Ranking the B1G Quarterbacks

[chicolby]

So this discussion about Tommy Armstrong has got me wondering. It seems there are some on the board who believe Tommy is set to have a breakout season now that he's a senior in his second season with the new coaching staff, while others believe that we've seen what Tommy does on the field, we know what to expect and in essence the coaches have to go with him because we don't have any options.

This begs the question, how would you rank the B1G QBs? Where does Tommy fit in that mix?

 

[SWIowahawks]

I'll leave Beathard out of the convo because I'm biased. But Tommy is easily in the upper half. He has the ability to be top 3-4 including Beathard. Having the top WR/TE group in the conference will help Tommy probably outplay what he did last year.

 

[Cornicator]

Tommy can be #1 and #14 in the same game.

 

[jteten]

Reduce turnovers and he has a chance for a fantastic season. I know, right? Really groundbreaking thoughts.......

 

[jimbosc]

Ability is Top 5 - and he will have Top 5 production with his passing and rushing yards. The question is how good of a job does he do protecting the ball? He is a lesser version of Brett Favre in my opinion - gunslinger, river boat gambler, etc. You get the good with the bad. But he needs to have fewer dumb plays, hits that lead to fumbles and INTs or we'll be alot like last season with a D that can't stop the run as good as we did last year. D will be better against the pass - but holding up against Wisky, tOSU, Iowa, Oregon run games.....might be a BIG ask if the offense craps the bed several times in each game.

 

[chicolby]

OK - well, I personally think Tommy makes second team all conference behind Barett. I think Beathard is very serviceable, but I don't think he can win a game on his own, and Tommy can.

Here are the starting (or projected starting) QBs in the B1G.

East
Ohio State: JT Barrett, Junior
Michigan State: Tyler O'Connor, Senior
Michigan: John O'Korn (or Wilton Speight), Junior
Penn State: Trace McSorley, Sophomore
Rutgers: Chris Laviano, Senior
Maryland: Perry Hills, Senior
Indiana: Richard Lagow, Junior


West
Iowa: CJ Beathard, Senior
Nebraska: Tommy Armstrong, Senior
Illinois: West Lunt, Senior
Minnesota: Mitch Leidner, Senior
Northwestern: Clayton Thorson, Sophomore
Wisconsin: Bart Houston, Senior
Purdue: David Blough, Sophomore


If I use my premise that Beathard won't win games and Tommy will, I place Tommy as the second best QB in the conference behind JT Barrett. I think Wes Lunt will battle Beathard for the 3rd spot.

 

[jlb321]

I don't think you can put TA ahead of Beathard. As last year showed time and time again and was highlighted in spades in the Iowa game it is more important to have a QB who won't lose games

Despite 3 years of starting TA has yet to even be named honorable mention all-BIG

 

[otismotis08]

I have high hopes for a strong senior showing by Mr. Armstrong. He's the key to a successful season this year.

 

[SWIowahawks]

OK - well, I personally think Tommy makes second team all conference behind Barett. I think Beathard is very serviceable, but I don't think he can win a game on his own, and Tommy can.

Here are the starting (or projected starting) QBs in the B1G.

East
Ohio State: JT Barrett, Junior
Michigan State: Tyler O'Connor, Senior
Michigan: John O'Korn (or Wilton Speight), Junior
Penn State: Trace McSorley, Sophomore
Rutgers: Chris Laviano, Senior
Maryland: Perry Hills, Senior
Indiana: Richard Lagow, Junior


West
Iowa: CJ Beathard, Senior
Nebraska: Tommy Armstrong, Senior
Illinois: West Lunt, Senior
Minnesota: Mitch Leidner, Senior
Northwestern: Clayton Thorson, Sophomore
Wisconsin: Bart Houston, Senior
Purdue: David Blough, Sophomore


If I use my premise that Beathard won't win games and Tommy will, I place Tommy as the second best QB in the conference behind JT Barrett. I think Wes Lunt will battle Beathard for the 3rd spot.

The Beathard not being able to win you a game is extremely head scratching. Maybe you are thinking of Rudock? Iowa is 8-4 without Beathard last year. CJ won't lose you games but Armstrong has and can.

