What is the QB Outlook

[catscat]

When Matt McKay took that hit at Weber, it tore the muscles in his abdomen. He could barely move after each subsequent game. He knew there was pressure to play or be replaced. He played hurt.

That’s good to know. He made a few of the handful of good plays that the offense made in the Weber game. TD run, first down run to ice game, pass to set fg.

I say he’s at least what MSU should get statistically and better decision-making-wise because the coach/coaches didn’t hand pick him, while the QBs on roster were all recruited and signed by existing staff. So, not a whole lot of thought put into it.

If you look back at my posts since Mckay was here, I have made the comment over and over that he wasn’t the same after that particular hit in the Weber game. I never would’ve guessed it was abdominal tears. Nonetheless, you could see a huge difference in his physical and mental performance in the game after that very particular hit.

Big statistical drop off after Weber sans the EWU game.

Not sure what to think of the "he was playing hurt" revelation. Seems to me that playing while hurt affected his performance and was detrimental to the team - especially since there was obviously a better option on the team - maybe two with Rovig. Was he telling the coaches he was good to go? Also doesn't explain his quick jump to the portal. If you're the best QB on the team, but hurt, wouldn't one stick with the team and come back the next year?

[kwcat]

When Matt McKay took that hit at Weber, it tore the muscles in his abdomen. He could barely move after each subsequent game. He knew there was pressure to play or be replaced. He played hurt.

That’s good to know. He made a few of the handful of good plays that the offense made in the Weber game. TD run, first down run to ice game, pass to set fg.

I say he’s at least what MSU should get statistically and better decision-making-wise because the coach/coaches didn’t hand pick him, while the QBs on roster were all recruited and signed by existing staff. So, not a whole lot of thought put into it.

If you look back at my posts since Mckay was here, I have made the comment over and over that he wasn’t the same after that particular hit in the Weber game. I never would’ve guessed it was abdominal tears. Nonetheless, you could see a huge difference in his physical and mental performance in the game after that very particular hit.

Big statistical drop off after Weber sans the EWU game.

Not sure what to think of the "he was playing hurt" revelation. Seems to me that playing while hurt affected his performance and was detrimental to the team - especially since there was obviously a better option on the team - maybe two with Rovig. Was he telling the coaches he was good to go? Also doesn't explain his quick jump to the portal. If you're the best QB on the team, but hurt, wouldn't one stick with the team and come back the next year?

There were comments made after the Weber State game. That year. If you go back and watch, there is a particular hit, I don’t remember at what point in the game. And you can see Mckay‘s whole demeanor change. Don’t know the kid or have any real theories about what happened, but that was a definite turning point that I had a question about back before he left. I had never heard that he had an abdominal tear.
I believe House right was the offensive coordinator and there was a lot of funky stuff going on about that time. Would be nice to have a definite answer from somebody in the know.
In the long-term, it doesn’t really matter my cornflakes are just fine. But fun to speculate and talk about but would also be nice to have a clear answer.

[ClowderUp]

A healthy McKay was a very good QB as proven at Elon and eventually getting NFL looks. Not sure what folks are thinking with a few of these posts.

[onceacat]

When Matt McKay took that hit at Weber, it tore the muscles in his abdomen. He could barely move after each subsequent game. He knew there was pressure to play or be replaced. He played hurt.

That’s good to know. He made a few of the handful of good plays that the offense made in the Weber game. TD run, first down run to ice game, pass to set fg.

I say he’s at least what MSU should get statistically and better decision-making-wise because the coach/coaches didn’t hand pick him, while the QBs on roster were all recruited and signed by existing staff. So, not a whole lot of thought put into it.

That injury vs Weber was probably significant in terms of his ability/desire to run. He ran well vs ISU. He had a 56-yard TD (great run on third offensive play of the game) vs ewu the next game but only nine yards on eight carries after that, then vs Idaho he only had two yards on three carries after, then vs UM 23 on 8 carries. He did have a 30-yarder vs UM but it came on second drive. Assuming good runs early on were due him feeling good before getting hit.

