QB Controversy

[SicemDawgz]

It's posts like yours Johnny, that I have a real problem with. J'Mar only generated 292 yards of total offense yesterday, and people like you are ready to give him the Heisman Trophy.

That was probably LA Tech's worst offensive output in several years. But for some reason you -and others-- came away thinking J'Mar played great. I guess you just want to overlook all the "3 and outs" that led to Arkansas dominating the time of possession.

Did he play "great" for a 5th year SR, probably not. Did he play "great" for a RS FR seeing his first action ever in an SEC stadium, most would say yes.

I went back and watched it again. He did some truly amazing things I don't think you give him credit for. Like the sack he evaded and then had the smarts to throw it away. Most QB's would have taken the sack but this kid was able to evade (how I don't know) the sack. He did overthrow a wide open deep ball by 5 yards. He overthrew Boston Scott in the flat which would have gone for a chunk. He threw an INT straight to a defender. I'm willing to overlook that in a FR making his first game ever. I saw at least a couple of incompletions that I'm sure was the fault of the WR. There was a route that I know was supposed to be a go route that the wideout stops quickly and turns around to catch, but the wideout kept going. It was in the redzone. He threw it right on the money and had the WR ran the route correctly it was 6.

He throws a very pretty ball and I think he's going to be a very good one for us before it's over. As far as who should start Saturday, I'll leave that up to HCSH and y'all to decide lol

[HogDawg]

denouemen ...like somebody ever really said that word

I did that just for you, MD. I knew it would scramble that little mind of yours like eggs on a grill.

[touchdown123]

Me thought Smith looked much better than Higgins did his rs freshman year against Kansas. Arkansas is much better than Kansas - returned 10 starts. The players around Smith are much better than those around Higgins at the time.

On Smith's arm, yea he overthrew Carlos but I don't think Higgins has the arm strength to even get it there.

Smith starts by October. I think Holtz knows it.

[johnnylightnin]

That's a silly denouement. Let's be clear.....Smith was as one poster cited, "adequate" yesterday. Actually, I personally think he was better than adequate, but he just didn't generate enough offense to beat anyone, much less an SEC team. But J'Mar probably complicated things by playing better in the 1st half (engineered 2 TD's) than he did in the 2nd (0 TD's). Holtz would have looked silly pulling J'Mar in favor of Higgins to start the 3rd qtr, in light of how well J'Mar had played up to that point, and with the game tied. Now.....not so much.

Our offense moved the ball far better in the 3rd than they did any other point in the game. You agree with me, so I'm not arguing with you anymore! Smith should start SCSU.

[HogDawg]

Did he play "great" for a 5th year SR, probably not. Did he play "great" for a RS FR seeing his first action ever in an SEC stadium, most would say yes.

I went back and watched it again. He did some truly amazing things I don't think you give him credit for. Like the sack he evaded and then had the smarts to throw it away. Most QB's would have taken the sack but this kid was able to evade (how I don't know) the sack. He did overthrow a wide open deep ball by 5 yards. He overthrew Boston Scott in the flat which would have gone for a chunk. He threw an INT straight to a defender. I'm willing to overlook that in a FR making his first game ever. I saw at least a couple of incompletions that I'm sure was the fault of the WR. There was a route that I know was supposed to be a go route that the wideout stops quickly and turns around to catch, but the wideout kept going. It was in the redzone. He threw it right on the money and had the WR ran the route correctly it was 6.

He throws a very pretty ball and I think he's going to be a very good one for us before it's over. As far as who should start Saturday, I'll leave that up to HCSH and y'all to decide lol

I agree with everything you just stated. That's why I said J'Mar should probably start the next game too. But he needs to correct the mistakes you just mentioned, and he's simply GOT to generate at least 400 yards of offense per game --and much more against an FCS team like SC St.

J'Mar needed to throw more passes to Taylor & Henderson yesterday. That would have helped open up the ground game more too.

