Spring ball fails to capture fancy of SMU's June Jones

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

If you don't bench BLM after or during the Wazzu game, he's not getting benched

Bo was 2-0 going into Washington State. SMU lost the Washington State game on the road in overtime. At 2-1 and considering SMU's circumstances I doubt most coaches would have benched their starting QB, especially with Padron not ready yet. In fact I bet there would have been screams of "whats he doing? We are 2-1 nearly 3-0!"

[PoconoPony]

Mr. Pony--If you don't bench BLM after or during the Wazzu game, he's not getting benched. When asked after that debacle, Jones said that barring injury Bo was his guy.

I was at the WSU game and the team and BLM played a very good first half. Problem was that BLM simply ran out of physical stamina and then mental focus in the 3d quarter at which time the mistakes started. He was executing the game plan with great precision, patience and those SMU fans present were commenting accordingly and were reasonably impressed through out the first half. At that time no one knew or realized that BLM had a medical condition that greatly affected both his physical and mental stamina. If I were a coach, I would have seen many positives in that game, particularly the first half, and would have had no reservations staying with BLM believing the mistakes were still attributable to lack of experience making reads when WSU changed up their defensive scheme at the half. In my opinion the reality of the situation was the next several games when BLM did not improve and make progress making reads and plays. He continued to start off very good in games and then totally lose his focus and stamina in the second half. Again, the medical thing was having a major impact still unknown to anyone. Never-the-less, Padron was really making progress and the staff began to fully appreciate his skill and the reality that he was quickly catching up with BLM. BLM's injury appears to have come at the perfect time when Padron had just turned the corner with his understanding of the offense. The rest is history.

If you review the statements of JJ and various staff members at the time of the switch, it appears clear to me that they had already come to the conclusion that Padron was the future and it was just a matter of when he would get the chance to lead. They were ready to blow his red shirt at any time and JJ had made that decision at least 2 weeks before the Houston game. Hence, there was no hesitiation when BLM got hurt. One can only speculate what they might have done after the Houston game if BLM had not been hurt. In my opinion, they would have preferred Padron stay a red shirt and that the battle would have been this spring. Padron would have been named the starter and the staff would have called the shot just as they had proved they could do in the Willis situation.

[CalallenStang]

At that time no one knew or realized that BLM had a medical condition

I thought we knew this well before the game. Seems like we knew about it before the SFA game. I could be completely wrong.

[couch 'em]

There was a different excuse for BLM every week starting with the first game. Now we want rose-colored glasses. EVERYONE not on the koolaide knew that BLM didn't have it. It wasn't because of a virus, it was because of a lack of ability.

[mr. pony]

If you don't bench BLM after or during the Wazzu game, he's not getting benched

Bo was 2-0 going into Washington State. SMU lost the Washington State game on the road in overtime. At 2-1 and considering SMU's circumstances I doubt most coaches would have benched their starting QB, especially with Padron not ready yet. In fact I bet there would have been screams of "whats he doing? We are 2-1 nearly 3-0!"

You're counting SFA, right?

[HB Pony Dad]

'nuff said

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

You're counting SFA, right?

Yeah...just like Texas "counted" a win against Sam Houston State
who is the conference rival of SFA.

[Treadway21]

'nuff said

Hate to admit it, but that is very funny.

[Peruna94&07]

[quote="Dooby] No. Practice time is too limited and too valuable at this level. Jones would not have given Padron reps in practice unless he was giving serious thought to playing him. Padron was getting some reps with the first team two weeks before the Houston game. It may have been an attempt to motivate BLM and give him a signal that he should not feel comfortable, but the more likely explanation is that Jones was thinking of playing Padron.[/quote]

No, right back at you.

JJ had too much invested in Bo after dumping the record-setting Willis the year before. To up and say he made a mistake wasn't going to happen.

If you don't bench BLM after or during the Wazzu game, he's not getting benched. When asked after that debacle, Jones said that barring injury Bo was his guy.

It's an interesting question, and we'll never know for sure, but that's my take.[/quote]

I don't know about that, while the Willis/Bo debacle has been discussed at nausem here. I think JJ knew that if he threw Padron in at the beginning he would have another Bo situation. Padron needed some time to get his legs under him. You don't find too many true freshman that start game one turn out to be successful. Too much pressure. In the end I like the way the season turned out. Padron was able to see what it was like to play D1 ball without the pressure and then come in and do something nobody had done in 25 years.

We can second guess JJ but in the end he got the job done. Lets now hope Padron doesn't have a sophmore year like Willis. Remember after his RS Freshman year we all were talking bowl game for his RS Soph year. How did that turn out 1-11. We put Willis to much in the spotlight and pressure, lets hope Padron doesn't feel the same way.

[HB Pony Dad]

Going to the USC Spring game tomorrow and watch what the Lane-ster has in store for the upcoming season!

Fight On!
Pony Up!

JJ is absolutely right that "Spring Games" are "overrated," and his first priority was just getting through spring without anyone falling on a teammate and hurting him.

Went to USC Spring Game yesterday and see why JJ hates the idea...

Mitch Mustain was amazingly good going 19 for 29 for 299 yards and five touchdowns. Mustain caught a pass from Baxter.

Mustain also threw to Stanley Havili on touchdown pass plays of 28, 33 and 50 yards.

Mustain impressed everyone out at the game and left us scratching our heads as to why he is still sitting. His passes were all spirals, right on the mark, and his ball handling skills are amazing, confusing the defense as to what and where the play is going.

Matt Barkley, in contrast, was throwing wobblers all day and he stands with his arm straight out on running plays, telegraphing the play to the defense.

Barkley was scoreless in the first half, but Barkley responded to Mustain's stellar play by connecting with Patterson for a 41-yard touchdown early in the third quarter. But defensive tackle Jurrell Casey hit Barkley on the play, the quarterback's right hand slamming into the defender's helmet.

"Like throwing your hand full force into a wall," said Barkley, who completed seven of 16 passes for 87 yards.

Barkley, who had surgery on his right wrist after last season, lay sprawled on the ground for several moments after the play and was examined by doctors on the sideline. He spent the rest of the afternoon with an icepack on the back of his right hand. A school spokesman said Barkley would be reexamined on Monday. Kiffin removed Casey from the scrimmage for knocking down the quarterback.

JJ=Prescient