Interesting breakdown of Va Tech QBs

Comparing Sean Glennon to Other First-Year Starters


Obviously one of the biggest topics on the TSL message boards since the conclusion of the Chick-fil-A Bowl has been the play of first-year starting quarterback Sean Glennon. After gradually winning over much of the fan base down the stretch in the regular season, Glennon now finds himself back in the doghouse amongst many Tech fans following his four turnovers in the fourth quarter against Georgia.

When the season began, everyone knew the offense would struggle. The offensive line was not going to be very good, and Glennon would be a downgrade from Marcus Vick. Glennon looked good at times (Wake Forest) and very bad at times (Georgia).

Glennon is the ninth first-year, full-time starter under Frank Beamer. How does he stack up to the previous eight?

Virginia Tech First-Year Starters at Quarterback
Name Year Comp. Att. Pct Yards TDs INTs Record
Furrer 1988 128 279 45.9% 1384 6 16 3-8
DeShazo 1992 101 215 47.0% 1504 12 11 2-8-1
Druckenmiller 1995 151 294 51.4% 2103 14 11 10-2
Clark 1997 110 192 57.3% 1476 10 3 7-5
Mi Vick 1999 90 152 59.2% 1840 12 5 11-1
Noel 2001 146 254 57.5% 1826 16 11 8-4
Randall 2002 158 248 63.7% 2134 12 11 10-4
Ma Vick 2005 177 289 61.2% 2393 17 10 11-2
Glennon 2006 170 302 56.3% 2191 11 11 10-3
Average 136.8 247.2 55.5% 1872.3 12.2 9.9


Interesting stats, and in some cases, surprising. For example, Sean Glennon threw 302 passes, the most of any other first-year starter. Granted only Randall and Marcus Vick also played in 13 games in their first year as a starter (bowl games were not counted in final stats until the 2002 season), but Maurice DeShazo, Al Clark and Michael Mick wouldn't have reached that number with a couple of extra games, and Grant Noel probably wouldn't have either.

Glennon's completion percentage is also slightly higher than the average for first-year starters. But that average is held down by Will Furrer, Maurice DeShazo and Jim Druckenmiller, who had very low completion percentages in their first seasons starting. Glennon's 56.3% completion percentage is the lowest since Jim Druckenmiller's 51.4% in 1995.

It appears that amongst VT's first-year starters, 11 is the magic number. Five of the nine players on the list above have thrown 11 interceptions in their first year as a starter. From that standpoint, Glennon actually did a pretty good job. 11 picks is not an extremely high number, and he threw more passes than any other player on the list above. So from an interception standpoint, Glennon did a pretty good job this season, except for the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

One thing Glennon did not do is generate a lot of touchdowns. His 11 touchdown passes were the fewest since Al Clark in 1997, and Clark spent a good portion of that season hurt. Clark also countered his low number of touchdowns by throwing just three interceptions.

It's a matter of opinion as to how to rank these quarterbacks as first-year starters. In case you're having trouble deciding, here's a mathematical formula that could help you decide. Each quarterback is ranked in completion percentage, yards per attempt, attempts per touchdown, attempts per interception, winning percentage and touchdown to interception ration. Players are not ranked based on total passing yards, total touchdowns and total interceptions because not all players played in the same amount of games.

Rating the First-Year Starters
Name Pct.
Rank Yds/Att. Att/ TD Att/INT Winning
Pct. TD/INT
Ratio Average
Rank
Michael Vick
3 1 1 2 1 2 1.67
Marcus Vick
2 3 3 3 2 3 2.67
Al Clark
5 4 5 1 7 1 3.83
Bryan Randall
1 2 6 7 5 6 4.50
Grant Noel
4 6 2 6 6 4 4.67
Jim Druckenmiller
7 7 7 5 3 5 5.67
Sean Glenoon
6 5 8 4 4 8 5.83
Maurice DeShazo
8 8 4 8 9 6 7.17
Will Furrer
9 9 9 9 8 9 8.83

As expected, Michael Vick finds himself at the top of the list. Vick had the top yards per attempt, as well as attempts per touchdown and winning percentage. He ranked in at least the top three in every category. His brother Marcus, who finished second, also ranked in the top three in each category, but didn't finish first in anything.

