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Who should be the Hornets' starting QB?
- Thread starter Kadeezy
- Start date
OldHornet
Active member
Clearly the QB spot needs to be open to a new starter! Only 300 yards, 1TD, and 3 picks in two games is not what this team needs. We have weopons in the backfield and on the outside, but the QB position is holding the team back. Regardless of who's in there, we need better play. I can't say MTB was any better by throwing a pick in only four attempts!
The LB's are another big issue with this team. CP's style of offense puts pressure on the LB's to make plays - giving up over 250 yards rushing so are LB's were exposed!
The Hornets are playing a brutal schedule this year, maybe we were expecting to much. I'm not ready to give up on the HC (although a few changes should be made) - I think we need to continue to bring in talent. Based when he was hired, he has only had two real recruiting years. Mosh had really destroyed this team, so give Sperbeck time. A winning year is still possible, and that would be a nice accomplishment.
But he still needs to make changes as needed - QB and LB!
The LB's are another big issue with this team. CP's style of offense puts pressure on the LB's to make plays - giving up over 250 yards rushing so are LB's were exposed!
The Hornets are playing a brutal schedule this year, maybe we were expecting to much. I'm not ready to give up on the HC (although a few changes should be made) - I think we need to continue to bring in talent. Based when he was hired, he has only had two real recruiting years. Mosh had really destroyed this team, so give Sperbeck time. A winning year is still possible, and that would be a nice accomplishment.
But he still needs to make changes as needed - QB and LB!
OldHornet said:
I agree, and as frustrated as I am with how the team has preformed so far, I’m not going to push Sperbeck under the bus. And yes he had a great recruiting class last year, but when you go out and get destroyed by an in-state “rival” this will have an adverse effect on the current in-season recruitment. I am curious to see how well they will recruit when they only win 3 or 4 games. (I was hoping for 7 wins this year but until the Hornets show some kind of progress and development, they will be lucky to get 4 wins.) Recruiting is key for the improvement of a program and winning helps that. Yes the schedule is brutal, 10th toughest in the FCS, and posting a horrid record will only scare off potential recruits.
Now back to the original thread, I think it’s a bit of a toss up. If a QB change is to happen, now would be the time to do it because of the extra week the bye gives the offense to adjust to the change. Let’s go back to the cal poly game. I think looking at the UNLV game is unfair to Smith. Sperbeck didn’t call many passing plays for whatever reason, so it’s hard to get a fair assessment from that game. Also his lone pick in that game was from a tip, so it wasn’t necessarily a bad pass or read. Also one of his picks in the cal poly game was late in the 1st half and Smith was trying to make something happen and he forced a deep pass with seconds to go. Although it still shows up in the stats as a pick, I don’t necessarily blame him for trying to make something happen very little time left in the clock. He did have a very nice throw on a fade route for the first Hornet TD of the season. I also think he audibled into that play as cal poly was showing blitz and the Hornets were lined up in one of their predictable running formations (2 TE’s, QB taking the snap under center).
I do think the QB position should be opened to motivate either of the two, and let the best one start. With having said that, I think EVERY position should be opened up so the tone is set that no starting position is locked up by anyone. This will get the players motivated.
#1HornetFan
Member
My vote is with Jason. Might be nice if some of our receivers caught balls that landed right in their hands. Funny thing happens when a team loses...The QB is the first one blamed. Some people on this board need to look at the whole picture! Our defense, offensive line, QB, and linebackers all need to step up and play like they capable of. MTB threw a pick on his second pass.
SD the reason many passing calls were not made at UNLV was due to sustained 35 mph winds. Doesnt matter who you are, its tricky to throw the ball in those kind of conditions.
Kadeezy
Active member
#1HornetFan said:
I don't think we were blaming Jason Smith at all when we were getting beat last year and the year before. I just think the majority of folks expect better from him at this point. He's supposed to be the "Shaun Hill" type of QB for us. Not a gun slinger, but can manage the game. But, I haven't seen that. He looks lost without his security blanket (Tony Washington) and he's not good enough to just have the job handed to him week after week. That's why I think MBT should at least be given a chance at the job.
Sure, MBT threw a pick, but he was amped and overthrew a tipped ball which got picked. I think WRs (especially Reed) become a much bigger threat to opposing teams when you have a QB that can bomb the ball all over the field, which should in turn help the running game.
The O-Line and D-Line have been fine IMO. The LBs and DBs have been atrocious and will most likely continue to be exploited.
StungAlum
Active member
Kadeezy said:
Exactly, he's not playing, or at least he didn't play, like a second year starter. He looked confused and seemed to make bad decisions, he overthrew/underthrew passes on third downs that would have been first downs. I have no confidence in Smith at this point.
MBT came in and looked game ready, he didnt look confused and was way more confident. His passes appeared to be more precise and clean (spiral) as well.
Unless I'm missing something, the QB should be the leader of the offense, and Smith doesnt appear to be a leader.
Of course there are other issues, but the thread is about who should be the starting QB, not about the LB's or WR's!
