QB Comparison by the Numbers

[BleedsGreen33]

Let's take a look at the QBs through the numbers. I think it's pretty clear that Green should be the starter going forward. Green has played 10 quarters of football and Thomson has played 8 quarters.


PASSING


Efficiency Rating

Green - 121.29

Thomson - 106.00


Comp/Attempt

Green - 99/183

Thomson - 53/100


Completion %

Green - 54.1

Thomson - 53.0


Yards

Green - 1,277

Thomson - 506


Yards Per Game

Green - 255.4

Thomson - 126.5


TD/INT

Green - 9/7

Thomson - 5/3


Long

Green - 82

Thomson - 33


RUSHING


Attempts

Green - 25

Thomson - 35


Yards Gained

Green - 86

Thomson - 133


Lost

Green - 47

Thomson - 83


Net Gain

Green - 39

Thomson - 50


Per Rush Avg

Green - 1.6

Thomson - 1.4


Per Game Average

Green - 7.8

Thomson - 12.5


TD

Green - 0

Thomson - 1


TOTAL OFFENSE


Plays

Green - 208

Thomson - 135


Total Yards

Green - 1,316

Thomson - 556


Per Game Avg

Green - 263.2

Thomson - 139.0

 

[ilmherdfan]

Good work. Green seems to have all the upside. You expect a freshman to have some interceptions and make some bad decisions.

 

[ohio herd]

well hopefully we can now all agree that IG is the right guy to start. AT was given a shot and did the best he could. It is obvious who should be our starter

 

[Treadmill MUsic]

But Phill Sims said and AT has not played football in almost 2 years.....I’m kidding guys. That was good research my friend. Let’s just move on th Charlotte.

 

[JudgeDD]

Are there more than just numbers in a starting QB decision?

 

[Herdfan1986]

Both are lemons. I’m tired of the redshirt freshman excuses ehh.. Doc has slowly been letting this program become more and more mediocre. We recruit Florida/Georgia Power5/AAC left overs or non qualifiers. It’s obvious talent is in this state and our coaches decide to pass it up for out of state recruits.. every once in awhile will grab one in state recruit but not enough. I truthfully don’t think Thompson or Greene are the answer and hopefully we don’t see them next year on the field. It’s to time to clean house at QB and HC

 

[Herdfan1986]

well hopefully we can now all agree that IG is the right guy to start. AT was given a shot and did the best he could. It is obvious who should be our starter

So the guy who fumbled first play in and threw a pick is the right choice? I’m sorry I forgot he threw a garbage time touchdown pass! Both suck play Morrell atleast it will be amusing

 

[ohio herd]

So the guy who fumbled first play in and threw a pick is the right choice? I’m sorry I forgot he threw a garbage time touchdown pass! Both suck play Morrell atleast it will be amusing

Well I don't know if Morrell is better or not, but I think the staff are aware of his capabilities. I sure don't base that on one play. I mean we finished the first half with something like 50 yards of offense.

 

[herdfan429]

So the guy who fumbled first play in and threw a pick is the right choice? I’m sorry I forgot he threw a garbage time touchdown pass! Both suck play Morrell atleast it will be amusing

If the Oline would have done their job on greens first play he probably wouldn’t have fumbled

 

[BleedsGreen33]

Are there more than just numbers in a starting QB decision?

Sure. However we keep stats for a reason. Green has yet to play with King and has produced three times the offense that Thomson has.

Thomson struggles with his progressions and cannot throw past 15 yards. The fact is Green is a r-FR amd struggles are expected. Thomson is a r-JR with 2 yrs of starting experience. Oh and by tue way was being hyped as a draft pick. We should not be seeing the issues we see from him. Thomson either does not have the talent or his shoulder is not allowing him to play at a high level. Either way Thomson should not start another game.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

Both are lemons. I’m tired of the redshirt freshman excuses ehh.. Doc has slowly been letting this program become more and more mediocre. We recruit Florida/Georgia Power5/AAC left overs or non qualifiers. It’s obvious talent is in this state and our coaches decide to pass it up for out of state recruits.. every once in awhile will grab one in state recruit but not enough. I truthfully don’t think Thompson or Greene are the answer and hopefully we don’t see them next year on the field. It’s to time to clean house at QB and HC

