QB Situation (Year 4)

[sbsmith]

Hard to "snap and clear" when you have to

"snap, bend over to catch ball at shin, stand back up, read, try to not get sacked, clear"

I was impressed that we didn't have a huge loss due to a poor snap, I figured one was coming in the 4th the way things were trending.

[ojaipony]

He missed 2 TDs and got 2 of his receivers injured by overthrowing 2 terrible balls. Having said that, everyone is entitled to a bad game. Let's move on. This was the game to lose but can't lose any the rest of the way (except Navy) if we want to play in the CUSA championship game, which would be a rematch of this game. We came out flat and the QB played atrocious and we kept it close until the end. The character of this team will be settled next week in Tulsa.

[redpony]

ojai- any QB needs a little time in order to scan his receivers and set-up to pass the ball. Last night the O line got their butts handed to them and the QB had no time. On a couple of plays the defensive player was in our backfield almost before the ball was. Not defending JJMcD' s lack of accuracy as that has been a prior problem. If KP had been in there he would have gotten killed as he takes more time to pick a receiver than JJ does. JMHO.

GO PONIES!!!

[Alaric]

JJ's made some progress. Unfortunately, this offense (whichni love), is very dependent on qb play. Just disappointed June didn't take 2 qb's each of the first 3 years he was here.

[CalallenStang]

He missed 2 TDs and got 2 of his receivers injured by overthrowing 2 terrible balls. Having said that, everyone is entitled to a bad game. Let's move on. This was the game to lose but can't lose any the rest of the way (except Navy) if we want to play in the CUSA championship game, which would be a rematch of this game. We came out flat and the QB played atrocious and we kept it close until the end. The character of this team will be settled next week in Tulsa.

The pass to Thompson was perfectly placed. The USM DB simply made an amazing play and a huge hit. That was not on McD.

The DJ injury...yeah that was a bad throw.

[sacklunch]

Just my 2 cents that I've been saying all along: Construct an offense to our strengths. We had 2 great RB's last year, a phenomenal one this year, a top in the country o-line. Along with about 5 playmaking WR's.

I'd love to see more of a prostyle offense.

On the other side of the ball, I think we've done a great job constructing a defense around our great players.

[rich59]

PonyPatrol, you are right on with your post. With a good QB, accurate with a little ability to make a play with his feet, we had the opportunity to have a good team this year. As it is, we will win seven maybe eight and go to some second rate bowl. Those who want JJ to taylor our offense to the talent-you must be dreaming. He is a pure run and shoot guy and he won't change. I just feel sorry for the defense because of how long they have to stay on the field and how often they inherit poor field position.

[GRGB]

He missed 2 TDs and got 2 of his receivers injured by overthrowing 2 terrible balls. Having said that, everyone is entitled to a bad game. Let's move on. This was the game to lose but can't lose any the rest of the way (except Navy) if we want to play in the CUSA championship game, which would be a rematch of this game. We came out flat and the QB played atrocious and we kept it close until the end. The character of this team will be settled next week in Tulsa.

The pass to Thompson was perfectly placed. The USM DB simply made an amazing play and a huge hit. That was not on McD.

The DJ injury...yeah that was a bad throw.

Jj looked at him the entire play. Had he looked off the D to the right the db would not have been there.

[GRGB]

Jj had a bad game, and the OL didn't help with illegal procedures and allowing the pressure so many times.

Did everyone expect us to go 11-1?

Let's see how we do this week. Kinney is a good qb but doesn't have the wheels of this guy. Our D should be a little better against him.

[CalallenStang]

He missed 2 TDs and got 2 of his receivers injured by overthrowing 2 terrible balls. Having said that, everyone is entitled to a bad game. Let's move on. This was the game to lose but can't lose any the rest of the way (except Navy) if we want to play in the CUSA championship game, which would be a rematch of this game. We came out flat and the QB played atrocious and we kept it close until the end. The character of this team will be settled next week in Tulsa.

The pass to Thompson was perfectly placed. The USM DB simply made an amazing play and a huge hit. That was not on McD.

