Our new QB1: Joe Milton
Okay, enough looking backwards and thinking what if or thinking about what went wrong. Time to look forward. Our new QB is Joe Milton. Here are a few helpful links to get yourself acclimated if you haven't already done so.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGaIdhEdrfk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKX3B7lR4yE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG786IBA46g
https://mgoblog.com/content/hello-joe-milton
He is the first recruit Harbaugh has had who somewhat fits the mold of his most successful QB's.
Andrew Luck
As a recruit: 4* 6-4, 215 lbs (#42 overall, #3 pro)
As a pro: 6-4, 240 lbs, 4.75 40
Started after one year with the program (RS Freshman)
Notable traits: Cannon arm, huge body, not afraid of contact, mobile/athletic
Colin Kaepernick
As a recruit: 3* 6-4, 172 lbs (#632 overall, #25 pro)
As a pro: 6-4, 230 lbs, 4.53 40
Started in the middle of the second season with 49ers.
Notable traits: Big arm, tough, very athletic, dual threat
Now here is Milton:
As a recruit: 4* 6-5.5, 230 lbs (#204 overall, #9 pro)
As a pro: 6-5, 234 lbs, 4.65 40
Will start after two years with the program (RS Sophomore)
Notable traits: Cannon arm, huge body, mobile/athletic
There was obviously a lot of excitement when Milton committed. I heard the staff were as excited to get Milton as they were to get Rashan Gary. Maybe Harbaugh saw a little bit of both Luck and Kaepernick in him. He fits the physical mold for sure. With two full years of studying game film and playbook while also improving his footwork, mechanics, and chemistry with receivers, Harbaugh might think he is ready to step ascend into the type of player people predicted he was capable of as a recruit. Both Luck and Kaepernick were tough QB's who loved to hit back with huge arms and mobility. There will probably be some bumps in the road early but this might be our best case scenario going forward.
September 17th, 2020 at 9:53 AM ^
We're going 9-0!
September 17th, 2020 at 10:04 AM ^
Beating Ohio St. will not be easy, but I truly believe this is our year.
September 17th, 2020 at 10:23 AM ^
Being 2020, anything’s possible. Although I’d be less shocked if an alien shot out of my ass.
September 17th, 2020 at 12:42 PM ^
Hopefully a very small alien.
September 17th, 2020 at 2:01 PM ^
This is 2020 - the alien is destined to be at least the size of a bowling ball
September 17th, 2020 at 12:59 PM ^
Just don't sit on something smaller than your asshole.
September 17th, 2020 at 10:40 AM ^
I would be ecstatic if it happened, but no Nico and Ambry, I don't see it happening. CB is a massive, raging question mark. Super young and not a lot of starzzzz on paper compared to the last 5 years. Even if they turn out fine, you need to be more than fine to defend against the absolute insane talent that OSU has in spades at every single skill position.
September 17th, 2020 at 11:14 AM ^
IMO, Ambry is the biggest loss. Perhaps though, the dearth of starting caliber CBs will force Don Brown to gameplan around a lack of talent at the corner position. Ambry or not, we were going to get housed by OSU's receivers. Maybe now, we will try to scheme around the weakness that rather than thinking we're going strength v strength. Wishful thinking, but that's about all we got.
September 19th, 2020 at 7:30 AM ^
We’re gonna need Harbaugh to summon his inner Stanford vs USC coach to keep it even close. As the yrs have went by ive watched the gap in recruiting widen and hope it was smoke and mirrors. Turns out it wasn’t.
September 17th, 2020 at 12:10 PM ^
A lot of big plays will be given up this year. St juste and Myles Sims should’ve stayed.
September 17th, 2020 at 6:09 PM ^
UM medical staff wouldn't clear St Juste, which is why he left. Agree on Sims, I saw him playing this last weekend and I'm like man, we could really use him right about now.
September 17th, 2020 at 11:54 AM ^
You sound like me. I've been saying that the last 10 years. ☹☹
September 17th, 2020 at 12:14 PM ^
I think we're 4-1 with Florida QBs.
Griese went 3-0 and Denard was 1-1. At least we have that going for us.
September 17th, 2020 at 2:41 PM ^
In order to change the tide on the rivalry however, we first need to make sure that night game jerseys are selling like hotcakes in Ohio.
September 17th, 2020 at 10:24 AM ^
11-0! National Champs.
September 17th, 2020 at 11:08 AM ^
Pep was lead on JM, and the one who was going nuts! Something is off with DM stuff.
Cheers
September 17th, 2020 at 11:34 AM ^
Nothing is "off".... was at home during covid... lost job... feels comfortable to transfer back near home. The loser of this battle was always expected to transfer...