[Dogsince65]

Smith played better than I expected but he still didn't make a lot of throws that are routine in our offense. Nothing in the seams over the middle, nothing deep, 90% was to 2 receivers usually short with yards after catch. I think he will develop into a QB that can spread the ball around much like our last two. Evidently coming out of spring & camp Higgins was closer to being that guy - so he should start next game. If he proves to be the better all around option then we know we have a good #2 & a future possible star. I personally don't think Arkansas played very smart - never rolled up the coverage to take away to short passes thus never forcing Smith to throw it downfield. I think if Higgins doesn't produce Skip will reinsert Smith.

I agree with you. Obviously impressed with Smith BUT he was totally unknown on film. When we line up against Texas Tech their would be plenty of film to take advantage of inexperience. Coach told Dave "Ryan gives us best chance to win "... somehow many BBB posters are under opinion that are SO much smarter than Coach. I am backing Coach 100% do not expect every decision to work out-- If this is right choice we will win a lot of games and hopefully see a lot of Smith in backup role. Holtz should have won over fan base and support--- somehow he is never going to get some folks to trust his experience

[markay714]

Smith will only get better.

You have the possibility of a 4 year starter...

I'm sorry Higgins lost his chance.

Agree 100% with that. You can't make that kind of selfish mistakes, have your replacement come in and play great, and expect to not suffer the consequences.

[markay714]

Some of you nutty fans act like J'Mar was perfect today. He was far from it. He was "okay", and he stayed away from the major mistakes.

We've seen Higgins play before.

[techman05]

Spoke to a player this morning that said the whole team was excited for the way J'Mar played. However, there was not a hint of hesitation in his voice when he said Higgins was the better option and the rest of the team feels the same. Hope they are right.

[OLDBLUE]

I don't make the decision, but what I'd like to see Higgins start and Smith get a lot of PT the second half to continue his development (throwing long routes, checking down, ie.)

He needs to be ready, but he's got a while. Where's Coach Mickey?

[theprofessor]

Smith played better than I expected but he still didn't make a lot of throws that are routine in our offense.

We have a new offensive coordinator this season. Do we even know yet what the routine throws are in our offense?

[theprofessor]

Some posts are too silly to warrant a response.

Higgins paid his penalty by not starting. Once that was done, the better guy should play. If that's Higgins, he should've played.

His staying on the bench tells me all I need to know about who should start next week.

I actually disagree with you here, Johnny. I think Skip's intention the whole time was to sit Higgins the entire game. He just shrewdly left himself an out in case Smith was injured or performed below standards. That said, I'm on record as saying Smith earned the starting job, and the real punishment for Ryan Higgins' DWI is that he now has the shortest of short leashes because we know there's a capable replacement for him.

[theprofessor]

I saw at least a couple of incompletions that I'm sure was the fault of the WR. There was a route that I know was supposed to be a go route that the wideout stops quickly and turns around to catch, but the wideout kept going. It was in the redzone. He threw it right on the money and had the WR ran the route correctly it was 6.

This offense has a lot of "choice" routes that are based on the coverage being played by the defense. I wouldn't be so quick to say you know it was supposed to be a go route. Likely, the receiver had the option of a go route or a curl/hitch, depending on the coverage. If the receiver felt like the defender was bailing, he sits down and takes the easy completion. This likely was simply a misread/miscommunication. Who was at fault? I would need to see the film to determine, and I'm sure they will discuss that in the film room. I'm not saying J'Mar was wrong, but the likelihood is that he misread the coverage more than the receiver incorrectly broke off his route.

[dawg80]

Okay, I'm ready to see Higgins do his stuff. Enough talk, enough "gonna do this, gonna do that." Just do it!

[Dogsince65]

Okay, I'm ready to see Higgins do his stuff. Enough talk, enough "gonna do this, gonna do that." Just do it!

. Agree-- absolutely no reason to not have big game next week. It's the Texas Tech game that he needs to get it done. We win that and we lay the foundation for special year.