Jul 18 / Rob

A Tale of Two Quarterbacks

JMU-STF FTBPresenting two separate four game stretches for two different quarterbacks.

Quarterback A

73 completions in 148 attempts for 978 yards, with 7 TDs, and 5 INTs

64 rushes for 341 yards and 2 TDs

That works out to a 49% completion rate with 6.6 yards per attempt passing, and 5.3 yards per carry rushing.

Quartrack B

62 completions in 100 attempts for 732 yards, with 6 TDs, and 1 INT

65 rushes for 219 yards and 3 TDs

That works out to a 62% completion rate with 7.3 yards per attempt passing, and 3.4 yards per carry rushing.

You obviously can’t say which player is better based on this small sample size. A few things stand out though. Quarterback B has a much better completion percentage and far fewer interceptions. Quarterback A has a much better yards per carry rushing the ball.

Quarterback A is Vad Lee in his first four games as a starter for JMU. Quarterback B is Bryan Schor in his first four games as a starter at JMU. And before you start picking this apart, I understand Lee’s first game was against Maryland, an FBS team. He also got to beat up on two out of conference patsies in St. Francis and Lehigh. Schor played 3 conference games and a playoff game. This isn’t supposed to be a perfect comparison. I just thought it was interesting.

My point is not that Schor is equal to or better than Lee. Vad pretty much took off after those first four games and played some of the best football by a quarterback in the history of the JMU program. My point is that the book wasn’t closed on Lee after his first four starts, and it shouldn’t be closed on Schor either.

The common refrain of most JMU fans this offseason is that the Dukes need better quarterback play. It’s crazy that QB play concerns most fans more than a defense that surrendered 46 touchdowns last year does, but it’s also probably true. JMU does need better play at QB than it got in the final four games last year. Schor was by no means bad, but he didn’t command the offense effectively enough to overcome for the defense’s deficiencies. And if you watched the games, it was clear that he struggled with some of the reads in the option. Go back and watch the first half against Lehigh in 2014 though and tell me how great Vad looked. It wasn’t pretty.

We’re all excited that Connor Mitch transferred to JMU from the SEC. He’s got plenty of raw talent and potential to succeed with the Dukes. But so does Schor. He might not win the starting job, but he might. He didn’t light the world on fire in relief of Vad last season. But he did pretty well. And it was only four games. There’s no reason he can’t improve drastically. Vad certainly did.

2 Comments

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  1. ShadyP / Jul 19 2016

    Great comparison and perspective.

    My only major concern with Schor is his arm strength. I like everything else he brings to the field. I do know that no matter who is the starter Mitch transferring in fills a huge depth issue at QB, the most important position on the field. I fill that at a minimum JMU now has two more than competent QBs. Also in Houston’s system I don’t think as much will be asked of the QB as was the case in EW’s system.

    Hopefully this also let’s JMU redshirt Cole Johnson and get him transitioned to the college game.

    I feel really good about whoever is named starting QB coming out of camp and also the depth at QB.

  2. Cory / Jul 19 2016

    Right on. Great points Rob! As a coach in high school I can tell you that the number of times I get asked “how we will be” this year is crazy. After losing a QB everyone thinks it is rebuilding time. Doesn’t matter that you lost 3 starting OL and all of your LB’s to graduation. No doubt QB is important but your general football fan doesn’t understand just how much the other 21 players on the field make a difference. Just like your general football fan only comments on a blog about their team during the season…sorry guys.

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