Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Mt. Passmore: In one of America’s deepest football conferences, quarterbacks are king in the Big 12

KU's Reesing part of elite crop of QBs

By Dugan Arnett

Todd Reesing, Graham Harrell, Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel

Photo by Karl Gehring

Todd Reesing, Graham Harrell, Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel

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Big 12 boasts top QBs

It's a conference loaded with BCS-caliber teams and Heisman Trophy talent. However, this year's collection of quarterbacks in the Big 12 could post numbers like the conference has never seen.

photo

L.G. Patterson/AP File Photo

Missouri's Chase Daniel passed for 33 touchdowns and only had 11 interceptions last season. He was also a Heisman Trophy finalist.

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LM Otero/AP Photo

Texas Tech's Graham Harrell led the nation in passing last year. The senior threw for more than 400 yards in all but two games.

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Photo by Nick Krug

Journal-World File Photo

Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing backs out to pass during the first half against Central Michigan at Memorial Stadium in the Sept. 1, 2007, file photo. Reesing is a member of a special quarterback class in the Big 12 Conference this season.

Kansas City, Mo. — It wasn't always like this, understand.

There was a time - not so long ago - that cornerbacks still had a fighting chance. Defensive coordinators still had their hair, and a running back could still hope to make a decent living in this league.

Then, overnight it seems, things began to change. Like unruly outlaws, a contingent of young men began to descend upon college campuses across the Midwest. They had names like Chase and Todd and Graham and Colt, and together, they began to do amazing things with a football. They passed for unfathomable amounts of yardage. They fired touchdowns at an alarming rate. They glanced over their conference's record book, and then, without much effort, began rewriting it.

As we stand here, on the brink of the 2008 college football season, we are staring out onto a brave new world of Big 12 football.

One in which quarterbacks, in ways we've never before seen, are altering the landscape of the league.

Sign No. 1 that the Big 12 has the best collection of quarterbacks of any conference in the country: Stats don't lie.

According to the Web site NationalChamps.net, which recently calculated the passing numbers of every BCS conference's starting quarterbacks since 2000, the Big 12 in '07 ranked as the best of the new millennium with a quarterback average of 3,176 yards-per-season.

Last year, Missouri's Chase Daniel alone threw for 4,306. Kansas' Todd Reesing added 3,486 and Oklahoma freshman Sam Bradford, in addition to setting the NCAA freshman single-season touchdown record, chipped in 3,121.

In all, seven of the Big 12's quarterbacks finished with at least 3,000 total passing yards last season. Four conference programs broke single-season school records for passing. And entering the 2008 season, as more and more teams move toward the pass-heavy spread attacks, the league is stronger and deeper at the position than it's ever been.

Perhaps Kansas University coach Mark Mangino puts it best.

Asked recently to pick his favorite Big 12 quarterback, Mangino replied, "That's like going to a Mercedes dealer and picking out what color you want."

Sign No. 17 that the Big 12 has the best collection of quarterbacks of any conference in the country: The Graham Harrell conundrum.

Not many conferences exist in which a quarterback can lead the nation in passing yards and touchdowns thrown and fail to be named the league's best player at his position.

This is very much the situation of Texas Tech's Graham Harrell, however, who threw for 5,705 yards and 48 touchdowns last season but earned only second-team all-Big 12 honors (behind Daniel) and barely received a second look in the race for the Heisman.

Harrell, a senior this year, represents a statistical wunderkind. Assuming he stays on his current pace - and avoids injury - he could very well own the conference records for yards gained in a career, passing yards in a career, completions in a career and completion percentage in a career by the end of the 2008 season.

What's more, he averaged 438.8 yards per game in '07, to go along with four rushing touchdowns and a 71.8 completion percentage.

"I think one of his strengths," Red Raiders coach Mike Leach said, "is he really doesn't have any weaknesses."

Sign No. 45 that the Big 12 has the best collection of quarterbacks of any conference in the country: They're good. And they know it.

Nearly every quarterback present at last week's Big 12 Media Days in Kansas City, Mo., said that you'd be hard-pressed to find a better collection of gunslingers in college football.

"I think we have the most depth in the country," said Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz, who threw 15 touchdowns in three starts last season. "I don't know if we have the most NFL potential, but top to bottom, I think we're the best quarterback conference (in the nation)."

Missouri's Daniel, the reigning Big 12 offensive player of the year, went a step further. Asked to name the single best quarterback in the Big 12, Daniel chose Chase Daniel. And he used the word "obviously."

Told of Daniel's proclamation, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, who has grown used to Daniel's brash nature as the two have forged a recent friendship, smiled.

"Yeah, he probably would say that," McCoy said.

Sign No. 118 that the Big 12 Conference has the best collection of quarterbacks in the country: They routinely make some of the nation's top defensive backs look silly.

