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I have heard a lot of people say that the June Jones' offense values a more accurate passer than one with a quicker release or "deep" ball ability. Assuming that is true, does that make Justin Willis' chances of starting at QB uncertain? If he does not start is there any way we can make him a receiver like the NFL did to Bert Emanuel of Rice?

A) He's not a receiver. He's not as fast or athletic as Emanuel.

B) What makes his chances of starting "uncertain" is the fact that he missed spring ball, and like everyone else on the roster, he has not yet played a single snap for the new coaches. EVERYONE's chances of starting are uncertain.

C) June Jones prizes accuracy above all else. The notion that our QB is going to stand back there and fling it downfield all day is inaccurate - watch a Hawaii tape and you'll see a lot of the offense is in the mid-range stuff (15-20 yards) and then the game-breaking receivers do the rest. Allegedly, our receivers are even faster than theirs.

I still think Willis ends up winning the job, but there's no assurance he will. That is the most important of many positions that remain up for grabs.

Well first I think the point needs to be made that Justin is a very accurate passer. Last year, he was only 58%, but I think most agree that was because he was trying too hard to make something out of nothing. His junior year, which I believe is more indicative of the way he can and should play, he had a 67% completion ratio, which is terrific accuracy.

Justin really doesn't have that 'cannon' arm. Don't get me wrong, I think he can make most of the throws that JJ needs made, but from a velocity standpoint, he's nowhere near (for example) frmr. Mustang Richard Bartel (who had a bazooka).

So I think Willis is the opposite of what you're thinking... He's the kind of QB that might work just fine in a JJ offense. He racks up yardage running not so much because of speed (he's fast enough), but because of mobility, balance and toughness.

Bert Emanuel was a physical freak who could play a bunch of positions and sports. He was absolutely as dangerous on the run as passing. I don't know exactly how fast he was, but he was one of the faster players in the NFL in his era as I recall, so I'm thinking sub 4.5. Plus he could jump (Texas state 5A long jump champ in HS). Willis is nowhere near that fast, so I don't think the comparison is valid.

PonyTales wrote:A) He's not a receiver. He's not as fast or athletic as Emanuel.

B) What makes his chances of starting "uncertain" is the fact that he missed spring ball, and like everyone else on the roster, he has not yet played a single snap for the new coaches. EVERYONE's chances of starting are uncertain.

C) June Jones prizes accuracy above all else. The notion that our QB is going to stand back there and fling it downfield all day is inaccurate - watch a Hawaii tape and you'll see a lot of the offense is in the mid-range stuff (15-20 yards) and then the game-breaking receivers do the rest. Allegedly, our receivers are even faster than theirs.

I still think Willis ends up winning the job, but there's no assurance he will. That is the most important of many positions that remain up for grabs.

yeah Justin is relatively accurate-probably the most accurate passer completion, career wise at SMU since the DP although I haven't checked all the past QBs. But I think I was one of the first to bring up last year that there is sometimes a difference between completions and accuracy. Justin can and must improve to truly excell in the Run and Shoot. The difference in hitting your receiver in stride and simply completing a pass is sometimes the difference between a TD and a 3 yard gain. See Texas Tech's Graham Harrell for a kid who is extremely accurate in the Run and Shoot and whose accuracy makes that offense click. Nevertheless, I believe Justin is our best choice at QB and I think in this offense he will have a completion average above 65-68%. A good QB should expect that in this offense which includes many glorified shovel passes.

PerunaPunch wrote:Well first I think the point needs to be made that Justin is a very accurate passer. Last year, he was only 58%, but I think most agree that was because he was trying too hard to make something out of nothing. His junior year, which I believe is more indicative of the way he can and should play, he had a 67% completion ratio, which is terrific accuracy.

You mean his freshman year, right?

PerunaPunch wrote:Bert Emanuel was a physical freak who could play a bunch of positions and sports. He was absolutely as dangerous on the run as passing. I don't know exactly how fast he was, but he was one of the faster players in the NFL in his era as I recall, so I'm thinking sub 4.5. Plus he could jump (Texas state 5A long jump champ in HS). Willis is nowhere near that fast, so I don't think the comparison is valid.

Right. Bert Emanuel was a 4.4 guy - at least. He was the fastest guy in our conference, and one of the fastest players in the NFL. Willis can move, but he's got to do it with his arm more than his wheels.

I have a feeling Willis won't be the starter at Rice, but I hope I am wrong.

jtstang wrote:I have a feeling Willis won't be the starter at Rice, but I hope I am wrong.

Who do you predict it will be, jt?

MrMustang1965 wrote:

jtstang wrote:I have a feeling Willis won't be the starter at Rice, but I hope I am wrong.

Who do you predict it will be, jt?

Do predictions count as expectations?

(In best Yoda voice) Predictions lead to expectations, expectations lead to suffering....

I have no prediction, not even that it will not be Willis. I just have a gut feeling it won't. I hope I am wrong.

PonyTales wrote:

PerunaPunch wrote:Well first I think the point needs to be made that Justin is a very accurate passer. Last year, he was only 58%, but I think most agree that was because he was trying too hard to make something out of nothing. His junior year, which I believe is more indicative of the way he can and should play, he had a 67% completion ratio, which is terrific accuracy.

You mean his freshman year, right?

DOH! Correct, I meant Willis' frosh year.

A lot of time coaches say things to be purposefully obscure or to motivate players or whatever. But watching the press conference videos yesterday, I did get a feeling that maybe the QB competition truly is open. So who knows?

Stallion wrote:yeah Justin is relatively accurate-probably the most accurate passer completion, career wise at SMU since the DP although I haven't checked all the past QBs. But I think I was one of the first to bring up last year that there is sometimes a difference between completions and accuracy. Justin can and must improve to truly excell in the Run and Shoot. The difference in hitting your receiver in stride and simply completing a pass is sometimes the difference between a TD and a 3 yard gain. See Texas Tech's Graham Harrell for a kid who is extremely accurate in the Run and Shoot and whose accuracy makes that offense click. Nevertheless, I believe Justin is our best choice at QB and I think in this offense he will have a completion average above 65-68%. A good QB should expect that in this offense which includes many glorified shovel passes.

Tech switched to the Run and Shoot? I wonder how that escaped everyone else's radar...

There ain't that much difference.

Run 'n Shoot, Run 'n Gun, whatever.