The IU offense has an identity problem.
Heading into Big Ten conference play, IU will continue to play two quarterbacks. Both senior Richard Lagow and redshirt freshman Peyton Ramsey should see snaps at quarterback in conference games.
That’s fine, for now.
Having two quarterbacks play significant snaps for the entire season is an untenable situation moving forward.
Quarterback is not a position where you want to have a rotation. It’s the most important position on the field because the quarterback has complete control of the offense. That is hard to do when you have to worry about being removed from the game and replaced with another quarterback.
However, it can work in selected spurts.
“It’s kind of a 1-2 punch,” Ramsey said. “Defenses, they have to prepare for different things from both of us. It is beneficial that we both have different styles of play.”
Lagow and Ramsey are completely opposite quarterbacks. Lagow is a traditional dropback passer who struggles to be consistently accurate. He was pulled in the middle of the Virginia game in favor of Ramsey, who sparked the Hoosier offense.
His biggest weaknesses are Ramsey’s strengths.
Ramsey is the running threat that IU desperately needs from the quarterback position.
IU’s rushing attack struggled mightily in the Ohio State game, running for just 17 yards.
Per Football Study Hall, IU has the 122nd ranked rushing success rate in the country, prior to playing Georgia Southern. While that is heavily weighed down by the Ohio State game, IU does have a rushing problem that Ramsey could help rectify.
IU Coach Tom Allen had high praise for Ramsey.
“I think he's just kind of taking off where he left the game and brought that into the game against Virginia and played well,” Allen said. “But I've seen him do it a lot in practice.”
Ramsey has the talent and the moxie to be a starting quarterback for IU sometime in his career.
Lagow is still the starting quarterback for IU. It’s been his job to lose, and all offseason, we have heard how improved and confident he is.
In the coming weeks, he needs to show that his growth is real, especially with Ramsey waiting in the wings. The two quarterbacks are different enough that it still makes sense to integrate them both into the offense.
Ramsey is the wild card. His running ability is a potential game changer for IU and can be a boost to the offense all season long.
Lagow and Ramsey have the potential to lead IU to success this season.
IU just has to pick one to win.
