"He's got as good of talent as I've been around. He reminds me of the guys I've coached in the NFL. He needs to take the next step though. There's a reason he hasn't played this year. He has the capability, and he can learn. But, It's the little things he needs to improve on to be the guy. He needs to take the next steps in the mental aspects of being the guys."
I hate posting a story from another site, but this is the first time that we've heard from Loeffler about the situation.
I know there are a lot of people on TKP that are in the same boat as I: why did we burn the shirt on Lawson, but never utilize him?
Brewer going down should have given a perfect signal to cue Lawson into the games. Lefty claims that he didn't quite have the mental aspects. Could it be because the offensive scheme was too complicated?
Why didn't Lefty adjust the package and amend it to Lawson? The Colts have done the same thing with Hasselback, The Broncos with Osweiler. Baylor adjusted when Russel went out; OU adjusted when Mayfield unexpectedly left the game; or how about when Zaire left ND's game on a season ending injury and a true freshman came in? Packages change on personnel changes. Why couldn't we adapt to Lawson's skillset and get him on the field?
Pic via 247sports.com
Comments
Details are not the issue, I find that Lefty is at fault for not preparing the Backup QB, first with Leal, then it happened to Motley against OSU, and then brewer goes down and here we are talking about Lawson. Its the QB coach's job to prepare the backup. Ever since we went with OC/QB coach we had this issue, maybe the OC should not coach the QBs. Maybe thats what the issue is, not having enough time to prepare the backups
Ever think that maybe the back ups just aren't that good?
Motley proved to at least be able to throw in his run as the starter. Whenever he wasn't the starter, though, he seemed wholly unprepared to do anything but run.
Motley's preparedness wasn't as much of an issue as the play calling when he was in the game.
This speaks to Loeffler's inability to adapt to the player, in which you argued below that he adapted quite well?
(responding to this statement)
You should go back and watch those games again if you think the offense wasn't adapted to Motley's play style. If you can't see the difference between when Motley was starting and when Brewer was starting then you just aren't going to understand my point.
I get your point, but to that fact, then why couldn't he adapt to Lawson, knowing that Lawson has the athletic ability and potential to be our starter for the next 3 years?
Probably because he felt Lawson couldn't execute the offense even if it was tailored to him. The goal was to win games and he felt like Motley gave us the best chance.
It certainly seemed to be the issue when Brewer went down against OSU. And when Motley was the starter, we saw Lawson doing the exact same thing Motley had been doing when Brewer was the starter.
Happens once, I understand. Happens all the time then we have an issue especially when you see Motley doing well with a full compliment of practices.
All the time as in once? Leal was unprepared. Motley looked fine to me as a backup
Burning his shirt was a terrible mistake.
I heard people say that was what brought Lawson here instead of Miami, was that Loeffler promised he wouldn't be redshirted his first year here. Not sure if it's true or not, but at least that would make some kind of sense. But I agree, it was a mistake to burn his shirt.
If he is as good as people say and we hope..... He aint staying 5 years.
It wont matter in the long run if he was red shirted or not.
What difference does it make?
IF he turns out to be that good, he'll only stay at the school for 3 years with or without the "shirt".
And if he's serviceable but not a super star, then what?
Burning it, then essentially not playing him had no real upside.
We had to burn it when we did because we had zero QBs with game experience if Motley tweaked an ankle. After that, we had to do what would win games. Lawson not progressing (not necessarily a big knock on him, he's only a true freshman after all), made it a bad idea to play him, since him fumbling a snap doesn't exactly help us win football games. There wasn't a "good" way to get through that situation, and now it is what it is.
Eh.
The way he was used, we might as well have been running the wildcat.
Which he didn't. Which is why we never should have needed to burn the shirt. You don't play a true freshman 5 snaps a game in garbage time to "prepare" him in case your 2nd string goes down. The kid threw 8 passes. That hardly is preparation.
You do when he is the new 2nd stringer, which he was when Motley was the starter.
I disagree personally, especially when we thought Lawson was a future superstar. I wouldn't want to waste a year when I could throw in Durkin if Motley happened to get hurt and then wait for Brewer to return.
It would be one thing if Lawson came in and was efficient, but it was just scrimmage downs for him.
He had to come in when Motley lost his helmet on plays so, it was getting burned anyway.
Durkin was also an option
You misspelled Sam Rogers
You mean like he didn't against NC State and how we all weren't sure if Motley would come back into the game? Oh wait, that did happen. We would have burned his shirt at that point for literally one play even if we hadn't burnt it earlier. That's what happens when your third string QB is a freshman and your starter gets hurt.