It used to be, a Big 12 defensive back could look forward to a "down week" every now and then. A game against a team whose passing game lacked pop. Who didn't feature a quarterback with the potential to throw for 400 yards against you.

Weeks like this don't seem to exist much anymore.

"From a defensive standpoint, you have to try to build a game plan for every (individual) quarterback," Missouri preseason all-American safety William Moore said, "because every quarterback can do something different."

Indeed. What makes the league's top tier of quarterbacks - Daniel, Bradford, Reesing and Harrell - so effective is that each appears virtually immune to mental lapse. Combined, those four threw just 40 interceptions in 2007 - compared with 150 touchdowns - while each showed an ability to perform in the clutch.

In the process, they've made life miserable for the league's secondary units.

"With (guys like) Reesing, Daniel, McCoy, they just pick you apart," says Oklahoma defensive back Nic Harris, an all-Big 12 first-team selection as a junior in '07. "There's just an extremely small margin for error."

Sign No. 256 that the Big 12 has the best collection of quarterbacks of any conference in the country: Even the conference's middle-of-the-pack signal-callers are game-changers.

Last season, Texas' McCoy passed for 3,303 yards, the second-highest total ever by a Texas quarterback. Down the road in Manhattan, Kansas State's Josh Freeman threw for 3,353 yards and 18 touchdowns in his second season as a starter. Oklahoma State's Zac Robinson and Colorado's Cody Hawkins, meanwhile, each topped 2,800 yards and 20 touchdowns in their first seasons as starters.

The list goes on.

The question, of course, is whether these quarterbacks will be able to duplicate last season's success. As offenses have constantly evolved, defenses have desperately tried to catch up. It's only a matter of time, coaches say, before they do.

If this is the case, they'd better hurry.

With a month remaining before the 2008 campaign kicks off, the statistic of note seems to be "10."

As in, out of the dozen starting quarterbacks responsible for the Big 12 Conference's record-setting 2007 season, 10 will be returning this year.

Comments

plasticJHawk (anonymous) says...

I don't really understand the numbering scheme, but the points made are very compelling.

Even though I knew that Graham Harrel's stats were staggering every time I see them published it just blows me away. Him and Colt Brennan's numbers were just head and shoulders above everyone it seemed like. And obviously the offenses that they run are just pass, no huddle, quick snap, and pass again, but there's no way to fake a 72% completion rate. Of course... Reesing's stats would go up he if were throwing at Michael Crabtree...

July 30, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

"If you were really hungry on the sidelines during a game and had nothing on hand to eat, would you pick your nose and eat it?"

"Obviously."

July 30, 2008 at 7:39 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk5 (anonymous) says...

i love it, bmcmich1!!! this is exactly what we need more of around here. mizzou? SUCK IT!!!!!!!!

July 30, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayViking (anonymous) says...

zomg who he haxed for this!

July 30, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

Please dont put Colt Brennan in the same conversation with Big 12 QBs. We all saw what happened to him when he had to go up against a higher caliber defense than Washington.

July 30, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KGphoto (anonymous) says...

Better, Doogie.

But let's hope the NCAA running backs making a decent living, stay at USC.

July 30, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

GoBadgers (anonymous) says...

That drawing isn't proportionally correct. Chase Daniel's head should be at least three times bigger than the rest of the QBs. Chase's head is fatter than most 300-pounders walking around.

July 30, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

McT (Matt Tait) says...

Colt McCoy, of Texas, is the Colt in the article. Not Colt Brennan. Whatever happened to him anyway? Did he get a shot in the NFL?

July 30, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

5DecadeHawk (anonymous) says...

I heard that the Olympic NCAA Football Writing Judges gave this article a 4 (out of a possible 10). Everyone was shocked when the Mizery judge didn't vote. Turns out he couldn't count to four.

Doogie is improving. His article was longer, but it didn't convey any information that hasn't already been out there for 6 months. The quotes might be from last week, but is anyone really shocked that a Big12 QB would say that he thought the conference had good QB's? Does that count as new information?

At least this article is just below average.

Maybe he'll actually find one tiny bit of information that is new for his next article?

Hey... this might be a trend?... put a fancy drawing on the page so everyone looks at that instead of Doogie's paltry writing?

Did Doogie's Mommy save his old coloring books?

Here is an idea... Maybe if Doogie were to go PLAY football and get knocked on his wimpy butt a few times he might have better insights into the game?

Now, now, relax everybody... I'm not suggested anyone actually injure the kid. Just teach him what football is all about if he's actually going to write about it. Clearly his Mizery education neglected to teach him to write about what he knows.

Any volunteers to line up on one of the rec fields to go up against Doogie?

July 30, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

esorrentino (Eric Sorrentino) says...