The DJ injury...yeah that was a bad throw.

Jj looked at him the entire play. Had he looked off the D to the right the db would not have been there.

Probably true, but regardless, it wasn't an "overthrow" or a "terrible ball"

[Stallion]

watch the replay-Thompson was running free and uncovered for about 15 yards-problem was not that he didn't look off the Safety-the problem was he didn't deliver the ball on time. since when do you have to "look off" a wide open receiver who is running uncovered. You just have to deliver the ball

[SoCal_Pony]

Like JJ as our coach, but am disappointed in the QB and WR situation after Year 4, and it is not just who starts, but who backs up the starters.

Yr 1 - true freshman BLM, JWill moved to WR, there is no backup.
Yr 2 - BLM, backup is true freshman Padron, who luckily for us, performs well.
Yr 3 - Padron and no backup, therefore we stick with him even though he has an off year.
Yr 4 - Lack of backup gets exposed, McD is average at best. FINALLY land our future QB, took 2 years too long. BTW, we are 5-2 because of our D, which JJ has done a great job of recruiting.
Yr 5 - God help SMU nation if Padron throws 2 picks in the 1st half of game 1, who is our backup?
Yr 6 - 'Maybe' QB situation is settling, assuming Gilbert performs, otherwise reliance on freshman / sophomores.

Then there are our WRs, look at the yardage by PB vs JJ recruited players, PB wins by a mile, the only real contribution by a JJ player being DJ. And for the record, JJ has spend plenty of schoolie capital on this position, simply not getting results.

Conclusion - for a RnS guru being paid top $$$, I expect more from our passing game.

[PerunaPunch]

Those who want JJ to taylor our offense to the talent-you must be dreaming. He is a pure run and shoot guy and he won't change.

I certainly thought that after year 1 of the JJ era. But what impressed me about June was that in year two, he absolutely tweaked his offense by adding a huge dose of Shawnbrey to the menu. That has continued with Zach Line as a featured part of the offense moreso than a added blocker like the backs often were in Hawaii. Since June got here, the "shoot" hasn't been up to par. What's impressed me has been his willingness to tweak his system to produce wins now.

[San Antonio Mustang]

As to Saturday night I think the whole team had an off night. Or maybe they had a normal night and the prior big games have been exceptional nights. Either way they did not play like they have been. I don't know why. They may have been reading their clippings, they may have been cocky because of all the AQ talk, they may have underestimated their opponent, and certainly a talented and mean USM team had something to do with it. Whatever the reason it looked to me like they approached this game like Nevada did in the Hawaii bowl with similar results.

As to the QBs, this is what I think I have observed. June pulled Padron, because he reverted to what he did last year - staring down the receivers, not making progressive reads, slow thinking, slow to pass. In the whole off season and fall practice he had not improved or learned anything. Now will sitting on the bench cause him to apply himself and grow and learn? I don't know, but I think June thought it was his best chance instead of playing and continually repeating the same mistakes.

One of the things witch has made JJ successful is he is actually doing three things that Padron did not do - he makes progressive reads, he looks off the defenders, he makes convincing fake hand-offs and pump fakes. What I would like to see him improve on is - reduce the time it takes for him to decide, throw with more velocity, throw with more accuracy.

I am slow to second guess June's evaluation of talent, particularly when it comes to quarterbacks, but I don't think he has yet recruited the quarterback he needs. Maybe it is because it is the best he can do, but I would think he could get a 4 or 5 star passing quarterback and he hasn't.

[The PonyGrad]

Yr 5 - God help SMU nation if Padron throws 2 picks in the 1st half of game 1, who is our backup?
Yr 6 - 'Maybe' QB situation is settling, assuming Gilbert performs, otherwise reliance on freshman / sophomores.

YR 5 will have a RS Soph and RS Frosh backing up, with Padron. That's better that the past (except for JJ being here)
YR 6 Gilbert(?), RS Soph, RS Junior, plus highly touted FR(?) That would be a solid group.