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Got a Quarterback

26TDs, 20INTs and a 42.7 QBR.

I'll stick with....meh.

What's between meh and good addition?

I'll take Mullen and other P5 schools interest in him as a positive.

But I get why that TD to INT ratio tempers excitement over it a little.

But then how much of it was poor Oline play? Forcing throws because you're chasing games? Poor WR play? Level of opposition? Play calling? I don't know.

Mikey Keane had better numbers with Fresno State but I'm not sure I'd want him over this dude.

Call it cautious optimism I guess.
 
With only Ochoa and a walk-on, on the roster I can't imagine they are done yet.
I’m sure there will be at least one more.

As for this kids stats? Not overly impressive. But don’t know the circumstances. But Sluka and Hajj had better numbers and they were pretty mediocre.

Mullen has done well with quarterbacks. Sure, I’d love to have a transfer sophomore that led his team to the top 25, he can run and throw with the best of them … but until Mullen proves he’s lost his knack, I don’t know what position we can take other than to trust in his judgment and abilities. He’s not a coordinator with no HC experience, he’s been through the battles.
 
I’m sure there will be at least one more.

As for this kids stats? Not overly impressive. But don’t know the circumstances. But Sluka and Hajj had better numbers and they were pretty mediocre.

Mullen has done well with quarterbacks. Sure, I’d love to have a transfer sophomore that led his team to the top 25, he can run and throw with the best of them … but until Mullen proves he’s lost his knack, I don’t know what position we can take other than to trust in his judgment and abilities. He’s not a coordinator with no HC experience, he’s been through the battles.
Against P4 competition, not against MWC competition? The step down alone combined with being “hand” picked by Mullen means there is a little room for some optimism!
 
I’m sure there will be at least one more.

As for this kids stats? Not overly impressive. But don’t know the circumstances. But Sluka and Hajj had better numbers and they were pretty mediocre.

Mullen has done well with quarterbacks. Sure, I’d love to have a transfer sophomore that led his team to the top 25, he can run and throw with the best of them … but until Mullen proves he’s lost his knack, I don’t know what position we can take other than to trust in his judgment and abilities. He’s not a coordinator with no HC experience, he’s been through the battles.

Exactly.

Would we be any happier if it was a highly ranked former recruit with zero snaps that's been riding the pine for a year or two?

A lot goes into a players success and failures that are out of their control.

I'll trust the evaluation of a guy that knows QBs.

Even though the numbers aren't eye popping.

Said it before, even with increased NIL commitments UNLV still has to play 'moneyball' when targeting players. There's more money, but not P4 money to throw around.
 
Personally I don't know if they ACC vs MW competition is going to be that stark.
ACC vs FCS? Huge difference.
We aren't going to get a finished product/plug and play QB. But Mullen has scouted countless QBs in the past. I would imagine he has a really grasp on what traits he is looking for. Where he can hide mistakes and maximize strengths based off of his system.
 
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Personally I don't know if they ACC vs MW competition is going to be that stark.
ACC vs FCS? Huge difference.
We aren't going to get a finished product/plug and play QB. But Mullen has scouted countless QBs in the past. I would imagine he has a really grasp on what traits he is looking for. Where he can hide mistakes and maximize strengths based off of his system.
Look at his last 6 games. That line up is absolutely brutal. He took 2 less sacks than UNLV QBs did while playing 2 less games. He was a starter for a reason, hopefully Mullen can work his magic.

Against the likes of Wake Forest and other smaller opponents, he had like 70+% accuracy.
 
Personally I don't know if they ACC vs MW competition is going to be that stark.
ACC vs FCS? Huge difference.
We aren't going to get a finished product/plug and play QB. But Mullen has scouted countless QBs in the past. I would imagine he has a really grasp on what traits he is looking for. Where he can hide mistakes and maximize strengths based off of his system.
Disagree completely!
ACC is better hands down, it’s not even close!
P4 vs G5 is no comparison and the defenses he faced with the offense and coaching he had there, big difference!
 
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Exactly.

Would we be any happier if it was a highly ranked former recruit with zero snaps that's been riding the pine for a year or two?

A lot goes into a players success and failures that are out of their control.

I'll trust the evaluation of a guy that knows QBs.

Even though the numbers aren't eye popping.

Said it before, even with increased NIL commitments UNLV still has to play 'moneyball' when targeting players. There's more money, but not P4 money to throw around.
I get the concern and seeing him ranked below Sluka doesn’t exactly generate excitement. Is this who Mullen really wanted or was it just the best he could get at this time? It seems like the latter which is why the concern but have to let it play out maybe he sees something he thinks he can correct? Maybe he loves Ochoa and this is backup? Or maybe this and the SC guy is the best they could get. Guess we will see.
 
