Pope quote in the Blade....

[Redwingtom]

Turner threw the short ball often, that doesn't mean he didn't have the option of throwing downfield.

I know one play, in particular, sticks out in my mind.

It was in the drive that eventually ended in the PJ Pope fumble for the touchback. We had the ball at the 22 and it was 1st and 10. They ran a play action fake (first time ever!?) and rolled turner to the right, which was the wide side of the field.

O'Drobinak was the TE on the right side and he was running an out at about 5 yards. Sharon was in the left slot and ran a slant at about 15 yards. Sanders was the outside left WR and ran a post. Turner had these 3 guys to choose from as he rolled right. All 3 receivers were running in the same direction as him...this is probably one of the easier passes for a right handed QB to make, especially a mobile one.

I'd have to watch film to be 100% sure, but it looked like it was a man coverage with the safeties dropping into a Cover-2. Anyway, as the play unfolded O'Drobinak beat his man and was open at about 5 yards deep...he got open before reaching the right hash and was pretty open. Chuck beat his man handily as his guy got caught in the middle traffic. The strong side safety bit on the play action fake and took about 3 steps forward. By the time he made the recovery Chuck was past him on the slant...he's running to play catchup realizing he had abandoned his zone and the CB was beaten. Sanders was well covered by his CB and the FS stayed in his zone, so he was bracketed.

So essentially as Turner rolls right he's got a very open TE that is a pretty easy toss for 5-10 yards. He's also got a very open WR who's further downfield and is gone for 6 if it's completed, but it's a deeper throw. Turner put the ball on the money to O'Drobinak who makes the catch and is run out of bounds for a 9 yard gain.

A more confident QB, and certainly Omar Jacobs IMO, makes that throw to Chuck. It would not have been a difficult throw, he just need to lob one towards the right sideline at about the 5 yard line. Chuck was so open he walks into the endzone if AT gets him the ball. Turner took the safe/easy play.

I'm just throwing this out there, because I watched the play closely and it was set up so well. It stuck out in my mind quite vividly as a play where, IMO, Turner made the wrong read. I'm not sure whether or not AT was coached to always take the safe plays, but as Flipper says there were times when deeper throws were available and Turner chose to throw the shorter/safer route. I'm not taking all the onus off the coaching staff, because IMO our biggest problems are fundamentals which I do lay on the staff. Just saying that some of the conservatism did come from the QB, not just the staff.

You are 100% correct about that play Brian. Sharon was ALL ALONE in the end zone for 6 and that was the drive we ended up fumbling on which they proceeded to march down the field and score.

But in talking to a former player after the game he made the excellent point that everything looks much differently looking through a helmet with guys running at you and 3-4 receivers to choose from all while you are running yourself. Just give the kid some time and he will be fine. My guess is that the play was designed for the TE so the rookie QB saw his first option open so he just took it ASAP.

[Falconfreak90]

Believe,

I agree with you that PJ has shown a ton of heart here over the years. I understand that it was right after a very difficult loss. But IMO, you just don't say "We're a very beatable team right now", no matter what.
Was it an attempt to get the other guys on the team thinking? Possibly.

I don't know but it seemed out of place to me.

[BelieveNBG]

Yeah, I think it was. I think he was trying to say if we don't get it together and start playing with heart and desire and will to win...we are beatable by anyone.

As for the team confidence factor , thats simply cuz everyone placed our entire hopes and dreams into Omar which is kinda understandable after Omar's stat busting '04 year. But you can't put all your eggs in one basket.

I don't agree that everyone did this. A prime example is how hard last years starters worked to be even better this year than last. These guys have alot of pride and put a whole lot of work into being the best they can be as a team and as individuals. They work their butts off all year round and not just during football season. The ones that don't do this, don't play and they all want to play. I do see alot of frustration. I see receivers working their butts off to get open down field and being quite frustrated at not getting the chance to make a difference. I see guys wanting to contribute, but not getting the opportunity.

I recall an interview with Meyers about the spread offense. He stated that when he was a young assistant after a loss a guy cried because he didnt get a chance to contribute and he never once touched the ball. Meyer stated he was one of the best players on the team. He said he vowed at that time when he had his chance that players would be put in a position to have the opportunity to contribute...thus the spread offense.

