At this point you’ve read 300 articles about Robert Bolden, Kevin Newsome and Matt McGloin. The situation has been hashed and rehashed from every possible angle and everybody and their brother has told you why player X is going to get the job. Have no fear though, we’ve rounded up two of the many minds in the Penn State blogosphere to figure out some of the possible outcomes to the quarterback debacle. The best part, we’ll know if we were wrong or not in 2-3 weeks. These two had so much to say we’ll post our own views later in the day.
Up first–Devon from NittanyWhiteOut.com
If I’m Joe Paterno, I’m looking at the Youngstown State game mainly as preparation for Alabama. And when I look at Alabama, I know that the only way we’re going to win is by making as few mistakes as possible. A freshman like Robert Bolden would be easily rattled, and Kevin Newsome, talented though he is, might be the most prone to making a poor decision. So if Matt McGloin is going to give Penn State the best chance to knock off Alabama–and by all accounts, he is, with not just a “game manager” mentality but also the “it factor” and confidence to command the huddle–you’ve got to give him the bulk of the playing time against Youngstown State.
That said, Kevin Newsome adds an entirely different dimension and the versatility that he provides, in measured doses, couldn’t possibly hurt. I’d litter in series and snaps for Newsome throughout the Youngstown State game, if not just to get him ready, then to give Alabama something to think about. What I’m imagining, at least early on, is a situation like LSU had with Matt Flynn and Ryan Perriloux, like Florida had with Chris Leak and Tim Tebow. If that system fails, well, you haven’t lost anything other than a game you were already going to anyway. And then you can go to Robert Bolden, but only if he really is the best choice. An extra month to sit and watch and learn the playbook couldn’t possibly hurt, especially for someone who’s been on campus for such a short period of time.
Next up–Eric Thomas of Blue White Illustrated
I think the quarterback situation depends on what direction the team wants to go. Historically in this situation, it points to Joe and the staff picking the guy that will make the least amount of mistakes, or the guy they trust to be least risky, stick to the Xs and Os and be controlled. In that case, it’s McGloin as the guy then.
I wouldn’t be shocked if they give Newsome every chance to put a strangle hold on the job…I don’t think any of these three have a short leash because someone has to develop long term either way. Joe and the staff will NOT throw Bolden in there at Alabama as a starter unless they absolutely have to.
The two quarterback system doesn’t work, unless you have the ultimate warrior like Michael Robinson who can come out of the backfield, line up in the slot, the true “wild”cat type of player. It really didn’t work in 1999 when Casey and Thompson had to share it. There was too much confusion at times with the offense and too many times that season where you wondered who they’d stick in there, in the end, exception of Alamo Bowl (when Thompson sat out with the broken hand), when they needed the clutch drive, Joe stuck with the “safe” controlled guy in Thompson (remember, he’s the guy that threw the bomb to Drummond vs. Pitt which set up the game winner)
But this is a different animal because they are really going into the first game not knowing who will be the man the rest of the way. So their best bet is to play all three WITH THE FIRST TEAM in the first quarter otherwise nothing is going to be solved.
If this team has a chance to win anything significant this season, that quarterback has to develop in the first four games, then carry the load the rest of the way and then they must figure out a way to use Bolden. Bolden is the future regardless. And whatever happens to the odd man out happens. McGloin seems like a loyal soldier and would stay regardless, Newsome, if he is the odd man out, may want to look at other options because again Bolden is the future of the team either way.
If they go, somehow, say 1-3 in the first month, or 2-2 and the offense is in a flux, then lose the fifth game and struggle in the sixth, you blow this one up, play Bolden, let him do his thing and you have your guy for the next three years going forward but you take your lumps the rest of this season. This is the counter argument to my “safe” quarterback suggestion….if you remember 2001, Senaca struggled, Mills was kind of this free flowing carefree guy and they went with him and at least saved a little face for the remainder of the season and going into 2002.
But gun to my head, Newsome is the first guy out, all three play, nothing is really solved and then in the Alabama game we figure out where the coaches’ mindset lies. What happens when say they are down 14-0, on the road, and Newsome has engineered two drives that stall? If they pull him, he’s shot for the rest of the year, if they stick with him it means that he is their guy the rest of the way.
So Newsome is the first guy out, I think Bolden finds a way on the field no matter what, and I think Bolden is the future no matter what.