Why Book is the man for the job

AsylumGuido · 11-22-2021, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by neugey

There's no possible argument that Book is a "project" QB and needs this additional "development" you are alluding to. He's the all-time winningest QB in Irish history. Plenty of starts under his belt and lots of big game experience. He played in 45 games in college ... the same number Drew Brees played in at Purdue. Maybe not as many pass attempts as Drew, but Ian played in a pro-style offense at a high level and Coach Kelly did a fine job getting him ready. This is a rookie with pedigree.

Was Book a product of an Irish system - is he fools' gold? Definitely not. The QB situation before and now after him has been a big adventure - Book however, was a stalwart with great confidence and low turnovers.

Book just doesn't have the howitzer arm strength that makes the NFL scouts/experts jizz themselves and spend a first/second round pick. Neither did Brees; luckily Brees had the Rose Bowl W and bigger passing stats working for him.

Does it suck being in this situation losing Jameis to injury and having Taysom so banged up - Yes!
Does it make sense to keep starting a very marginal and limited Siemian out of "rookie phobia" - No!

Sometimes circumstances change and you need to take the next step with a rookie QB a little sooner than you planned. Ask the coach from Baltimore if he thinks he made the wrong decision a few years ago. Now, Book is no Lamar Jackson, but he certainly could be a starter in the mold of Jake Plummer, Rich Gannon, Tony Romo or Jeff Garcia - and possibly better. If Book is the incarnation of any of those four, he'd be a sight for sore eyes compared to what we have right now!

I take it you are a Notre Dame fan. Admittedly I really don't follow college football hardly at all beyond NC State, but I had never heard of Ian Book until we drafted him. It doesn't seem as though the front office sees him as more than a project at this point and I trust their judgement since their goal is to win games, not to see what we have. Early in the season a caller asked former Notre Dame HC Charlie Weis about Book and Weis said he likes Book a lot, but added that Book is no where near prepared to take snaps in an NFL game, but may be at some point in the future and that would be at some point beyond this season or the next when the caller asked when.

neugey · 11-22-2021, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

I take it you are a Notre Dame fan. Admittedly I really don't follow college football hardly at all beyond NC State, but I had never heard of Ian Book until we drafted him. It doesn't seem as though the front office sees him as more than a project at this point and I trust their judgement since their goal is to win games, not to see what we have. Early in the season a caller asked former Notre Dame HC Charlie Weis about Book and Weis said he likes Book a lot, but added that Book is no where near prepared to take snaps in an NFL game, but may be at some point in the future and that would be at some point beyond this season or the next when the caller asked when.

Not a Notre Dame fan. Just watching college football over the last few years and Book really caught my eye, and over time my belief in Book has grown - with that win over Clemson being a real high point. Yes my belief in Book is a little irrational ... it's something that cannot be really explained.

Looking back, this has only happened to me with one other player - Nick Van Exel. Similar situation - saw the Cincinnati games and Van Exel popped off the screen and before long I could not shake this strong feeling that this was exactly the guard the Lakers needed to help them win (or at least keep them out of the basement) in the post-Magic era. Lo and behold Jerry West and the Lakers also saw the sleeper potential in Van Exel and stole him in the second round. From there, "Nick at Nite" Van Exel became a starter and showed clutch ability and for a period of years kept the Lakers competitive and close to .500, even if not quite playoff caliber. Without him, the Lakers would have been cellar dwellars.

Feel very much the same way about Book - a gigantic hunch that Book is destined to be a very good player and like Van Exel it is serendipity that my pro team drafted him. And we are in a better spot personnel and coaching wise than those 90's Lakers - I think he has what it takes to the continue the winning tradition Brees established, albeit with a different style of play.

Whenever Book gets his chance to shine I think you will all see how great of a fit he will be. Especially if Payton calls plays to his strengths and we do a lot more QB rollout and moving the pocket. It will reinvigorate our offense. Pretty sure I'll be asking for a Book jersey for Christmas regardless of how this goes.

