Week 5 B1G QB Rankings: Coan's consistency, Martinez's big day results in big climb for both

Different head coaches ask their quarterbacks to do different things. Scott Frost puts a heavy workload on Adrian Martinez. Paul Chryst wants consistency and accuracy from Jack Coan.

I know it’s early, but both guys are doing their jobs pretty well so far.

They’re not the only two who have been successful through the first quarter of the season. Plenty of quarterbacks throughout the conference have enjoyed solid starts to the 2019 season. There are a few, unfortunately, who have had a little trouble getting things under control, though.

Let’s go ahead and look at the B1G quarterback rankings after four weeks into the college football season. Due to injury, three QBs will be unranked this week.

Unranked this week (injury)

Elijah Sindelar, Purdue

Michael Penix Jr., Indiana

McLane Carter, Rutgers

11. Hunter Johnson, Northwestern

Last week vs. Michigan State: 15-of-26 — 88 yards — 0 TD — 1 INT

Life has been rough for Johnson to start his career at Northwestern. His first start came on the road against Northwestern and his first B1G game was against a Michigan State defense that’s regarded as one of the best in the nation. For the second time in three games, Johnson was kept under 100 passing yards for the second time in three games. The good news? The only direction to go is up.

Last week: No. 11

10. Shea Patterson, Michigan

Last week vs. #13 Wisconsin: 14-of-32 — 219 yards — 2 TD — 1 INT

Maybe this new offense just isn’t suitable to Patterson and his strengths as a quarterback. Or perhaps his injury is worse than he’s leading on. Either way, he doesn’t look like the quarterback we saw a year ago. Patterson is missing easy reads, throwing into coverage and has a serious issue protecting the football. Things couldn’t have gone much worse than they did against Wisconsin on Saturday.

Last week: No. 10

9. Tanner Morgan, Minnesota

Last week: OFF

The Gophers had an off week so Morgan sits comfortably in the ninth spot with a chance to move up next weekend with Minnesota opening up conference play against Purdue on Saturday.

Last week: No. 9

8. Brandon Peters, Illinois

Last week vs. Nebraska: 9-of-22 — 78 yards — 1 TD — 1 INT

Saturday night’s game against Nebraska was really the first time there have been concerns about Peters under center this season. He consistently underthrew his receives and seemed to be under pressure all night. The Huskers brought the best defense the Illini have seen thus far, which was undoubtedly a factor. Still, it makes you wonder what Peters will do against some of the better defenses in the B1G this season. Guess we’ll find out soon enough.

Last week: No. 4

7. Brian Lewerke, Michigan State

Last week vs. Northwestern: 18-of-31 — 228 yards — 3 TD — 0 INT

Fun fact, Lewerke is one of just two B1G quarterbacks who has thrown for over 1,000 yards through four games this season. Despite some ugly offensive performances against Tulsa and Arizona State, the MSU quarterback has been fairly solid this season. His completion rate is over 62 percent and he has just one interception on the year. Has Lewerke been overly impressive this year? No. But he’s been able to move the football for Michigan State. The problem has been consistently punching it across the goal line.

Last week: No. 7

6. Josh Jackson, Maryland

Last week: OFF

If you thought Temple’s defense was a tough challenge, just wait until Penn State comes to town. It should be interesting to see how Jackson handles the pressure in his first B1G game.

Last week: No. 5

5. Jack Coan, Wisconsin

Last week vs. #11 Michigan: 13-of-16 — 128 yards — 0 TD — 0 INT

Well, well, well, Wisconsin may just have itself a quarterback. It’s amazing how much more prolific the Badgers can be offensively when they have an accurate passer and a guy who is a threat with his legs (occasionally) under center. Coan’s season completion percentage is over 77, he’s one of just four B1G quarterbacks who hasn’t thrown an interception and he registered a 20-yard touchdown run against a tough Michigan defense. His surprise performance early this season has made Wisconsin a legitimate College Football Playoff contender.

Last week: No. 8

4. Adrian Martinez, Nebraska

Last week vs. Illinois: 22-of-34 — 327 yards — 3 TD — 0 INT

Everyone, including myself, expected Martinez to just pick up where he left off last season without so much as a hiccup. That wasn’t the case, but now that the Huskers are four games into the season, he looks like he’s finally in a rhythm. Martinez accounted for a career-high 445 yards against Illinois, throwing for over 300 yards and rushing for more than 100 more. This was the quarterback we expected to see from the get-go. He was a bit of a late arrival, but Martinez may have showed up at just the right time with Ohio State coming to town this weekend.

Last week: No. 6

3. Sean Clifford, Penn State

Last week: OFF

I still really like what we’ve seen from Clifford as a quarterback and athlete through three games. He faces his first road challenge this week with the Nittany Lions headed to Maryland on Friday night.

Last week: No. 3

2. Nate Stanley, Iowa

Last week: OFF

One last touch up game for Stanley and the Hawkeyes this week before conference play really picks up. Iowa was off last week, so Stanley keeps his spot at No. 2.

Last week: No. 2

1. Justin Fields, Ohio State

Last week vs. Miami (OH): 14-of-21 — 223 yards — 4 TD — 0 INT

The human cheat code. Fields turned the ball over for the first time in an Ohio State uniform on Saturday, a fumble that resulted in a safety for Miami (OH). That’s been really the only mistake he’s made this season, though. Fields has accounted for 19 total touchdowns and 1,000 total yards, and he really hasn’t played as much as the other B1G quarterbacks due to Ohio State’s lopsided outcomes. All six of his touchdowns last weekend came in the second quarter, which is just ridiculous. It’s going to be pretty difficult to dethrone this kid from the top spot.

Last week: No. 1