I'm interested to see what Leidner does this year. The kid had an elite stretch of games (including against Iowa) where he was extremely good.

 

[jeans15]

Most preseason mags have him at number 3.

 

[Cornicator]

OK - well, I personally think Tommy makes second team all conference behind Barett. I think Beathard is very serviceable, but I don't think he can win a game on his own, and Tommy can.

Here are the starting (or projected starting) QBs in the B1G.

East
Ohio State: JT Barrett, Junior
Michigan State: Tyler O'Connor, Senior
Michigan: John O'Korn (or Wilton Speight), Junior
Penn State: Trace McSorley, Sophomore
Rutgers: Chris Laviano, Senior
Maryland: Perry Hills, Senior
Indiana: Richard Lagow, Junior


West
Iowa: CJ Beathard, Senior
Nebraska: Tommy Armstrong, Senior
Illinois: West Lunt, Senior
Minnesota: Mitch Leidner, Senior
Northwestern: Clayton Thorson, Sophomore
Wisconsin: Bart Houston, Senior
Purdue: David Blough, Sophomore


If I use my premise that Beathard won't win games and Tommy will, I place Tommy as the second best QB in the conference behind JT Barrett. I think Wes Lunt will battle Beathard for the 3rd spot.

Dude, Blough and Houston are both better than Thorson. Clayton Thorson is an FCS Safety playing QB in the Big Ten. He wouldnt start for any other Power 5 school.

 

[Charlie Marlow]

1. Good Tommy
.
.
.
15. Bad Tommy

I was meditating on this the other day....Is there another team in the country whose success/failure is so heavily dependent on their QB? I know that's an important position for any team, but I'm not sure that there is another team that is so 'live by the QB/die by the QB' like we are.

 

[k9_r]

Tommy can finish 1st team All B1G QB and he can finish down in the also-ran ranks. Looks to be a solid 3rd in preseason considerations but several (MSU, ILL, Minny, MD...) could find their way into the top three. Such is the QB talent level here. Not all that scary, iyam.

 

[rrthusker]

Tommy can be #1 and #14 in the same game.

That`s the truth.

 

[spartanhusker]

Tommy can be #1 and #14 in the same game.

Same game??? Same series!!!!
HOPEFULLY this is his year...always liked him...

 

[chicolby]

Sophomore and senior seasons are the two years where you see most growth. For sophomores, they are able to adjust to the speed. For seniors they see the end in sight and want to put everything together for the last run. I think in a way, we get both benefits with Tommy this season. It's year two in the system and also his final year where he wants to cement himself as a star.

He will have a great year and I look for offensive numbers to be in the top 10 for total yardage, I predict Tommy completes about 60% of his passes and I predict second team all conference for him.

GBR

 

[big red22]

OK - well, I personally think Tommy makes second team all conference behind Barett. I think Beathard is very serviceable, but I don't think he can win a game on his own, and Tommy can.

Here are the starting (or projected starting) QBs in the B1G.

East
Ohio State: JT Barrett, Junior
Michigan State: Tyler O'Connor, Senior
Michigan: John O'Korn (or Wilton Speight), Junior
Penn State: Trace McSorley, Sophomore
Rutgers: Chris Laviano, Senior
Maryland: Perry Hills, Senior
Indiana: Richard Lagow, Junior


West
Iowa: CJ Beathard, Senior
Nebraska: Tommy Armstrong, Senior
Illinois: West Lunt, Senior
Minnesota: Mitch Leidner, Senior
Northwestern: Clayton Thorson, Sophomore
Wisconsin: Bart Houston, Senior
Purdue: David Blough, Sophomore


If I use my premise that Beathard won't win games and Tommy will, I place Tommy as the second best QB in the conference behind JT Barrett. I think Wes Lunt will battle Beathard for the 3rd spot.

Wes Lunt and Mitch Leidner both need to be in the discussion

Based on capability(If all play perfect)

JT Barrett
Tommy Armstrong
Wes Lunt
CJ Beathard
Mitch Leidner

Don't know enough about the rest

Based on Dependability(Least likely to make a mistake)

CJ Beathard
JT Barrett
Wes Lunt
Mitch Leidner
Tommy Armstrong

Don't know enough about the rest