Legit battle for QB2?

[StickierBuns]

So says Doogie:

The Purple Persuasion
@TPPSkol
·
57m
I’m telling you, there is a legit battle.  Brett Rypien v Sam Howell.”

-@DWolfsonKSTP on
@SKORNorth Wolfson added, “That’s a legit battle July into August…Don’t just assume that he’s (Howell) the automatic number 2. That is a real battle to watch.”

We may see that early, both getting some similar reps....but it won't last too long. Howell is a superior QB period. Rypien is going to know the offense much better, so that is a plus but honestly if the team felt like Rypien was worthy, why trade for Howell? Rypien has played sparingly in his career and the limited stats aren't close to good. KOC will have his little 'competition' because that's creating something I guess, but its a foregone conclusion.

[rf54]

Howell is more physically gifted and has the better arm. Rypien has the experience and understands the system and playbook better. It should be interesting but I expect Howell to win #2.

I think they keep Rypien on the 53 and Brosmer to PS. Maybe other way around if Brosmer can learn quickly and imperess when he gets his chances. May come down to almighty $$$ which favors Brosmer.

[Montana Tom]

Why trade for Powell? May I remind you of 2023 when Cousins went down, Mullins was already down, then the Rookie reserve went down, and they scrambled to find the "Passtronaut" (who actually won a couple of games and immediately became a media darling). It's a miracle we won any games with that patchwork after Cousins' Achilles injury.

Even though I kinda wrote off Rypien as an afterthought as backup QB...as a true freshman, he broke one of Kellen Moore's records at Boise State.
To recap what he was able to do there, here's a refresher:

2015
In the third game of the Broncos' season, against Idaho State, starting QB Finley was tackled from behind in the first half of the game, breaking his left ankle, which would require an eight-week recovery time. Rypien entered the game in the second half, burning his redshirt, and led the offense to scores on each of his four possessions, three touchdowns and one field goal. Rypien became the first true freshman quarterback to play in a game for Boise State since 1993.

In Rypien's first three starts of his Boise State career, the Broncos averaged over 50 points per game, and Rypien averaged over 300 yards in each contest and totaled eight touchdowns. In his sixth start, against the UNLV Rebels, he set the Boise State record for most passing yards in a game by a freshman, besting Kellen Moore's previous mark of 414 yards with 469 yards of his own. In the following game, Rypien topped his own record by passing for 506 yards against the New Mexico Lobos.

For Rypien's efforts he was named the first-team all-conference quarterback of the Mountain West Conference (MW), becoming the first freshman to do so in the conference's 17-year history. In addition to earning first-team all-conference, Rypien was also awarded Freshman of the Year honors of the Mountain West.

2016
Rypien was named to three separate award watch lists before the start of fall camp. He was named to the watch lists for the Davey O'Brien Award, which goes to the top collegiate quarterback; the Maxwell Award, which goes to the top collegiate football player of the year; and the Walter Camp Award, which goes to the player of the year in college football. Also before the start of the season, Rypien was named as one of four team captains by his teammates, becoming the first sophomore captain in more than a decade for Boise State.

Rypien's first month of the season came with highs and lows. Off the football field, he lost both his grandmothers, but on the field he led the Broncos to a 5–0 start and earned offensive player of the week honors in the Mountain West after throwing for 391 yards and five touchdowns in the first half against New Mexico.

After starting the season with seven wins, Rypien and the Broncos lost two of their last five games to finish the regular season at 10–2. For Rypien's efforts in the season he earned first-team all-conference honors, his second time receiving the honor.

2017
Rypien was named to four separate award watch lists before the start of fall camp. He was named to the watch lists for the Davey O'Brien Award, which goes to the top collegiate quarterback; the Maxwell Award, which goes to the top collegiate football player of the year; the Walter Camp Award, which goes to the player of the year in college football; and the Wuerffel Trophy, which is awarded to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement. Also before the start of the season, Rypien represented the offensive side for Boise State at the Mountain West Football Media Days at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, and was named as one of three team captains by his teammates.

Rypien and the Broncos began the season with a win over the Troy Trojans. In that game, Rypien shared time with dual-threat quarterback Montell Cozart, a graduate transfer from Kansas. In the following game against Washington State, the second of the season, Rypien suffered an injury on a sack which forced him to leave the game before the end of the first quarter. As a result of the injury, Rypien missed the subsequent game against New Mexico. Rypien and the Broncos went on to finish the season with a 10–3 regular season record, and winning the Mountain West Championship game against Fresno State. At the conclusion of the season he earned second-team all-conference honors.