Neither may not be the answer. However you cannot just be tired of the r-FR excuse. It is what it is. Right now as it goes with 90% of r-FR they are playing off their talent instead of the offense. Look at Cato's progression year to year. As he learned the ins and outs of the offense and grew more comfortable out there he commanded the field. You cannot expect that with someone that is 5 games into their career. Maybe some 5-star stud, but not your usual college QB. Byron threw picks in his first year. Heck Chad threw 6 in one game.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

So the guy who fumbled first play in and threw a pick is the right choice? I’m sorry I forgot he threw a garbage time touchdown pass! Both suck play Morrell atleast it will be amusing

Fumble wasn't 100% on him and his INT went right through Henry's hands. Don't give me it was still too high because Henry caught the same pass for a TD later on.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

Also @JudgeDD we're not comparing like production or two guys nipping at eachother's heel. One QB has nearly triple the amount of production as the other. Barely over 500 yards passing in 4 games at the FBS level is just downright horrible outside of the service academies.

 

[mlblack16.]

cannot throw past 15 yards.

I'll preface this by saying I agree that Green gives us a better chance, BUT you really need to at least give the guy some credit. He has a strong arm and can throw some deep passes. I would argue he can't throw it "accurately" beyond 15 yards.

 

[JudgeDD]

Also @JudgeDD we're not comparing like production or two guys nipping at eachother's heel. One QB has nearly triple the amount of production as the other. Barely over 500 yards passing in 4 games at the FBS level is just downright horrible outside of the service academies.

Comparing passing stats is fine. There is a place for that. What is more important, though, is how the offense functions as a whole. The QB is in charge of nearly everything on the field. Are we getting into the right play? Is the QB setting the proper pass pro? Can he check down? Can he use his hot route? Does he read the RPO? Does he read the zone read? Is he a good leader of the offense? How does the team respond to him, and him to them? Do we have a running game and why is it working or not working?

Listen, it was obvious during the summer that AT was hampered by his shoulder. Probably he still is. But just the fact that the coaching staff was hesitant to put an official end to the QB competition speaks to their concern about some of those intangibles I just mentioned. Neither QB has come in and won the position. So far, it's more like each of them have given away the starting position. I wish one of them had shown it all, but the truth is they each have their weaknesses. I would imagine Green will get the nod this week, though not from anything spectacular he's done, but because Thomson is the latest to lose the job.

I'm just reminding you, and so many on this board, that decisions like this aren't made by reading the stat sheets. There are other things to consider. Those numbers don't tell the whole story of either QB. So many on here are so positive of their coaching insight that they are willing to bet the house on their hand while looking at only two cards.

 

[5150]

Both are lemons. I’m tired of the redshirt freshman excuses ehh.. Doc has slowly been letting this program become more and more mediocre. We recruit Florida/Georgia Power5/AAC left overs or non qualifiers. It’s obvious talent is in this state and our coaches decide to pass it up for out of state recruits.. every once in awhile will grab one in state recruit but not enough. I truthfully don’t think Thompson or Greene are the answer and hopefully we don’t see them next year on the field. It’s to time to clean house at QB and HC

I don't think either player is the answer

 

[HerdFan73]

Comparing passing stats is fine. There is a place for that. What is more important, though, is how the offense functions as a whole. The QB is in charge of nearly everything on the field. Are we getting into the right play? Is the QB setting the proper pass pro? Can he check down? Can he use his hot route? Does he read the RPO? Does he read the zone read? Is he a good leader of the offense? How does the team respond to him, and him to them? Do we have a running game and why is it working or not working?

Listen, it was obvious during the summer that AT was hampered by his shoulder. Probably he still is. But just the fact that the coaching staff was hesitant to put an official end to the QB competition speaks to their concern about some of those intangibles I just mentioned. Neither QB has come in and won the position. So far, it's more like each of them have given away the starting position. I wish one of them had shown it all, but the truth is they each have their weaknesses. I would imagine Green will get the nod this week, though not from anything spectacular he's done, but because Thomson is the latest to lose the job.

