SPORTS
Change needed at QB position
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Also by Mike Ackerstein:
- Wisconsin hits road for Milwaukee (December 12, 2007)
- Heisman pressures could tackle Tebow (December 10, 2007)
- Wisconsin's home streak dead at 28 (December 10, 2007)
- Poor ball control haunts Badgers (December 10, 2007)
- Badgers put on show against Terriers (December 4, 2007)
Related Stories:
- QB battle still tight (April 23, 2007)
- Flawed teams alive for BCS (November 26, 2007)
- Injury leaves Stocco down, out Saturday (November 8, 2006)
- Starter needs to emerge as leader (August 31, 2007)
- Quarterback roulette (April 19, 2007)
by Mike Ackerstein
Monday, October 15, 2007
Allan Evridge. That's probably all that needs to be said.
The mere mention of UW's backup quarterback should be enough to reveal the entire point of the column. The name has probably been bouncing in your head for a while, since Saturday maybe? Since the loss to Illinois? From the start of the season?
Doesn't matter. The point is you've thought about it, thought about benching incumbent quarterback Tyler Donovan and going to the junior transfer, Allan Evridge. You know what's coming then. Allow me to write it anyway.
After consecutive losses that have dropped the Badgers from No. 5 in the polls and atop the Big Ten to an unranked spot and in the middle of the conference, it's easy to call for the era of Donovan behind center to end. Wisconsin's two losses were marked by Donovan throwing key interceptions in critical situations, and in the team's five wins to open the season Donovan never looked too impressive. With the offense struggling to score points consistently, bringing in a new quarterback is the most obvious of the remedies.
In fairness to Donovan, he was put in a difficult position from the get-go. Expectations were high — probably too high — heading into the season and things didn't get easier once it started. Running back P.J. Hill, expected to significantly lighten the load for Donovan, has underperformed, which along with the defense's ineptitude has put a lot of pressure on the signal-caller to put up points through the air. That, coupled with the injuries to starting receivers Paul Hubbard and Luke Swan, has meant Donovan has been asked to do a whole lot more than a first-year starter should have been.
Now, though, after two losses and games against top-ranked Ohio State and Michigan still to come, it's time to start thinking about the future. Donovan's a senior and won't be back next season. Any hopes of a Sugar Bowl, Rose Bowl, or even Capital One Bowl appearance this season seem dashed, which means the focus now has to be on next year.
Evridge, barring a dramatic occurrence, will be the starting quarterback a year from now and it would be advantageous if he got playing time now so the learning curve for next year is reduced. Letting Donovan finish out the year may help the Badgers win an extra game in this already tainted season, but throwing Evridge into the fire would pay off for the yet-to-be-beaten 2008 squad.
Inevitably, those calling for Evridge to usurp Donovan elicit one of two reactions. The first: that Tyler Donovan is taking too much criticism. The second: that he isn't taking enough.
Donovan, obviously, hasn't been all-bad for the Badgers this season. He's taken a lot of hits, made some big plays and has always given his best out there. You can't ask for anything more than that from your quarterback. The defense's inability to make tackles and their willingness to give up big plays has certainly been as much, if not more, a cause of the Badgers’ struggles this season.
At this point, though, starting him over Evridge just doesn't make sense. Perhaps Donovan's biggest advantage over Evridge — experience in the system — has turned into his greatest liability. So comfortable has Donovan become with tight end Travis Beckum, and the injured Swan, that he tends to lock onto the receiver, refusing to look somewhere else regardless of the coverage he faces, which has often led to interceptions. Evridge, without a rapport with the receivers, is less likely to succumb to this problem.
Not being harsh enough? Well, as stated before, Donovan has given it all for UW this season and you can't fault a guy too much when he is doing the best that he can. Plus, at least it's only the quarterback drawing the criticism in this column. If the disappointment that Badger fans are experiencing now was taking place in the Southeastern Conference, everyone with any relationship to the team — from the most loyal of fans to the objective media — wouldn't just be calling for the quarterback's head, but for the coach's. Bielema's lucky that it isn't him being singled out for replacement.
Validity of criticisms aside, this weekend is the perfect time to make the switch to Evridge. Northern Illinois comes to town, giving the junior a chance to wet his feet against a (relatively) weak opponent before the Badgers make the trek to current No. 1 Ohio State in two weeks. Eventually, Evridge is going to be the starting quarterback for the University of Wisconsin, and with this season already established as a disappointment, now's as good a time as any to give him a chance.
Mike Ackerstein is a sophomore majoring in poultry science. If you agree its time to make a quarterback switch but think Dustin Sherer is the right choice, he can be reached at mackerstein@badgerherald.com
Anonymous (October 15, 2007 @ 6:40am):
Evridge. Now. Please.
