Phillips #2

[KnuckleStang]

I just want to throw this out there: Has it occurred to anyone that maybe, JUST MAYBE, the coaching staff, who sees Phillips in practice every single day, has some legitimate reasons, based on what he shows them in practice, for believing his rightful place is on the bench at this time. Is that out of the realm of possibility?

[SoCal_Pony]

I just want to throw this out there: Has it occurred to anyone that maybe, JUST MAYBE, the coaching staff, who sees Phillips in practice every single day, has some legitimate reasons, based on what he shows them in practice, for believing his rightful place is on the bench at this time. Is that out of the realm of possibility?

Out of the realm??? I think that is the most logical explanation.

In the just-concluded press conference PB praised Willis’ “study habits”, I take that as a direct swipe to Chris.

[jtstang]

I just want to throw this out there: Has it occurred to anyone that maybe, JUST MAYBE, the coaching staff, who sees Phillips in practice every single day, has some legitimate reasons, based on what he shows them in practice, for believing his rightful place is on the bench at this time. Is that out of the realm of possibility?

Yes, that is out of the realm of possibility. It is simply impossible for a QB to be worse than the two guys who have been playing ahead of Phillips. It is, in all likelihood, one of those events, which if true, would cause the universe to collapse on top of itself and bring all existence to a swift conclusion at the sub-molecular level. As I am here typing this now, I can only conclude in all confidence that Phillips should be playing.

[SMU Football Blog]

I just want to throw this out there: Has it occurred to anyone that maybe, JUST MAYBE, the coaching staff, who sees Phillips in practice every single day, has some legitimate reasons, based on what he shows them in practice, for believing his rightful place is on the bench at this time. Is that out of the realm of possibility?

You are about the 50th person to suggest just that. Without a doubt, this is the case and really, you are just stating the obvious. No one would suggest that Phil Bennett thinks Chris Phillips is the best QB right now and not be willing to play him. But when you are 1-4, with 7 wins in three and a half years, with an 0-11 season under your belt and a pathetic offense, you lose the benefit of the doubt. When you don't play Demyron Martin against Baylor and then he gets 120 yards against TCU, you lose the benefit of the doubt. When you make seriously questionable coaching calls during the game, you lose the benefit of the doubt. When you have a punt blocked in five consecutive games, you lose the benefit of the doubt. When you put forth a lackadaisical effort at home against a homeless football team wearing their practice helmets and with very few walkons, you lose the benefit of the doubt.

Got it?

[LA_Mustang]

I just want to throw this out there: Has it occurred to anyone that maybe, JUST MAYBE, the coaching staff, who sees Phillips in practice every single day, has some legitimate reasons, based on what he shows them in practice, for believing his rightful place is on the bench at this time. Is that out of the realm of possibility?

Then why doesn’t Bennett come out and say that??? These are young men we are dealing with, not kids. If he feels that Chris can’t handle the criticism, then there is a bigger problem here. But we as fans deserve an explanation. Unfortunately, since there are only about 50 people who care, and no media scrutiny, Bennett doesn’t have to give us the real reason. I may not be a coach, but I’ve seen both play several games at SMU against a very similar level of competition, and Chris Phillips (at least the one I saw in 2003) gives us a better shot at winning. As Stallion pointed out, he is more elusive and stronger than Romo. Romo has proven he can't avoid pressure and sacks.

[RGV Pony]

You are about the 50th person to suggest just that

I didn't know there were that many of us that regularly post.

Truthfully, the last time I remember seeing Phillips play in a game in person (TCU last year), he looked like he was in slow motion to me. Kind of the way someone runs when the grass is much much longer than usual.

[Stallion]

...what gives you the impression that Bennett knows the first thing to look for in a QB. Seriously, he thought Tate Wallis was going to be a star too. These are his QBs-he recruited them-his program will go down in flames because he has no clue on how to analyze QBs. I submit to you that no coach in the country has suffered through poorer QB play than we have gotten from SMU during the last 4 years. So ignore Phil Bennett concerning QB-he's probably just forgot to get in his best QB.

[ponyplayer]

......i was just curious to know if he has lost the benefit of the doubt....

[Stallion]

he lost it with me several years ago on a fall evening in Nevada when he let a very winnable game against Nevada slip away by stubbornly sticking with an incompetent Tate Wallis.

[Nacho]

That Navy game was disturbing as have all but 7 games since then. I would say the Navy game gave a lot of people cause for concern. It was the first game of the new era. Right off the bat we got our clocks cleaned defensively. Little to no improvement since then.

During Cavan we were good defensively and bad offensively. Now we are bad on both sides. Brings a kind of symmetry to the team don't you think. A balance.

[mrydel]

That Navy game was disturbing as have all but 7 games since then. I would say the Navy game gave a lot of people cause for concern. It was the first game of the new era. Right off the bat we got our clocks cleaned defensively. Little to no improvement since then.

During Cavan we were good defensively and bad offensively. Now we are bad on both sides. Brings a kind of symmetry to the team don't you think. A balance.

I disagree here. I feel that the defense has improved tremendously in the past 2 years. Speed has improved greatly. Problem is we can not get the upfront help we need which dictates a "bend don't break" style of defense. This is fine if you have the depth and a break on the sidelines during the offensive time on the field (yes I mean offensive in all possible ways). We lack the experienced depth and of course get no rest for the weary. But all that said, we have improved. But, as some have pointed out, it is very probable that next year could be a step backward unless there are some sleepers in the redshirt group that can step it and pick it up. I am impressed, however, with the increase in speed and reaction that has occured on the defense in the past couple of years. We are not getting beat consistanly on long plays. Just getting beat to death.

[jkflamebo]

agree. the defense this year from what i see is tremendous compared to recent past years. if were losing guys like harper, dd, nnabuife, stansbury, humphrey...there's only one direction the defense can go and that is definately backwards. everyone kept sayin next year would be the year, i always knew this year we'd have the best chance. after the tcu game i thought we had it all, now our offense cannot move the pigskin. it sucks for the guys listed above bc they're playin their hearts out and they're gone next year

[Charleston Pony]

since this thread started as a discussion of Phillips being mentioned as running #2 this week...as for Bennett's comment that he likes Willis' "study habits"...he said something eerily similar about Chris Phillips before he pulled his RS Chris' freshman year. Anyone remember that comment about how Chris was really a student of the game? Doesn't bode well for Justin!

[Caballo]

With a blowout loss in Birmingham, and another anemic "offensive" display by the O, you will see Willis start at home against ECU the next weekend. PB has no need in keeping the redshirt on him if things keep going this route. PB won't be around to see Willis' sophomore season.

[Mare]

if you are gonna throw out stats LA mustang, why did you pick and choose which years to use? How about Phillips 3 games last year? And when was it that "injury" happened? As was stated last year by several people, who saw the injury happen ?, he just all of a sudden shows up to practice, arm in a sling. Big Mystery!! In spring of 04 The two guys went head to head on the clock! Romo is faster. And Bigger or stronger, Romo out lifts him, out works him and definitely out smarts him. Romo has been beat up this year, first because of the Oline, second because we don't have a RB that hits the holes . The opposition keys on Romo and it should be the first clue that he is the guy.