Rickie Collins

[Cusefan0307]

We need to remember that Duke's defense is terrible. It was the best possibly matchup for him to start and we scored 3 points. He's only going to play better defenses here on out.

 

[Scooch]

Does he though? I haven’t seen anything special about his arm.

Also he doesn’t seem to know how to pass, which is more important. That IMO can’t be fixed this year.

Agreed. I feel like folks here throw around the "special arm" compliment far too often. I'll never forget someone here raving that Perry Patterson had "the strongest arm in college football". I believe that's around the time I started goofing on the annual "deepest QB room in years" take, and that was 20 years ago!

Most guys who are P4 QBs can huck the ball fairly far. That's why they're at a P4 program. But precious few are very good passers. Collins is absolutely not a very good passer. There's no evidence of that.

 

[baggerbob]

Hopefully that means after a week if practice Carney is Number 1.

 

[OttosShoes]

Hopefully that means after a week if practice Carney is Number 1.

I think for HCFB to say “probably” and not some variation of “I trust my guys” shows how serious the QB room situation is.

Small chance we may actually see Carney start in Dallas.

 

[bnoro]

I think for HCFB to say “probably” and not some variation of “I trust my guys” shows how serious the QB room situation is.

Small chance we may actually see Carney start in Dallas.

I think he's quite clearly talking about the three guys vying for the backup spot here.

 

[OttosShoes]

I think he's quite clearly talking about the three guys vying for the backup spot here.

Yes that is heavily implied. But once Steve won, the depth chart wasn't a talking point he engaged, it was just "I trust my guys." Then Rickie has a troubling debut and immediately the depth chart is a talking point again.

To be clear I'll guess <5% chance of a Carney start. But before I read that I would've guessed 0%. Stuff is up in the air.

 

[Millhouse]

I have retorts in bold...

I'm assuming you think shrader was good

Not arguing I just didn't think we have good QBs more often than not

 

[Archbold44]

To further expand on this...

In today's world a QB's redshirt will only matter if:

1. They are good enough to become QB1
2. They are never recruited over
3. They stay for a 5th year, never wanting to leave for another school or even the NFL Draft.

Is Carney good enough to eventually be QB1 (point #1)? If not, then who cares about a RS? Is he good enough to not be recruited over by someone from the 2026 or 2027 HS classes that Fran brings in (#2)? Or a portal QB for 2028 (also #2)? Will he be fine waiting until 2028 to be QB1, and/or never get homesick (#3)? If he is QB1 in 2028 will he be so good that he gets on Draft boards (also #3)? I doubt that one given his measurables.

So much has to happen for his RS to even come into play.

On top of that, playing more than 4 games as a true Frosh doesn't mean you cannot redshirt as a Soph or JR instead. What are the chances that Angeli will miss 5 games in 2026 and then miss 5 games again in 2027? Most likely QB2 will not be needed to the point that he cannot RS in 2026 or 2027.

IMO it is foolish to worry about a QB's RS when they can actually get legit playing time (ie not mop up duty).

If Carney has real potential, wouldn't he benefit from QB1 practice reps the last 8 weeks (6 games from Pitt on, 7 if we made a Bowl) of this season? If he doesn't have potential then he shouldn't play, in which case we shouldn't care anyway about his RS.

Again this is all assuming Collins vs SMU is the same Collins we saw vs Colgate and then vs Clemson and then vs Duke.

Of course, if you give him starts, you give him tape to audition for a new job in 2026. Carney with 4 games of experience could either (a) drop down to being Angeli's back up for 2026; or (b) compete for the Q1 job somewhere else. If he is just competent... plenty of non-P4 schools could see enough in 4 games to want to hand the reigns to him. If you are a Mac, C-USA, or Sun Belt program that loses your QB... why not hand him the reigns for a year and put all of your NIL into that basket. We took Collins with his 12 passes at LSU over 2 years.

 

[Archbold44]

Agreed. I feel like folks here throw around the "special arm" compliment far too often. I'll never forget someone here raving that Perry Patterson had "the strongest arm in college football". I believe that's around the time I started goofing on the annual "deepest QB room in years" take, and that was 20 years ago!