The last couple of games we have gotten away from the real strengths of the spread offense and alot has to do with a new quarterback at the last part of the season. To AT's defense, it's probably got to be quite difficult to step in and lead a team when so much is expected and so much is riding on the game. We have got to find a way to put these seniors in position to win these games.

[doughash]

The threat of Omar to throw the deep ball keeps the DB's honest and helps open up the intermediate routes. Not saying Turner isn't capbable of the same but he sure seemed reluctant to do it or it wasn't in the game plan. It seemed Akron picked up on this as the game went on and they were sitting on the intermediate routes forcing Turner to throw into tight coverage or check down. Its like you're in your red zone offense anywhere on the field. Turner never looked comfortable going thru his progressions. I guess Omar has spoiled us by making it look so easy.

[hammb]

You are 100% correct about that play Brian. Sharon was ALL ALONE in the end zone for 6 and that was the drive we ended up fumbling on which they proceeded to march down the field and score.

But in talking to a former player after the game he made the excellent point that everything looks much differently looking through a helmet with guys running at you and 3-4 receivers to choose from all while you are running yourself. Just give the kid some time and he will be fine. My guess is that the play was designed for the TE so the rookie QB saw his first option open so he just took it ASAP.

I certainly haven't lost faith in AT. He had a great spring game, and he is playing like a RS Freshman right now. Most RS Freshman QB are going to play similarly (or worse) to how AT is playing.

It is also quite possible that you're right, O'Drobinak could've been his first read. I guess I don't want to say that he made the "wrong" read, but he made the "safe" read.

I was just pointing out a play that I remember pretty specifically that there were guys going deep and some guys going shallow. Both were open and Turner took the shorter route. Don't know if that's a lack of confidence on his part, him merely taking the first thing he sees, being coached to go with the easy route, or if he just didn't see the deep route opening up. Just wanted to throw out this example, when it fit into Flipper's point perfectly.

[Jacobs4Heisman]

I really have not been convinced Turner is an even average qb. He's a great athlete no question with above average arm strength for your typical non-qb player. But I question if Turner has even got the goods to be good qb. Hammb , you made an excellent point on Turner taking the very safe , easy play although I've never been opposed to passing to the TE's. The first TD AT threw was a play action fake bootleg with AT rolling out and finding O'Drobinak wide open for an easy walk into the endzone. I like..no love those plays and wish we used those plays more often. AT has great speed for qb and can get alot of yards rushing when the 0-line creates a massive hole. But overall AT doesn't look like he's comfortable at all make simple reads. Omar has AT beat by a gigantic landslide in this area, whithin seconds of receiving the snap Omar has the ball firing out of his hands to a reciever. Turner's not "seeing" the guys that are open quick enough. I don't know if Turner's being alot shorter hurts his field vision or not but I wouldn't be surprised if this is the case.

As for the team confidence factor , thats simply cuz everyone placed our entire hopes and dreams into Omar which is kinda understandable after Omar's stat busting '04 year. But you can't put all your eggs in one basket. The staff and team as a whole never prepared themselves for a Omar injury. I wouldn't be surprised to see Tyler Sheehan starting over AT next year if he's indeed verballed and signs with us and is not still hampered from his collerbone injury.

A game and a half and you're writing him off (a freshman) in favor of some high-school kid. How did you react when Omar didn't play well at Ball State his freshman year?

Redonkulous.

[Falconfreak90]

[quote="BelieveNBG"]Yeah, I think it was. I think he was trying to say if we don't get it together and start playing with heart and desire and will to win...we are beatable by anyone.
[quote]

Fair enough. I can see that point of view.

