I agree with starting Elliot against Rice. We always give the opponent a TD or two, don't panic, and come back, so no harm. After watching Arron Allen's high school highlights, I think he is the true dual threat, but then again we are not at practice watching QBs.
A comment made by JMar's uncle/father/guardian (not sure as he has a different last name than JMar) still sticks with me. When people on FB were coming down on JMar after UAB, the comment was made that Tech "would be getting a new QB next year for sure, if not sooner". Don't know what that means, and you file it in the rumor mill, but when a person who has the influence level of a parent is speaking about a key player, you tend to listen.
(Sunshine Alert): Other comment that stuck with me from Monday's radio show on 97.7: Skip made the comment that JMar has done well at protecting the ball this year and "that's a big deal" to Skip. He went on to say its not always the play you MAKE, but the play you DONT MAKE (as in INT), and Skip has a good point there.
This weekend: 24-21 Tech pulls off the upset. I think we will do it. They guys "circle the wagons" and play pissed when they are on the road.
I don’t hate Smith. I think he has potential, but something has happened to him. He isn’t the same player he was in 2016, not by a long shot. I think he has the talent to play the position, but he’s to uptight and indecisive, and I think that’s a coaching problem. Multiple times this year he’s had opportunities to run for a first down and beyond and he doesn’t. It’s like his legs won’t work, or he’s been specifically told not to do so. If I’m Holtz, 4-5 times a game I’m calling a designed run for him. Like a 3 step drop, tuck it and run. I think it would help keep the defense honest. And yes, he has been excellent protecting the ball, but he’s so uptight about it, he can’t make the routine play for fear of throwing an INT. That’s why half of his deep balls are underthrown IMO.
Someone mentioned that Allen is possibly a true dual threat QB?
For the record and nothing against Allen or any young man given that label but I hate Dual Threat quarterbacks and I really hate them at La Tech.
Me too
But isn’t that what most people agree on? If smith was allowed to be a true dual threat guy, it would open our offense more and we would be better? Driskel, Luke, Maybe even Higgins were more dual threat than J’Mar has been.
I'm not sure how to get an accurate read on J'Mar's ypc because the sacks confound the data. He's not a dynamic runner but he is more than adequate for 4-5 designed runs (not rpo's) per game imo. Our offense simply isn't good enough without that wrinkle. We can keep getting mad but it ain't going to change without an schematic change. That seems obvious to me.
Have you considered those Dogs?
J'Mar had a rush for 58 against UAB and a rush for 43 against UTEP. Might consider using him more because our offense struggled in both of those games.
Have you considered those Dogs?
I don’t get why we don’t. He isn’t a bad runner when he is determined to run.
He's a afraid to get hit. A wuss. He "runs on eggshells" as the old saying goes. Horrible, because he's chickenshit. And yes, this offense needs a QB who will tuck and run, both in called plays, and when a play breaks down and the field opens up. Smith won't do either.
That's what I've been saying - He was much better last year. I'm not sure if these numbers include sacks - but Driskel, Higgisn & J'mar (2017) had a better average than he does this year.
2018
J'Mar Smith 59 122 2.1 58 2
2017
J'Mar Smith 120 378 3.2 22 6
2016
Ryan Higgins 88 277 3.1 71 (TD) 4
2015
Jeff Driskel 92 323 3.5 37 5
2014
Cody Sokol 53 46 0.9 32 (TD) 2
This is exactly correct. Guy has no vision at all when he does decide to run. One of the best examples was the first drive of the bowl game last year after the fumble recovery. He decided to tuck and run and had a ton of space right in the middle of the field, but instead made a hard left toward the sideline where there were 2 or 3 defenders waiting on him. Turned a 15-yard gain into 3 yards. Have seen the same happen several times this year as well.