Most guys who are P4 QBs can huck the ball fairly far. That's why they're at a P4 program. But precious few are very good passers. Collins is absolutely not a very good passer. There's no evidence of that.

I dunno. I think he has a real good arm. I think he made some good passes. Again, I have seen so much garbage over the years, I am hesitant to get all worried about this one game. He caused a lot of his own problems, but I also see fixable things. I am sorry that I just cannot get as negative. I never saw us as an 8-win team anyway, so I guess the disappointment is a bit tempered. If we are post-Pitt and not seeing any improvement, then maybe I will get more antsy. But you gotta give a guy 2-3 games before being able to judge.

 

[timkay99]

Yes that is heavily implied. But once Steve won, the depth chart wasn't a talking point he engaged, it was just "I trust my guys." Then Rickie has a troubling debut and immediately the depth chart is a talking point again.

To be clear I'll guess <5% chance of a Carney start. But before I read that I would've guessed 0%. Stuff is up in the air.

It wasn't implied, that was the question about the backup QB that you are referencing.

 

[tbonezone]

game one you excuse your back-up for not having the practice reps, the film , the coaching etc.etc.
game two is a true evaluation of what you got going forward. next game tells the tale.

 

[tep624]

Of course, if you give him starts, you give him tape to audition for a new job in 2026. Carney with 4 games of experience could either (a) drop down to being Angeli's back up for 2026; or (b) compete for the Q1 job somewhere else. If he is just competent... plenty of non-P4 schools could see enough in 4 games to want to hand the reigns to him. If you are a Mac, C-USA, or Sun Belt program that loses your QB... why not hand him the reigns for a year and put all of your NIL into that basket. We took Collins with his 12 passes at LSU over 2 years.

At this point we should have zero concern about Carney being successful and transferring out. That’s like wringing your hands over one of your competent staff leaving for a promotion you can’t give them.

Fran strikes me as wanting to put his team in the best position to win each week, whatever that takes.

If Carney isn’t ready, then he’s not ready and that’s fine. But if he’s ready and it’s an improvement, he should be out there.

 

[OttosShoes]

It wasn't implied, that was the question about the backup QB that you are referencing.

Yes I know. What is implied is that if Carney isn’t QB2, then he’s 3 or 4 as opposed to 1. But that’s just semantics. I’m not saying you have call it implied if you don’t want to, the point is that there is uncertainty in the QB room.

 

[SuFTW]

Yes I know. What is implied is that if Carney isn’t QB2, then he’s 3 or 4 as opposed to 1. But that’s just semantics. I’m not saying you have call it implied if you don’t want to, the point is that there is uncertainty in the QB room.

No there really isn’t. Ignore the coach speak, it’s motivational. For now Collins is 1 and Carney is number 2. Belin and Williams are competing for 3.

 

[CA Monk]

Don't know if this angle has been mentioned, but QBs are justifiably protected (red jersey) during practice so they're not hit with any regularity and not primed for contact. I wonder if the bracing factor of being thumped by a 300lb DT in a full speed game impacts a QB's performance. I mean no hitting at all and then suddenly it's the Hunger Games. Wonder if this played a role in Collins' subpar performance.
It's the old Mike Tyson's "everybody's got a plan till they get punched in the face."

 

[sufandu]

Don't know if this angle has been mentioned, but QBs are justifiably protected (red jersey) during practice so they're not hit with any regularity and not primed for contact. I wonder if the bracing factor of being thumped by a 300lb DT in a full speed game impacts a QB's performance. I mean no hitting at all and then suddenly it's the Hunger Games. Wonder if this played a role in Collins' subpar performance.
It's the old Mike Tyson's "everybody's got a plan till they get punched in the face."

Meh. Every QB is protected in practice. Not every QB looks like a deer in headlights.

 

[SanDiegoCuse]

A question for those of you smarter than I regarding QB play(which is probably 99% of you).

I assumed that since Collins was in a QB room with Daniels, Nussmeir(for multiple years) and at a top school that develops QBs well, that he would be a bit further along.

