Stevens
- Thread starter Statewise
- Start date
Exactly. He will play when he is 100% healthy. Clifford getting these early reps isn't a bad thing either.
My prediction: Stevens will not play against Illinois. Stevens will start the game (Trace at wide out) against Ohio State and will run for 18 yards on the first play. He will be in the game for about 15 snaps against Ohio State.
We got the Big Red Dog - we don't need Stevens anymore.
If he doesn't play this week, then Ohio State is NOT the game in which one should attempt to reinvent the wheel.
While only in mop-up duty, Clifford has looked outstanding throwing the ball...one could argue, even better than Stevens did during similar mop-up situations in the past. This is a GREAT problem to have because it allows #2 to not risk coming back too soon. I don’t think it becomes a huge deal in 2018, but next year’s camp battles are going to be fun to watch.
I think they are angling for 2 years of Tommy instead of 1. If so, we won't see him on the field this year.
I hope Clifford starts next year. He will only be a sophmore, Stevens will be a senior who seems to be hurt all the time. I can see us putting in for Ohio State and he coughs it up and we lose.We got the Big Red Dog - we don't need Stevens anymore.
I can see the medical redshirt angle.
Just gotta be sure it will be granted.
I also understand the love for Clifford. He throws a very nice ball. But I don’t believe he is the physical runner that TS has proven to be in the past. Kind of important if PSU continues with the RPO.
Two seasons of Stevens followed by two seasons of Clifford sounds pretty good to me.
Just gotta be sure it will be granted.
I also understand the love for Clifford. He throws a very nice ball. But I don’t believe he is the physical runner that TS has proven to be in the past. Kind of important if PSU continues with the RPO.
Two seasons of Stevens followed by two seasons of Clifford sounds pretty good to me.
Medical reports, not Saturday wardrobe, will be the deciding factors. None of us honestly know if he is actually capable of playing right now.
Why is it important that Clifford be the physical runner that TS is if we are going to continue with the RPO? Trace McSorley is not the physical runner that Tommy is either and he's been the starter in this RPO for years now. Trace McSorley is proof positive that you don't have to run as physically as Tommy to be successful in this offense. A matter of fact, Trace is 6'0" and 200lbs compared to Tommy who is 6'4" and 230lbs. Sean Clifford is in-between the two size wise.
And if Tommy Stevens is granted a 6th year (he won't) and starts for two, Clifford would have one year to start.
...and Clifford is 6-2, 225 from what I've read. So its not like he is small. I read someplace, can't recall where, that he is in great shape and very physical.
I'm hopeful Tommy plays vs Illinois and shows he's healthy and capable of making plays. Want to give OSU another thing to have to prepare for. There will certainly be some different looks/wrinkles in the offense for the OSU game. 12 days until the most important game in the Big Ten season.
My guess is that we will see some of TS and TM on the field at the same time early this week against Illinois.
My guess as well. He'll play a little this week just to shake off the rust and get some game experience. Then he can be used in the tOSU game as a weapon.
I don't think there's much value in holding him out from Illinois (assuming he is healthy enough to play) and going in cold versus Ohio State. It's not like the Buckeyes won't be prepared for him since there is plenty of film on how we have used him.
Clifford has yet to show me the ability to run with the football even remotely close to what McSorley and Stevens have shown over the past few seasons. Maybe he has that ability and just hasn’t had enough opportunity to showcase it. It would be great if he proves me wrong. But until I see it, I will stand by my opinion that Stevens is the superior option.
Tommy hasn't shown the ability to really throw the ball, either. He has barely thrown the ball. Clifford hasn't either but this isn't any better of a reason to say Tommy should be the guy next year.
Tommy may very well be the guy next year, but it's not going to be handed to him. Sean Clifford is going to push Tommy Stevens from the winter through summer camp next year for the starting position. I'm very much looking forward to seeing what Tommy Stevens can do as a starter for a season.
However, my hot take remains that Sean Clifford wins the starting spot next year. Either way though I don't think CJF can go wrong. I think they will both be stars once they start.
I don't hate it, but as last season wore on it wasn't very effective...hope they don't try to dust it off for OSU.
Yes, I believe this is true. Makes me wonder if they might be going for a Medical RS with Tommy giving him potentially 2 years as a starter... Clifford's ability in backup duty only makes this more likely imho.
Are you getting a head start on the "the backup QB is the best QB on the roster" mindset for 2019? Smart. Clifford has thrown 4 career passes in mop up duty. Yes he's looked good but let's slow the hype train. It's Stevens' job to lose.
