Taylor Bennett
Venture to the Newsstar if you want more details.
Times Article
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/.../80822031/1001
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Taylor Bennett
Venture to the Newsstar if you want more details.
Times Article
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/.../80822031/1001
Why, why would ANYONE venture to that despicable rag??
Hell no....Quote:
Originally Posted by CaseyDawg
... but thanks for the info.
Saw this on the Times website:
In other news, former Tennessee signee Rolando Melancon did not meet academic requirements this summer and will be ineligible this fall.
Bummer.
I'm proud of Ross for stepping his game up and rising to the occasion. The battle between he and Hardin next year will be an interesting one. He has to like his chances after this experience.
as disgusted as i have been with them, i still think it might not be a bad idea to give them lots of hits on positive Tech articles. skip the stuff they print just to stir things up, but they need to know that covering Tech is a good business move for them.Quote:
Originally Posted by MICKEYS14
They have known that for YEARS ARKBOB-it has made no difference. Many of us have simply forgotten about them.Quote:
Originally Posted by arkansasbob
The article also confirms Melancon is ineligible. So does that mean he will be cut, or will he have another shot if he makes the grades in the fall? (I am inquiring about the POLICY not the LIKELIHOOD of it happening. I realize he has had a year, but what is the actual policy?)
A new article has been posted on www.latechsports.com:
Louisiana Tech head coach Derek Dooley announced Friday that transfer Taylor Bennett will be the starting quarterback for the Bulldogs when they open the season Aug. 30 against Mississippi State.
More...
Discuss it here.
This offense looks to be very balanced and threatening . I think we may have something special with this year's team. We'll give some folks a few surprises, I'm sure of it. Let's make some noise at the opener and get behind these guys in a big way!
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/...o/2211381.jpeg
Picture from latechsports.com
Looks like they are painting the sideline walls gray (or priming them gray to paint a darker color)
talked with someone today and those will be painted blue....Quote:
Originally Posted by qng001
No he's not cut. Dooley said he hopes that Melancon learned his lesson and that he will be a good student and productive member of the FB team from now on. He can still practice with the team.
........I am skeptical.
If he plays even one down for us I will consider it gravy.
so....are we ready to discuss the leason he learned?Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigdog13
The Center and guards should get a real test going against Meloncon on the practice squad.
Hope that he works his butt off and gets eligible for the last couple games and the bowl game. (Same for Jay Dudley)
excellent choice. Experience and an upgrade in talent from recent years. If this guy can get the ball to our playmakers in the right spots when we are not running for 4-10 yards per carry with Jackson and Porter...
Miss State better be prepared to score some points.
Makes our scout squad DL quite the beast, though. :icon_wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigdog13
Nope, tried that. Not going back. They can kiss ol' Rose. :icon_wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by arkansasbob
A new article has been posted in The Advocate:
<img alt="" height="1" width="1">
La. Tech announces starting QB
2TheAdvocate, LA - 18 hours ago
RUSTON — Louisiana Tech coach Derek Dooley announced Friday transfer Taylor Bennett will be the Bulldogs starting quarterback when they open the season Aug. ...
More...
Agreed, whoever we play will have to defend the entire field. I expect to see vast improvement with our air attack.Quote:
Originally Posted by altadawg
I think we are going to have more big plays and a few more int's as well. BUT I also think those big plays will result in more YPC for our RB's and increased time of possesion so even though we will have more TO's overall it will be a more improved offense.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian96
From LaTechSports.com
Quote:
Originally Posted by LaTechSports.com
What I like about Bennett is that this is his senior year. He has experience. He's handled pressure. He won't be intimidated and there won't an "adjustment" period. The dude is gonna come out firing!
Exactly Boxer. And he has seen the type of competition that we will be seeing this year. No surprises for him.Quote:
Originally Posted by boxerdog
Let's hope when he fires it there is someone there to catch it - and hold on to it!!!!! :icon_wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by boxerdog
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dawgmatic
.....And they are wearing a Tech jersey!
Amen!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigdog13
Why the INT concern? Bennett is a MAJOR improvement over what we've had.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigdog13
He threw more int's than TD's last year. He threw two picks in the last scrimmage.Quote:
Originally Posted by TECH88
Which isn't great, but he threw 2 picks in 44 attempts...not a terrible ratio. I think the biggest difference is going to be the speed on D. We play tough teams, but few of them are going to be as fast as Clemson, Miami, and even FSU on defense.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigdog13
Will MSU be?Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnylightnin
Also I 'm not saying he is going to go out and throw 5 picks or anything like that, just that we will probably see a few more than we are used to. Along with a lot more TD's as well. Overall, the ability to open up the offense will be a positive thing. Especially for our RB's.Quote:
Originally Posted by TECH88
Kansas and MSU will be as fast as most ACC teams. MSU will have a very good defense again this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnylightnin
Anyways, I think Bennett will be an improvement.
Don't forget he had a few years in that system and also knew his WR's and OC a lot better as well. I think it would be foolish to think that he will be 100% acclimated at the first game. Especially after not playing in the spring. He is intelligent so he should do fine but I think we won't see his very best in this very first game.
based on what i saw last season, not quite. but their strategy and discipline more than makes up for it as far as passing is concerned.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dawgmatic
I don't know if MSU and Kansas will be as fast. Clemson has absolutely cleaned up the last several years on the recruiting trail.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigdog13
I'm not saying Bennett will be 100% acclimated, but I think one of the biggest issues breaking in a new QB from HS is the speed of the game. We don't have to worry about that with Bennett.
