But JMar wasn't the main problem this year. Sure, I certainly hope he improves, because there's a lot of room for that. JMar wasn't the one who coached his team to three avoidable losses this year.
But JMar wasn't the main problem this year. Sure, I certainly hope he improves, because there's a lot of room for that. JMar wasn't the one who coached his team to three avoidable losses this year.
I think this is a good question to ask, but from everything I've heard Ryan was definitely not ready in 2014. We would not have won 9 games with Ryan on the field. He was closer to being ready in 2015 but still didn't look good in the little he played.
I think a better question is what would have happened this season if J'Mar had been the starter from the South Carolina State game in 2016 moving forward. Ryan struggled early in 2016 to a point where he struggled against SCSU and then Skip spent the entire MTSU game coaching/yelling at him on the sidelines. It wasn't until week 5 against UTEP where Ryan made some progress in the second half and then got better as the season progressed.
But what would have happened in 2017 if J'Mar would have had the benefit of his on-the-field learning by having Trent and Carlos. I think the season likely plays out in a similar fashion with one exception. We beat MTSU but then lose to WKU at home in week 6. And we may have not blown people out the way we handled UMass or FIU or North Texas but we still easily win those games with J'Mar improving week after week. He then enters 2017 with that experience.
We were hearing over the summer of 2016 that there was a huge gap between Ryan and Price/J'Mar. After the Arkansas and SCSU games it was clear that wasn't the case. In those instances, where you have to develop a QB, the younger player is the better option. Our student body was correct from the first quarter on at the SCSU game - "We want J'Mar".
It would not have hurt us in 2016 and look where it left us in 2017.
The SCSU game was Higgins' "opener" since he had to sit out the Ark game. Yes, it is true, I was among those shouting for Smith as Higgins struggled, and I was still remembering him from 2013. But, whatever else is true, or might have been true, once Higgins settled in he enjoyed a great season. What were his stats last year? Yeah, uh huh, that's what I thought.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIdr-ALaOio
That's okay, this whole line of thought is pure speculation. I'm interested in every perspective.
It seems to minimize Higgins' contributions (and they were certainly not minimal) is the thing that bothered me. He had a great year and his career at Tech showed his devotion to his now alma mater.
What bothers me about JMar is that there hasn’t been much evidence of progression over the course of the season.
Even at the bowl game he still missed some throws. He still ran the ball with the ball unprotected (fumble waiting to happen) 2nd play of the game I believe.
It wasn’t until he was thrown out of bounds on our second series that he got some fire and started playing with aggression.
What I don’t know is this a coaching thing or a player this. Is this peak JMar or can he get better next year?
What I hate is this running the ball on the delay/read option. It looks awkward every single time he hands the ball off. Please just stop.
So how many more games would we have lost with J'Mar as the starter in 2016 with Trent and Carlos? I've already stated I think we would have lost to WKU in week 6 but offset that with a win over MTSU.
Make no mistake, I don't want to minimize Ryan's contribution to the program, but I also don't want to inflate those contributions either. He never beat a P5 opponent. He didn't win a conference championship. He put up great stats, but he also struggled for half of the season. And he cost himself a game after an off-the-field incident.
I understand loyalty and rewarding hard work, but how many upper echelon P5 programs would have started the senior over the freshman going into conference play given what we saw in non-conference play in 2016. The answer is none.
I really, really like(d) Trent and Carlos as WRs. Quite the dynamic duo, granted! But, Teddy Veal is in their class, and we had others who could be counted on, IF we had a consistent QB.
I'm not one who is easily swayed. I was a HUGE, I mean HUGE Higgins' detractor. I didn't even want him on the roster after 2013. When he was named the starting QB last summer, I was like....say what!? Holtz has lost his mind! Then I laughed at him when he messed up and had to miss the Ark game. His first game, SCSU, was lackluster, but by the very next week at Texas Tech he held his own vs. Mahomes, who I deemed the best QB in CFB last year. (Mahomes gets his first NFL start tomorrow). Point is, Higgins earned my respect by what he did on the field. And, also, whatever else anyone might have to say, pro or con, Higgins never quit Tech!
Higgins was terrific last year. I think, statistically, he had one of the best seasons ever for a Tech QB. That is rarified air! AVERAGE Tech QBs over the decades are superior to most other CFB QBs. I was wrong about Higgins and freely admit it now.
So yeah, one can say Higgins had the advantage of throwing to Trent and Carlos. But, I think it was mutually beneficial. They are both in the NFL, thanks in part, to having a terrific QB last year.
How much rope should Smith be given? He now has 14 career starts at Tech...during which he is 7-7. Three of those losses are to SEC teams. I am seeing some pro and con re: Higgins, who had 12 starts as a senior, 9-3. We won't bother with the mess of his freshman year. There is consensus that Higgins developed and grew into the position and was good by the end of the season. Sorry, but that cannot be said of Smith.
It is fair to ask, how good would Higgins have been last year, if he had the benefit of being a multi-year starter? Looks like Smith is being afforded the opportunity denied Higgins. Personally, I want to see a clean slate re: the starting QB position. I know he won't do it, but I hope Holtz makes it clear to Smith, and to everyone, Tech does NOT have a #1 QB for 2018 yet. That position has to be earned.
I'm not seeing the same development in Smith that was so prominent in Higgins. Disregarding 2013, Smith now has more career starts than Higgins did. Higgins is light years ahead of Smith. What are we supposed to expect to happen as Smith accumulates additional starts? Will he suddenly develop into a great QB? If so, how many career starts should we allow before this amazing transformation happens? 20? 25? What is the magic number? For Higgins, again disregarding the mess of '13, that magic number was TWO! After the Texas Tech game we all knew we had our QB.
IMO.....Smith needs to quit baseball and work with his receivers in the off-season.. That would help him and the receivers!!!!!