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Post by huskerhoyahawk on May 21, 2013 21:31:03 GMT -6
What are everyone's thoughts on playing your starting QB on defense? We've never really done it before
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Post by Chris Clement on May 21, 2013 21:45:15 GMT -6
Is your team better?
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Post by coachguy83 on May 22, 2013 5:57:36 GMT -6
This topic comes up about once each season and I think the gist of the answers usually come down to does your QB make your defense good enough to risk not having him on offense. If you're at a small school the answer is pretty frequently yes, but the larger the school you coach at the more it tends to become well..., until you reach the heck no stage.
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Post by newhope on May 22, 2013 6:16:31 GMT -6
There's a lot more to it than does it make your team better. Obviously, it makes his team better or he wouldn't be asking the question. It's one I've wrestled with--and am still wrestling with. I think it comes down more to "can you win without him playing defense"? I had one a few years ago (now playing safety in college). We started out playing him only sparingly in 3rd and long or crucial situations (game on the line). As the season progressed and we got into key conference games, he played more. We also were developing his backup at the same time. Last year, our backup QB was our starting safety. When the starting QB went down, we had little choice. Now I have the starter back and I have the safety back going into this year. Both are very capable QBs who do different things very well, but I'm probably giving the nod to the QB over the safety because of the defensive aspect. I will have both ready, though. Injury is just one part of the equation--how tired he gets is another.
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Post by realdawg on May 22, 2013 7:50:52 GMT -6
NO.
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Post by John Knight on May 22, 2013 8:33:24 GMT -6
It is 100% dependent on the kid. I have seen QB/FS dominate the game on both sides of the ball. It is very rare. If you have that one special kid that can dominate both sides of the ball you gotta play him. VERY few kids can do both to that high a level. I see it often though, just not here in Waverly.
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Post by blb on May 22, 2013 8:49:44 GMT -6
Would prefer not to but very often QB is our best athlete and cannot justify not playing our best athlete on Defense.
Heck I've had a couple return punts, and one was NT on our Goalline Defense (he was biggest kid on team and one of toughest).
Don't want to lose while he's standing on sideline if he can do something about it.
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Post by coachwoodall on May 22, 2013 8:52:50 GMT -6
Which decision can you live with?
Play him just one way and lose b/c he isn't on D?
Play him both ways and lose b/c he is injured/gassed/spent/etc...?
I know that it isn't as cut and dried as that, but it always seems to me that is what this question is wrestling around.
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Post by blb on May 22, 2013 9:27:28 GMT -6
Which decision can you live with? Play him just one way and lose b/c he isn't on D? Play him both ways and lose b/c he is injured/gassed/spent/etc...? I know that it isn't as cut and dried as that, but it always seems to me that is what this question is wrestling around. Our QBs do same conditioning and strength training as rest of our players so they won't be any more gassed-likely to get injured than anybody else. Last year QB got hurt making tackle on Defense. Lost him for three games. Won all three, averaged 40 ppg. Missed him more on Defense. |
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Post by John Knight on May 22, 2013 10:12:15 GMT -6
Or just use QB on -40 in situations. I have seen some places do it that way.
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Post by s73 on May 22, 2013 10:27:36 GMT -6
We've played ours both ways for the last 7 years w/o a problem. We are an option team so our mentality is that our QB is a LB who plays QB. Or a RB that throws the ball. B/c of our offensive scheme, he is usually one of our top 2-3 athletes and we need him.
Just how we've done it, it's not for everyone.
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Post by blockdownkickout on May 22, 2013 10:51:05 GMT -6
I don't think the proper question is how good does he make your defense. I think the proper question is how good is your backup quarterback. A few years ago we had an all everything QB who was responsible for 70% of our offense and our backup was not very good at all. Our QB didn't even know a defensive position. This year we will have a very balanced offense, a really good running game and our backup QB is more like a 1B than a 2. Our starting QB is going to start on defense.
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Post by John Knight on May 22, 2013 10:58:50 GMT -6
or do you even have a real #2 QB?? Sometimes that is the deciding factor. Still is it better to win the ones you can until you have to go to plan B or just give up too many points and never see if plan A will work??
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wingt32
Probationary Member
Posts: 5
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Post by wingt32 on May 22, 2013 11:04:21 GMT -6
DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER QB?
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Post by blb on May 22, 2013 11:18:22 GMT -6
Even at a small school like ours (enrollment 408) we usually have at least one QB per class and a kid at another position JV coach taught to be back up as a Sophomore for our "Emergency" QB. Our philosophy is "Best players play." If QB is best at his position on Defense, so be it. We give them helmets, shoulder pads, teach them how to hit, and everything. |
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Post by John Knight on May 22, 2013 11:51:39 GMT -6
Is that different in programs that have a QB dominated offense whether as a runner or passer? Probably. If you have 3 great RB it doesn't matter who tosses them the rock!
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Post by John Knight on May 22, 2013 11:51:54 GMT -6
no idea why I double posted!
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Post by IronmanFootball on May 22, 2013 16:37:01 GMT -6
Think about this: He could get hurt walking to school.
Our QB is our FS, PK, P. In our scrimmage he also played Rover (4-4 defense). We allow contact on him unless he's in the process of throwing.
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Post by coach2013 on May 22, 2013 17:09:04 GMT -6
We start ours on both sides. IF hes good enough for qb, then hes clearly good enough for defense too.
can he get hurt? sure. Can he help us win? sure.
Do we have a good back up qb? no. Do we have a good kid to replace him on defense? no.
best kids play.
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Post by huskerhoyahawk on May 23, 2013 19:25:41 GMT -6
Thanks for all the responses. I don't anticipate playing my QB on defense this year. But it's always good to hear thoughts from you guys.
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