I don't think Sperbeck is to blame and agree that we need to wait until next year to judge this coach. Nonconference games against UNLV and SLO are a huge step up from Humboldt State and Southern Oregon. This current team has a ton of talented underclassmen. Did anyone not think we would hurt at linebacker? That was obvious heading in this season. My problem is the dearth of rushing yards with this backfield is simply inexcusable. Opening up the QB competition is the only answer and Sperbeck has to do that.
Green Laser
Active member
I was at the game in SLO Saturday. My take is that Smith had some good throws, but then especially in the latter part of the game was missing open receivers and his passes didn't seem to have much on them. I don't know why he seemed to be getting good protection.
By the third quarter I was hoping that they would give MBT a shot. By the time he was brought in late in the forth the game was out of hand. MBT was acurate and his passes were like a shot, he really has a very strong arm. I thought that dispite the interception he played very well. I like Jason and admire the way that he was able to play through injuries last year and be effective most of last season, but lets face it he hasn't had an effective game since Northern Colorado last year. I hope that they open the competiton for the QB spot and find the most effective each gameday and not be so slow to make a change during the game if one or the other is not producing. Montana is doing this with Roper and Selle, why not us? I was impressed with our new receivers, Reed and Hendershott, I think that overall dispite the loss of Tony Washington we have a exciting group of receivers this year but we need someone to get the ball in their hands!
By the third quarter I was hoping that they would give MBT a shot. By the time he was brought in late in the forth the game was out of hand. MBT was acurate and his passes were like a shot, he really has a very strong arm. I thought that dispite the interception he played very well. I like Jason and admire the way that he was able to play through injuries last year and be effective most of last season, but lets face it he hasn't had an effective game since Northern Colorado last year. I hope that they open the competiton for the QB spot and find the most effective each gameday and not be so slow to make a change during the game if one or the other is not producing. Montana is doing this with Roper and Selle, why not us? I was impressed with our new receivers, Reed and Hendershott, I think that overall dispite the loss of Tony Washington we have a exciting group of receivers this year but we need someone to get the ball in their hands!
I think this discussion should also include John Loeliger. From what I heard he had a good spring and fall camp and may have played better than JS & MBT. Whoever is QB is in two weeks, it is Sperbeck who calls the plays so don't expect a turnaround from a new QB unless Sperbeck himself makes some major adjustments. Yes, there has been some poor throwing and play execution but considering the talent on this team, the play calling has been too conservative. Look at the first drive in the UNLV game when UNLV had the Hornet defense on their heels, that is what the Hornet offense needs to do and this will not happen with the current play calling. I truly hope the Hornet coaching staff are not so entrenched in their ways that they cannot make the necessary adjustments to effectively use the talent they have, rather than making the talent fit their game plan which is not working.
#1HornetFan
Member
Kadeezy said:
Whow Kadeezy...You really have an issue with Smith, not only did you start this thread, you trash talk him in other threads as well. It's OK not to like a person..But enough!
superhornet
Active member
While I'm not one to panic on the QB situation after WEEK 2, if a change IS made, I think we should tap Baby Brother.
HornetHope
Active member
My vote is MBT. I have always liked the way he plays, good presence in pocket, heck of an arm too.
StungAlum
Active member
#1HornetFan said:
It's nothing personal I can assure you, Smith just isnt performing like a starting QB. From what I saw at the game, Smith didnt have a good game at all, the WR's ran their routes and Smith had plenty of time to throw, he overthrew/underthrew them nearly every time.
Personally, and I beleive you can look at my previous posts, I beleive MBT is the better QB of the two. And it's not because he is a UCLA transfer, I could care less. He exemplifies qualities that Smith doesnt, the kind of qualities that are important to lead the offense.
There was an obvious difference between the way the QB's on Saturday, Smith looked confused and wasnt throwing the ball very well (lacked accuracy and power). MBT looked more confident when he stepped out onto the field, threw accurately, and had appropriate power with each throw, however he did only throw four passes and came in late in the fourth.
That's just my take on the game and why I think MBT should be considered for a start in week four. It was very frustrating to drive six hours (12 hours there and back), spend hundreds of dollars, and see that kind of play. But it's not entirely the QB's fault, I'm just going with the flow of the thread.
[/quote]It was very frustrating to drive six hours (12 hours there and back), spend hundreds of dollars, and see that kind of play. But it's not entirely the QB's fault, I'm just going with the flow of the thread.[/quote]
We would travel well if we had a consistent product that had a chance of winning. Nothing more of a buzzkill then to get blown out and have to drive 6hr. home the next morning.
We would travel well if we had a consistent product that had a chance of winning. Nothing more of a buzzkill then to get blown out and have to drive 6hr. home the next morning.
Kadeezy
Active member
#1HornetFan said:
I don't have an issue with Smith. And by no means am I attributing the teams failures thus far entirely to him. If you read my many posts on here, you'll see that I try to do my best to tell it like it is, whether people like to hear it or not.
If suggesting that Sperbeck opens up the competition over a bye week after a poor performace somehow equates to me having some personal vendetta, then I guess I'm guilty.
Kadeezy said:
Well said.
