Question RE: BLM's Stamina

[OC Mustang]

I listened to the XM Radio broadcast of the game from WSU's point of view.

It truly sounded as if SMU was on its way in the 3rd Quarter to stepping on the neck and finishing the game. Then two drives and two pic-6s. All of a sudden they are back in it.

What happened on the pics? Were the passes to the flats on the long side of the field? It sounded like it. Somebody comment? Did WSU adjust their coverage in the short side of the field?

I get the impression that BLM starts losing efficiency and effectiveness deep into a game. He still isn't used to putting up 50+ passes a game, and at about 40-45, he starts getting tired, and it's not a gradual tired. Given his "side injury" or "rib injury", it would be worse. I don't know though.

Could anybody who saw this game validate my supposition, or do I have it wrong?

BTW, I said it would be about turnovers. It was. Ouch. It seemed SMU almost had that game in the bag.

[ponyscott]

Or is it that the opposing defense really speeds up the game more in the 4th quarter which makes BLM have to quicken his responses and reads and his game instincts under more pressure which he hasn't quite developed coping tactics yet? The increased crowd noise and all the game 'noise' that the defense dictates makes alot of difference from what he sees and feels in the first half from across the line of scrimmage. The good news is these type of things will only make him much stronger mentally in the future as we have him as our starter whether we like it or not.

[OC Mustang]

I'm fine with him as the starter for nearly 3 quarters yesterday.

If he threw to the flats, though, on the long side of the field...when he's tired, then game management would dictate NOT to do that anymore if he and Coach Jones can help it. I don't care what the option-in-space philosophy is about reading defenses, making that throw is high-risk/medium-reward...ALWAYS. Three things can happen, and two of them are bad...the upside is minimal unless the receiver breaks one.

He reminds me of Carson Palmer's brother who played for UTEP. The kid could light it up, but was guaranteed three pics a game. In fact, Jared Romo's last year (year before JWill's debut), the last game was against the Western champ UTEP before they went to the CUSA championship...and Palmer did exactly that...threw ridiculous yardage and ridiculous pics. SMU won that game.

Coach Jones is quoted as having said something to the effect of needing the QB and receivers to realize how to manage being ahead in the run & shoot, that SMU did not have the deep running game to burn the clock. If that is the case, I am hoping that he is referring to those passes to the flats on the long side of the field and how they were really poor choices.