Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1187038
22 n o r t h w e s t e r n f o o t b a l l • D I G I T A L P R O G R A M • N O R T H W E S T E R N v s . M I N N E S O T A "We knew we were going to go through some growing pains with a four-year starter Clayton Thorson) being graduated. Did I, could I, would I, should I have anticipated that our play would be this inconsistent? Nah, not really. But once we saw that it was we tried to do some things a little differently. But we can't have the quarterback play the way it is right now and expect to compete to win games consistently and compete to win championships. It goes to preparation mentally. Film study. Prep. Understanding the ins-and-outs of the offense. Where to go with the ball, where not to go with the ball. Then competition, right. We were close at the beginning of the year. TJ's injury obviously was pretty catastrophic. He was our most experienced guy. But those are all excuses. We've got to do a better job coaching 'em. We've got to do a better job developing 'em. And obviously we will add competition to the room too. The best person has to play. The most consistent person has to play. Not the media-anointed one. "We'll see how things progress. But as I talk about how we'll get things fixed, that's the number one room that I will get fixed. Period. End of discussion. All those guys are great kids. But they weren't prepared for what it takes to be the starting quarterback and it shows. And it shows. A little bit of it is inexperience. A lot of it is snowball negativity. They didn't play very well and then they lost the trust in themselves and their confidence. We're trying to pump their tires to the best of our abilities. We're trying to give them some things. But it just keeps going down, a negative snowball. We just we're able to help them get it turned around. "I believe in all of them. I believe they're all good enough to help us win. Andrew (Marty) and Jason (Whittaker, a redshirt freshman) are chomping at the bit for an opportunity. Aidan and Hunter, the guys who have played, have got to prepare better, and they've got to perform better, and we've got to coach them better." Since there has not been much improvement over the year, why is he confident the fix can happen?