And we have a former 4* dual threat on the roster. Depending on how the winter portal session goes, I don't think it's out of this world to see McCulley move back to QB. And I don't think it would necessarily be a bad idea either. McCulley had an extremely rough go around as a true freshman being thrust into action that he was not ready for, behind a terrible offensive line and receivers who couldn't get open. McCulley had his fair share of accuracy problems and pushing the ball downfield, but he simply wasn't ready nor really suited to play in Sheridan's offense which was an extension of DeBoer. But McCulley was active in the running game and showed he could be a threat in open space. Would think he's much more suited to play in Bell's run first scheme, and with an improved offensive line and better overall skill position players, could be the missing piece this team needs to get the offense back on track.
All this talk about needing a dual threat QB from the portal....
- Thread starter Coach Geez
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Ask McCulley to switch back to QB
Hire Carey long term. Operate that running spread option to perfection this spring. Add in the RPO. When Dex comes back see how he plays after rehab. In the meantime, get a Dual Threat QB in the portal.
indiana.forums.rivals.com
Hadn't seen the thread but it's over a month old now and most if not all of the dual-threat options are off the board. Sounds like IU is in play for the Oregon State kid, but I don't see him as a true dual threat, rather a QB who has good mobility. I certainly don't see Nolan having the size or frame to run the ball 15-20 times a game if needed.Ask McCulley to switch back to QB
Hire Carey long term. Operate that running spread option to perfection this spring. Add in the RPO. When Dex comes back see how he plays after rehab. In the meantime, get a Dual Threat QB in the portal.
I disagree. DMac is a stud athlete, but not QB.
If he's not a real passing threat, and he's not, then the read option game will be less effective because the defense is going to be able to keep guys out of coverage. Similarly, the RPO game is less scary because you're not afraid of him throwing.
I think putting DMac at QB is the pendulum swinging too far back the other way. Baz never kept it on the read option. DMac always kept it on the read option. Dexter knew how to run the read option and sometimes give, sometimes keep. Regardless of how athletic the QB is, I'll sacrifice some athleticism for someone who knows how to play the game (e.g., Peyton Ramsey types).
If he's not a real passing threat, and he's not, then the read option game will be less effective because the defense is going to be able to keep guys out of coverage. Similarly, the RPO game is less scary because you're not afraid of him throwing.
I think putting DMac at QB is the pendulum swinging too far back the other way. Baz never kept it on the read option. DMac always kept it on the read option. Dexter knew how to run the read option and sometimes give, sometimes keep. Regardless of how athletic the QB is, I'll sacrifice some athleticism for someone who knows how to play the game (e.g., Peyton Ramsey types).
He needs at least 2 years to learn how to pass properly....his HS tape bore that out....fantastic athlete....match up nightmare at WR....I'll put 8 in the box if he is qb and dare him to beat me with his arm
If what Coach Allen said was true, that DM came to the staff and wanted to move from QB to WR, he doesn’t want to play QB
IU needs an offensive identity. They want to be billed as this uptempo, spread team that scores 35+ a game but that is just so far from reality. IU needs to be a team that can gain 3-4 yards a play on 1st and 2nd down and can live in 3rd and manageable. They need to be able to sustain drives along with obviously scoring points and converting TDs in the red zone. Drove me nuts last year watching IU go 3 and out on a zone read up the middle on 1st down for minimal gain and then watching Baz sail passes on 2nd and 3rd down just to watch IU punt with barely a minute coming off the clock.
To be able to run the type of offense IU ran for the majority of last year, you need a precise and accurate QB to consistently hit on the short and intermediate routes short of the sticks. Neither Sorsby or Lowery are going to be that guy next year and Nolan isn't some highly accurate QB either, assuming that's who they add in the portal.
IU's offense started to click the last two games of the year despite Williams not being a threat to throw the ball. A true dual threat kept the defense honest and IU had much better luck sustaining drives. I don't see a reason why McCulley can't sustain that. Run an effective read option and force the defense to commit more to the box which then allows for more single coverage which in theory allows for a better completion rate.
