2010 Big 10 Quarterback Rankings, First Edition

by Graham Filler on Sep 16, 2010 7:48 AM CDT in All

In the short history of my QB rankings, this year's batch is the best, no questions asked. It's partly thanks to a ton of veterans, but it's also thanks to coaches who have put their signalcallers in position to succeed. Even the worst team in the conference, Minnesota, has an improved passing game in 2010. I know stats will get less impressive during conference play, but it says a lot when almost every single team in the conference has the capability to throw for 200 yards.

The ranking system uses a mix of five or so factors:

Accuracy of throws, both short and long
Game management
Statistics
Possible future success
Running effectiveness (very applicable this year)

You can compare the 2010 rankings with 2009's final order (Daryll Clark was #1, no surprise, but Terrelle Pryor is #4).

	QB	Team	Comments
#1	Terrelle Pryor	OSU	Finally checking down while reading routes and progressing through multiple reads. Throwing the best deep ball of his career and dominating on the ground. His only weakness? Short throws, of course. These little four yard tosses aren't made for his loopy delivery.
#2	Denard Robinson	UM	I'll continue betting on Denard until he gets hurt. And then I'll stop. Unstoppable on the ground against two decent defenses with good athletes. His passing has been the Big Ten's biggest surprise though. That play where he sprints left to run and then heaves the ball to a streaking WR? Someone needs to learn how to defend that.
#3	Dan Persa	NW	Has got some swivel to go with that shake. Oh, and is throwing at an 86% completion rate. NW looked lazy at the start of last year, but probably had a better team than this year. If Persa can continue being so effective with swing passes and dump downs, this team may outperform expectations. Is ahead of where NFL-bound Kafka was at this time last year, at least in the way he grasps the Wildcat O.
#4	Ricky Stanzi	Iowa	Ricky is ready. Physically, he's healthy and throwing a good ball...and HASN'T EVEN THROWN A PICK SIX YET.
#5	Kirk Cousins	MSU	Hasn't been unleashed yet. Exhibited the big laser arm against Western for a bit...and then sort of relaxed. Even hit a 2-7 patch versus the Broncos. Everyone will be watching to see if the Spartans put him in four wide a lot against ND and let him go to work.
#6	Ben Chappell	Ind	We know so little about him because he's only played one game. But he looked calm and collected, picking up right where he left off last year. I give him added points because basically Indiana's only hope this year is for Chappell to throw for 300 yards and orchestrate huge offensive days...and I think he'll do it a couple times.
#7	Scott Tolzien	Wisc	My pick for most disappointing quarterback so far, but that's because I expect so much from this Wisky team. I know he's 2-0, I know his rating is 150ish. But he's alternately short arming passes, leading to high throws, and underthrowing receivers. Fortunately Wisconsin hasn't had to depend on his arm.
#8	Robert Marve	PU	The key in the Purdue offense is to scan, scan, and then fit the ball into small targets 5-10 yards away. If nothing is open, scramble with your head up like Drew Brees did, sans mole but with the finger pointing. Marve has thrown a lot, but with limited yard production so far. The mechanics are solid but it remains to be seen whether this former 5 star picks up the intricacies of the Purdue offense the way Joey Elliot did last year.
#9	Adam Weber	MN	Lots has been made of Weber's offseason camp performance and his impressive physical tools. He showed them versus South Dakota, but his two fumbles cost Minnesota dearly. At least we know he's starting the whole year, which is a smart move by...whomever is making the decisions in Minnesota.
#10	Robert Bolden	PSU	Surprising first year starter isn't going to face a much harder test than Bama in Tuscaloosa. His delivery is better than any of the PSU backups...good. He stands in the pocket and takes hits...good.
#11	Nathan Scheelhaase	Ill	Young and physically talented, plus it looks like the Illini have put in some offensive packages to help Nathan out (read: the opposite of what last year's formations did for Juice).

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Comments

A 12-27 performance gets Pryor #1?

It should be Denard Robinson.

