DMN: 3 QBs may play Saturday

[PonySoprano]

While I am completely against the idea of rotating QBs (who was it who said, "if you have 2 Quarterbacks, you have no Quarterbacks."?), let's look at this from another angle.

Going into this season, we have only one QB who has taken a Division I-A snap. Hopefully Chris will be the leader of the offense and will be productive this year. However, if he gets hurt (knock on wood), it would be nice to have somebody to come in to back him up who has some game experience. So why not give Eckert and Romo the opportunity to get that game experience before we start conference play?

In Coach Burns' offense, tempo and momentum are key factors to success (be ready to see no-huddle/quick huddle offense on Saturday). So if Chris has the offense humming on Saturday, there is no way he should come out. Also, if the game comes down to the 4th quarter, Chris should be the guy in there leading the team.

But if Saturday gets lopsided (either way!!) I think that would be a good opportunity to get Eckert and Romo some experience in running the offense in a real game - just in case.

Chris is the guy, but it would be nice to have that game experience on the bench.

[Hoop Fan]

Fred, its crazy and it will never happen. 2 maybe, 3 is just insane. Bennett must think thats a good way to get all the qbs mentally focused on the game or something.

[giacfsp]

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

YES! Thank you.

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.

True - I'm with everyone who says we need some game experience, but remember, if Phillips plays the whole game, it's not like we have a couple of high schoolers on the bench. Both Romo and Eckert have played in JUCO, and while that's not D-I, it's a lot better than HS. Those two have some experience against guys with college size and speed, etc., so they'll do better than other (past) relief pitchers we've thrown in there who have no idea what they're getting into.

[PonySoprano]

Another possibility is that Coach Bennett is putting this out in the press to keep the Raiders off balance in their game planning, so they don't know exactly which QB to prepare for. . .

[Techsan-81]

I think this is a bad idea for SMU. Contrast this to Leach's philosophy--once he picks a guy, that guy stays in until he can't walk (see B.J. playing last year with a torn ACL).

Maybe Bennett has some motivational reason for making this announcement, but if I were Phillips, I'd be a little miffed. Plus I think the continuity and consistency in cadence, throwing style, and just familiarity with the receivers is hurt when you have different guys in there every other series or quarter.

I know Phillips can move pretty well--what about the other two? I expect Tech's defense to put a LOT of pressure on the SMU QB. Whoever it is had better be able to escape pressure.

[giacfsp]

Good point. Tech can break down all the Cincinnati tape in the world to anticipate what we'll do, but until they see how our personnel fits in his scheme, and as conservative as the scrimmage was, they really can't guess what the offense will look like. TCU and the rest of our opponents will be much better off preparing for our offense once they have a game tape to look at.

I've always thought Coach Bennett was sometimes a little too honest in the press. Maybe this is an indication he's learning to use the media to his benefit. Let's hope so.

Go Ponies!

[The PonyGrad]

I guess we will need to hear it from the Coach as to what he is thinking.

What if each QB was focusing on different aspects of the offense so as to get the whole package on the field quicker? Just a wild suggestion. I think it takes wild ideas to figure why 3 QBs would be planned in advance for a game.

[JasonB]

Okay, all you chicken littles out there, listen up .

We have three QBs, one of whom is a true sophomore but still has the most D-1 game experience.

From a coaches perspective, the games that really "count" are the conference games. We have a chance to win those games, and we want to give us the best chance to win.

All three out of conference games are against very difficult opponents, and we have a young team. The odds will be against us winning any of the three games. We want to make it as close as possible, but the odds are against us.

So, from a coach's perspective, I want to give all three of my guys a shot. All three have pros and cons - Phillips is more confident, and is the most athletic, but is inaccurate and makes some poor decisions. Romo has a good arm, and is mobile, but make also make some poor decisions. Eckert is the best passer, but not as mobile.

So you plug em in to the different games and see how they do. You test them at home and you test them on the road. These first three games are going to be used to provide the team with experience so that we can get the best team out there on the field once we hit the conference schedule.

That is why you are going to see more QB rotation than normal, you will see more OL rotation than normal, you will see more DL rotation than normal, and you will see the kids play in the secondary more than you normally would.

By making an announcement like this before the games, Bennett is informing his team of the plans ahead of time, so that nobody gets discouraged when they get pulled out of the game. Obviously, if someone gets on a roll, they are going to stay out there longer.

But the point of such a move is to be able to get the strongest team out there once we get to the conference games. And you aren't going to find out who your best QB is by having Phillips in there until the score is 35-14, and then putting Romo/Eckert in against Tech's third team. You will find it out by rotating early on and seeing what happens.

I expect that by the time the SJS game rolls around, we will have our DL, OL, and QB situation settled on, and rotations will decrease dramatically.

[FRED]

I disagree with a few things but know where you're coming from.

We are not going to win the conference. You know it and I know it. I agree those game are more for the taking. But at some point we've got to make a showing in September. We lose at least half our fans that month every year. I would imagine the players are sick of going 0-4 too. Yes, I know it's a problem with scheduling. But screwing around with 3 QBs under the guise of getting ready for conference play does not seem worth the downside. We have experimented with rotating QBs for years and the end result is we never decide on one, or we decide on one for 2 games and then go back to the other one. Stability- and not creating 3 guys with a little experience- HAS to be the goal.

Our coaches have had plenty of time to evaluate these guys, albeit not in a game situation. We are not the only school in the country with QB problems, but I'll bet you we're the only one planning on playing 3 in the first game.

[PonySnob]

If SMU is only going to start trying to win confernce games, then lets go ahead and start playing all non-conference games on the road for big payouts. Put Nebraska, ND, Ohio St, etc on the schedule - at least it would help the cash-starved athletic department.

[giacfsp]

Careful, ponysnob, you might actually have an idea some folks will agree with.

[PK]

The operative word in the original quote from the DMN is "may"...we may play 3 QB's...it did not say we will play 3 QB's. Chill folks.

[KnuckleStang]

The operative word in the original quote from the DMN is "may"...we may play 3 QB's...it did not say we will play 3 QB's.

Call me crazy, but it just sounds like a motivational tactic to me, keeping the heat on Phillips. I will be astounded if we see 3 QB's in the game early on Sat. night, but if we do, I would assume it was Burns' decision, not Bennett's. He's supposed to have "complete control" in all the offensive decisionmaking. That was part of Bennett's pitch when he was hired.

[ponydawg]

I am very excited to see some of the spread no huddle O, and think we will be very happy come Wac play, But it worries me that this is same kinda O that tech pretty much runs and therefore is what there defense practices against a lot. So they will know it pretty well i would think. Hopefully burns will surprise them and us!
Go ponies!

[jtstang]

Bottom line--rotating QB's is just a bad idea, and putting it in the paper the week before the opener (whether the "operative word" is may, will, must, might, shall, or otherwise) is equally stupid. Expecially if your young starter is confident. It sends the wrong message, and soon the confidence will wane, etc., etc. If Phillips should be the guy, Bennett should say barring injury he will stay the guy.