Landing Nolan likely nixes this idea, but I just don't see how you can go into the Spring and into team camp with Sorsby and Lowery as your QB's.
I get that, but it probably made the decision to move to WR much easier for McCulley when IU decided they were going to run an offense that wasn't necessarily conducive to his skill set. McCulley throwing the ball 40-50 times a game like Baz did early in the season doesn't favor either party. However, tailoring the offense towards Williams skill set like they did at the end of the regular season however probably works in McCulley's favor.
If Nolan is a done deal as has been stated you would assume he will be on campus for spring practice.
If he doesn’t get here til summer he will have a lot of catching up to do.
He's made his desire to play WR about as clear as he possibly can...
Hard to grasp why that can't be understood...
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anon_mya1phvcpf5x4
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Not sure you understand everything that goes into playing quarterback at the college level. Can’t imagine wasn’t a decision that was taken lightly, by either DM or the staff, given the ramifications.
It can easily be understood if IU decides that he is the guy and they are truly committed to running an offense tailored to his skill set. McCulley would have been 2nd possibly even 3rd string heading into spring practice last year with an OC who wasn't committed to him let alone running an offense tailored to him. The decision to move to WR likely became not only that much easier, but also justified.
McCulley always wanted to play WR which is why he moved to WR. People need to get over him being a QB because he doesn't want to be QB.
What ramifications? Clearly Bell and/or Allen were going to go with Baz or Tuttle given the type of offense Bell wanted to run and rather than keeping a 4* athlete on the sideline, moving him to WR to keep his presence on the field likely became a no-brainer.
Coach Allen even went to his dad because he didn't want him to move but McCulley's dad told Allen that McCulley always dream of being a WR. Plus he has more chances to win a place in the NFL as he develops into a WR.
It would suggest that IU isn't as highly sold on McCulley being a WR as McCulley is himself on being a WR. 16 catches last year without many targets in a year where IU threw the ball a ton and suffered several season ending injuries to guys in front of him. IU going out and signing a big body WR in EJ Williams in the portal as well as adding a highly productive WR from the FCS level doesn't scream a boat of confidence in McCulley and have to remember that Cam Camper will be healthy at some point as well. And with IU signing another RB, get the feeling you're going to see more of Jaylin Lucas used in a gadget role as well.
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anon_mya1phvcpf5x4
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IU's goal is to have depth. I don't think it means anything about McCulley and how they feel about him.
Bell always wanted to have a run first / tempo spread offense. That has never changed. McCulley wasn’t suited to run it because he couldn’t throw it even a little.
So he literally went with the guy least suited to run it (Bazelak) while the guy most suited to run it (Williams) was 4th on the depth chart until late October? Yeah, I'm calling bullshit.
Just wanted to see if opinions on that matter haven't changed much... And they haven't.
Ramifications of taking one of 4 position players on the roster, whom you invested a tremendous amount of recruiting time and capital to land as a QB, and moving him from that position. Anytime a recruited quarterback moves to another position is a significant. You don’t see it happen very often.
Which is extremely silly to do only after a year in the program. McCulley is a much more valuable asset than what his current role suggests. I understand why Bell wouldn't commit to McCulley when he was first hired, but given the dire situation IU is potentially facing at QB, going back to McCulley and his family with a full contingency plan in place as well as a full commitment going forward couldn't hurt.
Again, I don’t think you fully understands what goes into playing quarterback at the college level. It’s not like moving from shortstop to 3rd base.
He and his family have already made their decision...
Never inferred it was. But we're talking about a 4* highly recruited prospect who had multiple offers from respected P5 schools to play QB. I don't buy for one second that McCulley's plan along was to enroll and switch to WR. He has all the physical tools in the world to be a competent QB at this level with proper development and coaching, which is half the battle.
I think it's preposterous that IU's coaching staff would a) give up on the idea of developing McCulley as a QB a year in and b) not entertaining the idea of bringing him back to QB given what has transpired the last couple of months. Have to think the way McCulley's freshman year played out and the coaching turnover on the offensive side ball played a huge decision in McCulley seeking out a role that would allow him to immediately see the field.