11-22-2021, 07:49 AM	#1
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,720	Re: Why Book is the man for the job Originally Posted by neugey There's no possible argument that Book is a "project" QB and needs this additional "development" you are alluding to. He's the all-time winningest QB in Irish history. Plenty of starts under his belt and lots of big game experience. He played in 45 games in college ... the same number Drew Brees played in at Purdue. Maybe not as many pass attempts as Drew, but Ian played in a pro-style offense at a high level and Coach Kelly did a fine job getting him ready. This is a rookie with pedigree. Was Book a product of an Irish system - is he fools' gold? Definitely not. The QB situation before and now after him has been a big adventure - Book however, was a stalwart with great confidence and low turnovers. Book just doesn't have the howitzer arm strength that makes the NFL scouts/experts jizz themselves and spend a first/second round pick. Neither did Brees; luckily Brees had the Rose Bowl W and bigger passing stats working for him. Does it suck being in this situation losing Jameis to injury and having Taysom so banged up - Yes! Does it make sense to keep starting a very marginal and limited Siemian out of "rookie phobia" - No! Sometimes circumstances change and you need to take the next step with a rookie QB a little sooner than you planned. Ask the coach from Baltimore if he thinks he made the wrong decision a few years ago. Now, Book is no Lamar Jackson, but he certainly could be a starter in the mold of Jake Plummer, Rich Gannon, Tony Romo or Jeff Garcia - and possibly better. If Book is the incarnation of any of those four, he'd be a sight for sore eyes compared to what we have right now! I take it you are a Notre Dame fan. Admittedly I really don't follow college football hardly at all beyond NC State, but I had never heard of Ian Book until we drafted him. It doesn't seem as though the front office sees him as more than a project at this point and I trust their judgement since their goal is to win games, not to see what we have. Early in the season a caller asked former Notre Dame HC Charlie Weis about Book and Weis said he likes Book a lot, but added that Book is no where near prepared to take snaps in an NFL game, but may be at some point in the future and that would be at some point beyond this season or the next when the caller asked when.
	“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill

11-22-2021, 09:07 AM	#2
neugey Hu Dat! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,878 Blog Entries: 13	Re: Why Book is the man for the job Originally Posted by AsylumGuido I take it you are a Notre Dame fan. Admittedly I really don't follow college football hardly at all beyond NC State, but I had never heard of Ian Book until we drafted him. It doesn't seem as though the front office sees him as more than a project at this point and I trust their judgement since their goal is to win games, not to see what we have. Early in the season a caller asked former Notre Dame HC Charlie Weis about Book and Weis said he likes Book a lot, but added that Book is no where near prepared to take snaps in an NFL game, but may be at some point in the future and that would be at some point beyond this season or the next when the caller asked when. Not a Notre Dame fan. Just watching college football over the last few years and Book really caught my eye, and over time my belief in Book has grown - with that win over Clemson being a real high point. Yes my belief in Book is a little irrational ... it's something that cannot be really explained. Looking back, this has only happened to me with one other player - Nick Van Exel. Similar situation - saw the Cincinnati games and Van Exel popped off the screen and before long I could not shake this strong feeling that this was exactly the guard the Lakers needed to help them win (or at least keep them out of the basement) in the post-Magic era. Lo and behold Jerry West and the Lakers also saw the sleeper potential in Van Exel and stole him in the second round. From there, "Nick at Nite" Van Exel became a starter and showed clutch ability and for a period of years kept the Lakers competitive and close to .500, even if not quite playoff caliber. Without him, the Lakers would have been cellar dwellars. Feel very much the same way about Book - a gigantic hunch that Book is destined to be a very good player and like Van Exel it is serendipity that my pro team drafted him. And we are in a better spot personnel and coaching wise than those 90's Lakers - I think he has what it takes to the continue the winning tradition Brees established, albeit with a different style of play. Whenever Book gets his chance to shine I think you will all see how great of a fit he will be. Especially if Payton calls plays to his strengths and we do a lot more QB rollout and moving the pocket. It will reinvigorate our offense. Pretty sure I'll be asking for a Book jersey for Christmas regardless of how this goes. SmashMouth likes this.

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