Ever Grateful. Ever True.

by PurdueMatt on Sep 16, 2010 7:59 AM CDT reply actions

This is what stopped me from lacing Denard to the #1 spot

When I see Pryor get hit, I think, God I’m glad I’m not that defender.

When I see Robinson get hit, I think, God I hope he makes it one more game.

Off Tackle Empire
The quintessential Big Ten smoking room.

by Graham Filler on Sep 16, 2010 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions

So you are saying...

TP is better than Robinson because Robinson looks like he could break easy? And this is coming after a performance against Notre Dame that has only been matched by other quarterbacks NINE TIMES in college football history. And setting the Big Ten all-time quarterback rushing record (something Pryor has yet to do, but has had so many more opportunities). I don’t see your logic. Yeah, Pryor is a more athletic build, but that doesn’t make him the better quarterback going into week 3.

"There is nothing better than being American. If you don't love it, leave it. U.S.A. #1"- Ricky Stanzi, America's Quarterback

by Gookin on Sep 16, 2010 4:54 PM CDT up reply actions

QB rankings

not RB that occasionally throws once the coverage is drawn in ratings. big diff.

When asked why he went for 5, Tate responded "..because I couldn't go for 6...".

http://www.insidetheshoe.com/

by SouthBayBuckeye on Sep 16, 2010 8:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow southbay...

19-22 and 24-40 aren’t bad numbers for a classic drop-back passer, let alone the leading rusher in the country. Drawing in the coverage based on a Denard fake isn’t any different than play action with a dangerous running back – just like OSU’s passing offense has always been based. The goal is to get separation for your receivers….so how is that different?

Unless I misunderstood the message of your post….which I’m pretty sure I didn’t…

by Good Ol' Oakley on Sep 16, 2010 9:01 PM CDT up reply actions

just wait, the RRod blueprint for running a player in to the ground is coming very soon

just ask Pat White.

and Tate.

When asked why he went for 5, Tate responded "..because I couldn't go for 6...".

http://www.insidetheshoe.com/

by SouthBayBuckeye on Sep 16, 2010 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions

clearly you hate America

Stanzi will have to ELIMINATE YOU.

by sfshilo on Sep 16, 2010 8:00 AM CDT reply actions

When's the last time Big Ten quarterbacking has been this good?

Seriously, every team looks to have a legit starter.

by Jeffrick on Sep 16, 2010 8:48 AM CDT reply actions

Stanzi's been better than that:

“and HASN’T EVEN THROWN A PICK ~~SIX~~ YET.”

Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.

by Kyle McCann't on Sep 16, 2010 9:06 AM CDT reply actions

Terrelle Pryor's completion percentage should bar him from being the top passer...

But he’s got top athlete already in the- wait, who’s that underneath him? Shoelaces?

Okay, even that’s questionable. I’m reserving judgement until Big Ten play starts. I don’t think Robinson will have more than 15 carries against a TRUE Big Ten defense. That’ll just get him killed.

Keller is currently re-learning how to speak in complete sentences... 808NaNz808 on Arrowhead Pride
"Because one of the great minds of the 21st century is raising glow-in-the-dark fish and weaving serapes..." -Leonard Hofstadter from The Big Bang Theory
For all the crap we give Wil Wheaton, he can still tackle better than Asante Samuel...

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 16, 2010 9:06 AM CDT reply actions

I think...

We have 5 good to great RBs that are all sophomores and freshmen. I think our best, Toussaint, has yet to see the field due to injury. Given the next two games to find their rhythm, coupled with two more games (literally doubling Denard’s experience) will allow him to practice the intricacies of the passing game. I agree that Denard’s carries will go down as all these young guys learn how to play the system and we enter the Big Ten season.

I’m not saying Denard has won the Heisman. He is just showing he can be a great QB and after the last two seasons, Michigan fans are justifiably excited.

by Good Ol' Oakley on Sep 16, 2010 9:07 PM CDT up reply actions

Hype Machine Rolls-on

Pryor is at best 6th on the list.. Stanzi is the best in a league of average QBs. Not one BX QB will be in the NFL, while the Pac-10 and Big 12 will have at least three each in the next 3-4 years.

by Lord Willie on Sep 16, 2010 9:14 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

None?

