I think Falk is going to be great

[CougPatrol]

When I evaluate a collegiate QB, I'm more concerned about their intelligence, composure and guts than I am arm strength and a quick release. From what I've seen from Luke through 7 starts, I'm very encouraged with his development.

What I really like about Falk is that he not only hangs in the pocket, but when he does break out, he keeps his eyes down field. He's guilty of holding the ball too long, but as his experience grows, he's going to see the field a lot better and increase his check down progressions. He throws a very catchable ball, and while he still forces some passes, he's already getting better with his decision making. The late INT against Cal was maddening, and he got away with a similar pass early in the winning drive vs. Rutgers, but those moments are how young QB's become battle tested.

I've seen some people on the boards compare him with Jeff Tuel, but I don't see that link at all. Tuel had nervous feet; justifiably so given the line he played behind. If I were going to compare Falk to anyone at this stage of his career, it would be Ryan Leaf. Luke doesn't have the arm (or thankfully the head) that Leaf had, but his pocket presence is similar at this stage of his career, and like Leaf, Falk is throwing to a group of talented but equally young WR's and RB's.

Time will tell, but I've seen a lot of WSU QB's over the past 35+ years, and there aren't many who have looked more composed as Sophomores than Luke Falk. I'm not saying that Luke will go on to be a Heisman candidate like Leaf, but it wouldn't surprise me if he becomes a household name by the middle of next season. With the depth we have at WR and RB, I have a hard time believing that our offense isn't going to be really tough to deal with as this season grinds on and into next year.

 

[kayak15]

Falk showed me composure in spades coming into the USC game last year. While he may not resemble Leaf in physical attributes, he has enough of those qualities to do the job. Since he was accepted into Cornell prior to coming to Pullman, it would seem that he has the brains required. Now it is just a matter of putting it all together on the field. I see no reason why this will not or cannot happen eventually. Just a matter of those of us in the peanut gallery dealing with the frustration and disappointments until fruition. The suggestions on this and other boards regarding his being benched for Bender or Hillinski are absurd.

 

[CougPatrol]

There's no way we're benching Falk. OK, he holds the ball too long. As opposed to what? Bender (and Halliday) chucking it into triple coverage?

How many QB's have looked better than Falk as Sophomores? Isn't it fair to presume that he's going to improve dramatically under the tutelage of Leach; particularly this offseason with the wealth of experience he'll have under his belt?

Falk's going to have a monster year next season. Even CougEd would agree with that.

 

[Cougatron]

Luke has all the tools to be one of the best. The Tuel comparison comes from his fear of making a mistake. He's a little on the too cautious side, and he can throw it earlier than waiting to the last second to do it. That's his hangup right now, and I stand by that assessment because it's true.

from the moment the ball is snapped you have about 3-4 seconds to make a decision before you are in trouble. That's it. 3-4 seconds.

During that time a capable receiver can run about 30-40 yards. That's plenty of time to get open. From reading the coverage at the line and looking at the movement after the snap he should know who is open.

Read, Snap, Read throw.

Since the 1st read is before the ball is snapped he has 3-4 seconds to read. By looking what is going on he should be able to find the open man quickly. And deliver the ball.

 

[JBrown4435]

You know who else used to hold the ball too long and took a bunch of sacks? NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers. It's something Luke has already recognized he can improve on and I think he will. I like what I've seen from him this year for the most part and I think he's just getting started.

 

[wazzubruce]

Luke is very good now, and will be great next year!

 

[Cougsocal]

Falk has the necessary tools except, maybe, the most important one -- confidence. Leaf and Gesser had it from day one. They looked for and wanted to make the big play. They only dinked and dunked to set up the throw dagger. Rypien and Bledsoe were the most physically gifted QB's to step on campus, both struggled with confidence, and it showed. They were inconsistent as all hell. Rosie had it, lost it completely, and regained it. Falk will never be Gesser/Leaf, their confidence in themselves was extreme. I hope he can build and sustain it like Rosie, We are in trouble if he has the emotional gavitas of Rypien and Bledsoe. Only time will tell.