Anonymous (October 15, 2007 @ 10:12am):
Really -- are you for real? Blaming Donovan for the losses is not right. The team lost the two games. If you want to be honest then replace every starter - start with defiense and get rid of Hill - he's overrated. And recievers who drop the ball dont help either. Evridge, aka Fumbleridge, had a chance and was unimpreessive Saturday -- almost being intercepted Friday and is greener than an unbroke horse. There will be guaranteed losses for the Badgers is you play him. I guess you and I have been watching different games all season. Donovan is what helped to win the games we have won.
Mike Pruden (October 15, 2007 @ 10:16am):
Hold the phone. You say that Hill is underperforming and that Hubbard and Swan are injured. That's three starters right there. You think with three offensive starters, including two recievers, either not there or not playing 100%, justifies getting rid of Donovan, not to mention improve the injury-ridden offense? Doesn't make sense.
And we didn't even talk about our dismal defense yet.
Anonymous (October 15, 2007 @ 10:30am):
"Eventually, Evridge is going to be the starting quarterback for the University of Wisconsin, and with this season already established as a disappointment, now's as good a time as any to give him a chance."
Unfortunately, that says it all. Tyler had his shot - it didn't happen and is unlikely to now.
Anonymous (October 15, 2007 @ 10:43am):
Put Evridge on Defense. He can't possibly be worse than anyone we've got back there now.
Anonymous (October 15, 2007 @ 11:07am):
You can't place all of the blame on Donovan. He's done a tremendous job out there trying to piece wins together throwing to a depleted receiving core. But he's not the same QB he was earlier in the season when he was scrambling for TD's and hitting his wide-outs for big plays. Now he's holding onto the ball for too long in the pocket and over/under throwing his receivers. Every time he gets pressured by opposing defenses, he's slow to get off the ground and looks to be in pain - maybe he's been playing hurt. It's possible a QB change is just what this team needs to re-energize itself and get back on track. Everidge could be great, but the bottom line is that unless our defense learns to tackle and PJ starts getting past the line of scrimmage, this team isn't going anywhere.
Anonymous (October 15, 2007 @ 12:12pm):
Tyler Donovan makes terrible decisions. He locks on to who he is going to throw to before the play starts, and throws to them no matter what. He needs to go.
What is really important though is Evridge will be the starter next year. We need to put him in now to prepare him for next season, as we're not making a BCS bowl anymore this year (unless we somehow get very lucky).
Anonymous (October 15, 2007 @ 1:58pm):
i have never seen a quarterback telegraph his passes worse than tyler donovan. his ability to make big plays is non-existant. evridge may not have looked incredible on saturday but we need to develop him now because this season is slipping away faster than john stocco's hairline!
Anonymous (October 15, 2007 @ 2:23pm):
Donovan lost his top two receivers--the only two with ANY experience--and has a banged up Hill. Cut him some slack, he's not the problem--the defense is.
To throw Evridge into the line-up would be suicide. Did you see him in the Penn State game? He is not on the same page as the O-Linemen. I don't see how having Evridge in any of the losses would have changed the outcome one bit. Just wait till next year.
Anonymous (October 15, 2007 @ 2:51pm):
this is the first year Wisconsin has looked to pass more than run. tyler is as talented as past qb's, but with Hill not producing and playing hurt, and Smith suspended the ground game is forcing them to pass. Especially after fumbling the first play of the game to go behind. Also, the defense can't stop anyone. That is the biggest disappointment so far.
Anonymous (October 15, 2007 @ 4:10pm):
Our defense couldn't stop the Madison East offense right now. I find it hard to completely blame Donovan. Lance smith has looked MUCH better than the dissapointment that has been PJ Hill, yet he obviously has missed these two losses. Donovan has looked impressive when he's had to and thats all you can ask. When you score 37 points against MSU, you should win by more than 3. DEFENSE IS OUR PROBLEM!!
Anonymous (October 15, 2007 @ 4:23pm):
Are you KIDDING me? The quarterback is NOT responsible for winning game, the TEAM is. It is a collective effort. One person can't do everything, it's the same way in several other sports. Maybe the entire defense should be replaced as well if this is your opinion. How ridiculous.
Anonymous (October 15, 2007 @ 4:55pm):
Have you ever played a team sport before?! You win as a team, you lose as a team. Period.
Anonymous (October 15, 2007 @ 5:12pm):
a change at qb? wtf? have we been watching the same UW defense?
Anonymous (October 15, 2007 @ 5:37pm):
Even given TD is completely blameless, why wait until next year for Evridge to start learning to work with the O-Linemen?
This has turned into a rebuilding year - so use the rest of the season to get ready for next year.
Heck, why play any seniors - WTF is the point now?
Anonymous (October 15, 2007 @ 5:56pm):
if we had joe montana back there it wouldn't make a difference...the d cant stop anyone and the running game has stunk the last 2 games. nothings working. don't blame TD.
Anonymous (October 15, 2007 @ 7:26pm):
cut td some slack. he still needs to improve, but he couldn't make the team lose without the absence of receivers he had rapport with and defense.
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