Perhaps the two biggest surprises of the group are Al Clark and Jim Druckenmiller. Clark wasn't the most talented guy in the world, but he didn't turn the ball over and had a pretty solid yards per attempt average. Druckenmiller helped Tech to a Sugar Bowl win in his first season as a starter, but he barely completed 50% of his passes, which gave him a low yards per attempt average. His attempts per touchdown average was also low. The main thing that he had going for him, from a statistical standpoint, is winning percentage.

Grant Noel's ranking could also be somewhat of a surprise for those who only remember the five-turnover 2001 Miami game, but Noel held the Tech record for most touchdown passes by a first-year starter until Marcus Vick broke it by one touchdown in 2005. And Marcus Vick had 13 games counting towards his stats, while Noel had just 11. Noel threw for a touchdown and 269 yards against Florida State in the 2001 Gator Bowl, which do not count towards his final statistics.

here's how i break em down

Michael Vick - great
Marcus Vick - good, potential to be great
Al Clark - solid
Bryan Randall - leader, solid
Grant Noel - sucks
Jim Druckenmiller - strong arm, solid
Maurice DeShazo - solid
Will Furrer - solid
Sean Glennon - sucks beyond all belief

go ahead and add Ike Whitaker (if he makes it back) or Tyrod Taylor to this list of first year starters...VT will not go through another season with Glennon and an inexperienced OLine

One other thing that Glennon had that gave him an advantage over other VT QB's is by far the most talented group of receivers to ever play at VT.

I hate that for those receivers though...they're not gonna get any recognition in any preseason stuff next year for their Sr year, all b/c no one could get them the ballwe've got 2 receivers right now better than any Michael Vick had, and 3 more who couldve been the #2 receiver on that 1999 team

I gotta disagree with you. Glennon has not been that good, no question, but you also have to look at the cats in front of him (3 linemen drafted last year (counting TE as line), 1 the year before, 1 the year before that), thats not to mention any who graduated who didn't get drafted. That being said, there has to be a reason they are trying to throw more (good receivers), but he doesn't turn the ball over that much on picks, but doesn't make enough plays IMO. Honestly I don't know how DeShazo or Noel or even Furrer (who someone hung around the NFL a few years....) is not viewed worse.

right now Noel is worse...Glennon is just more fresh on the mind [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

both DeShazo and Furrer went on to have good careers, both were young, this is Glennon's third year in the system and the other two years he was the guy gettin reps as the 2nd string QB, and his problems are STILL that he looks off receivers too early and simply is too jittery in the pocket...dont get me wrong his OLine is not doing him any favors, but the OLine doesnt make the Godawful decisions that Glennon makes

DeShazo was horrid in his first year, but he was really young and learned from his mistakes, with basically the same OLine coming back, it doesnt suit Glennon's skill set, VT needs a mobile QB to take some pressure off the OLine and make Def. Coordinators change their gameplan, instead of an all out blitz and make Glennon make quick reads which is what happened in all 3 losses this year

I'd take Randall over any of them.

I think Tyrod can be the type of leader Randall was...but I'd still take Mike over Randall, you just can't duplicate what he did on the field...not Tyrod, not Marcus not Brent Schaeffer or whoever the next black qb who will be called the "next Michael Vick"

I just always liked Randall. He played his azzz off, had alot of heart, and was a real leader. He just seemed like a pretty good person too.

oh yeah great guy and i loved havin him...he was one who played awful for 3 years then the light finally came on for him and he played extremely well (we dont get anywhere close to USC w/o him) and represented VT better than any other

Randall had a lot of heart i would take him second of Mike Vick.

