With Spano out, Nebraska suddenly looks pretty Green at QB
11 comments so far
August 13, 2009 by
Are you ready for the Cody Green era to begin?
With the news yesterday of Kody Spano's season ending knee injury--the same knee he had injured in the spring--Nebraska fans were left asking themselves that question: Who do you want backing up Zac Lee? A converted linebacker or a true freshman?
We don't know much about either, but for a couple of different reasons I'll cast my vote in favor of Green.
To Latravis Washington's credit, he sounded like a quarterback yesterday. He said all the right things in light of the Spano injury, citing how much work he put in over the summer and complimenting, quite effusively, Cody Green's maturity. He put his metaphorical nose to the grindstone saying, "When he went down, I was just, 'Well, got to keep grinding and keep working hard and see what happens.'" Washington spoke with the maturity of a player with nearly three years experience in the program under his belt and that remains his primary recommendation over the super-frosh Green.
But ultimately here's what we saw from both candidates in the spring game. Washington looked pretty good...for a converted linebacker. Green looked pretty good for a true freshman quarterback. The difference lies in the upside.
Both Green, who arrived in the spring, and Washington have about the same amount of time in Shawn Watson's system. Maybe Washington has some edge from facing that Nebraska offense in practice from the defensive perspective for two years, but Green has the advantage of constant quarterback grooming. Nothing to unlearn, less need to dust off dormant instincts.
You can't do anything but praise Washington for his willingness to switch positions midway through his college career to help Nebraska shore up a position that became thin with the departure of Patrick Witt. Even keeping that in mind, it was difficult to see him as viable candidate for the eventual quarterbacking position as opposed to a stop gap solution.
Green, on the other hand, was viewed as the future for the Cornhuskers at quarterback with the measurables and stellar senior season to prove it. He was the ideal in terms of where many of us thought Nebraska's offense was headed in the future, a true dual threat with the size of a traditional pocket passer. In a perfect world he redshirts and gets a year to learn the college game.
The world isn't perfect and now Nebraska is faced with the same problem with either of what we have to assume are the leading candidates to backup Lee: inexperience. Neither Green nor Washington has any experience as a college quarterback, but only one of them started his Nebraska career expecting to be one.
What's that worth? It's tough to say, but Washington seeing snaps this season reads like a fairy tale, the former linebacker sharing the same number and hometown as the most famous signal caller in school history doing whatever it takes to get on the field. Green seeing snaps--albeit under less than ideal circumstances--feels like the natural progression, the presumed prodigy getting his shot a littler earlier than anticipated.
Some were already wondering if Green could see the field in special situations a la Pryor/Tebow, and many wondered whether or not he was too talented to keep off the field way back in the spring.
Unfortunately, Nebraska got a lot closer to answering those questions with the loss of Spano. It's not ideal, but it will be illuminating.
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Darren Aug 13 09
Not to be contrary, but I'm a pretty huge Washington fan at this point.
I know the conditions of his being a QB are not ideal (Witt leaving, Spano injured), but the guy can be a real deal QB if given the shot.
Remember, West Virginia wanted this kid, not as a linebacker, but as a QB. Physically, he's a beast. I don't think of him as a placeholder to protect Green's redshirt, but as a legit player at the position.
Would I love to have Spano healthy? Darn right. But, the wisdom of moving Washington in the Spring is even greater today.
caveman99 Aug 13 09
If nothing else, this makes the competition all that much greater for the two and that is a good thing. Green looked pretty raw in the Spring game, didn't look decent until the 2nd half after he started taking snaps with the Red team. LW started strong but I felt his latter snaps weren't as productive, minus the terrific scramble pass, catch, and TD run to Reed that is. If LW is ready, and Ohio State wanted him as a QB on top of WVU so you know he has skills despite playing in an Option Offense in HS, then maybe he can come in more often to run the Zone Read plays and help keep Lee healthy.
James Moore Aug 13 09
Mr. Spano you deserve better. Hoping that you will emerge healthy and get the opportunity to play the game that you have spent your whole life pursuing. . .
Joel Schmidt Aug 13 09
Man, that is too bad for the kid. So if he got a medical hardship would he still have 4 years of eligibility?
ACLs are hard to work through. Any word on the grade of severity this tear is, in relation to the first? If the reconstruction job was bad and he tore some meniscus or strained his other ligaments this time around, he might have a much longer road back. (I'm a med student going into rehab, so I go nuts over this stuff...)
The other end of this is the psychological aspect...he's going to have to get his mental toughness back so that he doesn't fear his knee giving out every time he takes a 5 step drop when the game is on the line.
Good to hear all that good talk about Washington though. In the end, the mentality of having a strong rushing game should keep Lee from getting dinged up too much, I would hope.
Brandon Aug 13 09
Amen to that James.
Big-D Aug 13 09
While both Green (6-4 220) and Washington (6-3 225) have the build to handle the wear and tear of the position, I would take the mindset of a junior linebacker over that of a true freshman.
washmohusker Aug 13 09
I believe the coaches will make the best decision. Be nice to save Green's redshirt if possible, but if the kids got the goods we may be able to keep him 4 years anyway. Washington looks more than capable of filling a Turman type role. It's still all good.
Dwayne Aug 13 09
I totally agree with Darren and Big D. One point I want to mention is when Harrison Beck's redshirt was taken, a lot of fans were upset with that and for good reason, but he never spent four years with the program anyway. The coaches have to do what's right, but from what I saw in LW in the red/white game, I think he's a very viable option.
Brandon Aug 13 09
A lot of this theoretical discussion really depends on just how equal the two qbs actually are at the end of camp in terms of giving NU a chance to win should they enter a game. I think that unless there's a gaping chasm between Green and Washington, Latravis will get the nod early on. He'll likely go into the season as the backup just because that leaves the RS option open for Green.
Of course, if Lee did go down, who replaces him--again if they're about even--largely depends on what Nebraska has left to play for.
Generally speaking, however, I feel like if we're to assume that the road could be bumpy due to inexperience with either guy, I'd rather take my lumps with the younger quarterback.
Bill in Iowa Aug 13 09
Lets not forget Martinez, he was only the most valuable player in LA. He will be in the mix too, although he is coming into fall camp without having the benefit of spring training. I think Washington definately gets the nod over both Green and Martinez. The only way we see either freshmen is if one of them really really impresses this fall. Even so, I don't think we would burn their redshirts unless we really really needed them. I would really like to see Wats use Washngton like Meyer used Tebow in his early career. Bring him in to run the zone read, give him some game experience and keep Lee fresh.
Ackos Aug 16 09
Well, it is unfortunate, but i doubt Spano ever sees the field in Lincoln.