If I remember correctly he got nearly all of the running yards at EWU on one huge play. The Offense was mostly stymied in what was a rare defense struggle between Cats and Eagles.

He wasn't a good QB. He was average at best. He had physical skills, but only threw timing routes and 1st read only. Couldn't read a defense. I watched his "highlight" reel from NC State, and every throw was a first read. No 2nd or 3rd reads because they didn't happen.

Cats somehow went 9-1 with him as a starter and he had a QBR of 150+, better than Tommy had in 2022. Hes still playing professionally.

And there were zero posters on this board calling him a 'not good' or 'average at best' QB through the first 9 games of 2021.

Interesting way to rewrite history. He was clearly a good, not great QB. Easily would have all-BSC if he hadn't left the team after getting benched.

I think a lot of people decided suddenly that McKay sucked as soon as he left the team. Certainly didn't think that before.

If the Cats get a McKay level QB next year (17 TD to 3 Int; 62% completion rate; 8.2 yea, 4.1 yards per carry) theres zero doubt that the Cats are in the chipper again.

[BelligerentBobcat]

He was better than Rovig, and statistically good, but left a lot on the field and was Charmin Soft.

There’s a reason he got benched.

[onceacat]

He was better than Rovig, and statistically good, but left a lot on the field and was Charmin Soft.

There’s a reason he got benched.

LOL sort it f missing the point.

[AFCAT]

You know which quarterback was pretty tough physically and took some dang good shots but never missed a game. Chris Murray. Say what you want about Chris, but he was physically resilient. I remember a game against Idaho State where he was launched backwards and off his feet from a hit, lost his helmet, but came out for the one required play, for losing his helmet, and then immediately went back in. Tough young man.

[MSU01]

Question: What is the Bobcat QB outlook for next year?

Answer according to Bobcat Nation: Matt McKay's injury in 2021

[Joe Bobcat]

Question: What is the Bobcat QB outlook for next year?

Answer according to Bobcat Nation: Matt McKay's injury in 2021

Yeah nothing like the most UpToDate pertinent forward looking info in the thread titled "What is the QB Outlook".

[BelligerentBobcat]

Hey, it’s better than wondering who’s transferring out next!

[Joe Bobcat]

Hey, it’s better than wondering who’s transferring out next!

Barely, Pretty much just low hanging fruit. Unquestionably past it's prime.
I get it we're all impatient and feel like we're starving for something new and exciting to chew on but there has to be something better than boiling old shoe leather and chewing on that.

[TomCat88]

Question: What is the Bobcat QB outlook for next year?

Answer according to Bobcat Nation: Matt McKay's injury in 2021

Sorry. I brought up McKay. I just think that MSU will end up with a quarterback at least as good as McKay. Vigen and staff had a short amount of time to bring him (a Choate recruit) up to speed with his system. Vigen will have had much more time to work with Wilson and Reed, along with Duchien.

I also think MSU has a better team than it had in 2021 that has been in Vigen’s system longer, so that will help the quarterbacks.

[onceacat]

Question: What is the Bobcat QB outlook for next year?

Answer according to Bobcat Nation: Matt McKay's injury in 2021

Sorry. I brought up McKay. I just think that MSU will end up with a quarterback at least as good as McKay. Vigen and staff had a short amount of time to bring him (a Choate recruit) up to speed with his system. Vigen will have had much more time to work with Wilson and Reed, along with Duchien.

I also think MSU has a better team than it had in 2021 that has been in Vigen’s system longer, so that will help the quarterbacks.

It's a totally reasonable point to make. McKay was a sort of good, not great QB. Maybe a Big Sky level "generic starter" (maybe even a little better). He beat out Rovig for the starting job, and Rovig was clearly at least a Big Sky caliber starter.

If any of the 4 guys currently on the roster can play at the level of McKay or Rovig, this team is going deep into the playoffs. The 2017-1019 teams proved that if you just put a really fast guy with zero QB skills like Troy Andersen or Chris Murray in the backfield, you can be a QF team.

Whoever is back there is going to have an elite D and elite OL and elite RBs.

