think this is just a Spring Practice move that will more than likely not going to carry into the season once the QB depth chart is established, but then again he could wow the coaches and end up the starter, but I doubt it.
tom Apr 02 09
Just before this thread goes quietly into the night, I'm going to throw in my $0.02. QB is the most coveted position in football. There's nothing wrong with striving for that spot. Unfortunately, what Crouch did was like me walking into my bosses office and saying that I only want his job or no other position. I'd get thrown out that day.
Not to say I couldn't eventually be the boss if I worked my way up the food chain, but demands, not desire was what seemed to drive him. I would have taken any way to get my foot in the door, and in fact, that's what I've done for the things I've eventually been successful at. To quote one of my fav's - you can't always get what you want, and if you try sometime, you find, you get what you need.
Greg Morrow Apr 02 09
tom,
I'm not necessarily referring to Crouch in particular, but "the crying baby gets the milk" has been known to accomplish things, too.
Not sure of the etymology, but I'm sure it goes back a ways.
bnahusker Apr 02 09
Tom.....
2 bonus points for the gratuitous Stones reference!
GBR!
Bob
Dwayne Apr 02 09
I'd compare it to a co-worker getting a promotion and you know in your heart of hearts you deserve that more than your co-worker does and you can produce and be more effective in that same position that you were passed over on. But for some odd reason, maybe you think you didn't get a fair shake and your boss chose the other guy. Looking in from the outside only, this is just my perception of that issue.