As I stressed in my previous article suggesting that Darryl Clark start at QB for Penn State against Michigan, the Nittany Lions cannot win big games so long as Anthony Morelli is under center.
While Morelli succeeded against the likes of Florida International and Buffalo, he continues to show his inability to produce against quality teams.
On Saturday in Ann Arbor, Morelli completed just 15 of 31 passes for 169 yards. Inaccuracy was a major problem, as were poor field vision and a lack of mobility.
It's been the same story throughout the QB's entire career.
As it stands, Joe Paterno must ignore Morelli's seniority in the interest of the team as whole.
Simply stated, it's time for Pat Devlin.
By starting Devlin now, the Nittany Lions can improve their QB play in 2007 while still preparing for the future.
Devlin excels where Morelli falls short—he's an extremely accurate passer (he completed over 65 percent of his passes in high school), and his mobility will help him survive behind a young offensive line.
While Morelli clearly has one of the strongest arms in the nation, he's been unable to utilize an exceptionally deep receiving corps. It's all too often that Derrick Williams, Deion Butler, and Jordan Norwood have to adjust their routes to catch Morelli's off-target passes.
Williams is one of the most elusive players Penn State has ever seen, but Morelli's wildness effectively negates much of his YAC potential.
As the Lions' playcalling is geared towards short and intermediate routes, Devlin is the quarterback Penn State needs.
If Paterno wants to stop losing high-profile games, he has to pull the plug on Morelli and make Devlin his quarterback of the present.
Penn State Football: Time For a QB Change in Happy Valley
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16 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Smith J. Howard about 1 year ago
Ryan what do you think about Morelli being compared to Grossman. I'm not saying that Morelli is *that* bad, but they both play on teams in which the defense is clearly the team's strong suit. Tony Romo suggested that playing QB for a team which asks you to "not lose the game" is most likely stressfull. So, do you think that Morelli's job right now is to simply hold on to the ball, make easy throws, and let his punter/defense do all of the work? Let me know...
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Ryan Staloff about 1 year ago
I definitely think that they are making Morelli's job too simple and not making use of his strong points, his cannon for an arm. Finally the offensive play calling has started to receive criticism this week for being too conservative. Too many short routes have been called and that obviously does not suite Morelli's skill set. He has proven time and time again he struggles with making accurate short distance throws. Either they should incorporate the deep ball more often, Morelli's clear strength, or substitute Morelli with a new quarterback that better fits this offensive philosophy, Pat Devlin.
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Tyler Long about 1 year ago
I've said this since he was recruited that he was going to make a lot of people in Happy Valley very "un"Happy Valley with the way he plays.
The good thing about PSU and their situation is that the D will keep them in every game, so why not take a shot with Devlin? He def. can't do much worse than Morelli, and maybe it can spark the O.
In Morelli's defense, the running game has been less than stellar as well and I'm sure that puts more pressure on him to produce. Either way, he doesn't get the job done and someone needs to make the call to change the guard before you enter the meat of the Big Ten.
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David Williams about 1 year ago
Do you really think a true freshman would in come against these tough Big Ten defenses (OSU, Wisconsin, Iowa) and do any better? I'm not defending Morelli but even the best of freshmen quarterbacks with an experienced line (Ryan Mallett) still looks pedestrian against a solid defense. In addition to being more accurate, is it the fact that Devlin may be more mobile than Morelli (is this true?) or that Penn State fans are just tired of the same old crap? Just remember, the grass isn't always greener on the other side...You certainly know this but just as a reminder: People are hyping Devlin the same way they did Morelli when he first arrived on campus. Didn't they want Morelli to start over the incumbent Michael Robinson, who took you all to a BCS game later that season?
Not to nitpick here, but 65 percent completion percentage in high school is pretty irrelevant...People put up all kinds of gaudy numbers in high school every year. Even the above average player with little shot at ever playing D-IA ball (me) can still rush for over a thousand yards in high school.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
A QB change will never happen. Joe has too much of an ego to admit that he's had the wrong guy starting. He has too much of an ego to admit his captain needs to be benched.
This game is all about him, not the team.
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Ryan Staloff about 1 year ago
David. its not irrelevant when Morellis hs completion percentage was 52. If they want to start Morelli fine, but they should at least cater the play calling to his strengths, throwing the deep ball. He has had seldom opportunities to flash his arm and usually is stuck throwing the intermediate routes, a weakness of his, becacuse thats what galen hall is calling. And yes, Pat Devlin is a much more mobile quarterback in the pocket then Morelli. While he is no Michael Vick, an old school Brett Favre would be a pretty good comparison.
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Bob Mooney about 1 year ago
Morelli has his flaws. But I think the PSU offensive playbook is the real problem. Watch a PSU play develop - run or pass - and watch a Michigan play develop. They just look different. It's mkore than line play. It's more than an immobile QB or inaccurate throws. The timing of the plays in the PSU playbook is just different than the timing of the plays in the Michigan playbook. You can't complete a throw to a receiver who can't get open because of the structure of their route running. You can't complete 70% of your passes if 90% of your throws are out patterns. You stick Morelli in Mallett's shoes on Saturday and I'll bet you get a much more proficient QB. You permit our receivers to run the routes the Michigan receivers run and you'll get Michigan-style YACs.