 

[CougPatrol]

I don't know if I agree with you that Falk lacks confidence. His personality type is completely different from Leaf & Gesser, so it's tougher to gauge his mindset.

Falk is an even keel guy. His 4th down run against Portland State showed that he's willing to give it up for the team. I'm sure that wasn't lost on anyone.

 

[YakiCoug]

When I evaluate a collegiate QB, I'm more concerned about their intelligence, composure and guts than I am arm strength and a quick release. From what I've seen from Luke through 7 starts, I'm very encouraged with his development.

What I really like about Falk is that he not only hangs in the pocket, but when he does break out, he keeps his eyes down field. He's guilty of holding the ball too long, but as his experience grows, he's going to see the field a lot better and increase his check down progressions. He throws a very catchable ball, and while he still forces some passes, he's already getting better with his decision making. The late INT against Cal was maddening, and he got away with a similar pass early in the winning drive vs. Rutgers, but those moments are how young QB's become battle tested.

I've seen some people on the boards compare him with Jeff Tuel, but I don't see that link at all. Tuel had nervous feet; justifiably so given the line he played behind. If I were going to compare Falk to anyone at this stage of his career, it would be Ryan Leaf. Luke doesn't have the arm (or thankfully the head) that Leaf had, but his pocket presence is similar at this stage of his career, and like Leaf, Falk is throwing to a group of talented but equally young WR's and RB's.

Time will tell, but I've seen a lot of WSU QB's over the past 35+ years, and there aren't many who have looked more composed as Sophomores than Luke Falk. I'm not saying that Luke will go on to be a Heisman candidate like Leaf, but it wouldn't surprise me if he becomes a household name by the middle of next season. With the depth we have at WR and RB, I have a hard time believing that our offense isn't going to be really tough to deal with as this season grinds on and into next year.

Kool-aid guzzler...

 

[CougPatrol]

Kool-aid guzzler...

Ok, bring on Bender.

 

[Cougsocal]

I don't know if I agree with you that Falk lacks confidence. His personality type is completely different from Leaf & Gesser, so it's tougher to gauge his mindset.

Falk is an even keel guy. His 4th down run against Portland State showed that he's willing to give it up for the team. I'm sure that wasn't lost on anyone.

Okay then, Falk is confident. So what is the problem? A confident kid, with decent tools, should be playing lights out in the air raid. Gesser and Leaf's problem, when they were green, was being too agressive. Gesser wanted to bomb the ball, Leaf wanted to thread the needle too fine. All they needed was to tone it back a little. What does Falk need to do to be a effective as those two? Be less cautious?

 

[texascoug1]

Falk is a good QB and will probably develop into a great one. The quick release will come. Finishing games......I hope so. I'm just tired of always hearing "next year" when it comes to the Cougs. Maybe I'm selfish. Maybe I'm tired. I have no doubt better WSU teams are coming. I just don't want to be wearing adult diapers when this happens.
Go Cougs!

 

[Coug1990]

Okay then, Falk is confident. So what is the problem? A confident kid, with decent tools, should be playing lights out in the air raid. Gesser and Leaf's problem, when they were green, was being too agressive. Gesser wanted to bomb the ball, Leaf wanted to thread the needle too fine. All they needed was to tone it back a little. What does Falk need to do to be a effective as those two? Be less cautious?

Experience

 

[CougPatrol]

What does Falk need to do to be a effective as those two? Be less cautious?

He needs more game experience.

Neither Leaf or Gesser were great as Sophomores. Gesser lost to Idaho that year, and then was injured and knocked out for the season. Heading into his Junior year, our fan base was divided as to who should start between Gesser and Kegel.

 

[Cougsocal]

He needs more game experience.

