Newcombe v. Crouch

[wcbsas]

2001: Bitter words from Bobby Newcombe - HuskerMax

Aug 7, 2001 Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) Newspapers.com Aug 7, 2001 Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) Newspapers.com

www.huskermax.com

Curious what everyone thinks of this position battle and how things played out.

Newcombe spent 1 year in 3 different NFL practice squads. And a year in the CFL. He’s a high school head football coach in Arizona now.

At the time I thought Newcombe should’ve been the QB, a little bit better thrower. As the collegiate careers played out I think Crouch proved to be slightly tougher and a little less injury prone.

I wonder how he handles high school players disappointed in his starting choices now?

 

[TFrazier]

 

[Farmer Jake]

2001: Bitter words from Bobby Newcombe - HuskerMax

Aug 7, 2001 Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) Newspapers.com Aug 7, 2001 Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) Newspapers.com

www.huskermax.com

Curious what everyone thinks of this position battle and how things played out.

Newcombe spent 1 year in 3 different NFL practice squads. And a year in the CFL. He’s a high school head football coach in Arizona now.

At the time I thought Newcombe should’ve been the QB, a little bit better thrower. As the collegiate careers played out I think Crouch proved to be slightly tougher and a little less injury prone.

I wonder how he handles high school players disappointed in his starting choices now?

I always thought Bobby had proved himself as receiver when he was a freshman, and if he wanted to go to the NFL, he would have been better off staying as a receiver. He, (like Crouch) would never have been an NFL QB. It is better to play 4 years in college at the same position you are most likely to play in the NFL. Just for the experience value.

I know there are some players who make a transition to a different position once they hit the NFL, but usually not.

I would have liked to have seen Crouch take a receiver position in the NFL. I think he would have really been good playing there.

 

[djlhuskerfan]

Newcombe had issues holding on to snaps for some reason! Really hurt us at times! He was better passer but Crouch was more durable! Newcombe was slender and not as tough runner on the option!

 

[NUinID]

Before the injury he was better than Crouch. After knee injury he wasn't the same playing QB IMO. He was tentative running the ball. He did throw better than Crouch, but I wouldn't say it was way better. He wasn't durable as many have said. He wasn't a big guy. Stood next to him when he was going through rehab after the knee injury. He was my height I am right at 5'10" and he was slightly built.

 

[TFrazier]

Newcombe had issues holding on to snaps for some reason! Really hurt us at times! He was better passer but Crouch was more durable! Newcombe was slender and not as tough runner on the option!

I would also add that he was a hesistant runner on the option. He was too quick to turn the ball up field than extend the option play while keeping the running back involved.

Crouch had a little bit of that in him too but he was way more decisive when he kept the ball and turned upfield which resulted in much more yardage gained.

 

[TFrazier]

Before the injury he was better than Crouch. After knee injury he wasn't the same playing QB IMO. He was tentative running the ball. He did throw better than Crouch, but I wouldn't say it was way better. He wasn't durable as many have said. He wasn't a big guy. Stood next to him when he was going through rehab after the knee injury. He was my height I am right at 5'10" and he was slightly built.

I will disagree. For the offense that Frank Solich was running at that time, Crouch was a better fit. Crouch had the toughness/decisiveness to execute in the run/option game that Newcombe lacked even before Newcombe’s knee injury.

Newcombe very well may have been a better fit in a different type of offense not geared as much to the quarterback running the option. Newcombe was a better passer than Crouch but Solich’s offense didn’t lend itself to that particular skill set.

 

[wcbsas]

I will disagree. For the offense that Frank Solich was running at that time, Crouch was a better fit. Crouch had the toughness/decisiveness to execute in the run/option game that Newcombe lacked even before Newcombe’s knee injury.

Newcombe very well may have been a better fit in a different type of offense not geared as much to the quarterback running the option. Newcombe was a better passer than Crouch but Solich’s offense didn’t lend itself to that particular skill set.

Solich’s offense didn’t lend itself to the pass because he didn’t have the horses to run a pass game (year 2000 when Newcombe was moved) … Matt Davidson, John Gibson, Wilson Thomas … at the WR position. More talent at the TE position but his recruiting suffered to the point where the passing game was poor before the ball was ever snapped.

They had to rely on the option heavy run game, which agreed, fit Crouch better. But when Crouch left and JLo was forced into the role the lack of difference makers was apparent.