I am going to have be honest right from the start with all who read the Bulldog blog. There will be very few times this season that I give Fresno State the advantage with respect to the QB situation. I realize that many of you believe in Brandstater but until he proves that he can carry this team on the field I am not going to give the Dogs the advantage in the QB area of play. With that being said Stephen McGee comes into this game as the more accomplished QB if for nothing less than his win-loss record in games he has started at Texas A&M. Without further adieu here is the comparison of the two QB's which includes what they did last season as well:
Tom Brandstater - We all know the story with this kid. Tom has the arm. Tom has the size. Tom has the quickness. But will Tom have the confidence and state of mind to succeed in College Station? When all is said and done that is exactly what it comes down to for Brandstater and the Bulldogs. Fresno State needs a team leader and Brandstater needs to be that man on offense. Brandstater will not be the guy who throws a TD and explodes with emotion like a David Carr or Trent Dilfer did in the past. Instead he is more comparable to Billy Volek who got the job done but went about it very quietly. The city of Fresno is willing to let Brandstater be the quiet leader but only if he comes through the way the Bulldogs need him to. Looking at his performance last week Brandstater played much better than he did in 2006. Brandstater completed 16 passes in 27 attempts throwing for 199 yards and one td. He would have had two td's if Marlon Moore did not fumble the ball on the one yard line. Brandstater did fumble the ball one time but he escaped pressure countless times and racked up close to fifty yards on the ground. What Brandstater will have to work on is looking off receivers. He tends to lock on far too long and if he does that against a good defensive secondary he will not be able to succeed. A&M has a young secondary so Brandstater may be able to get away with this to begin the game but he will have to change his ways fast in order to bring the Bulldogs success. If Brandstater can limit his mistakes and remember to slide when he is on the run he will have a decent game, one that gives the Bulldogs a chance in the end.
Stephen McGee - A&M has a QB who can both throw and run the ball. In 2006 McGee threw for over 2000 yards while completing over 60% of his passes. He threw twelve td's to only two int's in 2006 and also ran for over 600 yards on the season. McGee does not have the most accurate arm as he displayed last week against Montana State only completing 10 out of 20 passes for 112 yards. However, McGee ran for 121 yards on nine carries and this is where this man could kill Fresno State. Last season Fresno State faced two mobile QB's who gave the Dogs fits on defense. Steinbeck from Washington and Dixon from Oregon caused numerous problems for the Dogs as they were able to elude the rush and create opportunities that a drop back passer would not have been able to do. McGee will be able to do the same exact thing if he does not see anything he likes when he surveys the field. McGee is used to playing in big time games. Every year A&M faces schools such as Oklahoma, Texas, and Nebraska. Playing Fresno State is not going to be intimidating in any shape or form for this young man. If the Bulldogs want to limit his success they are going to have to find a way to contain him in the backfield. The only way to do so is to blitz early and often and to make sure that McGee does not see the field the way he likes to. Very few teams have been able to limit the success of this young man but if Fresno State wants to study the tape of a team who did a great job against McGee the Dogs might want to look at the tape of the Cal game last season. McGee is going to make plays against the Dogs, it is in his nature to do so. If Fresno State can hold McGee to fifty yards rushing and under two hundred yards passing they will be in good shape in this game. It always sounds easier on a blog than it does when it comes to game time. Regardless it will be a tough task for the Dogs.
QB Advantage - Texas A&M
5 comments:
Yes, the QB position will be questioned until it is proven there is no need to do so. A big-time game is just the setting for Tommy B. to remove the lingering doubt (and thereby answer "the question").
Here's to TB making a HUGE statement--and a positive one at that--this Saturday.
Go 'Dogs, win the WAC (for starters)!
Steve Burnes
Good writeup
Yes, he needs to either get out of bounds or slide when faced with the same situations as against Sac St.
Its not about throwing for over 200 yards or 2 tds. Its about limiting mistakes and managing the game in a hostile environment. 1 pick thrown isnt an issue either. If he throws 1 then maybe thats a sign he is being agressive downfield. Sometimes playing not to make a mistake is a Qbs worst enemy.
If the Bulldogs force some TOs, they must capitalize, and on their side ball security is a must. They could force 2 turnovers and have 0 and still lose by 2 TDs so that is what they are up against this Saturday as far as adversity in a hostile environment.
Lastly, they had better take every precaution in the heat. I can just see watching the game and seeing all kinds of starters cramping in the 2nd or early third quarter because that is even more adversity that they dont need.
Brandstater showed last year that he wilts under big games so what makes anyone think Sat. against A&M will be different? If he's anything he's consistent.
Hey guys, did you the email I sent?
Brandstater sucks and it's time to give up on him already. Who cares about him having a big arm. Big arms don't win games. Pinegar didn't have a big arm, but was a smart player and he won a lot of games for FS. With the big arm that Branstater might have, he hasn't used it yet. The only bright side to this team this year seems to be the Defense. Hopefully Branstater will prove me wrong or else FS fans will be in for another long year.
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