September 17th, 2020 at 11:56 AM ^
I agree with this sentiment. He's probably just a little pissed and has a bruised ego. Made an emotional decision and now we move on. Let's go Joe.
September 17th, 2020 at 2:06 PM ^
Again, you're neglecting to consider the fact that there really hadn't been any live/pad practices since the end of last season -- so it's hard to believe he'd already definitively lost the job. There's just no way, especially given that Harbaugh doesn't make such declaration before camp starts.
September 17th, 2020 at 3:34 PM ^
Maybe he can't hit a receiver in stride in shorts, or maybe he runs on read options when he should hand off, who knows, but he decided to leave before padded practices, so it doesn't really matter at this point.
September 18th, 2020 at 12:28 PM ^
I think there are folks ‘in the know’ that just wants us to past it and forget the discussion. Signals to me in-house agreement that only certain ears get to hear. Just my 2 cents.
September 17th, 2020 at 9:53 AM ^
Let’s hope more Cam newton than Elvis Grbac . Sadly I miss the John Navarre days.
September 17th, 2020 at 10:01 AM ^
Navarre is very under appreciated. For all of his faults (balls being batted down at the line even though he was tall is one that jumps to mind) he was a pretty good quarterback for us.
September 17th, 2020 at 10:06 AM ^
Agreed. Yes the batted balls thing was always a mystery. He went from 6 7” to 5 5” when he threw a pass. It’s been a dry spell for qb play and even longer since we’ve had a true game changer. Here’s to Milton being that electric playmaker that every other top program seems to have every year.
September 17th, 2020 at 12:05 PM ^
He had something like a 3/4 side arm delivery causing the batted balls and was forced into action too soon by Henson’s departure.
September 17th, 2020 at 10:55 AM ^
Navarre is somehow both under and over rated.
I don't think he gets enough credit for being a 3.5 year starter and putting up solid stats. But also considering the O-Lines and WR talent he had at his disposal, he massively underperformed.
I remember him leading so many long composed drives, to then stall or throw a pick in the red zone on a totally clueless play.
September 17th, 2020 at 11:41 AM ^
Special teams is what cost Navarre a chance at a national title in 2003. Oregon and Iowa were huge special teams dorfs. Win either one of those two and Michigan plays LSU or Oklahoma for all the marbles.
He was very good that year, particularly late in the comeback against Minn.
September 17th, 2020 at 11:14 AM ^
Speaking of under rated, I always thought Todd Collins was a damn good college QB
Felt the same way about Brian Greise in the pro's.... just prior to his big injury he had the highest QB rating in the NFL and was leading the Broncos to a superbowl run
but if I am honest, never much liked Navarre (but of course we were all spoiled as fans in those days)
September 17th, 2020 at 11:20 AM ^
My first OSU game at the Big House saw Navarre in the rain play a great game only to see his receivers drop ball after ball. We win that game with some catches. Was a bummer of a day!!
Go Blue!!
September 17th, 2020 at 12:42 PM ^
We would be lucky to have a QB who played as well as Elvis.
September 17th, 2020 at 4:54 PM ^
Anyone else actually think Mahomes more than Newton? I might get negged for this comp but at 6-3, 230, Mahomes is a pretty big QB and his throws are effortless, similar to Milton's. They also both seem to be more similar athletes, both can run but don't rely on it. Cam is much more of a dual threat than what I think Milton will end up being. Obviously we can't compare accuracy or awareness to Mahomes but I think the physical tools are similar. Maybe we will have our very own Mahomes to Tyreek Hill connection with Milton to Jackson. Would love to see all the speed at receiver be utilized to pop the top off the defense in addition to getting them in space to get some YAC.
September 17th, 2020 at 9:56 AM ^
Typing error under Milton's bio. Did not mean to say as a pro. Meant to say measurables today.
September 17th, 2020 at 11:05 AM ^
Thanks for the clarification. I wondered who was paying him!!
September 17th, 2020 at 9:56 AM ^
Aside from 2015, this is the longest span of time before the start of the season where we have a #1 QB identified if I recall. This may bode very well for our passing offense, with Milton getting as many reps as needed.
September 17th, 2020 at 10:01 AM ^
If he’s improved his accuracy, the sky is the limit. But that is the big knock I remember against him. Even in HS he barely had 50% completion rates. That’s not going to cut it at the P5 level.
I hope he’s gotten that piece down, because he seems to have the other traits you’d be looking for.
September 17th, 2020 at 10:09 AM ^
He’s got nice touch on the deep ball and isn’t afraid to throw it. Something we haven’t had since Henne.