Clifford was a very good runner in high school. This is his senior season. Watch the touch he has with his passes when he’s not throwing ropes. He’s a football player.
To my understanding, Stevens can't obtain a medical redshirt. He'd need to get a 6th year waiver, which would require a showing that the two years he missed were out of his control. It's not going to happen. If you are thinking of the Jalen-Hurts-redshirting-2018-debate, the difference with him is that he did not redshirt his freshman year. JT Barrett only used one redshirt year. The 6th year waiver is usually (I think) a scenario where a player comes into college injured, has to sit out that year due to injury, and then suffers another season ending during his collegiate career.
If Stevens is ready, he will play this week, and we will see the "Lion." If he does not play this week, then he is not ready due to his injury. It will not have anything to do with a medical redshirt. Franklin has said in the past that he won't hold a player back from playing if they've earned it, EXCEPT for an injury and true freshman redshirt rules (and the second exception for true freshman he just spoke about last week). IIRC he corrected himself short of saying "if a guy is ready to play, he is going to play" (paraphrasing)...then he said something to effect of managing the new 4 game redshirt rule.
If you do see the Lion this week, or ever, expect to see a more diverse package than what we saw last year. (This is all my opinion - so take it for literally nothing) I would guess that you will see TS line up in the backfield, at QB, and at TE, and you will see other players move into odd positions, like Hamler moving into the backfield.
If Stevens is ready, he will play this week, and we will see the "Lion." If he does not play this week, then he is not ready due to his injury. It will not have anything to do with a medical redshirt. Franklin has said in the past that he won't hold a player back from playing if they've earned it, EXCEPT for an injury and true freshman redshirt rules (and the second exception for true freshman he just spoke about last week). IIRC he corrected himself short of saying "if a guy is ready to play, he is going to play" (paraphrasing)...then he said something to effect of managing the new 4 game redshirt rule.
If you do see the Lion this week, or ever, expect to see a more diverse package than what we saw last year. (This is all my opinion - so take it for literally nothing) I would guess that you will see TS line up in the backfield, at QB, and at TE, and you will see other players move into odd positions, like Hamler moving into the backfield.
My brother in law, who was an all-state linebacker back in the day, saw him play in the state championship game. They played St. Ignatius and went to double overtime. Sean got hurt and the second team QB came in. Then the second team kid got hurt so Sean came back in, I think with a dislocated shoulder, and played the rest of the game. My BIL said it was one of the gutsiest performances he's ever seen. He said he knew PSU got a good one.
Well the medical reports would have to say he missed two years in order to get a 6th. But if he had, the first question would be 'if he was out for the year, why was he warming up before games?'
But it's a moot point in Tommys case anyway
I think Tommy and/or Sean will deliver every bit as good as Trace, but in different ways. They are both bigger and to me that is important at this level. It's something they don't have to make up through "intangibles." Size/strength (without being a "statue") sees the field better, doesn't get as many batted down balls, and is more difficult to bring down after contact. Extending pass plays, especially with vision and accuracy, is huge. It wears down defenses. Look no further than the impact Ben Roethlisberger has had with the Steelers. Without him they are a bottom feeder.
I liken Clifford to Sam Darnold. Seems to have similar footwork and release fundamentals. I'm high on Stevens because I see Big Ben potential. I think NFL scouts will see it likewise despite just one starting season.
I liken Clifford to Sam Darnold. Seems to have similar footwork and release fundamentals. I'm high on Stevens because I see Big Ben potential. I think NFL scouts will see it likewise despite just one starting season.
My guess is that (assuming he's healthy) they use him for a couple of play this week, just so OSU has something else to prep for. They may or may not use him in the OSU game. I feel like the Lion package is great for goal line situations and we've been pretty good at that so far this year.
Don't think the Lion "package" will be needed goal line, though having the "Lion" on the field goal line would make sense. I see the "package" as an open field thing where we might deploy some misdirection, maybe plays that take a little more development time with the second quarterback.
What we need at the goal line are sure-handed tall receivers and a tight end. We've had goal line success to date only because Trace has lulled defenses into keying on the running back. He then keeps it and goes in untouched. OSU will review the film and have this covered.
Stevens would add power to a goal line scenario, so they might not bring him down with just one man. He's also taller to see over a crowded middle to find a tight end. I see us getting better there base case. We could even use Stevens wildcat -- still a big threat to pass. (Anyone remember what Florida did goal line with Tim Tebow and a tight end? We could do the same with Tommy's size.)
With the play of Clifford being what it is, any chance everyone shakes hands, parts friends, and Stevens transfers?
