COLUMN: Radcliff a good quarterback but needs to improve running ability

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Filling the shoes of someone who did something great isn’t usually an easy task.

In the case of quarterback Ryan Radcliff, he’s attempting to fill clown-sized shoes when it comes to former quarterback Dan LeFevour.

The numbers show Radcliff isn’t what LeFevour was, but he doesn’t have to be. All he needs to do is lead the football team to victories.

To do so, he needs to improve two parts of his game.

No. 1. Radcliff needs to throw the ball away. This past weekend he threw a few balls into coverage that shouldn’t have been thrown in the first place.

It reminded me of a crowd trying to catch a brides bouquet at a wedding; just throw it up and let’s see who comes down with it.

This might be why he threw as many interceptions as touchdowns last season and continues that trend (three touchdowns, four interceptions) this season.

Throwing the ball away eliminates the amount of interceptions and increases the amount of Central Michigan possessions, ultimately giving it an increased chance of winning.

No. 2. Tuck and run the football.

I know he’s a quarterback; I’m not asking him to transform into Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, but just add running to his attack. It’s better to have too many options than only having one.

The offense isn’t calling for any speed or power options anytime soon and that’s not what I want to see. I just want the occasional “Oh hey, nobody’s open. I think I will run for the first down.”

A mix of throwing the football away and running when nobody is open could pay large dividends for the Chippewas.

LeFevour’s ability to pass and run kept opposing defenses on their toes. He kept team’s guessing like a pitcher in baseball.

Radcliff said it best after the Kentucky loss.

“We were balanced the first half, run and pass.”

He doesn’t necessarily need to hand it off for rushing success. He can control his team and take it upon himself, when the situation calls for it.

There is a lot of criticism about Radcliff’s play from CMU football fans, but I’m not one. He’s a good quarterback at this university, but can be a great one.

The run game was effective in spurts against UK, but became too predictable as the game went on.

A key play in the game against the Wildcats was the fourth and inches decision on CMU’s own 34-yard line that head coach Dan Enos chose. People question his decision because it failed. I don’t question his decision to go for it, I question his play call.

UK found itself on the CMU one yard line up 20-13 with 5:42 remaining. Similar to Enos, Kentucky head coach Joker Phillips went for it.

Once again people questioned the decision because a field goal makes it a two possession game with just over five minutes remaining. I question it for that, but do not question the play call.

Junior quarterback Morgan Newton ran a naked bootleg to the right — walking into the end zone — sealing the fate of the Chippewas.

Newton’s ability to run the football kept the CMU defense guessing. Radcliff’s inability to run allowed the UK defense to assume, and it did just that, stopping sophomore running back Tim Phillips for no gain. Both team’s lined up tight, but one was predicted, the other was not. One quarterback ran effectively, another didn’t run at all.
It made a difference, and will until adjustments are made.