Well, I guess Stanzi and Tolzien have their work cut out for them.

I seriously doubt Landry Jones’s penchant for throwing interceptions in marquee games is going to get him to the NFL. And that’s just ONE of the Big Twelve QBs who’s expected to be really good.

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 16, 2010 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Haterz gon' hate

Playas gon’ play

by Spartan D on Sep 16, 2010 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions

Who cares about the NFL?

This is about ranking Big Ten QBs based on their level of play IN COLLEGE. Nothing more.

I mean, I like Stanzi (it’s hard to not like a patriot), but saying he’s the best QB in the league at this point of the season is questionable.

That being said:
1. Shoelaces
2. Persa
3. Stanzi
4. Pryor
5. Cousins
6. Tolzien
7. Bolden (I was impressed with him in a losing effort)
8. Chappell (tough to grade on just one game)
9. Scheelhaase
10. Marve
11. Weber

by Chadnudj on Sep 16, 2010 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions

And where's Taylor Martinez on the list?

Hmmm? HMMM?

by Albino Tornado on Sep 16, 2010 9:57 AM CDT reply actions

Terrelle Pryror and progressing through reads?

LOL.

A Voice From Kinnick - A Hawkeye Blog

by mikjones24 on Sep 16, 2010 10:18 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

LOL!

Those phrases are mutually exclusive, aren’t they?

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 16, 2010 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions

It's all fun and games

Until Stanzi throws a pick 6.

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by Ian_InsideTheShoe on Sep 16, 2010 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions

But when he does

Iowa wins.

I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.

by HoyaGoon on Sep 16, 2010 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Touche

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by Ian_InsideTheShoe on Sep 17, 2010 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions

you've got to be worried

i mean no pics so far right?

they’re coming in bunches very soon. maybe he’s saving them for b10 play.

When asked why he went for 5, Tate responded "..because I couldn't go for 6...".

http://www.insidetheshoe.com/

by SouthBayBuckeye on Sep 17, 2010 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Most likely...

…that game against Northwestern.

by Chadnudj on Sep 17, 2010 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Nah

He only fumbles against jNWU (along with the rest of the team in the 2008 game). Besides, Fitz never takes the same player out two years in a row, so I’m thinking either DJK or Robinson needs to be wary during the game.

I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.

by HoyaGoon on Sep 17, 2010 10:47 PM CDT up reply actions

DJK is not at risk...

He has a miraculous ability to find the endzone, though. Ohio State’s special teams can attest to that.

Speaking of special teams, how are the Hawkeyes doing so far?

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 18, 2010 12:36 AM CDT up reply actions

Not bad

But kickoff coverage was a bit of a problem last week, gave up some bigger returns than one would like. Playing a lot of Freshmen (true and redshirt) on the kickoff team, might have something to do with it. We haven’t tried a FG yet so we don’t know how much of an adventure that will be.

I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.

by HoyaGoon on Sep 18, 2010 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions

Who wants to get paid, player? No, what Im sayin'

Luck -Farm, Riley-Cal, Barkley-USC, Locker-UDub, Gilbert-TX, Gabbert-Mizzou, Griffin-Baylor

by Lord Willie on Sep 16, 2010 10:32 AM CDT reply actions

Griffin is prone to injury

and the NFL wants WINNERS. Jimmy Claussen went down because of that.

Riley is too erratic, Barkley isn’t going to get national television other than ESPN because of Reggie Bush, Locker isn’t a proven winner, Gilbert has to prove himself, Gabbert as well, and Luck could be the best of the bunch.

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 16, 2010 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions

Why are we responding to this guy?

The headline is top Big Ten QBs. Nothing was even mentioned about the NFL, Willie. You can have Jake Locker and his atrocious winning percentage (Along with Robert Griffin…potential, yes, performance, no, in an offense-first league).