Its just hard to see why everyone is wringing their hands over Wilson or Warren or whoever somehow NOT being able to lead this deep far into the playoffs.

[MSU01]

Question: What is the Bobcat QB outlook for next year?

Answer according to Bobcat Nation: Matt McKay's injury in 2021

Sorry. I brought up McKay. I just think that MSU will end up with a quarterback at least as good as McKay. Vigen and staff had a short amount of time to bring him (a Choate recruit) up to speed with his system. Vigen will have had much more time to work with Wilson and Reed, along with Duchien.

I also think MSU has a better team than it had in 2021 that has been in Vigen’s system longer, so that will help the quarterbacks.

The initial point you made was totally relevant and spot on. I just found it funny that it spiraled into people debating how injured McKay was during the 2021 season, which has absolutely nothing to do with your original point or the topic of this thread. Bobcat Nation has a unique talent for doing this, it's really rather impressive.

[BLACKnBLUEnGOLD]

When Matt McKay took that hit at Weber, it tore the muscles in his abdomen. He could barely move after each subsequent game. He knew there was pressure to play or be replaced. He played hurt.

That’s good to know. He made a few of the handful of good plays that the offense made in the Weber game. TD run, first down run to ice game, pass to set fg.

I say he’s at least what MSU should get statistically and better decision-making-wise because the coach/coaches didn’t hand pick him, while the QBs on roster were all recruited and signed by existing staff. So, not a whole lot of thought put into it.

If you look back at my posts since Mckay was here, I have made the comment over and over that he wasn’t the same after that particular hit in the Weber game. I never would’ve guessed it was abdominal tears. Nonetheless, you could see a huge difference in his physical and mental performance in the game after that very particular hit.

Big statistical drop off after Weber sans the EWU game.

Not sure what to think of the "he was playing hurt" revelation. Seems to me that playing while hurt affected his performance and was detrimental to the team - especially since there was obviously a better option on the team - maybe two with Rovig. Was he telling the coaches he was good to go? Also doesn't explain his quick jump to the portal. If you're the best QB on the team, but hurt, wouldn't one stick with the team and come back the next year?

Players want to play. Players don't decide who plays. That's the coach's job.

[BLACKnBLUEnGOLD]

Why is there a fascination with RJ Martinez? Sure he did alright at NAU but so what. I refer back to Colters pre-Natty interview with Prukop. Prukop said he had contacts all over the FBS asking about the Cats needing a dropdown QB. I have to believe we could get better options than Martinez.

A drop down QB isn't necessarily better than a good Big Sky QB. Travis Jonsen wasn't better than Rovig at QB, Sean Chambers wasn't better than Tommy, and Tyler Bruggeman wasn't better than Chris Murray.

So the thing I like about RJ Martinez is that he provides a very high floor. The 2025 roster with RJ Martinez is the clear favorite to win the Big Sky.

That said, it's not like I'll be broken hearted if the Cats don't bring in Martinez. I pretty much have complete trust in Vigen at the QB position at this point

[onceacat]

When Matt McKay took that hit at Weber, it tore the muscles in his abdomen. He could barely move after each subsequent game. He knew there was pressure to play or be replaced. He played hurt.

That’s good to know. He made a few of the handful of good plays that the offense made in the Weber game. TD run, first down run to ice game, pass to set fg.

I say he’s at least what MSU should get statistically and better decision-making-wise because the coach/coaches didn’t hand pick him, while the QBs on roster were all recruited and signed by existing staff. So, not a whole lot of thought put into it.

If you look back at my posts since Mckay was here, I have made the comment over and over that he wasn’t the same after that particular hit in the Weber game. I never would’ve guessed it was abdominal tears. Nonetheless, you could see a huge difference in his physical and mental performance in the game after that very particular hit.

Big statistical drop off after Weber sans the EWU game.

Not sure what to think of the "he was playing hurt" revelation. Seems to me that playing while hurt affected his performance and was detrimental to the team - especially since there was obviously a better option on the team - maybe two with Rovig. Was he telling the coaches he was good to go? Also doesn't explain his quick jump to the portal. If you're the best QB on the team, but hurt, wouldn't one stick with the team and come back the next year?

