DMN: 3 QBs may play Saturday

[FRED]

I couldn't find the link, but in the colleges blurb today, there is a report that SMU may play all 3 QBs against Tech.

I couldn't be more against this. We have got to get one of them some experience back there and make one an established starter so he can quit looking over his shoulder every bad series, which has been the case here for about as long as I can remember with disastrous results.

I know it might be difficult to pick between 2, but all 3? After spring and fall practice you can't at least eliminate 1?

If you play 3 quarterbacks you're either killing the other team or getting killed. It's clear we're not going to kill Tech, so I guess preparations are being made for a Tech rout, and maybe another season of quarterback carousel.

[Thumper]

I'm in agreement with you, Fred. It seems from the reports I've read that all three QBs have ability, and that's a nice problem to have. But while we're getting used to the new system, we need to have one guy get as much experience as possible, playing a lot whether we're ahead, behind or tied. It's not going to get any easier with TCU and OSU, and we need to have one guy with the highest possible comfort level.

[jtstang]

I could not agree more--this is the worst thing that could've come out the week before the opener. Wonder where Chris Phillips will transfer to?

[Thumper]

Don't even SAY that!
Sounds like McCown/Luker or Flanigan/Sanders all over again.
Hopefully he'll play so well that there's no reason to take him off the field.
MAYBE play one other QB a little if the game gets lopsided. If it's close, leave Phillips in from start to finish.
See yall on The Boulevard!

[Johnny Rock]

Well said JTStang....I thought the same thing. Obviously, Phillips is the starter so let the damn guy play. It may not matter who plays at QB....SMU's program is on a downward spiral. We are coming off a winless season. Our [deleted] athletic director overshedules us every year with Big 12 teams and non-conference bowl teams. And once again, the coaches are unable to redshirt many of the freshman because of lack of depth and/or talent. We are still being out recruited by most, if not all of the Division 1-A schools in Texas and in the neighboring states for that matter. And our "all talk" headcoach cannot decide who is the best QB on the team. Makes you wonder. Another season...another new offense. I am sick and tired of this crap to be honest. The good teams have consistency in the offensive gameplan (see....TCU, N. Texas, etc., etc.). My prediction.....at most 1 win and Bennett's last season. I do not try to be negative but the facts are the facts. Oh well, another year in hell begins Saturday.

[Hoop Fan]

If thats true, I dont get it at all. I wonder if that was misquoted or portrayed somehow. Nobody goes into a game hoping or expecting to play 3 qbs.

[Eddie P]

Blow it out your [deleted] Johnny Rock.

[gostangs]

The only way we see all three is if we are losing by 30. Just plain stupid to announce this even if you think it is true.

[Thumper]

I can't believe I'm going to waste time answering, but here goes:

.... SMU's program is on a downward spiral. We are coming off a winless season.

No, we've hit rock bottom and are on the way up. That's evident from the improved speed and athleticism on the team.

.... And once again, the coaches are unable to redshirt many of the freshman because of lack of depth and/or talent.

Vincent Chase, DeMyron Martin, Andrew McKinney, Sean Lobo, Kyle Griffin, David Haynes (at least according to the DMN) are all expected to redshirt, barring injuries. And there's some legitimate talent there, too. I'm sure the coaches are tempted to play them, but they realize that the way to really grow the program is to allow some players - even top prospects - grow and train and learn the schemes for a year. I don't know how many of us could have the patience to take guys like this and sit them out for a year, but it's that kind of patience that will allow them to be even better when they do hit the field - with four full years ahead of them.

.... We are still being out recruited by most, if not all of the Division 1-A schools in Texas and in the neighboring states for that matter.

Really? My impression is that folks like rivals and insiders like our class better than Baylor's, Houston and Rice's, and the argument could be made even TCU's (excluding the JUCO recruits, where the Frogs did very well.) And that's coming off an 0-12 season, which leads me to believe our coaches OUTrecruited many schools. If they could land guys like the Chase brothers, Martin, Lindley, etc., coming off an 0-12 year, imagine what they'll get in February after even a couple of wins this year?

.... And our "all talk" headcoach cannot decide who is the best QB on the team. Makes you wonder. Another season...another new offense.