I'm just reminding you, and so many on this board, that decisions like this aren't made by reading the stat sheets. There are other things to consider. Those numbers don't tell the whole story of either QB. So many on here are so positive of their coaching insight that they are willing to bet the house on their hand while looking at only two cards.

I'm not saying your points are invalid or incorrect. But it boils down very simply.

In today's game, unless you can rush for 250 yds /game against just about anybody, you need to be able to throw the ball.

And Thompson, for whatever reason that may not even be his fault if he's not 100%, is the most ineffective passer that's played more than 1-2 games we've had here in a decade (since a freshman Mark Cann.)

 

[19MU88]

Are there more than just numbers in a starting QB decision?

Yes

Like walking out of practice mad.

Turnovers

And all I know is we were winning when Green went in.

That said, neither QB is impressive and both accuracy issues.

I don’t care who starts. Don’t care about a lot right now

 

[ilmherdfan]

We were tied when Green went in. We were losing 5 seconds later.

Not saying this is his fault.

 

[19MU88]

We were tied when Green went in. We were losing 5 seconds later.

Not saying this is his fault.

Ok in worse shape either way at end of game

 

[Sean Hammond]

Comparing passing stats is fine. There is a place for that. What is more important, though, is how the offense functions as a whole. The QB is in charge of nearly everything on the field. Are we getting into the right play? Is the QB setting the proper pass pro? Can he check down? Can he use his hot route? Does he read the RPO? Does he read the zone read? Is he a good leader of the offense? How does the team respond to him, and him to them? Do we have a running game and why is it working or not working?

Listen, it was obvious during the summer that AT was hampered by his shoulder. Probably he still is. But just the fact that the coaching staff was hesitant to put an official end to the QB competition speaks to their concern about some of those intangibles I just mentioned. Neither QB has come in and won the position. So far, it's more like each of them have given away the starting position. I wish one of them had shown it all, but the truth is they each have their weaknesses. I would imagine Green will get the nod this week, though not from anything spectacular he's done, but because Thomson is the latest to lose the job.

I'm just reminding you, and so many on this board, that decisions like this aren't made by reading the stat sheets. There are other things to consider. Those numbers don't tell the whole story of either QB. So many on here are so positive of their coaching insight that they are willing to bet the house on their hand while looking at only two cards.

Agree 100%.

The problem is, IMO, neither pass the eye test. Thomson is a consistent Captain Checkdown while Green is feast or famine. Green’s stats come from explosive plays, not long spans of sustainable play. If so, there wouldn’t be a question.

But with Thomson under center, I feel like we need to be at least +2 in turnover margin, 200+ yards rushing, no special teams errors, and a good defensive performance to beat anyone with a pulse. That FAU game isn’t sustainable football either, so it seems we lose either way. Not something I can keep putting blind faith into.

 

[Bankerreturns]

At least Green gives you a puncher's chance.

The truth is we really only have one apples to apples comparison, and that's the USM game. Both played against the same defense with the same running backs. Our offense was 3 points in the first half, 14 in the second, and we had almost 400% more yardage.

Thomson did nothing in the first half to show he was going to get it done in the second half. If Green never goes in the game probably ends up something like 23-13, 20-13, somewhere around there. He wasn't going to win that game. If Brady hadn't fumbled, we well could have won. That was certainly in FG range with plenty of time left.

 

[marshallisqbu]

Are there more than just numbers in a starting QB decision?

Yes lots. One of those things is that the numbers at best are even, and one is a rs freshman in his first real games and the other is an upper classman who has had several years to figure things out.


I know lots have intimated about maturity issues and off the field issues but Doc brought Green in and if he can’t fix those issues he should have brought in a qb who can play until Green grows up and figures the game out.

 

[goherd44]

Let this sink in for a second. Think about the QB's everybody is arguing over for which one should be starting at Marshall University. These two would be lucky to be starting for most FCS teams. This is how far our expectations have dropped over the past decade or so! Does anybody see this changing going forward?

 

[Bankerreturns]

I think Green has the physical ability to be good. If he doesn't have the smarts or attitude, that's 100% on Doc, he chose to,recruit him and give him a scholarship. Same for all those other players he has kicked off the team over the years. He brought every single one of them here.