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anon_mya1phvcpf5x4
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In the age of the transfer portal and no one having to sit out a year, there is a major risk of McCulley transferring if he was asked to play QB. So I guess our coaches should play hardball and have a higher chance of thinning out the WR room and still not have the QB room fixed.
I don't see the risk in losing a 2nd or 3rd string WR, those are a dime a dozen in the portal. What's mind blowing is IU's inability to develop or utilize a 4* QB, let alone not having the stones to try and convince McCulley they are capable of developing him. How hard do you think IU actually recruits McCulley in high school if the plan all along is for him to move to WR? It doesn't make sense.
Somewhere between the end of McCulley's freshman season and the end spring practice, IU dropped the ball in their immediate plans as well as future plans with McCulley they opened the door to a position change. That's ineptitude by the coaching staff. But again, should we be surprised?
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anon_mya1phvcpf5x4
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McCulley doesn't want to play QB. End of story.
Unless IU had an opportunity to realize that before they recruited him, I'm not sure what you think they could have done.
His Achilles heel is poor passing. He's got size, eyes and hands for receiving. Nuff said.
Which speaks to the ineptitude of the coaching staff. The highest rated QB recruit in program history wants to change positions after a year? You don't think that's possibly related to IU not being able to a competent QB in the portal? A coaching staff that has no clue what they are doing? IU squandering a 4* QB from their back yard will forever be negatively used against Allen as long as he is on the sideline.
Even furthers the point of how in over their heads this staff really is. Per several posters on this thread, "it was always a dream of McCulley to play WR" per his father....that wasn't ever communicated or relayed in the 3 years IU spent recruiting McCulley? Amateur hour.
He was a true freshman, thrust into an impossible position on a 2-10 team, that took 3 injuries in front of him for him to even see the field. There was likely zero reason or intention for McCulley to take a meaningful snap as a true freshman. McCulley didn't look any worse passing the ball as a true freshman than Williams did in his limited action last year, yet most would likely welcome Dexter as the starter next year if he was healthy.
The guy on the bench had a reconstructed knee that kept him out of 2022 spring practice so, no, it’s not BS
Williams was a full participant in fall camp and was the 4th QB IU used this last season. He came in after true freshman Sorsby in the Penn State game. Fully understand the reasoning behind starting Bazelak, but it became evident 3 or 4 games in that he was not the answer. Hate to think what potentially could have been had Williams (or even Tuttle) were inserted into the lineup for the Maryland game. IU lost two winnable games in Maryland and Rutgers, both back to back, large in part due to horrific QB play in the second half. Not inserting Williams in the lineup until the 8th game of a 40 point blow out after bowl eligibility was all but unattainable was arguably the biggest coaching gaff of the season.
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anon_mya1phvcpf5x4
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Whatever you say.
Somehow I think you would blame bad weather on our coaching staff.
Wich was a poor decision in retrospect. With the obvious OL issues, the dual threat option was the clear best choice. The decision was made far too late. Anyone that follows the program knows this.
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How is it anything but bad optics when a 4* QB switches positions a year into his career? Especially considering how poor of QB play IU endured the last two seasons? If you don't want to have an honest conversation about it then don't. But you're being absolutely played if you think the plan all along was for McCulley to come in and switch to WR.
The switch was made an easy decision when we walked away from the game that met his skill set.
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anon_mya1phvcpf5x4
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How is it the staff's fault that a player decided he didn't want to be a QB?
They had 2 choices. Accept it or tell him too bad, he's staying at QB. The latter would have led to McCulley having a decision to stay or leave for another program.
Agreed and that's why the decision was made. But I don't want to be fed any BS that this was some calculated plan and that McCulley's intentions all along were to come in and move to WR. It's just not true. He was recruited as a QB, came in as a QB, and played QB his freshman year. The offensive staff couldn't or wouldn't figure out a game plan that tailored to his skill set and given his athleticism, he was too dynamic to keep off the field altogether.