McT, funny thing you mention that. As soon as I saw Brennan mentioned in the comments, I looked it up, because I was wondering the same thing.

He's listed on the Washington Redskins roster (6th round of this past year's draft). It seems Washington is committed to Jason Campbell, but you'd think Brennan at least deserves a shot sometime with some club.

July 30, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

GoBadgers (anonymous) says...

Hey 5DecadeHawk. The Douchebag Store called. They're running out of you.

July 30, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayViking (anonymous) says...

sh**s weak 5decade. sh**sweak.

July 30, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KanFan27 (anonymous) says...

5decade I hate Mizzou just as much as you do, but you dont seem to realize that they have one of the top 5 journalism schools in the country. The kid can write just fine. We are in July. NOTHING happens in july that is worth reporting. Respect the fact that he can even post some stories and have them be interesting enough to finish. I would LOVE to see you go and scratch up some unseen information that he has missed. Go ahead and take a shot at it. You need to leave the kid alone. He is a good writer and has made some good stories. Just because he is a Mizzou grad doesnt mean he is the spawn of satin, so leave him alone until the season actually get started and there are real stories to be reported.

July 30, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

imnotpaulpierce (anonymous) says...

"They had names like Chase and Todd and Graham and Colt, and together, they began to do amazing things with a football."

Still putting Missouri first... Clearly objective.

July 30, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

GoBadgers (anonymous) says...

Cheese and rice. You chickenf*cks are ridiculous. Are you actually suggesting that Mr. Arnett put Chase's name first on purpose?! Someone's name had to go first. Stop nitpicking everything.

Pissin' me off...

July 30, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

tis4tim (anonymous) says...

"Just because he is a Mizzou grad doesnt mean he is the spawn of satin..."

All hail Satin..or maybe Suede! :D

July 30, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

stravinsky (anonymous) says...

I'm actually going to have to agree with the badger on this one, which is ridiculous. I don't understand how some of you can so irrationally read bias into everything.

Besides, Chase can go first as he is the first team all conference QB and a Heisman frontronner and all that. Hate to admit it, but he's the top QB in the Big XII until proven otherwise.

I liked the story.

July 30, 2008 at noon ( | suggest removal )

jayhawksnumber1 (anonymous) says...

This wasn't a bad or inappropriate story like some of the recent ones here at KUSports.com. Was anyone else shocked to see a huge head shot of the Missouri coach and an article dedicated to the Mizzou as the lead story on KUSports.com last week? Today there is a story devoted to a Mill Valley HS grad who is at KState. I understand stories about the opposition the week that we play them. I also understand stories about players of local interest, but it don't think Shawnee KS is local to Lawrence and KState certainly is not KU. What is going on here? This is KUSports.com and we come here to read about those things germain to KU. If I want info about other Big12 schools I will go to their websites. If others feel the way I do then please speak up and be heard.

Thanks for reading

July 30, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

tis4tim (anonymous) says...

Good writing is not just about knowing your subject matter. It is also about rhythm and the flow of words.

"Chase, Todd, Graham and Colt" has a nice rhythm to it, which is why the author probably ordered the names in that fashion. I don't see the bias here.

And so what if some former Mizzou grad has a compulsion to put the name of a player from his alma mater first in a list? We would probably all do the same thing.

Frankly, the fact that a KU site has a Mizzou grad as one of its contributing writers should lend some credence to the level of objectivity for which KUSports.com strives.

If their biases didn't preclude the hiring process, surely our biases shouldn't cloud intent.

Easier said than done. I know I'm guilty of it on occasion.

July 30, 2008 at 1:03 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalk_dpu (anonymous) says...

I have to agree with tis4tim, we need to start cutting Doogie some slack. He is a professional and has written some good articles and will continue to do so as long as he is in Lawrence.

That being said, I'd like to address what I felt was my biggest gripe about the article. I couldn't believe how arrogant Chase Daniel is in his quote. While I know that its good to have a healthy level of confidence, I think its a little ridiculous to see him name himself as the top quarterback with no hesitation. It seems as though most of the other players have the ability to answer the question objectively despite their confidence in themselves.

Before you criticize my post, I realize that Daniel's quote may have been taken out of context, but not knowing that for sure, I stand by my statement that he seems a tad arrogant. Lets hope this year he gets taken down a peg in Camerohead...

RCJ

July 30, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU1979 (anonymous) says...

