Richard Lagow is the Clearcut Starter in 2017, but There's a Battle Brewing for the Backup Role
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Richard Lagow is set to lead the Hoosier offense in 2017 Image: Sammy Jacobs HoosierHuddle.com
Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
There has been a lot of noise surrounding the quarterback position at Indiana since the end of last season. However, there is no quarterback battle as the starting job is clearly in the hands and on the arm of senior Richard Lagow. However, there is a battle for who backs up the big Texan. Indiana is in a bit of a pickle concerning who starts the 2018 season under center.
The Starter
Richard Lagow
Senior Richard Lagow enters the year as the clear-cut number one guy for Tom Allen’s crew. He represented IU at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago and has performed well in fall camp. There is no competition for the starting spot in 2017 at the moment. It’s Lagow’s job.
Lagow, a 6-foot-6, Texan had a roller coaster year in 2016 after transferring in from Cisco Community College. His bright spots, 3,362 passing yards and 19 touchdown passes, were nearly overshadowed by his 17 interceptions and 57.8 completion percentage. No game summed up Richard Lagow’s first year in Bloomington better than his performance against Wake Forest when he set the school record for most passing yards (496) but tossed five picks in the process.
This season Lagow is learning another new offense, one tailored to his strengths, and has arguably the league’s best receiving corps to throw to. The key for Lagow this season is to improve his decision-making, not force the ball into double and triple coverage and find his check down options.
Lagow has become a true leader on the offense after last year, and has been taken under the wing of head coach Tom Allen to improve his skills in that role. Lagow looks much more comfortable in the huddle and throwing the ball than he did at any point last season. If he can cut down the interceptions, Lagow is in for an All-Big Ten caliber season.
Options at the Back Up Spot
Peyton Ramsey
Peyton Ramsey is gearing up for the 2017 season. Image: Sammy Jacobs Hoosierhuddle.com
Peyton Ramsey has a lot of upside. The redshirt freshman is the son of a coach, can throw the ball and make plays with his legs. However, he has yet to see the field in game action. Ramsey is the clear number two as the Hoosiers break camp and head into game week, although true freshman Nick Tronti is not too far behind.
It is unclear what kind of role Ramsey will have in this offense in 2018. Will he just be used as a backup to Lagow or will offensive coordinator Mike DeBord have a package cooked up for him to get him some game experience.
After a terrific spring game, it’ll be hard to keep Ramsey off the field all season, add in the fact that IU has no experienced quarterback behind Lagow and heading into the 2018 season, I can see the youngster getting some reps either in a special offensive package or if a game has already been decided.
Nick Tronti
Nick Tronti throws a pass in practice. Image: Sammy Jacobs HoosierHuddle.com
The true freshman has already made an impact on the IU depth chart as it took him about a week to jump over redshirt sophomore Austin King. Tronti has already got the reputation of a gym rat. He works extremely hard on and off the field and the only thing holding him back heading into 2017 was the fact he was not enrolled in spring practice. While he needs to fill out physically a little more, Tronti has all the tools to be successful in this offense. He has shown he can both throw the ball well and run with it. The big question here is do you burn a redshirt, assuming everyone in front of him stays healthy, to get him game experience or save the extra year of eligibility for further down the road. Tom Allen has said he’d prefer to redshirt players, but IU’s young quarterbacks need game experience heading into 2018. Personally, I think he redshirts unless there’s an injury.
Additional Depth
Austin King
There are no two ways around it. Austin King has fallen to fourth on the Indiana depth chart at QB, after being a clear third after the spring game. King has been underwhelming with his pocket presence and just doesn’t look like he has what it takes to be a Big Ten quarterback. He showed flashes of having a really good arm, but he just hasn’t progressed the way that coaches and fans were hoping. King will probably never see the field at IU and could consider transferring since he is only a redshirt sophomore.
Mike Fiacable
The redshirt sophomore from Ft. Wayne is a walk-on who hasn’t seen the field either and will probably be directing the scout team offense as the season gets underway. He’s got a decent arm and can run, so he should be able to give some good looks at practice. Fiacable is the type of player IU needs on their scout teams. A guy who was pretty good in high school and probably can play at a small college.
2017 Outlook
With Richard Lagow at the helm, the Hoosier offense should be pretty good in the passing game. The biggest question is what is going to happen behind Lagow. After Lagow graduates, IU will have zero game experience at the position, so it is imperative that the Hoosiers get some game time reps to either Peyton Ramsey or Nick Tronti in 2017. However, do you burn Tronti’s redshirt for a few game snaps or do you let Ramsey run with the back up spot and let the two duke it out in spring practice in 2018.