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| Russell Bellomy (image via AnnArbor.com) |
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 213 lbs.
High school: Arlington (TX) Martin
Position: Quarterback
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #8
Last year: I ranked Bellomy #49 and said he would be the #3 quarterback. He went 4/21 passing for 46 yards and 4 interceptions; he also ran 12 times for 16 yards.
Bellomy entered the 2012 season as the #2 quarterback on the coaches' depth chart, but he was basically the #3 guy. With primary backup Devin Gardner bumped out to wide receiver while Denard Robinson kept hold of the quarterback reins, Bellomy entered the opener against Alabama when Robinson got a little dinged up; things did not go well as his first career pass attempt was picked off. Things got worse when Robinson got hurt again in the second quarter of the Nebraska game. Bellomy had as many completions - three - as interceptions. Gardner moved back from wide receiver to play quarterback for the remainder of the season, and Bellomy sat out due to an undisclosed "injury," which may have been a concussion or perhaps to his pride.
This spring Bellomy tore his ACL, so he's had a tough year. He had no shot at surpassing Gardner for the starting job, but when the young Texan returns, he may find himself beyond freshman Shane Morris and/or walk-on Brian Cleary. My biggest concern with Bellomy is that he lacks the arm strength to push the ball down the field and therefore checks down very quickly, making it very easy for defenders and opponents to play against him. Arm strength is somewhat overrated because there are plenty of quarterbacks who succeed despite not having cannons attached to their shoulders, but there's a certain threshold one needs to meet, and I'm not sure if Bellomy can get there. No prognosis has been given for Bellomy's return, but his torn ACL buddy Jake Ryan is projected to return in October 2013; whoever the primary backup is prior to that point is likely to hold that spot for the remainder of the regular season, whether it's Morris or Cleary.
Prediction: Third-string quarterback when he returns from injury
I really, really hope the running game is so much better this year because if Gardner goes down, it's unclear how we're going to get yards.
ReplyDeleteGood point, is it possible that the reason Hoke is not taking a QB transfer is because they've figured that Bellomy like Ryan will be back sometime during the year?
ReplyDeleteNo one good wants to transfer here and be a backup for one-two years
DeleteThis is an optimistic outlook for Bellomy and I'm happy to hear it. Hopefully he can return and play a role this season, like you predict. Bellomy was obviously not ready last year and after suffering the injury he's not likely to be ready this year, either. Hopefully he will never be more than a backup, but backup QBs are important in the college game, as we've experienced several times lately.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a bizzare comment I almost hesitate to make it, but does anybody remember the ESPN article from many years back hypothesizing whether or not Michael Vick would have been under such intense public censure if he'd been white? There was a picture that accompanied that article where Vick had been photoshopped to look Caucasian. Doesn't Bellomy look... well... exactly like that picture?
ReplyDeleteLink: http://espn.go.com/espn/commentary/story/_/id/6894586/imagining-michael-vick-white-quarterback-nfl-espn-magazine
I have no clue what a fair ranking for Bellomy is. As a backup QB he's very important, but with the injury he has, he's unlikely to play at all. Unlike Ryan, no one in the program has talked about him making a return - maybe his injury was more severe.
ReplyDeleteBased on bellomy's extreme shakiness displayed last year, it is safe to presume that the coaches do not want him playing in crunch time ever again.
DeleteNo, it's not.
DeleteThe instructions to Gardner should be clear. Do not run the ball...ever! Get rid of the ball at first sign of trouble. Dump it off to a safety valve, a back or heave it to Hoke on the side lines. I would be shocked to see any designed run plays unless it is the last game of the year.
ReplyDeleteIf Gardner goes down, the season is over.
As Redskins staff and others have argued - a QB that consistently runs protects the QB by reducing the pass rush intensity. If you want a healthy Devin, you want to keep defenses honest. He shouldn't carry the ball 20 times a game like Denard, but 5-10 would strike a nice balance. I would expect the occasional called play, but mostly it will be scrambles or option reads (Is he open? No? - run it.) That goes double for Borges' offense which has a lot of pass plays that take a long time to develop.
DeleteLank, this is the first comment you've posted that I agree with.
DeleteI don't know how you're going to do it, but I'd put Cleary before Morris, because he's seen a year in the system already even though he was the fourth/fifth string QB and redshirted. The thing Morris has going for him, is that he has one hell of an arm. I think Morris and Cleary will be similar when it comes to accuracy. I know that Morris has more potential, but I think with the two of them being about the same when it comes to accuracy, and having Cleary of been in the system for a year already, and having Morris as a TRUE Freshman, with a redshirt to use, I think Cleary beats out Morris for the #2 QB job.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think?
DeleteIf morris cannot beat out a 2nd year walk on, even in his frosh year, that is a major sign of trouble.
DeleteWhat are your thoughts on the new walk-on QB Garrett Moores?
ReplyDeleteI like his size at 6'4" and 200 lbs.
DeleteI thought Bellomy was out for the season. If that's true, shouldn't he be ranked #94, just ahead of Hagerup?
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard that.
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