We also have to remember that MSU is going to try and go with a vanilla game plan...they don't want Auburn to see all their blitz packages.
I'm actually more worried about our D than I am about our O. I'm concerned that our lack of depth on the d-line is going to be our biggest issue against MSU. But hey, Spangler put together a dang good plan against Hawaii and MSU is far easier to game plan for.
If we sell out against the run we should be OK. If Weldon is 100% I think our secondary can hold them in check. (within reason)Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnylightnin
I do think there are more questions on defense than I thought we would have at this point. Depth on DL , MLB is Brannon 100%, Can he move quickly, Is he rusty after a year off, Is good is his backup, Is Weldon going to be 100%, How good is Howze/Carter?
I feel a lot better about those questions when Spangler is the one answering them though!!
Me too! I think he's the true "mastermind" on our staff.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigdog13
Guys, he played in a bowl game 8 months ago. I don't think getting "acclimated" will be an issue.
I'll be very surprised if he doesn't have a good game Saturday. BTW, we have better skilled players than Ga Tech.
Acclimated to new WR's, a new HC, a new OC, a new system. He most certainly will need to get acclimated. Playing against our defense in practices and scrimmages isn't the same thing as playing against a solid SEC defense in a real game.Quote:
Originally Posted by TECH88
No team can simulate gameday speed during practice unless you're USC. If he wasn't ready I don't think DD would've started him, do you?
I think Dooley started who he thought was the best QB.Quote:
Originally Posted by TECH88
QB is the least of my worries. Bennett will be fine. He will throw some pics this year, just like every other QB in the nation will. He is a 5th year senior with leadership skills. Hes played in big games and big stadiums. He brings alot to the table. Hopefully, Jenkins will learn under him this year and get a few snaps in so he can be ready next year. Bennett will be a leader and be a big difference in our offense. He is no Rattay, but we aren't chunking the ball all day either. He will be a good game manager for us. I am not even worried about him or our RB's, or or secondary. I'm worried about dropped passes. To me, Beck is the 3rd down man, he has great hands. I'm worried about depth at OL & DL. Our QB situation is fine. I'm sure Bennett has been sleeping with his playbook since arriving on campus. Jenkins is a good second option should something happen to Bennett. We will be fine at QB.
And you are basing this on?????Quote:
Originally Posted by Rooster
You could be right but you could be dead wrong. The best any of us can honestly say about the qb situation is we have no idea what to expect. Anything beyond that is a wild guess. I'm hoping you are guessing right, but you could flip a coin and be just as accurate.
I do think either way we will be better than last year at qb though. How much better?? ........Only Rooster knows.
B/c we have a 5th year senior is a smart guy who has played in big games and big stadiums the last 2 years. I would be uncomfortable with it if he transferrd w/ no expereince playing. Don't get mad when he throws a pic, b/c he will. Its how he bounces back from it on the next series that you will see his leadership. We will be alot better than last year. Not bashing Champion, he did the best that he could. Bennett will be the game manager that we need this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigdog13
I will only be mad if his first pass is for 6 yds. and it hits our receiver on the shoe laces. :bomb:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rooster
He also GRADUATED from GT in 4 years........He "has it between the ears" so to speak! He has played teams with the speed MSU has and won. I agree with Rooster on this one! I am worried about our DL more than anything!
When I look at Bennett's stats from last year (162-of-327, 2,136 yards, 7 touchdowns and 9 interceptions), I think more along the lines of 2,136 yards and only 9 INTs. That's only one INT per 36 pass attempts. I can definitely live with that.
What I can't live with, however, is the 49.5% completion rate. That'll kill us if he doesn't significantly improve that number. The good news, however, is that during the three fall scrimmages he was 59-of-100 for 681 yards and 5 touchowns (interceptions were uncertain because there were two INTs thrown in the first scrimmage but weren't publicly attributed to anyone).
I am excited to see how Taylor does!
I hope jenkins gets a little playing time this season. Maybe we'll blow some schools out and he can come in and do some real game managing for us. It would be great for him to come in next season with game experience.
Bennett avg a qb rating of 109.54 last season, not as good as zac, but look, the only bad game, and it was a bad one, was against VT, with 4 int. To look on the bright side that was his only multi int game of the season last year. That is playing against the likes of georgia, miami, maryland, clemson, virginia, vt. If he can get the td production bumped up by 6-7 tds, maybe even throwing one td more a game, we should be fine. He should too, I think our te's are overlooked and could be a strong release valve for the qb this game. Gaining us 6 to even 15 yards, giving us another dimension to our offense.
Now you guys see why I am worried ?????Quote:
Originally Posted by louisiana_dog
Remember I am making no predictions or saying he is going to be a bad QB. Some of you just have A LOT of confidence in a qb who had a less than 50% completion percentage, threw more INT's than TD's last year and who none of us have ever seen throw a pass in a Bulldog uniform before.
I'm not saying it isn't going to happen. I just want to see it first.
Oh and before someone tells me how he doesn't have to be Terry, Tim or Luke because he just has to "manage the game" I just want to let you know up front that I agree except I don't consider more int's than TD's and a less than 50% completion rate "managing the game"
All I am saying is: Let's just see before we declare our passing game improved and say that we aren't worried about the qb position.
No one hopes Taylor has a great season more than I do. I hope he tears it up!!!!!