Dugan is clearly not showing objectivity. He mentions Graham Harrell was second team All Big 12, and of course adds that Daniel was first team. Well, Harrell was 2nd team, but tied with our own Todd Reesing, in the Big 12's own list, which is voted on by the coaches. Furthermore, Reesing was 2nd team all by himself in the AP poll, while Harrell was only Honorable Mention. It's not a huge oversight, but you'd expect the KU football beat writer, writing for "KUSports.com," to maybe give that a mention. To me it shows, at worst, a bias we should be prepared for given his roots, or at best, a simple lack of caring. Either way, I expect more from someone that I'm counting on to not only give an objective view of the conference, but also for the insight of our local team that's he's charged with covering. If you're going to do the job, Dugan, you better immerse yourself in everything Jayhawk. You don't have to be a cheerleader, but don't leave out all the facts, especially when they favor our local boys. Being a huge KU fan, I'm going to read your stuff, so I hope you get up to speed quickly.

July 30, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

GoBadgers (anonymous) says...

He doesn't SEEM arrogant. He IS arrogant. Not a surprise really. Most Texans are.

July 30, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

GoBadgers (anonymous) says...

Hey KU1979, see my previous post about nitpicking.

After you do that, grow up.

After you do that, get a life.

Let's see...read my post about nitpicking, grow up, get a life....yup, I think that about covers it.

July 30, 2008 at 3:08 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

plasticJHawk (anonymous) says...

I wasn't saying that the Colt in the article was Colt Brennan... in fact I live in Texas and know full well who Colt McCoy is.

All I was saying is that Graham Harrell and Colt Brennan are similar quarterbacks from similar systems and both put up ridiculous numbers which were far better than anyone else in the nation.

And yes I did watch the Sugar Bowl and I saw Colt Brennan rendered completely useless against Georgia. But its kinda hard to throw the ball when you have a 350lb defensive tackle on top of you before you even have the laces under your fingers. Hawaii just doesn't breed the same caliber of offensive linemen as does the deep south (or Texas for that matter).

July 30, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU1979 (anonymous) says...

Hey badger, why are you here? You don't add anything constructive or meaningful, which is probably how you go through life. It's really sad and pathetic. Pick those nits.

July 30, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

GoBadgers (anonymous) says...

Dear KU1979,

Your recent post confuses me to no end. YOU didn't add anything constructive or meaningful in your post at 2:57 p.m. yet you say that to me?

And you say, "Pick those nits." But my entire point is that YOU were nitpicking Mr. Arnett's story just like that retard imnotpaulpierce did at 11:29 a.m. Why are you telling me to pick nits? I have not picked nits. You were the one who picked nits.

You exhaust me.

Sincerely,
GoBadgers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVzfcp...

July 30, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

d_prowess (anonymous) says...

I hope Doogie keeps writting just so I can come to these boards and read the back and forth between everyone. It is pretty entertaining and probably the only thing that has gotten me off of centsports.com lately!

July 30, 2008 at 4:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Chicago_JHawk (anonymous) says...

KU1979- Seriously?? You're claiming bias because he didn't mention that Reesing was tied with Harrell? Wow. I assumed he mentioned it because some of us may not be as familiar with Harrell and his accomplishments as we are with our own QB.

My hope would be that eventually some of you will stop screening every article written by Dugan to try and find something that seems like a slight towards KU. Can you at least pretend he is a professional? I don't care where he went to school or who he might be rooting for on Saturdays. As long as he writes objective articles, who cares how they're worded?

July 30, 2008 at 4:19 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

HawkFanEddie (anonymous) says...

GoBadger-

Listen to yourself.

"After you do that, grow up.

After you do that, get a life."

You're the loser with nothing else to do but write messages on the board of a team you clearly don't like. YOU should grow up and get a life.

July 30, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

Not too long ago, our quarterback situation was the laughingstock of the Big 12. How quickly things changed when Sparky was put into the mix!

July 30, 2008 at 4:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

prairie_dog (anonymous) says...

This will be the year that the D's BEGIN to catch up. We will see more pressure off the corner with smaller, faster DEs (Max Onegbule step up) and a hybrid LB safety like Olaitan Ogantodu in a 6 back, varied look D. It will be very tough to thread the needle play-after-play.

Also, if Crawford/Sharpe/Quigley et al run behind our 300+ lb OL, and WE RUN THE BALL DOWN SOME THROATS, it's tough to complete passes from the bench.

Chase, you better store up your booger supply!!

July 30, 2008 at 5:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KGphoto (anonymous) says...

GoBadger, you're the only one who cares that a ferret can attack a fox.

And in case you forgot, the fox got away.

You go away too ferret.

July 30, 2008 at 5:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk5 (anonymous) says...

GOLDEN RETRIEVERS MAKING IDIOTBADGER LOOK A LITTLE BIT LIKE A BITCH!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYXrk6...

July 30, 2008 at 7:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Royaljayhwk (anonymous) says...

Anyone else notice how Reesing's holding the ball in that picture? I'm sure you have all talked about it, but I have never noticed it.

July 31, 2008 at 1:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )