What are some arguments that could be made for Cozart to be the starting QB? Save all the other stuff for another thread, purely interested in why people think he could be and would deserve to be a starting QB for us the next season.
Something in the Ryan Willis thread that stuck out to me was a comment on moving the chains. I think you can make an argument that Cozart would do the best job of moving the chains. His decision making ability improved last year, so would have to think it would this year as well. Decision making is one area that Willis really needs to improve on (and can, he was only a true freshman last year). His running ability improved last year as well. And while I would agree his downfield throwing isn't that good, a comment made during the Big 12 media days about QB sacks would be on the QB more than the OL to me was a sign the ball is getting out of the QBs hands quick, which means we won't be throwing the ball deep a lot.
The other thing is that Cozart is tougher than people give him credit for. People still think of him as that true freshman QB playing on an ice rink at ISU running an offense he had never ran before. That isn't him anymore. Did got hammered last year, and played through a sickness, before being knocked out for the season.
The last thing is the whole off-the-field stuff with Willis. Who knows what is and isn't true, but if there are issues it is something to consider. Beaty saw first hand at A&M what happened when you let a talented young QB get out of control. Things started internally getting out of hand there with people breaking all sorts of team rules because their young QB was and he wasn't being punished. We do need a talented QB to run this offense, but we also need a leader to make sure this program doesn't get off track (more than we are and have been that is).
There is no way I would argue Cozart over Willis in arm talent - Willis clearly has the edge there. But if the goal is for the offense to be as efficient as possible with the thinking being that will help us win more games, then I think you can argue Cozart just might do that. It could also be argued he might be better for the program for a leadership view (again pointing out who knows with the Willis off-the-field stuff). Either way, if Cozart is the guy, I hope fans give the kid a fair chance in their minds and see what he can do in this new offense.
Something in the Ryan Willis thread that stuck out to me was a comment on moving the chains. I think you can make an argument that Cozart would do the best job of moving the chains. His decision making ability improved last year, so would have to think it would this year as well. Decision making is one area that Willis really needs to improve on (and can, he was only a true freshman last year). His running ability improved last year as well. And while I would agree his downfield throwing isn't that good, a comment made during the Big 12 media days about QB sacks would be on the QB more than the OL to me was a sign the ball is getting out of the QBs hands quick, which means we won't be throwing the ball deep a lot.
The other thing is that Cozart is tougher than people give him credit for. People still think of him as that true freshman QB playing on an ice rink at ISU running an offense he had never ran before. That isn't him anymore. Did got hammered last year, and played through a sickness, before being knocked out for the season.
The last thing is the whole off-the-field stuff with Willis. Who knows what is and isn't true, but if there are issues it is something to consider. Beaty saw first hand at A&M what happened when you let a talented young QB get out of control. Things started internally getting out of hand there with people breaking all sorts of team rules because their young QB was and he wasn't being punished. We do need a talented QB to run this offense, but we also need a leader to make sure this program doesn't get off track (more than we are and have been that is).
There is no way I would argue Cozart over Willis in arm talent - Willis clearly has the edge there. But if the goal is for the offense to be as efficient as possible with the thinking being that will help us win more games, then I think you can argue Cozart just might do that. It could also be argued he might be better for the program for a leadership view (again pointing out who knows with the Willis off-the-field stuff). Either way, if Cozart is the guy, I hope fans give the kid a fair chance in their minds and see what he can do in this new offense.
