2 year extension with no buyout after 1 year/ salary reduced

[skurtn]

I think this is why I tend to believe JasonB (and a few other folks) more than most. When they respond to criticism, they don't act like they know everything, don't resort to ridicule, and actually form compelling arguments about why they believe something.

Thanks JB

[Webmaster]

I know you guys are probably sick of me going on like a broken record, but I do go to practices (not as much as PonyPride, but I do go) and I've been covering the Ponies in one capacity or another since the early '90s. The rumors that this team is devoid of talent is simply incorrect. To my eye, the team is bigger, faster and more athletic than any we've had since the Death Penalty. It is obvious to me that we are recruiting a different type of athlete.

I saw the cluster on the O line coming years ago when it seemed like every other kid we were offering was a slot receiver and not somebody BUS could get excited about. I point a finger at the fact that most of our starters aren't upperclassmen. What is the reason for that (rhetorical question)?

[sail420s]

The only problem about judging talent in practice is that if your defense looks good, is it because they are good or is it because your offense sucks? Or vice versa.

All I know is that if your best rusher, passer, and punter are the same person, that is a bad sign.

If your best offensive player and your best defensive player from the last game is the same person, that is also a bad sign.

[East Coast Mustang]

I know you guys are probably sick of me going on like a broken record, but I do go to practices (not as much as PonyPride, but I do go) and I've been covering the Ponies in one capacity or another since the early '90s. The rumors that this team is devoid of talent is simply incorrect. To my eye, the team is bigger, faster and more athletic than any we've had since the Death Penalty. It is obvious to me that we are recruiting a different type of athlete.

I saw the cluster on the O line coming years ago when it seemed like every other kid we were offering was a slot receiver and not somebody BUS could get excited about. I point a finger at the fact that most of our starters aren't upperclassmen. What is the reason for that (rhetorical question)?

I hope you're right, but riddle me this-

Who replaces Rambo and Pope at ILB next year?
Who replaces Acker, the only bright spot in our atrocious secondary, at CB next year?
Who replaces Gottshalk, one of the few solid performers along our lackluster OL next year?


Also, while I still think Burcham is going to be a good QB for us, there's going to be a tremendous drop off in talent from GG to him in 2014.

[sbsmith]

Don't worry Spring Practice always seems to provide an incredulous amount of breakout stars guaranteed to outperform their predecessors.

[ghost]

Better make sure you can get someone who is better and the staff too before you get rid of this guy. What coaches do you think would want the SMU job and the limitations that come with it......small supportive fan base with high expectations. From the outside it looks like he has done a great job but from the inside people think he could have done so much better with a better effort in recruiting and uniting fan base instead of not having much of a public persona around the State of Texas and its high school coaches.

[ponyboy]

It is obvious to me that we are recruiting a different type of athlete.

Recruiting or creating? If recruiting, JJ is truly good at identifying diamonds in the rough. I think it's a combination of that and the fact that he's just good at taking average talent and developing it into something above average, in some cases extraordinarily above average.

[SMUer]

And yet QBs actually seem to regress under June's tutilage...hmmmm

[ponyboy]

Like Garrett Gilbert who was washed up and done and is now looking at being a probable NFL draft pick? Keep hating.

[SMUer]

You are going to use a senior transfer as evidence that JJ can coach 'em up? You honestly think these 5-yard dump passes are why he's getting drafted? No. He'll get looks because he was a former #1 recruit and a Gatorade Player of the Year. And played well in a National Championship game. And his Dad played in the NFL. Scouts don't give a crap about our second half against Rutgers. Bo Levi & Padron both looked worse the longer they were in our system. Burcham looks to be in bad shape.

[ponyboy]

Ok, he deserves no credit for Garrett Gilbert's outstanding year. He sucks at developing quarterbacks. Gilbert peaked this year and would slide in performance every additional year he were to play under JJ. How do you explain the other players JJ put in the NFL?

[SMUer]

All the quarterbacks? Or do you mean the receivers he didn't recruit?

Look, I'll happily give June a lot of credit for seemingly using his NFL connections to place guys like McCann, Moore, Robinson, Davis, LeRibeus on teams. I honestly don't know if they get the shot without those connections. Beasley, Hunt, Sanders and Beachum probable would have been there with anyone at the helm, but I'm sure having June as a reference only helped. Fine. But we aren't paying June to place guys in the NFL, we are paying him for Ws and making us competitive. I don't despise all of June; I just think he completely neglects 95% of his job.

Re: Gilbert's hypothetical regression:

I think June has basically abandoned the RnS. We run short dump routes and an occasional vertical streak. It doesn't get more basic than this so I don't know if Gilbert could regress like Kyle or Bo, who I feel were trying to run something seemingly Run 'n Shoot-ish. I don't think Garrett got better, his passes got safer and the receiver reads more simple. That seems like a cop-out but that's what my eyeballs see.

[ponyboy]

Again, JJ is truly good at identifying diamonds in the rough. I think it's a combination of that and the fact that he's just good at taking average talent and developing it into something above average, in some cases extraordinarily above average.

He's good at player development and turning around teams. Why not just give that to him? It'll make you feel better, make you a better person.

And, yes, he really sucks at recruiting and isn't a good SMU front guy. I'll give you that.

And we both want him gone. I'll give you that too. I just don't feel the need for a witch hunt beyond that and will look his days here with good feelings for the guy. I enjoyed it. He's a character and one of my favorites.

[East Coast Mustang]

Again, JJ is truly good at identifying diamonds in the rough. I think it's a combination of that and the fact that he's just good at taking average talent and developing it into something above average, in some cases extraordinarily above average.

He's good at player development and turning around teams. Why not just give that to him? It'll make you feel better, make you a better person.

And, yes, he really sucks at recruiting and isn't a good SMU front guy. I'll give you that.

And we both want him gone. I'll give you that too. I just don't feel the need for a witch hunt beyond that and will look his days here with good feelings for the guy. I enjoyed it.

I've enjoyed the JJ era but will always ask what could have beenn? What if the ASU fiasco never happens, Klemm stays, etc? What if more than 15K actually show up at Ford for UCF game after beating TCU?

[BigT3x]

Like Garrett Gilbert who was washed up and done and is now looking at being a probable NFL draft pick? Keep hating.

GG is not going to be drafted.