My feeling is that in most cases, it's not the kids, it's how they're handled. You take a lot of these kids with a very rough background, Green being one, that never really had positive male role models or solid families. Instead of investing in them, you ride them, doubt them, don't trust them, and expect that to work. I just think Doc doesn't know how to manage personalities. Nick Saban can afford to be that way, Doc can't. Pruett's players would run through walls for him, I don't think Doc's players would do the same, and it shows.

Successful head coaches, more than anything else (just like any good leader in any field), first and foremost, need to manage relationships. With the school administration, boosters, their staff and their players. Everybody has to be on the same page, same vision, same goals.

 

[ilmherdfan]

IMO we got a bit unlucky at QB. I am not excusing all the other coaching issues I have with the current staff.

Good or bad, we thought we had a seasoned starter coming back and he bailed at nearly the last minute based on what I understand are the draft rules. Had he stayed, Green would have had another year of practice and maybe some playing time under his belt before getting thrown in there.

When Litton left, maybe we didn’t do our homework or maybe we were told a story about AT’s shoulder, but we got a transfer that both Tennessee and Baylor were going after. Is some of that on the staff, yes, but we had to take a chance to get someone that was ready and eligible to play immediately if Green wasn’t.

If Litton stayed, would be be in the same spot? Maybe, but from how this has played out I would guess that the staff expected Litton back and then felt like they had to make a quick move to sure up the position.

At the end of the day, it falls on the staff to put us in a position to win. Even with a stable QB situation, coaching decisions and lack of in game adjustments have been our biggest issue.

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

Obviously having an RS Freshmenas your starting QB is never ideal. That’s happened with our last three QB’s for some reason, Cato was a true freshmen.
Thomson should have sat out this year, his shoulder was not 100% and still isn’t.
The coaches should have known that last winter when limited offers came and UT and Baylor backed off. His family thought he should sit out as well.

Knowing that and the coaches concerns about Green, why the hell did we not go after a healthy Juco or Grad transfer. Ugh!!!

To add to this, according to the HD, Green hadn’t practiced up until the time he was inserted in the game. If that’s true, that’s a huge issue on the coaches and certainly not Greens fault in the least. How could it be? He hadnt played in over a month. Doc isn’t an X’s and O’s guy, never has been.

 

[19MU88]

I have a problem with a athletic QB that would rather throw it away than run with huge chunks of real estate in front of him

 

[JudgeDD]

I have a problem with a athletic QB that would rather throw it away than run with huge chunks of real estate in front of him

Who is this athletic QB you speak of?

 

[19MU88]

Who is this athletic QB you speak of?

I'm not calling him Michael Vick but IG looks like he can run a little bit but refuses to...….

 

[jkcoltsfan18]

I would like to see Isiah Green's interceptions in a compilation. (I see you Dunk) I remember 3 or 4 specifically that went right through a receivers hands or were tipped in the air by a receiver. That is one of the biggest knocks about Green is the turnovers but a good chunk of them aren't his fault or at the least aren't 100% his fault.

I think the intangibles are good to look at if production is close. However, as OP showed. Not even close. Nearly double avg yards of total offense. I don't care if Isiah Green is smoking weed and blowing it in the offensive line's face, if we are better with him on the field (we are) I wan't him to start. (End half sarcasm)

 

[JudgeDD]

I'm not calling him Michael Vick but IG looks like he can run a little bit but refuses to...….

It might surprise you then that if you ranked the five QBs on the roster in speed and athleticism, AT would be at the top and IG would be near the bottom. And don't think I'm cutting on Green. I'm actually pretty impressed with how much he gets out of his legs considering he isn't particularly fast or nimble.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

I'm not calling him Michael Vick but IG looks like he can run a little bit but refuses to...….

Could be youth. Cato's first two years he looked scared to death to take off and use to just fall down if he even saw someone about to hit him.

 

[19MU88]

It might surprise you then that if you ranked the five QBs on the roster in speed and athleticism, AT would be at the top and IG would be near the bottom. And don't think I'm cutting on Green. I'm actually pretty impressed with how much he gets out of his legs considering he isn't particularly fast or nimble.

