Is Lee Being Underestimated?
14 comments so far
July 1, 2009 by
Peruse the college football magazines coming out for the 2009 season and you might come to the conclusion that the Huskers are in trouble at quarterback. Both Athlon and Lindy’s rated Nebraska as 11th best in the Big 12 at QB. Sure Nebraska will be breaking in a new starter, but will there really be ten signal callers in the conference better than Zac Lee?
I don’t think anyone needs to take issue with returning Heisman finalists Sam Bradford of OU and Colt McCoy of Texas being rated ahead of Lee. Zac Robinson at Oklahoma State would get the edge as might Todd Reesing of Kansas and Robert Griffin of Baylor. Given the numbers put up by any Texas Tech starting quarterback and their new starter could slide ahead of Nebraska’s without much argument.
But that’s where it gets a lot more questionable. Blaine Gabbert was a super recruit, but he doesn’t have quite the experience that Lee has. Why is he automatically better? Jerrod Johnson is a returning starter for Texas A&M, but he managed just over 2400 yards in 12 games. Not exactly a bar that’s out of reach for an NU quarterback considering the last three starting quarterbacks for the Huskers surpassed that mark. Colorado got fewer than 20 passing touchdowns out of their QB tandem in 2008. Iowa State’s Austen Arnaud was a fairly productive player, but his pass efficiency was only a hair better than Cody Hawkins at Colorado. Kansas State was rated 12th by both magazines.
In fact, it would be no surprise if Lee was second only to Reesing in the Big 12 North at quarterback. And it’s not impossible that Lee could be better than Reesing, if only because Reesing could regress behind an offensive line that could have five underclassmen starting.
Given that Nebraska seems likely to have the best defense in the Big 12 North and one of the better running games, if the Huskers do have the best quarterback, it seems almost impossible that they wouldn’t win the division.
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caveman99 Jul 01 09
I think Lee will be a stud when it is all said and done. I agree that 10th is a bit low, I am not sure how you decide if MU or NU is in a better position if you are just a random writer looking from the outside in. To me Lee has more overall experience, a little less D1 than Gabbert, but Lee does have more time in the system by 2 years and does have the JUCO experience to fall back on a bit.
Brandon Jul 01 09
I comfort myself with this:
Of the past two k-less Zac's to start at Nebraska, which one looks better on paper?
Granted, paper is rarely good for predicting anything but Lee brings a lot of tools to the table.
bnahusker Jul 01 09
Is it me, or is the silly season going MUCH slower than past years? Kick off already!!!
GBR!
Bob
darren Jul 01 09
I agree with your premise, Steve. Lee is not the 11th best QB in the Big 12. He's just...not.
He's just too unknown right now to figure out exactly where to slot him. After McCoy, Bradford, Giffin and Robinson, it's a toss up in the rankings, if you asked me.
Reesing? Sell that someplace else, KU fans. I'm not quite buying. Ganz outplayed Reesing last year. And athletically, he's not even a little bit scary. Lacking protection, he may regress in 2009.
Frankly, Reesing v. Lee is a lynch pin battle in determining the North.
James Moore Jul 01 09
Lee SHOULD be better than everyone not named Bradford, McCoy, Reesing, Robinson & Griffin. Better that he has a lack of expectations from non-Husker circles, because it gives him the element of surprise. . .
What's kind of funny is that the guy is a former 4-star recruit who performed quite well in JC, and oh yeah dad was a NFL QB. Hard to imagine that he will fall flat on his face this year. He knows the system, the coaches, his role for this upcoming season and he knows it's his team. We'll know what he's got when we go to Blacksburg. If he shows well there, leads this team, and gets us a win on the road in a pretty hostile enviornment then we've got arguably the best QB in the North Division, THIS YEAR. . .
Gabbert has some very good raw materials to be a good QB for Missouri, but the guy hasn't even started a game, EVER in college. At least Lee has game experience at JC. Reesing, well he did win an Orange Bowl and although Frodo Baggins does NOT have ANY of Lee's athleticism, he has proven himself to be a winner and has made Kansas into a winner as well during his time there (no small task). For that, and as of today, I'll give it to him over Lee. If the roles were reversed I'd want Lee to get that respect. . .
For all of us who are slowly making it through the offseason, no worries!!! EA Sports NCAA College Football comes out July 14th!!!
Dwayne Jul 01 09
Steve,
If what you're mentioning about KU's line is true, I don't think Reesing will fair that well like he has in the past. I'm truly not that impressed. NU's coaches will put Lee in a very good position to have success this season. People will be surprised.
Huskerdeck Jul 01 09
I could care less where he is ranked right now, I am more interested in where he will be ranked at the end of the season. Because nobody has done anything yet for 2009.
Laner Jul 01 09
Often mentioned but still valid.....Zac will fly under the radar and bite ppl in the butt this year just like Joey did last year. Fine by me.
Joel Schmidt Jul 01 09
Good analysis, Steve.
I am cautioned by the following:
Remember our last little JUCO prodigy? Keller underperformed mightily. Granted, that was the beginning of the end for BC, but I don't know if Keller was ever going to be "that guy"
the way Joey Ganz was as a leader in the huddle.
I am encouraged by the following:
- Zac has Watson, and he's been around him for a while. Wats will work his magic like he has in the past.
- Zac had time under Ganz, and saw how a real QB should conduct himself. And it wouldn't hurt if a little of that luck rubbed off too...
- We can still run a ball-control, QB-friendly offense, as long as the run game is as good as advertised.
- And on a less logical level, I have a good feeling about this kid.
Andy Jul 01 09
Joel,
Keller was not a JUCO prospect. He played for Arizona State. Our last JUCO transfer QB did very well for himself, winning Big 12 offensive player of the year in 2006.
Bill in Iowa Jul 01 09
What do we know about Lee? He can throw the ball a mile. He can run as fast as our running backs. He has an impressive pedigree. So, what's not to like? What don't we know? How will he perform under pressure? Is he prone to throwing 2-3 interceptions a game? Is he a strong leader? We don't need him to be the best QB in the Big 12, but if he was in the top 50% that would be good enough.
Joel Schmidt Jul 02 09
Andy -
True enough. I was writing off the top of my head, which seems to work well for college papers but not as well for these posts, and I thought something might have been off, but I didn't check. I knew he played at ASU but...ah, doesn't matter.
Thanks for catching that rather important little factoid.
Greg Morrow Jul 02 09
"if the Huskers do have the best quarterback, it seems almost impossible that they wouldn’t win the division."
Lee starts out with two of a QB's best friends-the D and the running game. He's got system practice time and a supportive coaching staff who'll encourage (demand) that he play within his'self. He's well set up, for success.
I've got to catch Reesing, at least a couple of times including their bowl game, just to watch a college qb master at the top of his game, showcased in a highly accommodating system.
He's by far the best in the North, he's a "Joe" in the south. Just like our Joey was...
Obviously, that's partly due to the offensive athletes in the south. He doesn't beat out the top 3 guys in the south, though (for a starting job).
Neither does Zach Lee.
The team Nebraska tees off against for the conference title, will have a really good qb.
Among other things.
throw46 Jul 03 09
Good post.
I'd agree that he will fair better than what the various pundits and raters have written, or not written.
But, where many have it wrong is that Lee is not a runner. His notable running will be just to the outside and out of bounds to pick up a first down. He is not a shifty runner, nor a smash mouth down field runner.
Why say this and on what basis, just going of what was witnessed in H.S. and particularly his JC year. He will do well, but don't expect meaningful
rushing numbers, just some goal line sprints when the occasion fits.