PonyFans.com feature story: POSITION CHANGE

[LonghornFan68]

I told you several months ago he wouldn't be given the opportunity to win the job and the last thing that Bennett would allow would be for Chris Phillips to line up under center during the Red Blue Game. That still doesn't change the fact that we now have Tom, [deleted] and Harry at QB.

I thought Harry was the kicker.

[SMU Football Blog]

Watkins says in the SportSay, "Expect Slater to take the lead by the time the season starts."

[PonyTales]

Chris Phillips is the living, breathing definition of a "team player."

[Charleston Pony]

and it sounds like he also understands that if he is going to have ANY chance whatsoever to play professionally, it won't be as a QB

[mrydel]

I guess in an effort to be an armchair coach, I would say that Slater definitely starts against Tech. Throwing Willis in against Tech could be the end of him from a confidence stand point. I say Slater starts game 1 and 2 but Willis relieves if and when we get into a comfortable game time situation be that in game 2 or 3, and if he performs at all he takes it from there. I agree with Stallion et al that rotating is not the way to go, but my feeling is that Willis is the chosen of the future but he will not start him against Tech.

My disclaimer is that I have seen none of them play high school or otherwise so this is pure speculation.

[Cheesesteak]

Great article by Ponyfans!

Maybe Phillips should be on SMU's "HANDS" kickoff return team.

[MustangFan]

Calvin said in the DMN that he's working with special teams, too -- I wouldn't be surprised at all if he's a part of that hands team, among others.
Go get 'em, Chris.

[PonySoprano]

I told you several months ago he wouldn't be given the opportunity to win the job and the last thing that Bennett would allow would be for Chris Phillips to line up under center during the Red Blue Game. That still doesn't change the fact that we now have Tom, [deleted] and Harry at QB.

I still continue to be puzzled by your unconditional love of Chris Phillips at QB and this conspiracy theory that Bennett has it out for Phillips.

[Stallion]

I'm puzzled why Phillips wasn't given an opportunity to get on the field to win the job and why all you guys are so excited about a group of QBs who can only be described as huge sleepers. Several people are actually giddy about a JUCO QB who completed 46% of his passes-Wow! I'm also not comforted by the fact that Bennett has apparently picked the WRONG QB to start for each of his 4 years here. We have been absolutely routed in recruiting QBs in the last few years-these guys are leftovers. I think we got 3 short 6-1 QBs only one of which has any real mobility-I'll take that guy. What's his name-Tom [deleted] or Harry?

[Fresh]

If you don't earn it in practice, no coach can put you on the field. I don't know what Phillips did in practice, and I'd hazard a guess you don't either, and re-hashing last year's rotation is useless at this point. And I don't recall seeing any comments from anyone that even border on "giddy." I have, however, seen several people who acknowledge that he might be better than advertised, and that because he's a Mustang, they will support him. I've been by practice twice this spring, and he has looked OK to me, albeit in skeleton drills (with no pass rush, etc.) But as long as he wears the helmet with the Mustang on the sides and the jersey with "SMU" across the front, I'm going to root for him to do well. Is that wrong? If Willis plays, I'm going to support him, too, and if Johnson plays, I'm going to support him. Forgive me for being loyal to my alma mater and to the guys who have chosen to play for us.

[dandyfan]

Stallion, he has been given opportunity. His skills are simply not that of a D1 quarterback. He is in the right position now. I hope he excels.

[Stallion]

Well as a freshman in Division 1A Phillips completed passes at a higher rate than the great "Christian Slater" did at the JUCO level and there is no comparison on mobility. And Phillips had ZERO preparation with the First Team offense when he thrown into the position.

[ponydawg]

I had always thought that CP was the future at QB, and that he got a very raw deal being thrown to the wolves his freshman year from the scout team. But I not sure where the conspiracy lies in this whole thing....

Per Calvin W.

"Chris did have shoulder problems that took a while to get resolved. He was throwing the ball well in practice during the season but still needed work on his mechanics. His throwing motion, and the fact that at times he looked disinterested in practice, had some offensive coaches a little concerned."

Heck, and CP being named TE might actually mean he will end up at QB the way things work at SMU.

[Fresh]

Well as a freshman in Division 1A Phillips completed passes at a higher rate than the great "Christian Slater" did at the JUCO level and there is no comparison on mobility. And Phillips had ZERO preparation with the First Team offense when he thrown into the position.

Who called Corey Slater great?
How many times have you seen the WRs and OLs he played with at Dixie State?
How many times have you been to practice to see whether he can move or not?
Do you know that Phillips is as fast as he was when he played QB, considering he now is 25 pounds heavier?
I don't know how Slater -- or Willis or Johnson or Rhodes or any other future Mustang QB -- will play.
But it seems like you have hitched your emotional wagon to Phillips and refuse to give another QB a fair chance. We've seen none of them play, and it's grossly unjust to dismiss them without seeing what they can do.

[feelan]

Well as a freshman in Division 1A Phillips completed passes at a higher rate than the great "Christian Slater" did at the JUCO level and there is no comparison on mobility. And Phillips had ZERO preparation with the First Team offense when he thrown into the position.

That's cute, using the Christian Slater reference, how witty. However, according to your bibile aka Rivals Willis is just as good as Phillips right? Both were 3 stars, both #28 dual threat QB. So why are you so sure that he won't be as good or better than Phillips, especially with a redshirt year under his belt and spring practice?