Willie, if you want to write-up a Pac-10 QB article, be our guest. Or write up an NFL prospect article. Your comments thus far are irrelevant to the topic at hand.

by Good Ol' Oakley on Sep 16, 2010 9:12 PM CDT up reply actions

persa is #1

dude has only missed on 6 passes and his stats are lower b/c NU pulled their starters after one series in the second half against illinois state. He still had over 230 yds in that half.

at this point of the season, he’s the best qb in the big 10. could change in the future.

by jmw677 on Sep 16, 2010 10:42 AM CDT reply actions

His incompletions are lower due to sitting out too

Incompletions being stats. Not saying his performance wasn’t strong. Just, given who he played against…#3 seems quite fair. #1/#2 did well against tougher competition.

by Beavis Beefcake on Sep 16, 2010 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions

I'll agree with the #3 ranking as being pretty fair....

….although playing an SEC opponent on the road (even if it is Vandy — they still have a pretty decent defense) should count for something.

Plus, if Sidney Stewart doesn’t drop a perfectly thrown ball in the end zone last week, Persa would currently have more TDs than incompletions on the season, which is a pretty cool statistic….(as it is, he has 5 TD passes and 6 incompletions).

by Chadnudj on Sep 16, 2010 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions

Oh. 6 passes in 2 games.

Corrected a bit. I’m confused. Vandy’s decent, you’re right—I’m being pedantic here seeing if maybe Persa’s receivers have bailed him out.

Or maybe I’m going through the whole Kubler Ross deal about Purdue’s chances in that night game in a few weeks.

by Beavis Beefcake on Sep 16, 2010 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions

shaky english, so I'm responding to myself

Robinson/Pryor each still seem like more of a double threat, tho I’d be inclined to jump Persa ahead if either slips in the upcoming NC games.

I brought up the receivers bailing him out to see how that would cancel the drops. I don’t want to ruin the fun of odd early season stats. I’m still hoping Purdue’s young pass defense doesn’t have to face a quarterback with a 70%+ completion rating.

I’m not sure what the general drop % rate is for receivers—of course, that varies with the QB’s fine-accuracy (eg how often he puts it on his hands.) It’s quite possible they’ve dropped fewer than expected, even if Persa’s throws have been accurate, and the endzone drop is the one and only bad drop. Still, if his other inc’s were dropped too, even more impressive.

I remember Brees and Orton having monster games where receivers caught maybe 85% of passes thrown at them and would’ve had more. Looks like Persa is in that zone. Gulp.

by Beavis Beefcake on Sep 16, 2010 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions

It all depends how you judge.

To me the best QB is the one you would feel most confident in with the game on his shoulders, say in a two minute drill needing a touchdown. Pryor almost never gets put in that position thanks to OSU’s defense, but when he does it usually isn’t pretty.

1. Robinson. There isn’t a more dynamic player at QB in the country right now. Down the road, who knows?
2. Stanzi. He does 4th quarter magic even better than patriotism and hasn’t thrown a pick yet.
3. Persa. 19-23 in one half was actually a step down from last week. If he keeps it up against Big Ten defenses I’ll shamelessly put him at number one and demand he gets a ticket to New York, but for now he’s fine at 3rd.
4. Pryor. Better as a passer, still not great, and a monster runner more likely to hurt defenders than be hurt himself.
T-5. Everyone else. A lazy choice, yeah, but I haven’t watched anyone else closely enough to really separate this pack. None of them have overwhelmed or disappointed so far.

Overall, a great year for QBs in the Big Ten.

by Batman42 on Sep 16, 2010 12:00 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

As of right now, I'd have to agree with this

Persa could move up to #1 very, very easily in my book with a great performance against a quality defense.

"I shoot, I score. He shoots, I score." - Dan Gable

by ClaybornSmash on Sep 16, 2010 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Loopy indeed

Pryor is not consistently on the mark with his throws. He should be lots farther ahead in his development. DRob on the other hand is evolving with shocking rapidity.

by Patrick Smith on Sep 16, 2010 9:12 PM CDT reply actions