Dont forget that this kid is only a sophomore this year. Playing in the ACC as a freshman and sophomore with that OL and RB group. A lot of stuff have to take into account. Can't compare him to Hajj and Sluka, they're both 5th year transfers.
 
You're right their #3 team barely beat our #2 team. Their #2 team struggled to beat or 10th team.

Not even close!!! Except for the examples of it being extremely close!!!!
So the MWC is equal to the ACC in level of competition, keep dreaming!
If that’s the case why do you keep harping about we should’ve gone to the loser PAC 2 conference? The competition in the ACC is at a different level than who we play next year with the only exception being UCLA.
 
I’m sure there will be at least one more.

As for this kids stats? Not overly impressive. But don’t know the circumstances. But Sluka and Hajj had better numbers and they were pretty mediocre.

Mullen has done well with quarterbacks. Sure, I’d love to have a transfer sophomore that led his team to the top 25, he can run and throw with the best of them … but until Mullen proves he’s lost his knack, I don’t know what position we can take other than to trust in his judgment and abilities. He’s not a coordinator with no HC experience, he’s been through the battles.
From his past history, he is a quarterback whisperer!
 
I get the concern and seeing him ranked below Sluka doesn’t exactly generate excitement. Is this who Mullen really wanted or was it just the best he could get at this time? It seems like the latter which is why the concern but have to let it play out maybe he sees something he thinks he can correct? Maybe he loves Ochoa and this is backup? Or maybe this and the SC guy is the best they could get. Guess we will see.
The portal just opened?
I think it’s the former and you aren’t giving that credit.
Mullen picked him.

Remember Mullen is the home run hire, now his judgement is in question?
I know this is Rebel-net but c’mon now, it’s too early to start all this! Lol
 
So the MWC is equal to the ACC in level of competition, keep dreaming!
If that’s the case why do you keep harping about we should’ve gone to the loser PAC 2 conference? The competition in the ACC is at a different level than who we play next year with the only exception being UCLA.
Sorry it was their #4 team barely beating our #2 and their #2 struggling to beat our #12.

Top to bottom a better conference. And what Virginia had was very brutal in the middle to the end of last season.

ACC is better for sure, but we are closer to the ACC than the ACC is to the B1G or the SEC.

No question our schedule will be much easier next year vs what he saw this past year.

But I think the leagues are closer than YOU think.
 
Sorry it was their #4 team barely beating our #2 and their #2 struggling to beat our #12.

Top to bottom a better conference. And what Virginia had was very brutal in the middle to the end of last season.

ACC is better for sure, but we are closer to the ACC than the ACC is to the B1G or the SEC.

No question our schedule will be much easier next year vs what he saw this past year.

But I think the leagues are closer than YOU think.
I don’t agree with YOU so stop writing paragraphs!
 
I get the concern and seeing him ranked below Sluka doesn’t exactly generate excitement. Is this who Mullen really wanted or was it just the best he could get at this time? It seems like the latter which is why the concern but have to let it play out maybe he sees something he thinks he can correct? Maybe he loves Ochoa and this is backup? Or maybe this and the SC guy is the best they could get. Guess we will see.
You do realize that despite his accuracy struggles here, Sluka is a very talented QB with eye popping stats and that's why he's ranked highly... we haveca bit of a skewed perspective because of what went down, but he's a really good QB
 
You do realize that despite his accuracy struggles here, Sluka is a very talented QB with eye popping stats and that's why he's ranked highly... we haveca bit of a skewed perspective because of what went down, but he's a really good QB

In the right system I agree. His accuracy struggles here are a little puzzling. He was never going to be a 65% completion guy and I think Marion/Odom were ok with that because he'd make it up with a lot of plays with his legs. I don't think they anticipated it dropping below 50% though.

Take a look at Colin Klien for KSU his Jr year. I think that's kinda what they envisioned.

Thats the best comparison I can make for Sluka.
 
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Against P4 competition, not against MWC competition? The step down alone combined with being “hand” picked by Mullen means there is a little room for some optimism!
We can slice and and dice it and chop up his numbers, then we can criticize or celebrate, rationalize. Whatever, it’s discussion.

But damn, the guy has done well with QBs. That’s his track record coming in. Until he shows otherwise, I think the only logical take is give the benefit of the doubt with everything …. Until there’s actual reason for doubt (game has passed him by, NIL too difficult to navigate, just not the right fit) … I don’t see a reason to doubt. Other than perhaps for discussion.
 
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The portal just opened?
I think it’s the former and you aren’t giving that credit.
Mullen picked him.

Remember Mullen is the home run hire, now his judgement is in question?
I know this is Rebel-net but c’mon now, it’s too early to start all this! Lol
Not questioning his judgement one of the options was that was the best he could get. That is the most likely scenario. Or maybe he thinks he can improve him that was another.
 