Players want to play. Players don't decide who plays. That's the coach's job.

Maybe this is the sort of digression that people were pointing out above...but here goes.

Remember that REALLY weird presser that Housewright gave after the UM loss? There was clearly something strange going on in the relationship between Housewright & McKay. You could speculate to the end of the earth...was McKay hurt & the OC was forcing him? Was McKay just being 'soft' as others have suggested? Was there a bad relationship from the get go (McKay committed to Udy & Choate...that plus Covid was a significant change for McKay) or did the relationship sour for whatever reason over the course of the season? Did McKay see the writing on the wall with Tommy?

You can speculate to the end of the earth & I suspect that only a handful of people really know what was really going on.

I personally developed a pretty negative feeling towards House after that interview & I would note that despite the incredible successes of his offenses here that he's out of coaching (currently an analyst at Georgia Southern where he doesn't work with players). But I also have no idea if I'm reading too much into that situation or not.

Regardless, MSU has a long history of developing high performing QBs. Thats not going to change with the guys currently on the roster.

[Bzncarolinacat]

Housewright is the new TE coach at Jax State

Taylor Housewright joined the Jax State staff before the 2025 season as the tight ends coach.

https://jaxstatesports.com/sports/foot ... right/1222

[SparkCat]

When Matt McKay took that hit at Weber, it tore the muscles in his abdomen. He could barely move after each subsequent game. He knew there was pressure to play or be replaced. He played hurt.

That’s good to know. He made a few of the handful of good plays that the offense made in the Weber game. TD run, first down run to ice game, pass to set fg.

I say he’s at least what MSU should get statistically and better decision-making-wise because the coach/coaches didn’t hand pick him, while the QBs on roster were all recruited and signed by existing staff. So, not a whole lot of thought put into it.

If you look back at my posts since Mckay was here, I have made the comment over and over that he wasn’t the same after that particular hit in the Weber game. I never would’ve guessed it was abdominal tears. Nonetheless, you could see a huge difference in his physical and mental performance in the game after that very particular hit.

Big statistical drop off after Weber sans the EWU game.

Not sure what to think of the "he was playing hurt" revelation. Seems to me that playing while hurt affected his performance and was detrimental to the team - especially since there was obviously a better option on the team - maybe two with Rovig. Was he telling the coaches he was good to go? Also doesn't explain his quick jump to the portal. If you're the best QB on the team, but hurt, wouldn't one stick with the team and come back the next year?

Players want to play. Players don't decide who plays. That's the coach's job.

Maybe this is the sort of digression that people were pointing out above...but here goes.

Remember that REALLY weird presser that Housewright gave after the UM loss? There was clearly something strange going on in the relationship between Housewright & McKay. You could speculate to the end of the earth...was McKay hurt & the OC was forcing him? Was McKay just being 'soft' as others have suggested? Was there a bad relationship from the get go (McKay committed to Udy & Choate...that plus Covid was a significant change for McKay) or did the relationship sour for whatever reason over the course of the season? Did McKay see the writing on the wall with Tommy?

You can speculate to the end of the earth & I suspect that only a handful of people really know what was really going on.

I personally developed a pretty negative feeling towards House after that interview & I would note that despite the incredible successes of his offenses here that he's out of coaching (currently an analyst at Georgia Southern where he doesn't work with players). But I also have no idea if I'm reading too much into that situation or not.

Regardless, MSU has a long history of developing high performing QBs. Thats not going to change with the guys currently on the roster.

Well put. I’ll agree, was not a fan of House after that interview, and his career continued to snowball.

[TomCat88]

Hey, it’s better than wondering who’s transferring out next!

Barely, Pretty much just low hanging fruit. Unquestionably past it's prime.
I get it we're all impatient and feel like we're starving for something new and exciting to chew on but there has to be something better than boiling old shoe leather and chewing on that.

Sports are all about speculation before, during and after games. There's more speculation than there are actual games being played. I get it that it gets old, but it's a runaway freight train and it isn't stopping. I just tune out when it gets annoying.