Start Stone

[BUS]

Stoned...like the disciples. Ready

[Smumba2009]

Two options:

1. Play a quarterback recovering from a concussion and likely other injuries.

2. Give the quarterback of the future meaningful game time to prepare for next season.

Either way we're looking at a best case scenario of a 7-5 or 6-6 season and a minor bowl.

I vote for door #2.

The job of the coaches is to win games. If Stone gives us the best chance to do that, and I think he does at this point, the coaches should start him. I will offer a slightly different, and perhaps crazy perspective on the rest of the season. According to the ESPN power index and Beta rankings we are favored in every remaining game except Tulane. So, if we win out AND upset Tulane, which is all we can control we finish the season 8-4. Now this is where I'm probably going down the crazy path but it is statistically possible, though improbable...Tulane beats UCF... UCF drops one additional game to either Cincinnati or Memphis giving them 3 conference losses. Cincinnati beats Tulane giving them 2 conference losses(with other loss from SMU). Houston already has 1 loss so one more from us and we win tie breaker. ECU loses to Cincinnati or Houston for their 3rd loss. We are in conference championship game against Cincinnati. So I say let Preston play and let's roll the dice. We need help but if we win out it's possible we are in the conference championship game and a decent bowl game.

[Charleston Pony]

The job of the coaches is to win games. If Stone gives us the best chance to do that, and I think he does at this point, the coaches should start him. I will offer a slightly different, and perhaps crazy perspective on the rest of the season. According to the ESPN power index and Beta rankings we are favored in every remaining game except Tulane. So, if we win out AND upset Tulane, which is all we can control we finish the season 8-4. Now this is where I'm probably going down the crazy path but it is statistically possible, though improbable...Tulane beats UCF... UCF drops one additional game to either Cincinnati or Memphis giving them 3 conference losses. Cincinnati beats Tulane giving them 2 conference losses(with other loss from SMU). Houston already has 1 loss so one more from us and we win tie breaker. ECU loses to Cincinnati or Houston for their 3rd loss. We are in conference championship game against Cincinnati. So I say let Preston play and let's roll the dice. We need help but if we win out it's possible we are in the conference championship game and a decent bowl game.

You are correct that SMU could work it's way into a rematch with Cincinnati for the AAC Championship by winning out and having others take the losses you mention. All that matters right now for this team is to regroup and beat Tulsa. Survive and advance time...or it's time to start getting excited about basketball and a new coaching staff and team in Moody.

[JasonB]

If you run into another game like that, you could play Stone against the wind to help the running attack and then TM with the wind.

I kind of think we need to go with a dual QB look and play TM until the offense falters, then swap out PS, and go back and forth. It will be really difficult for the other team because they are different style QBs.

[Smumba2009]

The job of the coaches is to win games. If Stone gives us the best chance to do that, and I think he does at this point, the coaches should start him. I will offer a slightly different, and perhaps crazy perspective on the rest of the season. According to the ESPN power index and Beta rankings we are favored in every remaining game except Tulane. So, if we win out AND upset Tulane, which is all we can control we finish the season 8-4. Now this is where I'm probably going down the crazy path but it is statistically possible, though improbable...Tulane beats UCF... UCF drops one additional game to either Cincinnati or Memphis giving them 3 conference losses. Cincinnati beats Tulane giving them 2 conference losses(with other loss from SMU). Houston already has 1 loss so one more from us and we win tie breaker. ECU loses to Cincinnati or Houston for their 3rd loss. We are in conference championship game against Cincinnati. So I say let Preston play and let's roll the dice. We need help but if we win out it's possible we are in the conference championship game and a decent bowl game.

You are correct that SMU could work it's way into a rematch with Cincinnati for the AAC Championship by winning out and having others take the losses you mention. All that matters right now for this team is to regroup and beat Tulsa. Survive and advance time...or it's time to start getting excited about basketball and a new coaching staff and team in Moody.

Well said

[Charleston Pony]

If you run into another game like that, you could play Stone against the wind to help the running attack and then TM with the wind.

I kind of think we need to go with a dual QB look and play TM until the offense falters, then swap out PS, and go back and forth. It will be really difficult for the other team because they are different style QBs.

I like this idea and while Lashlee has already said Tanner is his starter, hopefully he saw in the Cincy game what mixing it up at QB can do to create challenges for our opponents defensively

[Glenn Sosbee]

If someone here can name one time a dual QB system actually worked in the history of college or pro football, I’d sure like to be enlightened.

[ponyboy]

WoodStrock.

[Glenn Sosbee]

David Woodley/Don Strock
Ok…I’m enlightened!
Very nice

[mtrout]

RL is scared to make a decision to bench a guy who went 7-0 last year.

Nature loves courage. Play Stone. If not, what's the goal? Make the Shugg's bagel bowl so you can bench TM after the regular season and get those oh so sweet extra practices with Stone?

[SoCal_Pony]

If someone here can name one time a dual QB system actually worked in the history of college or pro football, I’d sure like to be enlightened.

Craig Morton / Roger Staubach alternated between plays at Soldier Field.

It worked masterfully.

[Arkpony]

Remember when Ron Meyer benched our starting QB and played the then unknown Lance McEllhaney against #2 Texas in Austin, and the rest is history. I know Ponte remembers that game.

[peruna81]

Staubach/Morton was a train wreck by Tom Landry. So much so that team members did the unheard of and went to Landry and asked for a single QB going forward (Lilly, Garrison, Reeves). Staubach finally went to Landry and basically said "play one of us or trade one of us"

Michigan tried this year to have two QBs...but that is Jim Harbaugh.

Mike Ford was struggling that year, and arguably was never right after that knee injury against TCU. Lance coming in changed the offense to what was the strength of that team...running first, rather than passing with abandon as it was in 1977.

BTW, Ford was HUGE. We played Mesquite in district, and he could take all kinds of hits and keep slinging. Not fun memories, that.

Meyer made a critical change, and a change in offensive scheme as well. We all saw the result.

Go with Stone. Let Tanner heal up 100 %

[SoCal_Pony]

100% correct

Staubach / Morton was a complete train wreck. Landry alternated them between games and eventually as crazy as this sounds, between plays vs the Chicago Bears.

But it actually did work Masterfully.

Because Landry finally understood the folly of dual QBs and after the Chicago disaster, settled on one, Roger Staubach.

Roger the Dodger then led the Cowboys on a 10? game winning streak and ultimately their 1st Super Bowl title in New Orleans vs the Miami Dolphins.

Roger was MVP of that game.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Rotating two QBs really is asking for trouble. Like they say if you have two QBs you have none.

What I think would work great though is to rotate three QBs. Have a first down QB, second down QB, and third down QB and consistently put them in positions to maximize their skills!

Not sure we want to go to three this season though, so I am definitely in the camp of rolling with Stone to see what happens.

Go Ponies!