Mano-A-Mano: the Quarterback Controversy

In light of recent events this weekend — seven interceptions between Billy Ragone and Andrew Holland — we knew it was time to bring back Mano-A-Mano.

Question: Who should start at QB moving forward: Ragone or Holland?

Mike Tony: As crazy as it sounds after watching Ragone throw five picks on Saturday, I still think he should be the starting quarterback.

Let’s face it: Lafayette has Billy’s number. Last year, he was just 8-for-23 against Lafayette with two interceptions and just 91 yards passing.

The rest of the year, he averaged almost 200 yards passing a game with almost a 60-percent completion percentage. And most importantly, he had two game-winning drives that kept the Quakers competitive late into the Ivy season.

I’ll concede that Holland is a better pocket passer. But not by much.

Ignoring the interceptions, Ragone’s stat line wasn’t terrible Saturday: 14-for-23 for 153 yards and a touchdown. What Ragone brings to the table is experience, leadership and intangibles, not to mention his ability to tuck and run. On the last drive of the Lafayette game with just over two minutes left, I would have wanted Ragone in.

David Greenbaum: It’s true that Ragone is the QB here with a first team All-Ivy selection under his belt. He earned that two years ago, but the magic of 2010 is gone.

If Lafayette has Ragone’s number based on last season, then so do Brown, Harvard, and Cornell. In the games against the league’s best teams, he threw six interceptions and only three touchdowns. He’s good in clutch moments, but that’s not an asset if he keeps throwing two picks for every touchdown he throws when there’s an Ivy crown on the line.

Holland gives the Quakers offense the downfield threat it so desperately needs. His pure pocket presence made him much more visibly comfortable than Ragone on Saturday. Ragone didn’t go through his progressions in Easton — he just locked onto Conner Scott and dared the Leopards’ veteran secondary to pick him off. And they did over and over and over again.

For coming in behind the eight ball in a hostile environment the way he did, Holland was impressive. Sure, Ragone’s legs and moxie are too valuable to throw permanently to the sideline, and there’s still room for him in the offense with a hybrid role.

But his spot as starting QB shouldn’t be considered locked down anymore. Not when there are weapons like Conner Scott, Ryan Mitchell and Lyle Marsh out of the backfield who are all capable of stretching a defense in a way that favors Holland’s style rather than Ragone’s.

MT: The whole point of Ragone’s dual-threat nature is the need for surprise. If he is only in for certain downs, then the defense will be ready for the option. Having Holland in takes away the opportunity to surprise the defense.

Also, I don’t think its fair to say Holland was put into a hostile environment. He has taken half the reps in practice and Lafayette had no film on him and no way to know what to expect out of him. Villanova will certainly be better prepared for Holland’s strong arm.

I’ll say this: If Bagnoli thinks his team will be throwing the ball 40 times, Holland may be his man. But that would be crazy. Bagnoli has three great running backs and two decent quarterbacks. He should stick with the man who has already proven himself (Ragone) and keep a balanced offense.

DG: But after much talk of opening up the passing game this year, Bagnoli put his money where his mouth is. Penn threw it 51 times, and Ragone doesn’t fit with that approach.

And just because the defense recognizes a package designed for Ragone doesn’t mean they’ll be able to stop it.

Ragone’s legs have won a few games for Penn over the years. The Quakers now have a veteran offensive line again and using Ragone as a change-of-pace QB now will keep him healthier down the stretch if Holland doesn’t pan out.

And while Holland has been taking a lot of reps in practice, he was still put into the game in a very tough position.

Holland is a confident guy. When you asked him how he felt out there, he shot back quickly, “I’m a senior, and I’ve been around the block.”

Of course Ragone’s the more experienced guy, but those have been some bad experiences lately and it’s good to see Holland’s got some moxie of his own.

Verdict: Ring the bell, no decision. It’s too early to tell how either Holland or Ragone will pan out in 2012. Only Bagnoli can decide this one, and he’s never been a fan of refereeing.