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You do realize that despite his accuracy struggles here, Sluka is a very talented QB with eye popping stats and that's why he's ranked highly... we haveca bit of a skewed perspective because of what went down, but he's a really good QB
I saw him last year and my opinion was he is ok that didn’t change after watching him this year his passing is mediocre at best. Memphis and Liberty the best schools after him that doesn’t really scream that he is very good.
 
You do realize that despite his accuracy struggles here, Sluka is a very talented QB with eye popping stats and that's why he's ranked highly... we haveca bit of a skewed perspective because of what went down, but he's a really good QB
It was only a few games, but I didn’t like his arm. His strength seemed to be pretty good, in fact there was an early season pass, maybe against Houston, that was absolutely beautiful. Maybe to DeJesus in the end zone. But it was a broken play, drifting to the right and flinging an absolute perfect pass.

Pocket? Reads? Progressions? I wasn’t impressed. It was easy to see he was thinking escape the pocket and run first, pass second. And the catchability of his balls I question. I do KNOW the receivers preferred Hajj’s passes in terms of catchability. Spin, placement, tempo, softness, whatever it may have been.
 
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It was only a few games, but I didn’t like his arm. His strength seemed to be pretty good, in fact there was an early season pass, maybe against Houston, that was absolutely beautiful. Maybe to DeJesus in the end zone. But it was a broken play, drifting to the right and flinging an absolute perfect pass.

Pocket? Reads? Progressions? I wasn’t impressed. It was easy to see he was thinking escape the pocket and run first, pass second. And the catchability of his balls I question. I do KNOW the receivers preferred Hajj’s passes in terms of catchability. Spin, placement, tempo, softness, whatever it may have been.
Yes I remember that pass and it was to the right side of the end zone just before out of bounds it was a great pass. Nothing like it after. He could run for sure but passing was meh at absolute best.
 
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I saw him last year and my opinion was he is ok that didn’t change after watching him this year his passing is mediocre at best. Memphis and Liberty the best schools after him that doesn’t really scream that he is very good.
It’s not the talent holding him back from getting offers. He quit on unlv and that’s not a good leadership trait for anyone looking for a QB that can lead. His NIL offers probably shrank as well.
 
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Mullen has been watching players the last several years while doing his broadcasting duties.

He sees something in this kid and I do as well. Kid can throw.
Of course, but Rebel fans have dealt with how many transfer QBs that were absolutely terrible and shouldn’t be QB at any level? I think a lot of the complaints are stemmed from past disappointments. Last year not many were happy with Hajj and Sluka signing on.
 
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Of course, but Rebel fans have dealt with how many transfer QBs that were absolutely terrible and shouldn’t be QB at any level? I think a lot of the complaints are stemmed from past disappointments. Last year not many were happy with Hajj and Sluka signing on.
History is NOT on our side. I’m not arguing that.

I’m just hopeful that Mullen has a better eye.

I can see why he signed him. He’s a passer.
 
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History is NOT on our side. I’m not arguing that.

I’m just hopeful that Mullen has a better eye.

I can see why he signed him. He’s a passer.
I also think he can run when needed and while that may not be an RPO run first guy, I think he is the type that can create passing with his legs on roll outs and moving the picket type plays.

He may not be “the” guy as far as portal rankings go but I think he was at least very high on Mullins list of guys to get!
 
I also think he can run when needed and while that may not be an RPO run first guy, I think he is the type that can create passing with his legs on roll outs and moving the picket type plays.

He may not be “the” guy as far as portal rankings go but I think he was at least very high on Mullins list of guys to get!
And who is to say he doesn’t pick up another guy that can play the spot. We all thought Sluka when we got him and then we got Hajj. Regardless of how they performed this year, they were neck and neck …. Not a tremendous talent gap, if any, between the two.
 
I think he's a step up from both QBs this year and I'm going to like this kid. He's got a toughness about him and looks to pass first before running. Reminds me a bit of Baker Mayfield. Mullen will coach him up just fine
 
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And who is to say he doesn’t pick up another guy that can play the spot. We all thought Sluka when we got him and then we got Hajj. Regardless of how they performed this year, they were neck and neck …. Not a tremendous talent gap, if any, between the two.
That's not entirely accurate... Sluka beat Hajj out after basically 3 weeks in camp. Hajj was here all Spring and summer. The fact that Sluka struggled with his passing in 2 road games vs Big 12 defenses is an aberration and because he walked away we will always have a jaded view and never got to see him get into real rhythm. There was certainly a talent gap and we got the most out of Hajj we could've expected but his struggles vs Boise and Cal show why he got beat by a guy with 3 weeks of practice... again, our judgement on the matter is skewed because Sluka quit.
 
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