Who does a quarterback indecision hurt?

by hoboat33 on Nov 1, 2011 1:20 AM EDT

While Joker and Co. ponder the starting quarterback for Saturday's game the storm rages. Bloggers are calling for Mr. Smith Goes to Commonwealth across the BBN. It seems that the only disagreement among the faithful is whether Smith should be named the starter before or after the "quarterback competition" this week in practice.

Actually, there are a few reasons for Joker to wait. He wants to plant a little seed of doubt in Ole Miss game planning, see how Newton is healing up and waiting for the HGH tests on Smith to get back from the lab.

This oft repeated tactic has been used since coaches were born. Anything you can do to confuse the competition you seize on. I'm sorry, but this doesn't hold water in this situation. If you going to face Kentucky, the unknown (Smith) is where you spend significant practice time. Stopping a Newton led offense hasn't been much of a challenge for our opponents so Ole Miss couldn't come close to filling a week of practice anyway.

It just looks like waiting to name a quarterback is hurting Kentucky more than Ole Miss. Sure, the fans are threatening to boycott the game if Newton is named the starter, accusations are flying and general agitation rules; but that really is short term, ending Saturday - one way or another.

Of more concern to me is how it could be hurting the team for this week and beyond. This team is no doubt down after reaching this point with less than expected success and has a sea of questions. The hardest hit group by this indecision struck me as I was reading Jennifer Smith's article in the Herald Leader, in particular:

"We're on edge like everyone else," said senior wide receiver Matt Roark.

It seems the last thing this team needs is uncertainty. Please, Joker give these guys something to rally around. Name a starter and get the team thinking about Ole Miss, not "Who's the quarterback?". This team is in dire need of focus, not distraction. It just looks like this is hurting us worse than the opponent.

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Why is it hurting Kentucky?

I can’t see any reason. Being on edge is a good thing, and I don’t really see how a little uncertainty does more harm than good. Ole Miss really can’t game plan for Smith, there just isn’t enough tape on him to figure it out.

No, I don’t agree. I think holding your cards close to the vest is always the play.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Glenn Logan on Nov 1, 2011 6:56 AM EDT reply actions

I just don't see full concentration on the opponent

when distracted by something as critical as the quarterback. If he announces the starter (or not) he should be giving Smith the lion’s share of reps. What can Joker point to in feeling Newton may be the starter and be successful? Based on past performance a Newton start wouldn’t energize the team and we’d eventually see Smith anyway.

First string reps for Newton could simply be in the scheme of the basic game plan. Smith is in more need of reps with the first team to get his basic comfort level and instill confidence in his ability from the first stringers. Again, more upside to Smith than Newton.

War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. - Ambrose Bierce

by hoboat33 on Nov 1, 2011 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I think a week of "competition" is fine...

… during the pre-season workouts. Or even during the bye week when there are two weeks to work things out before the next game. But there is a reason that every team on planet earth tries to have things settled by the time weekly game preparations roll around.

It is hard enough to get one guy prepared when he is ‘The Man’ all week. And now our staff is going to get two guys prepared to be the first-stringer? I am not sure how well we have done just trying to get one of them prepared for that role.

In other words, trying to spread around the available resources (individual coaching, time, reps, discussions, teammates) among two guys almost has to result in less preparation for either of them than if one guy was ‘The Man’ and the focus all week.

I understand why they might be doing this, but I think uncertainty in this instance has as much chance to confuse ourselves as it does to confuse Ole Miss. And that is perhaps not the best thing considering Ole Miss is probably the last winnable game remaining on the schedule and we need to go into the game at full preparation. It would actually have been better if this week was happening before the Florida or LSU game.

"Man I don't want to talk about guys (Moss) who left us, you know. Why would I you know. We talk about Randall probably a little too much. He left us also."

by HSLex on Nov 1, 2011 7:24 AM EDT reply actions

The simple solution would have been to put them both through their paces yesterday.

Then, make your decision and go. Joker said they would be opening up the playbook to see if Smith was more up to speed with it this week, and that’s reasonable. So, check him out yesterday, open the playbook today, and see if he is ready.

We can always go back to losing. It takes no real effort to do that. But, after today, Joker needs to know, Smith and Newton need to know, and the rest of the team needs to know. The rest of us can wait and stew if Joker wants to add a little drama, but not the team. They need to be focused. God knows they have a hard enough time playing when they are, much less than when they are not.

I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!

by Greg Alan Edwards on Nov 1, 2011 7:44 AM EDT via mobile reply actions