That would surprise me, but I'll take your word for it. Bottom line, I've seen open turf enough that my 50 year old legs might get the first down or at least set up a manageable third down with a run......but what do I know, maybe he should just heave it out of bounds rather than run.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

Obviously having an RS Freshmenas your starting QB is never ideal. That’s happened with our last three QB’s for some reason, Cato was a true freshmen.
Thomson should have sat out this year, his shoulder was not 100% and still isn’t.

.

Thomson's shoulder is never going to get any better. Clearly it is 100% structurally or they wouldn't be letting him run the ball like he has. He has taken some pretty good hits out there. He cannot throw with touch. His deep balls are just heaves. That shows that his shoulder is trashed. It just is what it is. I hate it for him, because he does seem like a good kid that was just looking for an opportunity to grow his stock and realize a dream. Sadly that dream was nixed by injury.

Even some of his shorter throws sail on him. Also he has no more years. What were you going to bring him in next season for one year and just sit Green after a full year as the starter? That would cause huge problems and would make no sense.

Bottom line is Doc and this staff did not learn their lesson from Willy Korn. They took another QB off of a shoulder injury that they did not see throw a live pass.

 

[19MU88]

I don't put a lot of stock in all the Rivals stars and such but they must have really missed the boat on him judge, they called him a dual threat QB and he sounds like a statue when described as "not particularly fast or nimble".

 

[19MU88]

Could be youth. Cato's first two years he looked scared to death to take off and use to just fall down if he even saw someone about to hit him.

might be brain more than youth. no one is asking him to lower shoulder and run through a LB or DL, just take open space when it's there...……..how many years of playing FB do you need so understand that?

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

I would like to see Isiah Green's interceptions in a compilation. (I see you Dunk) I remember 3 or 4 specifically that went right through a receivers hands or were tipped in the air by a receiver. That is one of the biggest knocks about Green is the turnovers but a good chunk of them aren't his fault or at the least aren't 100% his fault.

I think the intangibles are good to look at if production is close. However, as OP showed. Not even close. Nearly double avg yards of total offense. I don't care if Isiah Green is smoking weed and blowing it in the offensive line's face, if we are better with him on the field (we are) I wan't him to start. (End half sarcasm)

Actually it was Litton smoking weed and blowing it in the OL’s face.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

I would like to see Isiah Green's interceptions in a compilation. (I see you Dunk) I remember 3 or 4 specifically that went right through a receivers hands or were tipped in the air by a receiver. That is one of the biggest knocks about Green is the turnovers but a good chunk of them aren't his fault or at the least aren't 100% his fault.

I think the intangibles are good to look at if production is close. However, as OP showed. Not even close. Nearly double avg yards of total offense. I don't care if Isiah Green is smoking weed and blowing it in the offensive line's face, if we are better with him on the field (we are) I wan't him to start. (End half sarcasm)

The one this week went right through Henry's hands. It was the same pass he caught for the TD.
His first INT of the season bounced right off of I want to say Williams hands as he was falling to the ground.
He had one at WKU that Brady basically had then inadvertently batted it in the air. Almost look like a set up in volleyball.

So that is 3 of his 7 INTs that weren't on him.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

Actually it was Litton smoking weed and blowing it in the OL’s face.

I like you man, but Litton lives rent free in your head. I don't know why you constantly bring him into conversations. He's gone. We'd all be good just to move on from him.

Three things.

1) Foster was suspended right there with him and no one ever says anything negative about him.

2) They were suspended from the WKU game because the coaches caught two girls going to their room the night before.

3) If you honestly believe Litton is the only one on that team that was smoking weed you are really going to be in for a shock. There are some players on this roster and past rosters that would shock people if they knew. They just don't see weed as a big deal. It's dumb and they're gambling with their futures over a high that might last an hour, but it goes on. When TCU was in trouble a few years ago a study was done that showed an alarming number of players per roster smoke weed. Players under Pruett were always smoking. A certain defensive star under Pruett always had black&mild cigars with the tobacco switched out with weed.