And what would you have wanted? He got a good mix of running and passing plays and showed he could barely get the snap sometimes. I have zero issues with plays called for Lawson while he was in the game.
You act as if there was no way around playing Lawson this year which makes no sense to me
Well, because there was no way around playing Lawson.
What about Durkin? Especially for the plays where Motley's helmet came off
Durkin was such a good QB he got moved to TE
Seems to be beside the point, he showed he could handle a snap, which is all that was needed in the instance where Motleys helmet came off
TE and QB are interchangeable.....
Motley had a very difficult time staying healthy in the 2014 season, even when playing just a handful of plays per game. I'm pretty sure he was knocked out of both the Wake and UVA games with injuries. With Brewer out for at least a month if not longer, it was a completely reasonable assumption by the coaching staff that Lawson would be forced into key playing time before Brewer was able to return. Thus, it made absolute sense at the time to burn Lawson's redshirt and start playing him, where possible, to get him ready if pressed into action. He played a quarter against Furman and 3 series against Purdue. The problem from that point forward is what Loeffler pointed out in the OP quote-- Lawson did not progress despite his tools. Then, as it turned out, Motley never suffered a major injury. We can Monday morning QB this all offseason long, but it was hard to argue with the rationale for burning the redshirt, at the time that decision was made, given the information available at that time.
I also agree with the other posters that this is all a moot point. If he's great, he wouldn't stay through 4 more years anyway. If he's anything else, we won't be bent out of shape when he graduates. A lot of fans were upset when we burned the redshirts for Macho and David Wilson since they played very little as freshmen, but in the long run it didn't end up mattering one bit. Even with the limited playing time as a true freshman, both of them still declared early for the draft. Of course, Macho declared for the NFL draft early before changing his mind and returning for the 2008 season. There's no way Macho would have returned again in 2009, even if the had the eligibility.
If Lawson stayed for 5 years, he would be TWENTY-FIVE yrs old in his 1st NFL camp. For comparison, Tyrod Taylor is just twenty-six and is in his 5th NFL season.
With a child to support, if Lawson's good enough to get drafted, he isn't going to stay 5 yrs. Period.
If he's not good enough to get drafted after a 4th year, he's very likely not going to finish at VT.
Discussion of and hand-wringing over a redshirt for Lawson is moot -- and that's before taking into consideration that Motley quite possibly exceeded expectations and/or Lawson was the next best option if an injury-prone Motley got injured.
I agreed at the time with the decision to burn Lawson's redshirt. Once he played, though, be should have been given enough meaningful game experience that he would be better for it next year. That is a strategic decision and completely under Loeffler's control. The point is not about his remaining years of eligibility, but the level Lawson will start out next year. Long term success of the program wasn't really something Loeffler was too worried about this year, though.
The 'doing everything we could do to win' argument holds no water. Lawson (or Durkin, for that matter) could have beat Furman and Purdue and lost to Ecu and Pitt (100 yards total offense). Motley played well at NC State, but shit, Lawson might have too if he had just started 4 games.
Lawson could've QB sneaked for 20 times and had more yardage than what we had for the Pitt game.
When was he going to get meaningful minutes? And for what purpose? Are you certain VT beats Purdue or NC State with Lawson or Durkin? Because press clippings and recruiticorn hype aside, I didn't see anything that would lead me to believe it.
It's college football. Players only have 4 years of eligibility and move on. 50% of teams are starting a new QB each year...and many of those are guys will have had little or no game experience. It's just the nature of the beast. Unless you have nowhere to go but up or have no other alternatives, you can't give meaningful time to someone (particularly to a QB) who doesn't yet deserve it so that it might pan out for the better in a year or two.
If the coaches felt Lawson wasn't ready, the players aren't stupid -- they almost certainly felt it too. And playing him substantive minutes would have sent a terrible message to the rest of the team. This team didn't give up -- and that's in no small part because the coaches didn't give up on them.
If he's serviceable but not a star, we may want to start someone else by 2020.
Pointless question. If hes good, he wouldnt stay more than 4. If hes 'serviceable, then he's in a pretty bad spot - Fuente would be looking for alternatives.
so he wasn't ready mentally so lets throw him some time in a useless game to burn his redshirt!
if that doesn't show the disconnect within the old staff then idk what else does. so many odd quotes over the last year or two
three things:
1) Lawson was promised that he wouldn't be redshirted
2) Expectations for a freshman QB in September are different from expectations in October and November.
3) We were playing a lot of close games that didn't leave very many garbage time snaps for backup players.
technically he wasn't redshirted.. but we did waste 1 whole year for him to take 23 snaps with 60% of those being qb keepers which a freshmen in high school could have ran.
