DMN's Chuck Carlton gives his take

[George S. Patton]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... c2880.html

[ponyinNC]

beat me to it...good article

[BRStang]

Geez. This whole thing just makes me nauseous. Lucy seems to have pulled the football and the season hasn't even started. Oh well.

[lwjr]

Pretty good article. I don't think there is anything new that has not already been discussed on ponyfans.com.

[jtstang]

Eventually Mitchell and/or Smith may get SMU to six wins and a bowl, just probably not this season.

I have to admit, when we signed Jones up, my natural inclination was to hope for a little more than that.

[BRStang]

Eventually Mitchell and/or Smith may get SMU to six wins and a bowl, just probably not this season.

I have to admit, when we signed Jones up, my natural inclination was to hope for a little more than that.

Me, too. But, alas, snakebit.

[chillinfool]

"Eventually Mitchell and/or Smith may get SMU to six wins and a bowl, just probably not this season."

That last line is the killer, because he's more than likely right

I was hoping for a lot more this season with the chemistry between JW and Sanders, and Martin's new attitude along with an improved Def.

[mrydel]

"Eventually Mitchell and/or Smith may get SMU to six wins and a bowl, just probably not this season."

That last line is the killer, because he's more than likely right

I was hoping for a lot more this season with the chemistry between JW and Sanders, and Martin's new attitude along with an improved Def.

Sanders has indicated he is ok with the naming of Bo and works well with him. He was very complimentary of Bo's on field leadership.

[Hoop Fan]

what else can sanders say? more likely than not the upperclassmen are looking around thinking to themselves WTF?

You start a freshman qb when you have to, not by choice. The only way this is a good decision is if Mitchell plays very very well right from the start. anything else and it would have been better to ease him into it. Why not start with Willis and if he doesnt get it done to Jones satisfaction after a few weeks switch to the freshman? that would be better for all involved 99% of the time, most of all the freshman to keep the pressure off of him. what happens to his confidence now if it goes badly and willis comes in mid way through the season? you've ruined two guys and perhaps thrown a season away in the process.

Oh well, win at Rice and all will be well for the time being.

[jtstang]

You start a freshman qb when you have to, not by choice.

Hoop Fan, I understand what you are saying, but if your upperclassman is not picking up the new offense, it's not by choice. The more I think about it, this is the only scenario where the decision makes sense.

[George S. Patton]

To all the Justin Willis backers, based on the information we have from June Jones and for some of you who watched him in practice, would you have preferred Jones turn to a veteran who was supposedly struggling with this offense and not making the right reads causing these plays to break down?

Right or wrong on Mitchell and Smith, they may get their fannys handed to them but through the workouts, they showed the best grasp of the offense.

In this offense, your QB needs to stay with the play and not create a variation from it. If the latter occurs, why was Jones brought here?

I just hope POPS can stomach it.

[Hoop Fan]

You start a freshman qb when you have to, not by choice.

Hoop Fan, I understand what you are saying, but if your upperclassman is not picking up the new offense, it's not by choice. The more I think about it, this is the only scenario where the decision makes sense.

maybe so, but no matter how impressive a freshman has been in practice, gametime is a different matter, especially on the road.

I can imagine a scenario where mitchell has a great game and we beat Rice. I just think its far more likely that he has freshman, return to his hometown jitters in his first game and throws 4 picks. what is more likely? thats all i am looking at and its hard to swallow to start the year.

[SmooBoy]

What if we're getting toasted by the 3rd quarter and both Frosh have thrown 4 INTs combined. Does June throw Willis in then for the past experience factor, or does he simply let them take their lumps and get their own experience?

I don't think JJ wants to see us get blown out on TV with Temple and Army being the only other game on. We will get the casual fan and recruit looking to see how JJ is doing with our past (and current) baggage.

[jtstang]

maybe so, but no matter how impressive a freshman has been in practice, gametime is a different matter, especially on the road.

Yes, but I am talking about the converse of that...no matter how the freshmen looked, the upperclassman must have been lost. Couple that with his spring suspension, and you get a true freshman starting at Rice. That is the only thing that makes sense.

I still find it hard to believe that the all time TD leader has fallen to third on the depth chart....

[George S. Patton]

You start a freshman qb when you have to, not by choice.

Hoop Fan, I understand what you are saying, but if your upperclassman is not picking up the new offense, it's not by choice. The more I think about it, this is the only scenario where the decision makes sense.

maybe so, but no matter how impressive a freshman has been in practice, gametime is a different matter, especially on the road.

I can imagine a scenario where mitchell has a great game and we beat Rice. I just think its far more likely that he has freshman, return to his hometown jitters in his first game and throws 4 picks. what is more likely? thats all i am looking at and its hard to swallow to start the year.

Yes, and it worked out for us twice on first and goal at the Rice 1 two years ago -- WITH A BOWL GAME ON THE LINE!!