re: Kelly has to go after Malik Murphy, right?

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CBK likes having a running QB.

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Every coach likes having a running QB as long as they can pass. If you have a choice between a QB who can just throw or a QB that can throw and run, you’re an idiot to not take the QB that can do both. It completely opens up the offense. But the key is they have to be able to throw 1st. And you’re seeing a lot more of those coming up because the more you see them in college and the NFL, the more guys who would have been WRs growing up 20-25 years ago, are being put at QB where they can affect the game more.

But 1) there’s more than 1 kind of running QB. Jayden Daniels is a fricking unicorn. I woke up at 4 this morning (on accident) and put on an LSU YouTube video in the background and started doing some work. The video ended and went straight to the LSU/Clemson NC game. I had to watch. I forgot just how much Clemson dominated the 1st quarter, and how much the game was in doubt so deep into the 2nd quarter. We had 6 total yards after our 1st 2 possessions. Burrow had like 36 yards passing after our 1st 3 possessions. Then he started hitting all these 9, 10, 20 yard runs to move the chains. Escaping impossible pockets, spinning around, and either running for yards or escaping the pocket and throwing to Chase on the run. Hit him for a couple 50+ yard passes down the right sideline. Wound up with like 250+ yards passing and 56 yards rushing at half. 2 passing TDs and 1 rushing TD on a QB draw up the middle. And we went from being down 17-7 to up 28-17 in like 8 game minutes. And almost all started (or continued) with Burrow’s feet. I don’t think Nuss has that, but he’s not Met, and there’s more than 1 way to skin a cat.

I think what Kelly really likes is a big, old, OL, with talented TEs. I am very interested to see how Kelly/Denbrock/Sloan change the offense next year. I think we’ll run the ball a lot, use 12 personnel a lot, and take advantage of that by being very play-action oriented. I think Nuss will hit on a lot of explosive plays, but not at the rate of Jayden, because I don’t think he’ll need to. We’ll be able to be more selective and set things up throughout the game. I’m not sure he’ll throw as much as Jayden, but he might have similar passing yards. BUT, he’ll have to prove he can extend plays and DRIVES with his legs. I think he’s a good enough athlete to. But Kelly and do have seen him enough the last 2 years to know if he’s got that in him. It will be obvious by who we go after in the portal.

I don’t think guys that can run that have multiple years of eligibility would be an indictment on Nuss. But if we sign a dual threat that’s either older than Nuss or has the same eligibility, that will speak volumes.if you can’t at least move the chains with your legs/feet a little bit, you’re behind, because most of the best teams have QBs that can.

I expect Kelly and co to do their due diligence and explore every QB in the portal. But I think Nuss is just athletic enough to go with his big arm and big balls, quite frankly—I think his “moxie” is one of his best traits. I expect him to be the QB in ‘24 and do well. But we don’t get to see him every day. If we sign somebody that’s a big enough threat that he enters the portal, I think it’s simply because we think that guy might open up the offense more. Which, depending on the progress of the defense, we may desperately need.

We’ll see. I think Nuss is our starter next year. But if he’s not, oh well. I hope he finds a better fit and balls out.