Will Levis

[LandoComando]

I disagree. If you are better; you play. Levis wasn’t better. Last I checked Clifford is playing better than Levis this year. Clifford 9 TDS passing and 2 picks. Levis 12 and 4. Clifford with a higher QB rating.

Levis has played much strong competition, right?
Who do you think most "experts" would say is the better QB?
And, no, there's no such thing as an open QB competition with a returning starter UNLESS the coach goes in not wanting him to start. This again isn't an insult to Franklin.
And I'm still not mad that Levis left. It worked out fine for everyone but people trying to criticize Levis for leaving saying he was scared to compete aren't being real. They're just bashing the kid to bash him. Just like the reason this thread was started--the OP wanted to bash Levis for losing to South Carolina and didn't even realize he didn't play.

 

[bvillebaron]

Levis has played much strong competition, right?
Who do you think most "experts" would say is the better QB?
And, no, there's no such thing as an open QB competition with a returning starter UNLESS the coach goes in not wanting him to start. This again isn't an insult to Franklin.
And I'm still not mad that Levis left. It worked out fine for everyone but people trying to criticize Levis for leaving saying he was scared to compete aren't being real. They're just bashing the kid to bash him. Just like the reason this thread was started--the OP wanted to bash Levis for losing to South Carolina and didn't even realize he didn't play.

Never said Levis played against South Carolina. According to the Sagarin rankings PSU has played the 70th most difficult schedule and Kentucky the 55th. I wouldn’t classify that as “much stronger competition”. I’m not mad at Levis for leaving either but the fact is he had 3 years to show he was better than Clifford and didn’t. The flip side of this is that certain posters act like he was going to win the Heisman. Any player who those experts claim is a “superior” talent would have played if he demonstrated that at Happy Valley. I realize he had limited opportunities to play while he was at PSU, but he didn’t demonstrate that “superior” talent when he did.

 

[lazydave841]

Levis has played much strong competition, right?

Definitely give Levis an edge in competition TODAY.

Big difference in their seasons right now is Levis performance vs Ole Miss. 220 yards passing, 2 TDs, 18/24. But he took a sack in the end zone (they flagged it for intentional grounding) for a safety, didn't let his WR get set on the go ahead TD (beautiful fade pass, but penalized), and had 2 critical fumbles in the final 5 minutes when a FG would have tied the game (that wasn't a guarantee that day either).

Comparable is Clifford vs Purdue. He threw a back breaking pick 6, but led the game winning drive successfully.

Additionally, both teams have seen a reversal of their OLs and running games from a year ago. Levis didn't have his main RB until OM game and he's been sacked 25 times. Clifford has had Singleton and Allen running successfully and protection is better (only 7 sacks).

Saturday is Clifford's test. More accurate assessments can be made then, but it won't change NFL projections.

 

[The Spin Meister]

I disagree. If you are better; you play. Levis wasn’t better. Last I checked Clifford is playing better than Levis this year. Clifford 9 TDS passing and 2 picks. Levis 12 and 4. Clifford with a higher QB rating.

Levis was stuck in a system that didn’t fit his style. He is and never will be a an option QB, especially the RPO we were running when he left. He never had a shot at starting because CJF wanted and needed an option QB.

Now he is in a system that fits his abilities. And UK has a strong running game taking the pressure off the QB. And since he is showing what skills he has the pros are saying he is likely a first round pick. He is a far better pro style QB than Clifford and will probably have a better pro career. But that is pretty hard to predict as we have all seen in the past with other QBs.

 

[LandoComando]

Definitely give Levis an edge in competition TODAY.

Big difference in their seasons right now is Levis performance vs Ole Miss. 220 yards passing, 2 TDs, 18/24. But he took a sack in the end zone (they flagged it for intentional grounding) for a safety, didn't let his WR get set on the go ahead TD (beautiful fade pass, but penalized), and had 2 critical fumbles in the final 5 minutes when a FG would have tied the game (that wasn't a guarantee that day either).

Comparable is Clifford vs Purdue. He threw a back breaking pick 6, but led the game winning drive successfully.

Additionally, both teams have seen a reversal of their OLs and running games from a year ago. Levis didn't have his main RB until OM game and he's been sacked 25 times. Clifford has had Singleton and Allen running successfully and protection is better (only 7 sacks).

Saturday is Clifford's test. More accurate assessments can be made then, but it won't change NFL projections.

Yeah, this is a valid assessment for sure.