QB Controversy

[dawg80]

Higgins was our #1 QB coming out of fall practice. He didn't start the game because of off-the-field reasons. So...if Higgins is truly our #1 then Holtz would have gone to him, at least in the 2nd half. Let's see, score is tied at the half. Higgins has served his suspension. At the half you talk to both QBs and to the team as a whole. And say, let's win the 2nd half, and thus the game, and we're putting our #1 QB in the game!!!!!

If this were Tim Rattay, Luke McCown, Colby Cameron, Cody Sokol, Jeff Driskel same situation, do you think Holtz would have hesitated for even one second to insert his true #1 QB into a winnable game like this!???? HELL NO!!!

Here's what I think....which means it's 99.9999% accurate....Holtz made a decision to name Higgins #1 coming out of practice because 1) he's been here 4 years, and 2) he was not yet sold on Smith as a RS freshman. I guarantee Holtz was not (is not) sold on Higgins as our clear #1. ALL THE PROOF ANYONE NEEDS IS HOLTZ NOT PUTTING HIGGINS IN!!!

If Holtz, ANY coach, makes a decision to name a guy #1 QB based on what he has seen, on what he knows, especially based on practice sessions, he has a right to base his new decision based on what he has seen, on what he knows, after an actual game.

That said, I think Holtz will start Higgins this week and give him a chance.

[dawg80]

BTW, I'm not too keen on Smith either. I don't think we have a good QB on our roster. It's 2013 all over again....

[PawDawg]

Remember he had several balls thrown on the numbers that were just dropped. Henderson for a 1st down to MTC was a big one that was dropped.

Several? I remember 1 drop by Henderson. I thought the one incompletion at the goal line to Conner Smith was a bad throw. J'Mar seemed to think so too.

After sleeping on it, I think the offensive game plan was built around J'Mar yesterday.

It looked like he was being protected by the coaches and focused on his primary which was either Henderson, Taylor or a RB most of the day. If that was the game plan, it almost worked. Having a 5th year senior in the game would have opened up the game plan more. Not saying we would have executed, just that it would have been a different game plan.

[johnnylightnin]

"If a dog will bite you, he'll bite you when he's young." Skip Holtz

[rabiddawg]

I had to get caught up at the shop so I didn't get to see much of the game.

The only concern I saw with Jmar was locking onto his receiver and staring him down. He looked poised in the game and I liked that.

I say stay with him. If you have to play Higgins give him mop up duty next week

[NavyBulldog1]

Looked like it wasn't as much helmet-to-helmet as a hand to the face and finger in the eye as the helmet came off. Has there been any statement about the status of Smith's eye?

I thought the sport was moving beyond this type of play. Lots of guys involved on this play bunched up, but when the qbs helmet rolls, you should take notice. .

I went back and watched the play. It doesn't appear the chin strap popped, meaning it came off strapped to his head.

Unacceptable

Hell of a game by Smith.

[cscollis]

Please stop people. JMar was impressive and has a great looking future. Higgins should and will start the rest of the season but with a very short leash. If Higgins turns the ball over then by all means let's put our season on the shoulders of a red shirt freshman.

I was very impressed with Smith ability to throw the ball and make good decisions. My gut tells me he is the future but it also says you don't sit a senior that had a better spring and fall camps.

[T1]

Please stop people. JMar was impressive and has a great looking future. Higgins should and will start the rest of the season but with a very short leash. If Higgins turns the ball over then by all means let's put our season on the shoulders of a red shirt freshman.

I was very impressed with Smith ability to throw the ball and make good decisions. My gut tells me he is the future but it also says you don't sit a senior that had a better spring and fall camps.

Agree. It won't be a controversy 'til we see what Higgins is capable of. Every camp report I read was Higgins was far and away our best QB (but J'Mar was improving every day). I sure like J'Mar though and he appears to have a bright future.

[boxerdog]

The shrewd thing would be to let Higgins "finish up his suspension" in the 1st quarter. Then, bring him in the 2nd quarter and see how both play against SC State.

I think Higgins needs to really finish "learning his lesson" in the 1st quarter while we watch J'Mar some more. haha!

[johnnylightnin]

I would expect any of our QB's to perform well against SC State! No way to compare the performances unless Higgins is exceptionally bad.

There is controversy and it started when Holtz didn't pull Smith after the INT.

[T1]

I would expect any of our QB's to perform well against SC State! No way to compare the performances unless Higgins is exceptionally bad.

There is controversy and it started when Holtz didn't pull Smith after the INT.

I was wondering if he was going to put Ryan in then, but my thoughts at the time was that might hurt J'Mars confidence if he pulled him at that point... give him another series to make sure that wasn't a fluke. Turns out, it was a fluke. His only bad decision of the day. If he had come back the next series and made another bad decision, it would have been time for Ryan, imo.

[PawDawg]

I was wondering if he was going to put Ryan in then, but my thoughts at the time was that might hurt J'Mars confidence if he pulled him at that point... give him another series to make sure that wasn't a fluke. Turns out, it was a fluke. His only bad decision of the day. If he had come back the next series and made another bad decision, it would have been time for Ryan, imo.

I mentioned earlier that HCSH talked to him on the sidelines and it was obvious he was not going to take him out.

Again, he was not forced to make difficult throws yesterday. He missed a few and hit a few. It was a good effort by a RS freshman against a very good team.

Remember the swing pass to Boston Scott? J'Mar was rushed a bit on that throw, but that's one he needs to complete. Scott might have taken that one to the house. That was a money play for Dixon.

[arkansasbob]

After sleeping on it, I think the offensive game plan was built around J'Mar yesterday.

It looked like he was being protected by the coaches and focused on his primary which was either Henderson, Taylor or a RB most of the day. If that was the game plan, it almost worked. Having a 5th year senior in the game would have opened up the game plan more. Not saying we would have executed, just that it would have been a different game plan.

i agree with this. it was a good game plan with a limited playbook and easy reads. j'mar did a great job with it, but he didn't prove that he needs to be the starter unless higgins is still as interception-prone as he used to be.

j'mar had a great game, and like i said, i am comfortable with the ball in his hands. he will be a great one for us. but if the coaches are still convinced that higgins is the guy, then i'm willing to believe them until i see evidence to the contrary.

[LATechBanjo]

There is controversy and it started when Holtz didn't pull Smith after the INT.

I'm not so sure about that. Holtz was very smart and intentional about saying Higgins wouldn't start but would be available. He never said 2 quarters, 2 series, till he messes up, etc. That was all contrived by fans and media.

The more I think of it, I think Holtz intended to put Higgins in only for mop up duty or not at all.

[T1]

I mentioned earlier that HCSH talked to him on the sidelines and it was obvious he was not going to take him out.

Again, he was not forced to make difficult throws yesterday. He missed a few and hit a few. It was a good effort by a RS freshman against a very good team.

Remember the swing pass to Boston Scott? J'Mar was rushed a bit on that throw, but that's one he needs to complete. Scott might have taken that one to the house. That was a money play for Dixon.

Excellent point. Holtz said going into the game that the offense would be simplified for J'Mar so he could do the things he's comfortable doing. Ryan would have ran the whole package. The simplified version was fine though. Haven't seen that kind of tempo (at times) since 2012. I wonder if that's a new wrinkle this year.

I didn't miss Dixon like I thought I would. I think this offense is going to rely much more on the passing than what we saw when Kenneth was here. In other words, I wonder if those who thought the only way Tech can win is with an up-tempo passing attack will be happier this year?