Marcus was garbage, it has nothing to do with the way he acts, I would place him last on that list. He was decent at best.

I guess I can't think that Glennon makes that many mistakes when he did attempt more passes and had no more interceptions. I just think he lacks the ability to make plays. He can't create, and the Tech scheme seems to flow with a QB who can create. (Vick, either of them but more Michael, and Randall obviously are the best fits). I guess we're agreeing but I just don't think Glennon is as horrific as you, I mean I remember watching DeShazo and Furrer, not completely downing you on that but how old was you in 88, don't know if your QB assessment was quite top notch then [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] I'm thinking that Glennon seems worse due to the QBs that have been there the last few, its like walking around with a 50 in your wallet when you have had no more than 5 your entire life. The 50 looks good, but to someone who carries 100s its not so great. Just the opposite if you have had 100s that $20 QB Glennon looks horrible, but if you had or seen or remember the $5 QB Furrer, that $20 ain't so horrible lol

that's probably a good analogy with the money...and I didn't see Furrer growing up (well i'm sure i did but i don't remember it) but i've seen both since then on videos and had talks with people who were at VT at the time Furrer was there

See what you have coming in this spring. And this fall. If Glennon don't cut it and can't, simple time to make a change.
In the spring game you force Glennon to show he has improved, do what others have done. Go after him and show a different scheme.
Florida has done it all year with two QB's. I don't like it. But it works or seems to for them.
If not how is Florida playing for a National Title.
I'm a Tech Fan but honestly it's getting harder to take. You watch the D try to win games and the O and Glennon throw them away.

Here's a blurb from Mike Farell from Rivals who's at the AAA Game, about VT's next qb....

Tyrod Taylor, QB, Hampton (Va.)
Taylor is going to be simply nasty at Virginia Tech. Think Marcus Vick with better accuracy and a no ego. Taylor quietly goes about his business and uses any slight, such as being put with the defensive backs on day one, as an incentive to get better. He can do it all.

I hope the kid (Taylor) will be as good as most say. I don't think Glennon is horrible, neither is he great. The offenseive scheme is the problem, and yes i've thought so for years. They had (argueably) the best RB in the ACC and he never got the ball when he wasn't dodging someone during the handoff. They play Miami or FSU or someone who puts a lot of pressure on and they throw three forty yard attempts and punt. They were too conservative early in the second half against UGA then turn Glennon loose. I cannot stand Stinespring's Offensive philosophy. I didn't like his predecessor a lot either. Against Auburn they had the ball (Sugar Bowl)inside the ten several times and couldn't score a TD. I realize Auburn had a good D, but please. I told a friend who is a big UGA guy early in the 2nd that VT would lose. He said you're kidding. I said nope, the D is getting tired and hurt and they will make at least one stupid mistake trying to run the clock out with a big lead. Guess what? They wasted one of the top 5 defenses in the nation this year, and gave them no help on offense. But, i 've seen it before afterall. Sometimes you have so much talent you can't help but win over other teams. But if you go back and look when it comes to coaching or making an in-game change that turns a ballgame when was the last time VT made an adjustment at the half and turned a game around? It sure happens to them a lot.....see Pete Carrol, Mark Richt, Bobby Bowden, etc. Why do you think they haven't won two bowl games in a row.

Taylor is a good athlete but, if I were a VT fan I'd be worried about a 6' qb. He's not very muscular either. I don't know if a redshirt year wouldn't actually be the best thing for him. He didn't get a fair shake today in the AAA game. For one of the most impressive players this week in practice, he only got 1-2 series at qb.

Neither did Devine, Im not too big of a fan of the Army AA game. It seems like the [censored] game is built for notre dame.

It definately is. What was the deal with Devine not being invited and then showing up midweek? I'm sure that's what hurt him more than anything. He looked great on that KOR.

I didn't get to watch but a series of the game. Did UT get any commits today?

I am not a huge fan of it either, but it is a nice way to see whats coming up next year. I hate the risk of injury though for those kids when their actual season had already ended, and the games doesn't do much for their offers.

