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Wife a Bruin
Joined: 11/02/09 Posts: 1,429

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Nico vs. Dante
Posted Tue, Apr 22 11:52 am
Was musing this AM about how wild and strange college football has become. Two years ago we were all discussing the merits of Dante vs. G-Force. Who should be the starter? We all know how that played out, unfortunately. The supposed savior ultimately hit the transfer portal and now, after two seasons of college football, most recently as a little used redshirt behind Dillon Gabriel, is he poised for his true coming out party? We all recognized ultimately, that he wasn't ready. While we were all enduring the last two seasons, the local kid, Nico, was lured away to Knoxville. He played just enough (or little) as a freshman to retain his RS year, but had a whole year to learn the system at Tennessee. As a RS freshman starter, he guided his SEC team to the playoffs, something UCLA hasn't sniffed in decades. His numbers weren't eye-popping, but he made some plays and managed the position well (only 5 INTs).

I guess the question is, did we ultimately get the better one, or would we have been better off having been able to keep Dante in the fold?

I'm going with Nico, whose 247 composite ranking in HS was .0001 higher than Dante's.
BastieBruin
Joined: 12/13/11 Posts: 2,966

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Nico rules! Dante drools!*
Posted Tue, Apr 22 12:09 pm
In response to Nico vs. Dante (Wife a Bruin)
Nm
4everBruin
Joined: 9/19/12 Posts: 1,760

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Both can sling the ball long or short.
Posted Wed, Apr 23 1:09 pm
In response to Nico vs. Dante (Wife a Bruin)
Nico has good wheels while Dante does not. Nico at 6'6" and 220lbs is also taller and heavier than Dante. In today's game, a big QB with wheels is a game changer.

Physical Tools Advantage: Nico

Nico has started at QB against Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, Iowa and Oklahoma. Dante has not. Nico has won a (Citrus) bowl game and started a natty playoff game, losing to Nat Champs Ohio State. Dante has not.

Playing Experience Advantage: Nico

I like where we are in the QB room.

#GoBruins

4everBruin
Flat 4
Joined: 1/13/14 Posts: 4,022
Go with the athlete
Posted Wed, Apr 23 1:46 pm
In response to Both can sling the ball long or short. (4everBruin)
10 times out of 10 so I give the nod to Nico.

Dante will be an interesting watch this year. He is in a great situation and the fact that the Ducks haven’t gone shopping in the TP says a lot about what they think of him. One thing I always say about QBs is you don’t know what you have until the Defense is firing live bullets. Dante has yet to pass that test other than some early season action against low level opponents. Got to give him a pass since he was a true Frosh. He is in a great situation this year. He needs to make hay.
Bruinjo
Joined: 6/17/05 Posts: 3,975
Wow the nod to Nico...
Posted Wed, Apr 23 2:13 pm
In response to Go with the athlete (Flat 4)
You would give the nod to Nico over Brady, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson...
4everBruin
Joined: 9/19/12 Posts: 1,760

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What you're proving is that hindsight
Posted Wed, Apr 23 2:48 pm
In response to Wow the nod to Nico... (Bruinjo)
shows time and again that athleticism alone does not guarantee success.

Nico is closer physically to Josh Allen, but without the heavy frame. Nico has added 20lbs since joining Tenn, but he went in at 195Lbs on a 6'5-1/2" frame to JA's now 235lbs. By the time he is a senior I would expect Nico to mirror Allen in size, weight and speed. Will he ever rival JA's success? Time will tell. Lamar Jackson is shorter and a couple of tenths quicker in the 40 than both taller QBs. Both Allen and Jackson are proven NFL stars so those intangibles that make a good player great have become known to us. There are plenty of elite athletes who never became elite players.

Tom Brady is in a class of his own, but Tom began his stellar run in pro ball when the NFL emphasis was not on the type of offenses we see today. He was also not a 1st round pick, so even back then scouts did not foresee his future greatness.

In a comparison of young college quarterbacks, with all other things being relatively equal, taking the superior athlete is the safer pick from players making the jump to college from HS.

#GoBruins

4everBruin
Flat 4
Joined: 1/13/14 Posts: 4,022
Even though I started this, I agree
Posted Thu, Apr 24 6:18 am
In response to What you're proving is that hindsight (4everBruin)
Once you have a certain level of arm talent, It is the mental football processing capability that decides your ceiling as a QB. Athleticism adds another dimension that a QB can exploit
Flat 4
Joined: 1/13/14 Posts: 4,022
What are you talking about?
Posted Wed, Apr 23 7:33 pm
In response to Wow the nod to Nico... (Bruinjo)
I get the Brady reference because he was very unathletic but when you throw in Josh Allen and LFreaky. Good Lord. Lamar is probably the most athletic QB of all time.
bergermeister
Joined: 8/27/15 Posts: 684
Dante’s “situation”
Posted Sun, Apr 27 7:18 am
In response to Go with the athlete (Flat 4)
Yogi referred to him as the 2nd string QB behind Novosad in the spring game yesterday.

I know that’s not official, and things could always change, but I don’t believe he’s the named starter by any means as of yet.
BruinSwin
Joined: 9/20/05 Posts: 3,997

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Rather have Nico and Madden than Dante*
Posted Thu, Apr 24 5:02 am
In response to Nico vs. Dante (Wife a Bruin)
nm