.... So we have a new offensive coordinator and a new offensive system, and you want to doubt Coach Bennett for not being certain of how all the pieces fit before playing a single game? Wow - you've got it all figured out. What's Coach Bennett thinking, considering his options when unveiling a new look? By all means, he should pick his starters in August and never waver, regardless of performance. Good thinking.

.... I am sick and tired of this crap to be honest. The good teams have consistency in the offensive gameplan (see....TCU, N. Texas, etc., etc.). My prediction.....at most 1 win and Bennett's last season. I do not try to be negative but the facts are the facts. Oh well, another year in hell begins Saturday.

We're sick and tired, too. The difference is that what we're sick and tired of is negative bashing like yours. You wouldn't know a fact if it fell from the sky and landed on you. And if you're that miserable, don't go to the games and don't return to this site. Constructive criticism is fine. Pointless bashing helps nobody -- the team, the coaches, the fans or the psychiatrist who I hope is trying to help you get through your issues. I'm just ashamed I got sucked in enough to respond.

[Johnny Rock]

Many of you on this board do not agree with my posts and that is ok. Some of you have called me a 'troll'...not true. What am I you ask? A die-hard Mustang fan. It is very painful to watch the one team I care about struggle year after year after year. Many of my posts are out of frustration of years of losing. However, I always try to speak truths even though my opinions are not the most popular. It is particularly frustrating to watch TCU and N. Texas have success and watch SMU lose. I actually like our head coach. But how can he succeed with our schedule? Brace yourselves for another long year. Unlike many of our so-called alumni and 'fans', I will actually be there to watch.

[jtstang]

I can't believe I'm going to waste time answering, but here goes:

No, we've hit rock bottom and are on the way up.

Now it's my turn to not believe I'm going to waste answering, but here goes:

That's a nice thought but it remains to be seen. If we go 0-fer September again will you feel the same, or will we have hit rock bottom THEN? Fact is, if by "on the way up" you mean ready to win, our early schedule doesn't bode well for those sentiments.

[EastStang]

If we played in the Sun Belt Conference we'd have had winning records. Yes, TCU got the right coach at the right time and have had a decent run. I suspect that Patterson will be out of the door if he gets a decent offer from a big program. He knows what will happen to his team when they have to start playing bad weather games at altitude. There will be no national coverage as they will be the sixth college option to watch at 4:00 on Saturdays behind ABC, NBC, CBS, ESPN, ESPN2. In the meantime, we'll starting getting national games on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

[Hoop Fan]

I can't believe I'm going to waste time answering, but here goes:

That's a nice thought but it remains to be seen. If we go 0-fer September again will you feel the same, or will we have hit rock bottom THEN? Fact is, if by "on the way up" you mean ready to win, our early schedule doesn't bode well for those sentiments.

I'm feeling damn impatient right now for some wins, but I think he said what he meant by on the way up. He said size and speed has noticeably increased. It has from my vantage point too. Its not enough for my taste, but there are some good signs. If we begin 0-3 its not the end of the world. Where I want to see progress is giving TCU all they can handle no matter what and being a 3 or 4 win team in the WAC.

[PerunaPunch]

We are still being out recruited by most, if not all of the Division 1-A schools in Texas and in the neighboring states for that matter.

Just to set the record straight JR, Coach Bennett has received "Top Recruiter" honors in the WAC several times, and from several different publications for his last two recruiting classes (his first class really was mostly Cavan's).

So you can accuse the Pony faithful of seeing the world through Harvard red-colored glasses if you want. But the sports pubs are pretty unbiased (if anything they're somewhat biased against us, since for the most part they couldn't give a flip about SMU). So if they're giving Bennett credit for pulling the best classes in the WAC, you ought to reconsider your position. At least on the issue of recruiting.

[FRED]

Does anyone want to get back to talking about the game this Saturday and the pros and cons of playing all 3?

Bennett said all 3 may even play early. The only team I can even vaguely remember playing 3 QBs in a game (other than injury or rout) was Spurrier a few years ago in Florida. Even with the talent surrounding those QBs, the results were awful.