Neither Leaf or Gesser were great as Sophomores. Gesser lost to Idaho that year, and then was injured and knocked out for the season. Heading into his Junior year, our fan base was divided as to who should start between Gesser and Kegel.

Stop the revisionist history. You either don't know the facts or are being intellectually dishonest. Yes, Gesser and the Cougs lost to Idaho, but only after Gesser had led the team the length of the field for the game winning score with 3:00 left, only to have the worst defense in the conference let idaho go the distance in the final seconds. That is like blaming the Cal loss last year on Halliday.

As for the "Kegel battle," I can't say that no one wanted Kegel over Gesser, but only the insane wanted Kegel. Kegel had a PER of 95 compared with Gesser's 133 (third best rating in the conference, and the top rating of all returning QBs). As a sophomore Gesser was damn good.

Admittedly Leaf wasn't as good as Gesser as a sophomore, but he still was among the conference best, using a non-dink and dunk non-easy throw offense. His soph number were better than Bledsoe as a junior.

(preemptory -- Yeah, Kegel was QB when we beat USC, that is true, but look at his weak stats (12-32-242) during the game, and you realize we won despite him (a fumble return, a blocked kick return and a short porch INT). One good pass (88 yards to Marcus Williams, classic) was his sole highlight. The rest of the way he was demonstating why he was no threat at all to unseat Gesser and it continued with his 12-28-122 "not ready for prime time" play against the UW.)

 

[ElComanche]

Falk is a huge improvement over a few s favorite head case CH. Two days after signing to a Canadian Club's practice squad, CH was released. His petulance and spoiled brat syndrome only played well in Pullman.I guess that leach s fugue like stake enabled the spoiled brat to be favored and start despite CH being a head case. The kid will never play pro football. The word is out on him now.

 

[CougPatrol]

Stop the revisionist history. You either don't know the facts or are being intellectually dishonest.

How does an opinion of Jason Gesser's play as a Sophomore equate to dishonesty. I saw every home game Jason Gesser played, and after the 2000 season, I still thought of him as undersized QB who would never stay healthy. I wasn't alone in that opinion, either.

Falk, at this stage, is a much better looking prospect than Gesser was.

 

[CougPatrol]

Stop the revisionist history. You either don't know the facts or are being intellectually dishonest.

How does an opinion of Jason Gesser's play as a Sophomore equate to dishonesty. I saw every home game Jason Gesser played, and after the 2000 season, I still thought of him as undersized QB who would never stay healthy. I wasn't alone in that opinion, either.

Falk, at this stage, is a much better looking prospect than Gesser was.

 

[Cougsocal]

Falk is a huge improvement over a few s favorite head case CH. Two days after signing to a Canadian Club's practice squad, CH was released. His petulance and spoiled brat syndrome only played well in Pullman.I guess that leach s fugue like stake enabled the spoiled brat to be favored and start despite CH being a head case. The kid will never play pro football. The word is out on him now.

Getting cut by Steady Jeff Tedford after only two days, for supposed reasons that make little sense, and makes me wonder whether Halliday is giving Ryan Leaf a run for his money on the petulance and self destruction front. I hope it is because his ankle looks like a grenade went off, not because he is struggling emotionally. You can be happy despite having a bum ankle. but if you struggle emotionally, nothing can make you happy. Look at the sad story of Tony Harris.

 

[StormyCOUG42]

I think Falk has a chance to be one of the best QBs in WSU history if he stays healthy and continues to develop... if he can speed up his reads just a bit and get rid of the ball a second faster, this offense could be VERY good.

 

[froropmkr72]

How does an opinion of Jason Gesser's play as a Sophomore equate to dishonesty. I saw every home game Jason Gesser played, and after the 2000 season, I still thought of him as undersized QB who would never stay healthy. I wasn't alone in that opinion, either.

Falk, at this stage, is a much better looking prospect than Gesser was.

You weren't alone.