Eric Johnson Done at SMU

[mavsrage311]

I can see it now. Willis, who runs far too much for a quarterback, will have an injury and Logan Turner or a QB JC recruit from this year's class will get the nod to play QB. Both EJ and Slater will have an enormous amount of egg on their face if this comes to pass. This happened to Meeks when he transferred because he thought that Phillips was the guy. Of course, Phillips got hurt and played very little the next year. Bennett was left short at QB for a couple of years, which cost SMU. Meeks, however, did get the chance to start and play, but he could have been playing at a higher level of competition if he had stayed.

I know a player on the team and he has told me that he thinks Logan Turner is a better QB than Willis, he said he has a much better arm and he will stay in the pocket, not take off at the first sign of danger like willis....so I wouldn't be too worried about the backup QB situation.

At least Logan will have a good shot of a minimum (assuming he redshirts next year) of two years as a starter. Johnson and Willis were in the same class and both redshirted so Johnson's time and chances were going to be limited barring injury.

thats a great point. Eric would've had to settle for being a backup his whole career at SMU. With Slater being a junior next year (I'm almost positive) that means that Eric wouldnt have even been the true backup until his senior year. Sorry folks, but I dont blame him one bit for transferring, SMU degree and all

[PerunaPunch]

I do. What happened to kids coming in and fighting for the starting spot? If all the backups leave, where's the competition?

This is a textbook case of wimping out -- pure and simple

[Charleston Pony]

that was the topic of discussion on ESPN radio yesterday...coaches talking about this generation not being willing to compete. They want the starting job "handed" to them or otherwise are ready to move on. The coaches were complaining about how difficult it is to have a quality back-up QB in today's game

[webfeet]

Its not wimping out, it is that they want to play. Also sometimes the coach will keep his starting QB in the game even when he is doing bad. So if you don't replace him when he is doing bad in a game, when are you? So if your a backup QB and you can be beating the starting QB day in and day out in practice your still not going to play. This can be very frustrating, so you look elsewhere. Now lets look at Justin Willis, freshman of the year, outstanding stats, so if justin is having a bad game, you don't here the fans calling for him to be replaced and if he loses the game, you don't blame him, you call for the coaches head. Sometimes there is aprox 40 pass plays called in a game and JW only throws 20+ and runs the other. The fans don't understand that Justin didn't follow the plan because he ran and gained some yards, maybe even made a first down. Wow justin your the greatest you saved the team you had wonderful stats so the problem can't be you it must be the coach. Fire the coach, but please leave justin in because he looks so good. So now if your one of the back up QB's and don't have any desire to go to the next level then stay the coarse and get a good education. Problem is these kids want to play, that is why they go elsewhere.

[Ponymon]

Justin looked very good until the Rice game and then he looked like a deer in the headlights. Rice had the middle backer assigned to track him everywhere he went on the field. Justin tried to do it all by himself, but with a tracker that wasn't possible. He needed to realize that and start getting rid of the ball to his TE or running back. Hopefully, next year he will let some of the other threats on the team have a chance. If not, sooner or later he is going to get nailed and we might have to take the redshirt off of Turner!

[Stallion]

Rice's DEs also did the best job all year containing Willis and forcing him inside. I was more impressed with Rice's defensive scheme on Willis than I was with any opponent this year.

[mrydel]

Rice's DEs also did the best job all year containing Willis and forcing him inside. I was more impressed with Rice's defensive scheme on Willis than I was with any opponent this year.

I have not gone back and watched the replay, and I do not think I will but I have to believe that Rice had a "spy" on Willis, and if so he was the most efficient player of that scheme I think I have ever witnessed. I seems that there was always someone free right on top of him. Maybe just poor line play by us, great by them or a combination, but he certainly had no room to move as he did in other games.

[Dark Horse]

Rice's DEs also did the best job all year containing Willis and forcing him inside. I was more impressed with Rice's defensive scheme on Willis than I was with any opponent this year.

Agreed: George Chukwu and Courtney Gordon did an exceptional job in that game.

[mavsrage311]

I do. What happened to kids coming in and fighting for the starting spot? If all the backups leave, where's the competition?

This is a textbook case of wimping out -- pure and simple

I understand what you're saying, but the reality of the situation is that with the CUSA Freshman of the year at QB and being in the same class as him, he's not going to have a chance at all to get on the field, and if he does it's because of injury. There are few, if any, coaches in all of America that if given SMU's current quarterback situation, would bench Justin Willis in favor of Eric. I'm just saying I dont blame him for transferring

[nafynop]

Spoke to Eric earlier last week. He didn't say that his decision was completly about football. It seems that there may be other issues that he is taking into consideration. Eric is a very polite young man, and I wished him good luck with his college experience, wherever that may be.

I was also looking at the 2006 recruiting roundup, and Zac Rhodes has good size, and outstanding speed. It may be that Zac could be the one, not only to fill the position in case of injury (God forbid), but also supply the needed competition to sharpen the skills and and increase the desire to be their very best.

[giacfsp]

I agree -- wherever Johnson ends up, I wish him all the best. He chose to come to SMU, and whatever the circumstances are (Justin Willis) that dictated he didn't get on the field, I thank him for making SMU his first choice. Because of that, he'll always be a Mustang in my book, and I wish him all the luck in the world.

I also talked with a coach last spring, and he absolutely raved about Rhodes. How his talents will translate to the college level, but he does sound promising, assuming his shoulder is fully healed.

CAN'T WAIT FOR SPRING PRACTICE!

[Ponymon]

It was my understanding that Rhodes was up for a position change. I assume that they will keep him at QB now given our sudden lack of depth at the position.

[mrydel]

It was my understanding that Rhodes was up for a position change. I assume that they will keep him at QB now given our sudden lack of depth at the position.

And our abundance of TEs.

[bigdaddy08091]

I do. What happened to kids coming in and fighting for the starting spot? If all the backups leave, where's the competition?

This is a textbook case of wimping out -- pure and simple

There are too many schools out there for someone to sit behind a starter for 4 years. It is idiotic. If you have a child going to college and he wants to go where there is a Adrian Peterson or Rhett Bomar, or any other big name, look elsewhere. Eric played against J-Will in HS and thought he was better. HA, HA, HA. Now he must make a change!! Slater is just insurance and he knows that!! Good insurance though. J-Will is there for the next 3 years and will set all the school records and have his name among the greats. Wimping out, no. Being smart, yes!

[bigdaddy08091]

Justin looked very good until the Rice game and then he looked like a deer in the headlights. Rice had the middle backer assigned to track him everywhere he went on the field. Justin tried to do it all by himself, but with a tracker that wasn't possible. He needed to realize that and start getting rid of the ball to his TE or running back. Hopefully, next year he will let some of the other threats on the team have a chance. If not, sooner or later he is going to get nailed and we might have to take the redshirt off of Turner!

When you are the leading passer on the team and leading rusher, I think the coaches game plan may emphasize that you do more than you should. Who else was gonna step up? Massey had his best game of the year, limping on one leg. Rice's defense was not the key, it was our offensive line that did nothing? Rushing three and blocking with five, sometimes six? C'mon man!! Were you there, or were you drunk!!