All the wise souls on here who think they know what there talking about, have either never played the position or watched film after a game. Your current Quarterback is better than you might think. Loosers love to hate..
Aztecs QB Christian Chapman says criticism 'doesn’t bother me because it comes with the position'
Kirk KenneyContact Reporter
San Diego State’s Christian Chapman is one victory away from becoming the winningest quarterback in school history.
That victory could come as soon as Saturday night when the Aztecs play Sacramento State in their home opener at SDCCU Stadium. Chapman is 23-7 as SDSU’s starting quarterback, equaling the number of wins Ryan Lindley had from 2008-11.
Chapman was pressed into service as a redshirt freshman during the final game of the regular season in 2015. He reported in and guided SDSU to the victory over Nevada. A week later, Chapman helped the Aztecs to a
Mountain WestChampionship game win over Air Force, and a
Hawaii Bowlvictory over Cincinnati followed that.
Chapman’s sophomore season included leading a 99-yard, fourth-quarter drive at
Wyoming to force overtime; a Mountain West Championship game victory over the Cowboys in Laramie, and a
Las Vegas Bowl win over Houston despite playing the final three quarters with a broken thumb.
Boise Stateor last week’s 31-10 loss at Stanford.
The 6-foot senior from Carlsbad High gets criticized for everything from his height and his arm strength to his pocket presence and decision-making.
Among several critical tweets after Friday’s game against the Cardinal was one that said Chapman, in order, “is garbage … short … can’t run or pass … played terrible.”
Said Chapman: “You’re protected by a screen. That’s just sports. Everyone’s a critic. Everyone’s got their own opinion. ...
“I’ve been getting that since my freshman year. The quarterback position is that when you win, you’re hailed, but when you lose you’re taking all the criticism. It doesn’t bother me because it comes with the position.”
Added Chapman: “Take it how you want it. At the end of the day, if I’m winning games and you’re still a critic, that’s fine with me. It motivates me to be better. I have tough skin. Got it from my dad.”
But some of the vitriol that comes in these days of unsocial media can get downright nasty.
By halftime of Friday’s game, one person on a chat board already was calling for the backup quarterback.
Among the comments:
• “Chapman killing us. ... Has no clue what to do.”
• “Christian ... please graduate.”
• “Christian, This isn’t Nevada or New Mexico or Utah St. Gotta step it up. ...That is, if you’re more than the ‘game manager’ that Rocky says you are....”
And those are some of the observations/comments during the game that were printable in a family newspaper.
Much of it was in-the-moment responses to the way the game was going at Stanford.
SDSU had a 7-0 lead midway through the second quarter when Chapman was called for a safety. Stanford scored later in the period and took a 9-7 lead into halftime and never trailed thereafter.
On the play in question, a third-and-6 from SDSU’s own 5-yard line, Chapman held the ball while being chased to the right side of the end zone by Stanford linebacker Bobby Okereke.
“I was thinking, ‘We’re in our own red zone; I don’t want to give it up here,’ “ Chapman said. “But me thinking that extra second let that guy get closer, grab me at the last second.”
Chapman tried to make a little shovel pass to avoid the tackle and safety.
“The ref called it as a fumble, and I fumbled forward,” Chapman said. “You can’t fumble forward.”
SDSU offensive coordinator Jeff Horton acknowledged it was not a good game for Chapman, who was pressured much of the evening and sacked five times.
“Sometimes when we’re struggling like that offensively, you try to create too much, try to force the issue,” Horton said. “Christian’s the first guy (to admit that). He’s made a ton of great decisions for us. I know that’s going to continue to happen.
“No one is immune to having some struggles during the course of a game. He will get back on track. I’ve got no qualms about that.”
While the safety instigated negative chatter online, Chapman did receive praise during a third-quarter possession in which he completed 5 of 7 passes on a productive drive that was stalled by a penalty before the Aztecs settled for a field goal. But the negativity resumed after a poor series.
“I see it for sure,” Chapman said. “I see it on Twitter mostly and sometimes get a message here or there. ...
“I was told I have a weenie arm. Girls throw farther than me.
“Someone said if they ever saw me in public, they would want to fight me.”
Chapman said he takes it in stride, noting that even former star running backs D.J. Pumphrey and Rashaad Penny received their share of criticism. The most notable incident was when Pumphrey wore a Dodgers cap to a postseason autograph signing at Viejas Arena.
“They had it worse than me, honestly, because they were the face of the program,” Chapman said. “Everybody has haters. The best of the best have haters. Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant … I understand that. I know our fans want us to win and expect us to win, so I don’t criticize them for being hard on me because I’m hard on myself.”
Chapman’s solution?
“I’m going to keep winning,” he said. “That’s how I’m going to shut them up. Just keep winning.”