You could say that. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] They got a commit from the nations number 1 lb, 5* Chris Donald and the number 3 strong side de, 4* Ben Martin.

That gives them the top CB, top LB, top prep school player, top juco wr. They also got the top player from OH, TN, and GA.

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Neither did Devine, Im not too big of a fan of the Army AA game. It seems like the [censored] game is built for notre dame.

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I thought Devine was slated to play in the East Meets West game anyway? On the rosters of the game's website, he's listed along with guys like Leonard Hankerson & Demarcus Van [censored] on the East squad.

Did he snuff them to go to San Antonio and play in the AAA game?

With Meachum leaving their gonna need some WR's, Along with OL, and DL, and CB. UT needs a lot right now I am afraid to have much depth. I hate going JuCo, but they need a few of them I am afraid.

I hate losing Sears, but if they can find some depth, luckily they had quite a few young guys get a lot of experience this past season, so that brightens the future a little.

The offensive line will be 10x's better next year, as far as run blocking goes. They have a ton of young offensive linemen.

As for the juco guy, it's Kenny O'Neal. He went to FSU before getting booted for grades. He's a track star and runs a 4.29 40.

Oh great, we got somebody dumb enough to get booted from FSU. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]


Sorry, blue had to say it.

I have no idea man. The only cane that played in that game was Chief Wiggins. It was cool to see Lennon Creer, Kerry Murphy, and a few others but overall the game was kinda lame. I didnt see DVD or Hanky out there.

Btw, Ive watched John Brantley play two games and he has yet to impress me. Pahokee gave the boy an arse whoppin he will never forget. To me, Marve > Brantley.

Supposedly, he has great grades now. He said it was immaturity.

Have you guys figured out now that LSU makes FSU look like Harvard. That one dude declared today that he was going to "the university of LSU" I about fell outta my chair. That school has no academic standards whatsoever.

That was Barksdale. He's actually in the National Honor Society, an early graduate, and has a 3.5 gpa. I'd chalk that up more to nervousness of being on TV.

Was he the big lineman? I flipped over as they were going to commercial showing someone putting on a LSU hat.

Yep.

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Have you guys figured out now that LSU makes FSU look like Harvard. That one dude declared today that he was going to "the university of LSU" I about fell outta my chair. That school has no academic standards whatsoever.

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Hey man, you know all of LSU's standards got washed away by Katrina, and that they would be in a lot better shape had FEMA, Mike Brown, and W acted faster to help them. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

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Comparing Sean Glennon to Other First-Year Starters


Obviously one of the biggest topics on the TSL message boards since the conclusion of the Chick-fil-A Bowl has been the play of first-year starting quarterback Sean Glennon. After gradually winning over much of the fan base down the stretch in the regular season, Glennon now finds himself back in the doghouse amongst many Tech fans following his four turnovers in the fourth quarter against Georgia.

When the season began, everyone knew the offense would struggle. The offensive line was not going to be very good, and Glennon would be a downgrade from Marcus Vick. Glennon looked good at times (Wake Forest) and very bad at times (Georgia).

Glennon is the ninth first-year, full-time starter under Frank Beamer. How does he stack up to the previous eight?

Virginia Tech First-Year Starters at Quarterback
Name Year Comp. Att. Pct Yards TDs INTs Record
Furrer 1988 128 279 45.9% 1384 6 16 3-8
DeShazo 1992 101 215 47.0% 1504 12 11 2-8-1
Druckenmiller 1995 151 294 51.4% 2103 14 11 10-2
Clark 1997 110 192 57.3% 1476 10 3 7-5
Mi Vick 1999 90 152 59.2% 1840 12 5 11-1
Noel 2001 146 254 57.5% 1826 16 11 8-4
Randall 2002 158 248 63.7% 2134 12 11 10-4
Ma Vick 2005 177 289 61.2% 2393 17 10 11-2
Glennon 2006 170 302 56.3% 2191 11 11 10-3
Average 136.8 247.2 55.5% 1872.3 12.2 9.9


Interesting stats, and in some cases, surprising. For example, Sean Glennon threw 302 passes, the most of any other first-year starter. Granted only Randall and Marcus Vick also played in 13 games in their first year as a starter (bowl games were not counted in final stats until the 2002 season), but Maurice DeShazo, Al Clark and Michael Mick wouldn't have reached that number with a couple of extra games, and Grant Noel probably wouldn't have either.