If true then wtf is Motley doing taking snaps? Once Brewer goes down Lawson should have been in. You can say you don't throw a true freshmen into a game like that but we threw Motley into the same shitty situation and he was just as fresh as Lawson. Why not get Lawson real reps vs a top 10 team and see what he can do in a half. We had an easy 2 weeks to get Lawson ready with Furman & Purdue. If in those games he shows he isn't up to it then take him out and we go Motley.
2-3 I can agree with..
I agree it was a waste of a year of eligibility but does keep our staff's reputation of not BS'ing recruits intact.
I disagree that we should've gone to Lawson immediately when Brewer got hurt. Motley had earned the #2 job via his performance in Spring camp and Fall camp. Play to win, which means playing your most effective players. For most if not the entire season, Motley was a more effective college QB. I think there's a good chance that will change in 2016, as long as Lawson develops the mental game to match his physical talents.
I agree you play to win.. If Lawson was promised to not RS you throw him in and let him go the 2nd half. If he kills it then you turn to Motley and say yeah hes QB-1 right now. If not then you pull him aside and say look you got the 2nd half and we will give you some Furman time, if that doesn't work out would you redshirt. I doubt he would say no especially since he was given a legit shot.
Instead we basically "lied" to him, then covered up our tracks by playing him in 24 snaps... I can 1000% see why he was a little unhappy and might not have been super excited to sit the bench.
I have some more news on Lawson (transferring) but I am not going to bring it up because as of now its not relevant since he is staying
We also promised Durkin early playing time, but you see how that's worked out. I personally don't think we promise high school kids anything, and if we do, it's stupid.
Lawson stated publicly after he committed to VT that he was offered a chance to compete for early playing time. I think "chance to compete for playing time" has been conflated to mean "promised he wouldn't redshirt." I don't recall any statements made specifically about redshirting. Frank even said, more than ever, he's interested in getting the best players on the field even if it means freshmen, so to me, it's all about opportunity if the guys seize it and are ready for it.
This statement makes much more sense than a promise
I wish Scot would have elaborated on why they chose to burn his redshirt if
At one point, injuries were piling up. Was Durkin too far into a position change to TE to be the guy we used to run some wildcat in the instances we used Lawson?
Was it part of his recruitment, that he was promised not to be redshirted this year?
None of this situation made sense to me. Why bring him in for guaranteed QB runs and burn redshirt when you have Brendan Motley/Chris Durkin who does the same things? If not to let the kid take his hits, learn some lessons and grow into the position.
Completely agree! Remember when we threw Tyrod into the wolves den in Death Valley?! Tyrod was a true freshman then (let's forget about the Dilly Dally QB Glenrod Shuffle from then on) - Lawson could have faced the same thing, and earned some game time experience. Now what we don't know is if we would have fared any different, but we would have gained real game time experience with the potential future starter.
Exactly!
My whole approach to this revolved around what we did with Tyrod. I was all snug in my bed, while visions of Dwayne Lawson jukes and touchdown bombs danced in my head!
That game was just horrific to watch. Tech would have gotten shut out if not for Tyrod. When Tyrod came he practically scrambled every pass play and rushed for a touchdown on the eventually national champions.
Brandon Flowers, one of my all time favorite hokies, was actually partially at fault for the floodgates opening in that game. We would have started out forcing a three and out if he didn't absolutely crush Early Doucet away from the play (I guess to send a message?) and they got a fresh set of downs and never looked back. I still think we lose, but once they got going it was more of a everything that could go wrong will kind of situation.
There is an argument to be made that we screwed up with Tyrod too. If we had redshirted Tyrod we might have a national championship his redshirt senior season. Think of all the weapons we had, David Wilson, Boykin, Coale. I think we best Clemson with Tyrod.
Just a thought. (Though that season we almost backdoored our way into the championship)
I firmly believe we make the 2011 NC with Tyrod. No way we lose to Clemson with 5 running the offense.
Wow - I'm now envisioning 1 more year of Tyrod. This could have changed the program from 2012 - 2015...
hey - it's friday, i can dream!
Too many what ifs. What if he didn't develop as well without the early playing time?
No way the 10 win streak would have continued as long as it did without Tyrod playing in every season he did.
Oh absolutely, 2007 and 2008 look very different without him.
Let me clarify.. somwhere between being 2-2 and 3-5.. I was one of those people clamoring to see reps for Dwayne Lawson.
I was all-aboard burning his redshirt with Brewer's questionable timetable and the existing trend of the season. But I expected to see the kid take far more than 10-15 snaps over the course of year!?