[Falconboy]

I really have not been convinced Turner is an even average qb. He's a great athlete no question with above average arm strength for your typical non-qb player. But I question if Turner has even got the goods to be good qb. Hammb , you made an excellent point on Turner taking the very safe , easy play although I've never been opposed to passing to the TE's. The first TD AT threw was a play action fake bootleg with AT rolling out and finding O'Drobinak wide open for an easy walk into the endzone. I like..no love those plays and wish we used those plays more often. AT has great speed for qb and can get alot of yards rushing when the 0-line creates a massive hole. But overall AT doesn't look like he's comfortable at all make simple reads. Omar has AT beat by a gigantic landslide in this area, whithin seconds of receiving the snap Omar has the ball firing out of his hands to a reciever. Turner's not "seeing" the guys that are open quick enough. I don't know if Turner's being alot shorter hurts his field vision or not but I wouldn't be surprised if this is the case.

As for the team confidence factor , thats simply cuz everyone placed our entire hopes and dreams into Omar which is kinda understandable after Omar's stat busting '04 year. But you can't put all your eggs in one basket. The staff and team as a whole never prepared themselves for a Omar injury. I wouldn't be surprised to see Tyler Sheehan starting over AT next year if he's indeed verballed and signs with us and is not still hampered from his collerbone injury.

A game and a half and you're writing him off (a freshman) in favor of some high-school kid. How did you react when Omar didn't play well at Ball State his freshman year?

I'm just calling it as I see it. I can see obvious talent when I see it. AT is talented but not at qb I'm afraid. There are some basic natural skills a qb has and Turner doesn' appear to have the "it' factor when it comes to playing the qb position.
Redonkulous.

[Tricky_Falcon]

A game and a half and you're writing him off (a freshman) in favor of some high-school kid. How did you react when Omar didn't play well at Ball State his freshman year?

Redonkulous.

That is why I tend to skip his posts in threads.

[BG TEXAS]

Believe,

I agree with you that PJ has shown a ton of heart here over the years. I understand that it was right after a very difficult loss. But IMO, you just don't say "We're a very beatable team right now", no matter what.
Was it an attempt to get the other guys on the team thinking? Possibly.

I don't know but it seemed out of place to me.

You are 100% correct. PJ has been there for the team and very supportive. However comments like these from a leader of the team can only lead to doubting the type of leaders that are on the team. Coaches can do only so much to the motivation of the team as a whole but the "Player" leaders effect the team tremendously. Hopefully the coaches will help PJ spark the team.

[Flipper]

I think that the players bear some responsibility for this train wreck. The coaches let this situation get to this point, but there were instances in the game on Saturday where leadership through hustle from the upperclassmen was lacking.

On one play, AT threw over the middle towards Chuck. An Akron defender steps directly in front of him and almost (actually should have) picked ther ball off. Chuck made no effort to come back to the ball, he just "sat" there on his spot.

What we needed to see on Saturday were the upper classmen, particularly on offense, stepping up to take the load of a freshman QB. Did we see that?

So, when I see our senior TB, a player that I have said was our best pro prospect on offense in the past, making a comment like "I think we're a beatable team", it's a cause for concern.

[orangeandbrown]

I guess the quote doesn't bother me, only because it is a valid observation. He didn't say:

"we're a beatable team, and there's nothing we can do about it."

nor did he say

"There aren't any serious problems on this team. The MAC is getting stronger. People have to accept that we aren't going to win in blow outs every day. Our teams are beating up on each other every week, that's conference foootball."

nor did he say


"Take the best player off any team in the MAC and you'd have the same thing."

[BelieveNBG]

..,so instead of attacking one comment that some of you may be taking out of context (because there are several ways to interpret that one liner). How about looking at the entire interview:

"Not good. We need to go back to the drawing board and start from scratch. We need to get rolling again, we need to build confidence, and we have a lot of things that we need to work on to win our next game."

Absolutely nothing about this comment sounds like someone that is saying "I give up". It sounds more like someone committed to working their tail off to get it going again. I mean wasn't it Brandon himself that said we aren't a very good football team right now. Does that mean he gives up? Does that mean he's ready to throw in the towell? Maybe it means he recognizes that we are not going to win playing this way and there is work to be done and he is not going to sugar coat it for the players and say "we are good right now, but...".

[Flipper]

The quotes from Brandon during tonight's coach's show are far more disturbing than anything PJ said...

[BelieveNBG]

The quotes from Brandon during tonight's coach's show are far more disturbing than anything PJ said...

Agree Flipper