Unfortunately, the playbook is Joe's baby. Galen Hall can't call what he doesn't bring up into the box in that notebook on Saturday.
I don't want Joe to be retired.
Just his cursed offensive playbook.
Bob
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Ryan Staloff about 1 year ago
Agreed the offensive play calling is clearly an issue, but with the given playbook, don't you think devlin is a better fit for the offense. I am going to be honest I never saw Morelli in high school but even look at his high school numbers where "..People put up all kinds of gaudy numbers in high school every year" like David said in a post earlier, Morelli only completed 52 percent of his throws. If the offensive play scheme does not call for deep passes, than Morelli is not being utilized the way he should be. If PSU continues to call the short routes, Devlin to me is clearly the better fit.
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Bob Mooney about 1 year ago
I honestly don't know enough details about Devlin's skills (ie. mobility, arm strength, accuracy, etc) to say. I fear that Devlin would be as doomed as is Morelli by the scheme - sad to be so fatalistic. Besides, the more Jay works with Devlin, the more screwed up the kid's skill are gonna get. . .
The 2005 offense is looking like more and more of an aberration that was only made possible by MRob's mobility - as MRob was not the most accurate passer on the block.
If that's the case, then Clark is actually our best hope.
Bob
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Tyler Long about 1 year ago
Dave,
Im just saying I think it would not matter much because even if he played below average 1. their D will keep them in the game anyway, and all he would be asked to do is manage the game and not try to make all the plays and 2. it would not be that big a drop off from Morelli's production against better competition anyway
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Ryan Staloff about 1 year ago
I think you are missing the point... the same way in which it is stupid to tell Rex Grossman to manage a game and rely on defense is the reason why it is stupid to tell Morelli to manage a game. If you want someone to "manage a game" you want them to not take risks, not make mistakes, and hold onto the ball. Anthony Morelli is not that type of quarterback. He has proven to make some dumb throws, and not have the ability to hit his checkdowns in stride. He has been and always will be inaccurate, as his 52% high school completion percentage portrays. Pat Devlin is a much more accurate quarterback, and the type of quarterback that is capable of "managing" an offense.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
David, Pat Devlin isn't some walk on with little shot of plying D-1 ball, I was on his high school team and we played all kinds of talent. That 65% passing percentage is an extremely conservative number. We did not have one truely great Division 1 prospect receiver. Devlin was able to distribute the ball in high school as well as run it. We had 5 receivers with over 600 yards receiving. When you don't have a great receiver and you have a better high school career than the likes of Dan Marino, Joe Montana and Joe Namath (All Native Pennsylvanians) you have to be able to produce at the college level. Now I'm not saying that the likes of Neshaminy, North Penn, and Pennsbury's defenses are the same as Michigan or Ohio State, but Devlin performs in big games. He doesn't get phased and I have to believe that after a year and a half of Penn State coaching Pat Devlin is ready for anything. If he can distribute the ball in high school with pedestrian receivers against some of the most highly recruited high school players I don't see how he can't do well with the receiving corps that Penn State has. Penn State should have an explosive passing game and Morelli just isn't delivering. I think that Pat could really make this Penn State passing attack something special this year, not to mention in his next 3 years of elegability.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Yes a freshman quaterback can come in and compete with the BIG TEN. Why do I say this? Look what happened when Penn State played michigan. A freshman quaterback came in and stepped up and made plays when his team needed it the most, against a strong Penn State defense. Morelli is not mobile and has a weak ability to pick his recievers downfield. Today in college football you need a mobile quaterback, or a great passer. Morelli has neither unless he is playin a no contest school like Buffalo or FIU.
I agree with you about the high school stats though. But Penn State is going no where with Morelli, and thats a fact. So why not change?
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I think all of you have brought up very valid comments. The playbook doesn't suit the offense, but the glaring problem is how big of an idiot Morelli is. He can't play well in big games or in the case of the 2006 Michigan game-finish them. He truly is stupid, and quarterbacks need to have some intelligence. He has the tangibles, but no intangibles. Some of you are also right about the Pat Devlin comments, who may not be any better. The solution is to recruit a dual-threat quarterback like Terelle Pryor. The best college quarterbacks are the ones who can run with the ball when a play collapses or run by design in the case of the option. Penn State needs to reevaluate the offense also. They should be running a spread offense with the talent we have in receivers. It is clear we play big ten football, but empirically over the last few years it is obvious that spread teams from the SEC and other conferences can dominate us (ie. Oregen v. Michigan (2007), and most notably Florida v. Ohio State (BCS Title Game).
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Sky Keys about 1 year ago
It's Nov. 16th as I write this. It's been yet another relatively disappointing season for Penn State. Morelli just doesn't have it. I don't if it's a lack of skills, or bad offensive schemes, or bad offensive linemen, but the team's offense just doesn't click. For heaven's sake, in the last regular season game of the season (and whatever bozo bowl they might get into), let's see Devlin at quarterback for at least one full quarter if not one full half. Give Devlin some experience going into next season. No NFL team is going to draft Morelli, so it's a waste to keep him in there just because he's a senior. I love Joe Pa, , , but, , , w. t. f. . . . . . . Are we being unrealistic in today's super competitive environment to expect more than we're getting?
Penn State Football fan since 1970.
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