Glennon's completion percentage is also slightly higher than the average for first-year starters. But that average is held down by Will Furrer, Maurice DeShazo and Jim Druckenmiller, who had very low completion percentages in their first seasons starting. Glennon's 56.3% completion percentage is the lowest since Jim Druckenmiller's 51.4% in 1995.

It appears that amongst VT's first-year starters, 11 is the magic number. Five of the nine players on the list above have thrown 11 interceptions in their first year as a starter. From that standpoint, Glennon actually did a pretty good job. 11 picks is not an extremely high number, and he threw more passes than any other player on the list above. So from an interception standpoint, Glennon did a pretty good job this season, except for the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

One thing Glennon did not do is generate a lot of touchdowns. His 11 touchdown passes were the fewest since Al Clark in 1997, and Clark spent a good portion of that season hurt. Clark also countered his low number of touchdowns by throwing just three interceptions.

It's a matter of opinion as to how to rank these quarterbacks as first-year starters. In case you're having trouble deciding, here's a mathematical formula that could help you decide. Each quarterback is ranked in completion percentage, yards per attempt, attempts per touchdown, attempts per interception, winning percentage and touchdown to interception ration. Players are not ranked based on total passing yards, total touchdowns and total interceptions because not all players played in the same amount of games.

Rating the First-Year Starters
Name Pct.
Rank Yds/Att. Att/ TD Att/INT Winning
Pct. TD/INT
Ratio Average
Rank
Michael Vick
3 1 1 2 1 2 1.67
Marcus Vick
2 3 3 3 2 3 2.67
Al Clark
5 4 5 1 7 1 3.83
Bryan Randall
1 2 6 7 5 6 4.50
Grant Noel
4 6 2 6 6 4 4.67
Jim Druckenmiller
7 7 7 5 3 5 5.67
Sean Glenoon
6 5 8 4 4 8 5.83
Maurice DeShazo
8 8 4 8 9 6 7.17
Will Furrer
9 9 9 9 8 9 8.83

As expected, Michael Vick finds himself at the top of the list. Vick had the top yards per attempt, as well as attempts per touchdown and winning percentage. He ranked in at least the top three in every category. His brother Marcus, who finished second, also ranked in the top three in each category, but didn't finish first in anything.

Perhaps the two biggest surprises of the group are Al Clark and Jim Druckenmiller. Clark wasn't the most talented guy in the world, but he didn't turn the ball over and had a pretty solid yards per attempt average. Druckenmiller helped Tech to a Sugar Bowl win in his first season as a starter, but he barely completed 50% of his passes, which gave him a low yards per attempt average. His attempts per touchdown average was also low. The main thing that he had going for him, from a statistical standpoint, is winning percentage.

Grant Noel's ranking could also be somewhat of a surprise for those who only remember the five-turnover 2001 Miami game, but Noel held the Tech record for most touchdown passes by a first-year starter until Marcus Vick broke it by one touchdown in 2005. And Marcus Vick had 13 games counting towards his stats, while Noel had just 11. Noel threw for a touchdown and 269 yards against Florida State in the 2001 Gator Bowl, which do not count towards his final statistics.



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DeShazo and Furrer were both better QBs than Glennon...also one thing your numbers don't point out...NONE of the other QBs had the WR talent that Glennon had this year...and all of it was wasted because he couldn't get them the ball...not sure who to blame on that one, the player or the OC...