I would have thought that locking in on WRs and processing would be basics you work on every day in practice. Clearly he struggled with that in his first start. Is that something that can be fixed quickly?

 

[Cuse On 3]

A question for those of you smarter than I regarding QB play(which is probably 99% of you).

I assumed that since Collins was in a QB room with Daniels, Nussmeir(for multiple years) and at a top school that develops QBs well, that he would be a bit further along.

I would have thought that locking in on WRs and processing would be basics you work on every day in practice. Clearly he struggled with that in his first start. Is that something that can be fixed quickly?

Unfortunately, no, it can’t be fixed quickly. It’s not as simple as “you either have it or you don’t” but I think it’s more psychological if anything. Some QB’s like Angeli or McCord can handle all the pressures and nuances that the QB position brings.

You’d think wow, Rickie was sitting behind Nussmier & Daniel’s? He’s gotta be very experienced and should look composed but unfortunately it’s never that simple. He has all the physical tools, but QB is like 70 percent mental. All you gotta have is a decent arm, if you have elite quarterback IQ, you’ll probably do great.

 

[Eric15]

I'm assuming you think shrader was good

Not arguing I just didn't think we have good QBs more often than not

When he was healthy, IMO he was a decidedly above average college QB. A mediocre passer with limited arm strength, but a masterful runner.

 

[Cuse On 3]

When he was healthy, IMO he was a decidedly above average college QB. A mediocre passer with limited arm strength, but a masterful runner.

Yep, not sure why so many people here dispute this opinion.

 

[SanDiegoCuse]

Unfortunately, no, it can’t be fixed quickly. It’s not as simple as “you either have it or you don’t” but I think it’s more psychological if anything. Some QB’s like Angeli or McCord can handle all the pressures and nuances that the QB position brings.

You’d think wow, Rickie was sitting behind Nussmier & Daniel’s? He’s gotta be very experienced and should look composed but unfortunately it’s never that simple. He has all the physical tools, but QB is like 70 percent mental. All you gotta have is a decent arm, if you have elite quarterback IQ, you’ll probably do great.

Excellent explanation. Thank you.

 

[OttosShoes]

A question for those of you smarter than I regarding QB play(which is probably 99% of you).

I assumed that since Collins was in a QB room with Daniels, Nussmeir(for multiple years) and at a top school that develops QBs well, that he would be a bit further along.

I would have thought that locking in on WRs and processing would be basics you work on every day in practice. Clearly he struggled with that in his first start. Is that something that can be fixed quickly?

That’s a great question. People all learn at different rates and in different ways. It’s very common to have to teach a lesson 2-3 times before somebody really gets it, but it could be after 5 or 10 times they still don’t get it.

The trick to the latter isn’t to try again the same way nor to give up, it’s to try in different ways. You hope eventually the lesson is taught in a way that strikes a chord. Whatever development LSU did seems to have missed on telegraphing, so now we need HCFB et al to try and teach it another way. The good news is Fran is a developer and will surely do that. The bad news is that means Rickie is a project.

 

[sufandu]

A question for those of you smarter than I regarding QB play(which is probably 99% of you).

I assumed that since Collins was in a QB room with Daniels, Nussmeir(for multiple years) and at a top school that develops QBs well, that he would be a bit further along.

I would have thought that locking in on WRs and processing would be basics you work on every day in practice. Clearly he struggled with that in his first start. Is that something that can be fixed quickly?

Athletes aren't robots. They can be coached, but they must process the information and internalize it. Just like raw athletic ability, everyone has a different capacity for it.

 

[cusefan88]

I appreciate Rickie immediately watching the tape with Fran and dissecting every single dropback in detail. Will he get better? We find out Saturday.

Ultimately Cuse has their QB in Angeli but getting Collins turned around would really add some mystique to SU as a very QB friendly program.

 

[sufandu]

Yep, not sure why so many people here dispute this opinion.

Because some people feel good QB play is only throwing 50 times per game at a 70% completion rate. It is true that doing that works well, but it's also true there's more than one way to skin a cat.