I felt like they forfeited the redshirt because they could feel the seat getting hot and needed a backup plan to the backup plan. I understand that if Motley was injured they needed to have someone ready, but my problem was that young Chris Durkin should have been the next man up. He had been in the system for a year already and has the similar run-and-gun skill set as Motley, which should mean the game plan would not need to change much between Motley and Durkin. The other issue at the time was the lack of any sort of run game which could be relied upon to win games, meaning the coaches had to make a more desperate backup plan.
At least next year we'll have 3 QB's (Motely, Durkin, Lawson) capable of running all the plays and should be interchangeable.
I believe Motley is on track to graduate this year. If he is not the #1 guy coming out of spring, not sure he will stick around. Also Durkin may be a TE already - that meeting room could be Lawson and Jackson next fall - very thin.
Plus Durkin's uncle is the new head coach at Maryland. Plus Scot Loeffler is unlikely to retained in any capacity.
I wonder if Loeffler might be with the Terps come next season. Have they announced an offensive coordinator or quarterbacks coach yet?
"He needs to take the next steps in the mental aspects of being the guys."
I'm sure coach Justin Fuente will help Lawson take the next step like he did with Paxton Lynch and Andy Dalton.
I like the sounds of the end of the article:
Think we might see Lawson used a bit in the bowl game?
i would say no.. last thing you need is a guy like lawson taking useless reps tear an acl or breaking a bone. If they didn't use the younger guys in the season why use them in the bowl game?
IMO the younger guys are actually getting decent reps unlike in season and we are resting guys that have taken a pounding all year like brewer, mcmillian, ford, phillips, bucky and malleck so they're all healthy and ready for the bowl game.
they are just as likely to get hurt in practice as they are in a game. you play people during the season to win games. games that matter. this bowl doesn't matter to anyone but the fans. of course everyone wants to win the game but in the bigger scheme of things. its irrelevant prior to popular belief. that being said im making the 12 hour drive for the game. but still....
Loeffler's excited about the new coaching staff? So either he's staying on to coach in some capacity (QB coach) or its very strange that he's excited about being fired and replaced.
This slipped by me initially. However, it could just be Loeffler speaking cordially in the "whats best for VT" line of speaking.
That's how I took it as well, sounding like he's excited for VT and for the players' futures
He's learn, after spending 3 years with Frank, how to coach speak.
This. I think Lefty knows he has to find new employment. He has been around this business a while and understands what he is subject to. He isn't technically being fired, his contract is running out and he won't get a new one here at VT.
OK, he's accepted that and he's focused on the bowl game, enjoys coaching these kids he's been around for three years, and so he provides some answers, is straight forward with Hokie Nation, and wishes these kids well in these exciting times for our team. I think he certainly understands that his role with them is limited and coming to an end soon. If he spends that time helping the team win the upcoming game and teaching these kids more, I am appreciative of that.
I understand many of our frustrations with him, but none of us are perfect either. I prefer to take the high road here and give the man a break.
History will show that Scott Loeffler was a transitional OC for VT through the time period where Coach Beamer's time ended and a new brand of VT football is starting. I bet that future analysis of this time period will show that he helped us more than he hurt us through this 3 year transition period.
^- THIS. Also shows his professionalism in not talking badly about his current employer knowing that his contract will not be picked up next season. Also smart on his end in that kind of temperament plays well with future employers.
...and Loeffler cares about these guys. He wants them to do well. I'm sure he sees that he has left good talent here and that there is quality offensive coaching coming in to utilize that talent.
Scot Loeffler may be a lot of things, but he's not an asshole. He clearly cares about his QB's.
+1.
I have no problem with believing that he cares about the players he helped recruit. I should have added that to my comment.
To me, the most telling thing about that quote is that it doesn't sound like it's coming from a guy getting the boot. With an OC in place, will we see another Co-OC deal like Fuente did at Memphis?
I highly doubt it. To me it seems more like he really cares about the kids in the program and wants them to be successful even after he leaves.
I think it just means that Brewer is a graduating r-Senior, already has an excellent grasp of the offense and so there is some flexibility in the practice schedule to allow the younger QBs to get more reps. That sets our team up better for the spring and for next season.
Also with the Tulsa game potentially a blow-out win there will be opportunities for playing time during the game for Motley and/or Lawson, and for them to make the most of those snaps they need reps in practice.
Brewer, go to SMU.
it sucks we burnt the redshirt but I feel both:
a) him playing immediately was "agreed" upon, and
b) absolutely zero reason to look for ways to get upset with Lefty now. He gone. Let the man leave.
Comparing package changes for NFL teams based on their QB to college isn't a good fit. There are so many more limitations in the college game that make it that much hard to do that effectively.
It was just an example of adaptability.
