D80 beat me to it.
D80 beat me to it.
Watch his high school basket video, he can shoot .
I wonder if we could look back at South Florida forums and see if Holtz was saying the same thing about their QB at the time?
As Saban has said (obviously) the QB is the distributor of the ball. QB1 throws 900 MPH 10 yard screen passes, and consistently throws behind his receivers. I could go on, but it's been hashed and rehashed.. Only one person can make the change and his skull is 3 inches thick.
My hands have been in contact with Johnnylightnin's rear end many times... while taking snaps under center that is!
But you're right, I probably wouldn't say anything to his face. I've seen what he can do when he gets a full head of steam!!
I have witnessed the same thing you all have throughout the season. I try to grant our coach the benefit of my doubts and can usually understand some reasons he does what he does. For example, J'mar made a few key throws that helped us beat FAU. I get it how he was far from exceptional and missed some plays. I understand why he shouldn't necessarily be displaced for merely experimental purposes with a new starter at this point in the season. Our wins against North Texas and FAU are significant imo.
All that said, I think it would have been constructive to let the backup play entire 4th quarter against Miss State. It is weird to me that Skip didn't allow it. I can't even think of a good reason why he didn't. J'mar didn't need to play anymore and he was obviously struggling. To play someone else seems logical considering the circumstances. It certainly causes me to question the motivation and nobody has asked Skip why he didn't let someone else play. I'm open to any possible explanation but have yet to hear one. Pleas enlighten me if you you have a theory.
It is perplexing. No one would have questioned...in fact everyone would have applauded....Holtz inserting a back up QB in the 4th qtr at Moo State. Game was long over, the outcome determined. Usually a starter is pulled in games like that because you don't want your starter getting hurt in a game already decided. That's the usual reason coaches pull starters out.
But, in this case, it does appear Holtz is not concerned about Smith getting hurt. The reasons are/can be:
1. Holtz knows Smith is chickenshit and will never put himself in harm's way
2. Holtz knows the back-ups are better and he doesn't want the truth getting out
On number 1, if Holtz really, truly thinks Smith is his best QB, then he should have injury concerns. While it is true, and blatantly obvious, Smith is all about self-preservation and the needs of the team be damned, anything can happen. He could get rolled up by one of his own OL....friendly fire....and injure a knee or ankle and be done for the year.
As for number 2, given Holtz's inexplicable favoritism of Craft over Scott as the #1 RB, have to think it's more of the same. Only, now, we're not even seeing the other QBs.
Oh well...it is what it is....I'm just counting down to bowl game 2019, which WILL BE SMITH'S LAST GAME EVER!!!!!!!!!!! Yippee!
As for Scott and Craft, I don't think it really mattered about who started. Boston got the majority of carries and was, ultimately, drafted.
This QB issue isn't malicious imo. I think Holtz may be trying to protect Smith. But it's not helpful for someone to shield them from consequences. If, instead, Holtz is trying to protect himself, that's problematic on many levels.
As an aside....I hate having to post things that appear to be negative toward Jared Craft. He was a good RB for Tech....a 1,000-yard rusher, and at times ran hard and I was like, Man! awesome! At other times he was just too slow to hit the hole and got stuffed at the LOS when he should have popped for 8-10 yards. That was the only complaint I had about Craft....just a little too slow. Otherwise he was a good back.
I honestly think Holtz wants to win, and for the most part he beats the teams that he is supposed to beat.
That being said decisions with the QB are perplexing. He knows smith makes some bad throws. Like everyone they are plain to see. Smith also makes great throws. Its up/down. On one down, he may be the best QB on the team. On the next down, he can be the worst.
I dont understand holding a redshirt for a backup who will never start at Tech. Elliot/Allen/Cox should have come in in the 4th quarter of MSU, but stubborness or misguided protection or something gets in his way of making that call.
I do too, but it appears that Holtz is more concerned with his game plan working than making adjustments when the other team has him figured out. We've seen this SO MANY times over the years and we were told when he came here that he coached that way. When you are in no danger of losing your job, you can do whatever you want to do with no concern of what our 9000 fans think.
9,000? doubt all of us will show up Saturday. Boring team, lousy QB vs. an even worse opponent....and horrible weather to boot! 5,000....maybe?
Ya know, tis a shame too. Remember 2001 our first year in the WAC and Rice the visitor. We easily had 23,000 butts in the seats (announced 25K+ as I recall). We jumped out 35-0 and then had to win in OT!!! Whew! talk about avoiding a total meltdown. Anyway, it was a good day for college football in Ruston. Nice crowd....a loud crowd! the MOB was there teasing us about '"which shade of blue we should use." Nice contingent of Rice fans, about 1,000+ mostly sitting together on the east side. Man! I thought we had arrived. That being in the WAC would be awesome...which it mostly was.
Now...look at this mess.
I hope our president is taking note of the consistent decline in attendance this year and last year. With the new stadium upgrades and repeat bowl eligibility the program is losing its appeal. No other explanation than the product on the field is boring and frustrating. Tech has always struggled to consistently break 22-23k in attendance but this year especially its a 10k swing in the wrong direction.
ULMNLU sold $8 tics last week. Not saying we need to do that but 2k @ $10 is better than O @ $0.