On December 16, Rypien and Boise State matched up to play against the University of Oregon in the Las Vegas Bowl in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boise State won the game and finished their season with a record of 11–3

2018
In Rypien's fourth and final year at Boise State, he would be going into the season without an offensive coordinator change. Offensive coordinator Zak Hill began his second season as the lone offensive coordinator.

Rypien was named to six separate award watch lists before the start of fall camp. He was named to the watch lists for the Maxwell Award, which goes to the top collegiate football player of the year; the Davey O'Brien Award, which goes to the top collegiate quarterback; the Wuerffel Trophy, which is awarded to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement; the Walter Camp Award, which is awarded to the player of the year in college football; the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which goes to the nation's most outstanding senior or fourth-year quarterback; and the Manning Award, which is given to the nation's best collegiate quarterback. Also before the start of the season, Rypien represented the offensive side for Boise State at the Mountain West Football Media Days at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. While there, he was chosen as the preseason conference offensive player of the year and was selected to the conference's preseason all-conference team. At the close of camp, and for the third straight year, Rypien was named as one of three team captains by his teammates for the 2018 season.

Rypien started the year strongly by throwing for 12 touchdowns with zero interceptions through the first four games. After the second game of the season, he won Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week when he led the Broncos to a 62–7 victory against the University of Connecticut, going 21 of 28 passing for 362 yards and four touchdowns with zero interceptions while helping Boise State put up 818 total yards of offense and a 625 yardage gap between the two teams, the largest gap since 2000. During his strong start to the season, Rypien surpassed Kellen Moore for most 300-yard passing games in school history with 17, and finished his career with 21.

Rypien and the Broncos went on to finish the season with a 10–3 regular season record, losing the Mountain West Championship game in overtime against Fresno State. At the conclusion of the season, his efforts won him the MW Player of the year and he was also named the first-team all-conference quarterback of the Mountain West.

On December 26, Rypien and Boise State matched up to play against Boston College in the First Responder Bowl in Dallas, Texas. Due to lightning strikes, the game was suspended in the first quarter and was eventually ruled as a no-contest for both teams. On January 19, 2019, he completed his college football career at the 2019 East–West Shrine Game. He went 10 of 14 passing for 134 yards and a touchdown on a shared rotation.

Rypien finished his collegiate career as the FBS leader in passing yards (13,581) among current players. He finished as the all-time leader in passing yards (13,581), completions (1,036) and 300-yard passing performances (21) in the Mountain West. In addition to his conference records, he ranks second all-time at Boise State in passing yards (13,581), passing touchdowns (90), completions (1,036), attempts (1,618).

Not bad for the kid from Spokane, Washington.
I haven't seen much of him in pre-season or elsewhere, so I have no strong opinion on him or Howell. But before we pencil Howell's name in as the #2 QB, we should acknowledge that this kid is capable of slinging the ball.
What's the knock on him? Not sure. He was standing at 6'2" 185 lbs going into college but now is standing at 6'2" and 210 lbs as a pro.

[StickierBuns]

Doesn't matter what he did in college. UDFA that's been with 4 teams prior to Minnesota. Not athletic, not fast and not great arm talent. Good intangibles. But throws INTs because his arm is weaker. The knock on him is he's not very good.

[JustInTime]

If Doogie said the sun was coming up tomorrow, I’d buy flashlights.

[MaroonBells]

I think Rypien wins QB2

[JR44]

In watching the draft day video it was very apparent that Howell was their target for the #2 role and they were very excited when they worked out the trade for him. I do not think all of that was for him to be the number 3 QB.

[medaille]

I feel like this is a competition in name only. That said, I would have liked to have seen a better QB2 given that we’re basically starting a rookie, but here we are. I guess they don’t feel they need an older vet to give JJM tips on how to be a pro or explain what a defense is doing on the sideline, while KOC is busy doing something else.

[StickierBuns]

I feel like this is a competition in name only.  That said, I would have liked to have seen a better QB2 given that we’re basically starting a rookie, but here we are.  I guess they don’t feel they need an older vet to give JJM tips on how to be a pro or explain what a defense is doing on the sideline, while KOC is busy doing something else.

That's what this guy is for:



And this guy, replacing Udinski, Jordan Traylor:

[rf54]

Those who are down on Howell, what was your take on Darnold? KOC will get the most out of Howell...
It was obvious they KOC wanted Jones back as the "Darnold" signing to be the #2 but Danny went for the chance to be a starter. He then identified Howell as his pick to back up JJM. He has his reasons and Kwesi made it happen.