Justin Willis
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Re: Sky's the limit
And he's playing in a dome-less stadium, whoo hoo, baby! *making tucker honking horn movements*
I agree. This guy had an amazing freshman year (11th in passing efficacy!?!) and is Mr. Offense for SMU. He's reckless as hell but I'd rather have that than the opposite situation. He's having a bit of a Sophomore slump but he'll bounce back. He desperately needs a coach that can refine him/humble him a bit. I'm really not down on Willis at all...although Morstead is this years team MVP (although he starts to stick every time someone gives him accolades).
And he's playing in a dome-less stadium, whoo hoo, baby! *making tucker honking horn movements*
I agree. This guy had an amazing freshman year (11th in passing efficacy!?!) and is Mr. Offense for SMU. He's reckless as hell but I'd rather have that than the opposite situation. He's having a bit of a Sophomore slump but he'll bounce back. He desperately needs a coach that can refine him/humble him a bit. I'm really not down on Willis at all...although Morstead is this years team MVP (although he starts to stick every time someone gives him accolades).
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SMUer wrote:And he's playing in a dome-less stadium, whoo hoo, baby! *making tucker honking horn movements*
I agree. This guy had an amazing freshman year (11th in passing efficacy!?!) and is Mr. Offense for SMU. He's reckless as hell but I'd rather have that than the opposite situation. He's having a bit of a Sophomore slump but he'll bounce back. He desperately needs a coach that can refine him/humble him a bit. I'm really not down on Willis at all...although Morstead is this years team MVP (although he starts to stick every time someone gives him accolades).
I think this year will do the job of humbling him.

Eric Dickerson in Pony Excess
"I've love winning man, it's like better than losing." - Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh
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ThadFilms wrote:SMUer wrote:And he's playing in a dome-less stadium, whoo hoo, baby! *making tucker honking horn movements*
I agree. This guy had an amazing freshman year (11th in passing efficacy!?!) and is Mr. Offense for SMU. He's reckless as hell but I'd rather have that than the opposite situation. He's having a bit of a Sophomore slump but he'll bounce back. He desperately needs a coach that can refine him/humble him a bit. I'm really not down on Willis at all...although Morstead is this years team MVP (although he starts to stick every time someone gives him accolades).
I think this year will do the job of humbling him.
True. Or nothing else could.
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To PB's credit, he told Curry before the game that JW had a problem protecting the football. Curry said he was surprised that a coach would reveal that type of information. I say to PB's credit, becuase this is a situation that is obviously noticed by the coaching staff. I would presume that the coaching staff would take steps to correct such a glaring problem, but maybe the message is not being received by the listner.
Back to fumbling the football, which I think was the original tack of this post. If we get Barnett, and Willis fumbles once, he gets yelled at. If he fumbles a second time, he's on the bench for a quarter regardless of whether he's our best player. If he fumbles a third time, he's riding pine until he decides to listen to the coach. Three or four times last night, he was carrying the football like a loaf of bread. Now the last fumble was really just a ball that slipped out of his hands while passing (funny at Marshall that's an incomplete pass), and the second fumble did occur after he tucked the ball and as he was hitting the ground. His knees were awful close to the ground on that one. That said, he should be walking around with one of those grip strengtheners, and a football tucked under his arm 24/7. As Lombardi used to say at the start of every training camp, "Gentlemen, this is a football."
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EastStang wrote:Back to fumbling the football, which I think was the original tack of this post. If we get Barnett, and Willis fumbles once, he gets yelled at. If he fumbles a second time, he's on the bench for a quarter regardless of whether he's our best player. If he fumbles a third time, he's riding pine until he decides to listen to the coach. Three or four times last night, he was carrying the football like a loaf of bread. Now the last fumble was really just a ball that slipped out of his hands while passing (funny at Marshall that's an incomplete pass), and the second fumble did occur after he tucked the ball and as he was hitting the ground. His knees were awful close to the ground on that one. That said, he should be walking around with one of those grip strengtheners, and a football tucked under his arm 24/7. As Lombardi used to say at the start of every training camp, "Gentlemen, this is a football."
You don't think we should throw him around and tape the football to his hands al la Friday Night Lights?!? Actually, I have to agree that one or two of those fumbles vs Hou were the result of him being stripped while the ball was in his chest and not necessarily a factor of him being careless (good defensive plays). Totally on point with that observation. And agreed, there are drills/exercises that can/should be done to help that. It isn't just a matter of putting your hands on your hips and yelling at him to carry it like a loaf all the time.
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With proper coaching, a player can be taught to protect the ball. Perfect example is Tiki Barber. I've been saying this all season long, SMU needs a dedicated QB coach which would help him. All Burns works on with Justin is knowing the playbook, none of the little things.
The big thing that bugs me more about JW than the fumbles is he makes one play and acts like he just won a bowl game, and when you've only won 1 game it's kinds of sorry to mock the other team. I know he's enthusiastic, but he needs to control his emotions and act like he's done it before.
The big thing that bugs me more about JW than the fumbles is he makes one play and acts like he just won a bowl game, and when you've only won 1 game it's kinds of sorry to mock the other team. I know he's enthusiastic, but he needs to control his emotions and act like he's done it before.
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Curry also commented on how JW's second quarter production decreased, because, according to Curry, JW was too upset with that cooger player--I forget his name. Not sure if that is true or not.
I do appreciate a guy with emotions, as long as they do not negatively influence the team. I also appreciate JW's desire to win.
I do appreciate a guy with emotions, as long as they do not negatively influence the team. I also appreciate JW's desire to win.
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chillinfool wrote:With proper coaching, a player can be taught to protect the ball. Perfect example is Tiki Barber. I've been saying this all season long, SMU needs a dedicated QB coach which would help him. All Burns works on with Justin is knowing the playbook, none of the little things.
The big thing that bugs me more about JW than the fumbles is he makes one play and acts like he just won a bowl game, and when you've only won 1 game it's kinds of sorry to mock the other team. I know he's enthusiastic, but he needs to control his emotions and act like he's done it before.
Sounds like you are a teammate of JWill and should be addressing the team/JWill with your concerns. The board is no place to hash out your anger. Hell, somebody needs to ger excited!