September 17th, 2020 at 12:18 PM ^
I know he's got a cannon for an arm, and that's great. But if he's not accurate, he could throw it as far as Ypsilanti and it wouldn't make any difference.
That being said, he'll get his chance in about a month to show how far his accuracy has come. I truly believe if he's got that down, then he was going to be the best QB on the roster regardless of whether or not McCaffery stayed.
September 17th, 2020 at 7:00 PM ^
Ok, according to whom?
September 17th, 2020 at 10:13 AM ^
For a frame of reference:
Kaepernick completion percentage at Nevada: 58% (62% first year starting for the 49ers)
Luck completion percentage first year starting: 56% (70% the following year)
Milton completion percentage in HS: 47%
If Harbaugh can be attributed to any of these improvements in accuracy, I'd say Milton might find himself around 55-60% in year one. And might push mid 60's in year two.
September 17th, 2020 at 1:06 PM ^
Gardner's knock from HS was accuracy too. It can be overcome.
My hope, and I admit it's just hope and nothing more is Milton is the second coming of Devin Gardner with a running game and coach with a clue. If Milton has half the balls Gardner has we can beat OSU.
September 17th, 2020 at 2:13 PM ^
Isn't the OL mostly new this year?
What my gut is telling me is that this will be similar to Gardner in that Milton might not have much time to throw against any good defenses and will probably get banged up which will leave us with McNamara and that scares me.
September 17th, 2020 at 10:02 AM ^
Floor's wet. Can someone mop up this Wisconsin drool?
September 17th, 2020 at 10:07 AM ^
While I'm optimistic to see Milton play, weren't Peters and McCaffrey both given YMRMFSPA comps to Andrew Luck? So if that's also going to be Milton's comp we're basically on Harbaugh's 3rd try to replicate Andrew Luck? Or maybe more correctly, the Mgofaithful wishful thinking that the next guy is finally going to be Luck 2.0?
September 17th, 2020 at 10:12 AM ^
They were but neither was the athletic specimen that Milton is. He’s sneaky fast, not Denard by any means. Either way, 6 5”, 245 with a head of steam is gonna take a corner with brass balls to want that tackle.
September 17th, 2020 at 11:19 AM ^
Sneaky fast is a good description. He is more Cam Newton / Devin Gardner / Dwayne Haskins / even Daniel Jones than he he Denard Robinson / Lamar Jackson. He is athletic and is a threat to run if given the opportunity, but he is a QB who can run, not a RB who has the ability to throw (which is more what guys like Denard and Pat White were).
To me, this is where the QB position is heading. The days of statue QBs are over. The game has evolved to the point where you don't need a QB with 4.3 speed, but you need a QB who will force defenses to respect the QB run and have to account for that. Likewise, the experiment of just turning super-fast guys who are athletic enough to be able to throw the ball well into QBs - has also been passed by, both due to the fact that many such QBs were just not able to beat defenses with their arms and because many such QBs took too many hits to have longevity. The Milton QB mold - QB first, strong arm, athletic enough to take off consistently - is the ideal blend. And, unlike McCaffery (who I would also describe as sneaky fast with similar attributes to Milton), Milton's physique just looks more solid and better suited to take the 4-8 hits a game that will result from running when necessary.
September 17th, 2020 at 10:17 AM ^
How about we chuck aside the size comparisons and allow Milton to be Joe fucking Milton? Why does he have to be Andrew Luck, or anyone else? He'll bring his own strengths and weaknesses - and if Gattis can figure them out and use them to good purpose, Joe will be a successful QB.
If Gattis cannot figure out how to take advantage of both his strengths and weaknesses, he'll be less successful - and we should hang out Gattis. Let's put the onus on the coaches to use him to best advantage.
September 17th, 2020 at 10:22 AM ^
I guess your not a fan of player comps in general. I think it's at least helpful to stoke some excitement and give us a sense of the type of player we might be getting. Everything you mentioned is obvious. The onus lands on Gattis and Harbaugh to get the most out of him and for Milton to put in the work. I'm sure Harbaugh sees plenty of recruits and thinks, man this kid reminds me of X.
September 17th, 2020 at 10:39 AM ^
Player comps are fair, and widely used, to show what type of player a guy is. But the OP was talking about "replicating" Andrew Luck simply based on size comps - not playing style or mental acuity. I'm not a fan of trying to replicate players, no.
EDIT: Your other response to this OP is a valid comparison between Milton and Luck/Kaep. It actually compares the on-field traits of them, rather than simply physical size. It also doesn't speak of "replicating" anyone.