Perhaps I should have used Baylor losing Seth Russell and going to true freshman Jarrett Stidham?
Or when OU's Baker Mayfield left the game after a shot to the head?
Or when ND's Malik Zaire went down for the season in the first game and Kizer stepped in?
The point is, OC's adapt the packages to who is on the field when injuries occur; not adapting who is on the field to the packages.
And he did that for Motley, pretty successfully I might add.
We went 3-3 starting with Motely, losing to ECU, Pitt, and Miami, a win being against Furman. I'm not sure I would call that success?
Not to mention we had an all time low in offensive yardage achieved vs. Pitt...
With a QB that had made no starts and had thrown almost no passes in his college career. Outside of the Pitt game, which was a disaster on the o-line, the offense was able to move the ball but the defense couldn't make stops when it needed to. Just because we didn't win a lot of games doesn't mean the offense didn't adjust to Motley's skill set like you think it does. We ran more read option plays and more deep routes to take advantage of his arm strength and hide his inaccuracy in short range throws.
I'm gonna have a hard time pinning the Miami game on the defense when the offense gifted Miami so much early in the game.
I think okla st would be a great example of this. but wasn't lefty a part of the tebow package with chris leak??
No, he was only at Florida for tebows final year
I was going to post nearly the same thing. Comparing a true freshman QB to guys who are NFL quarterbacks is not an apples-to-apples comparison.
Adjusted the comparison up top to apples-to-apples
I read this as, I am on my way out and tired of the question so here's my answer...
Problem is who's fault is all this, just coming off looking bad yet again...
via GIPHY
I don't care who you are, that had to hurt.
A lot! Watermelon skins are damn thick, yea they break easily, but on your face? OUCH!
I saw that episode of Amazing Race, IIRC, she was fine. It was shocking, I thought she had broken her nose at least.
Finally seeing this gif in slow motion makes me realize how she didn't get completely rekt from this. Looks like she just barely starts to turn at the last second and catches most of the impact on the upper right temple, right around the hardest part of the cranium. If this thing hits her square on in the face, her nose is toast.
Yes, I think this was exactly the issue. I doubt Lawson picked up the offense quickly, if at all.
I think Motley was the better option given his understanding of the offense.
Well, we don't have a QB coach on the 2016 staff yet. Gentlemen, have your pitchforks at the ready, just in case:
Still available:
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we don't?
http://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2015/december/10/virginia-tech-has-its...
This never seemed that complicated. Lawson is talented and was told he would play if he came here. We played him, our starter got hurt, it was clear that Lawson wasn't even getting the simple stuff. He couldn't snap the ball at the right time for the WR end-around fake on the veer!!!! Motley was actually pretty good, which likely surprised everyone. Remember in the Purdue and Miami games, Motley looked better than Brewer looked all year.
Lawson's got all the skills in the world, but he hasn't shown he can do any of the other stuff yet. Standing apart from your team the entire second half of the season is a terrible sign. That's very poor leadership. Maybe Fuente will be able to reach him, but there is a very real possibility that Dwayne Lawson will never start a game for Virginia Tech.
There was a better chance of him transferring if there wasn't a coaching change. He isn't going anywhere now, and has already stated that he is staying (he talked to VT fans after the UVA game and stated that he wasn't going anywhere.)
Also, FWIW he was back standing and celebrating with rest of the team on the sidelines during the UVA game.
Yeah, I noticed he was more engaged by the UVA game.
He's got a chance. Fuente is the QB whisperer. Cornelsen is a very talented position coach. But I imagine that there is a Plan A (Lawson takes the role) and a Plan B (maybe Motley for a year, Jackson or someone else in 2016). I still expect Fuente will find another QB for this recruiting class to compete with Jackson.
Yep, agreed. If Lawson thinks that he is just going to be handed the starting job he is in for a rude awakening. Fortunately I have faith that he knows he is going to have to earn it.
I've got faith in Fuente. Lawson wouldn't be the first QB to think he can coast to the starting spot. If he does, then Fuente will get someone else ready.
I really hope Motley doesn't transfer. He's important Lawson insurance. Unless Fuente thinks Motley can't handle it.
You lost me at "looked better than Brewer all year" in the Miami game. He nearly single-handedly lost that game with physical & mental errors.
Motley had a nice half vs Purdue and a great quarter vs NC St. Other than that he was serviceable (which may very well have exceeded expectations), but not much more than that.
I was hearing this very same thing about Lawson all year from people inside the Ath Dept who are frequently at practice, literally to the exact words that Lefty used in the quote above...
Not sure this is a "someone's to blame situation" as much as "it is what it is". The little things matter, if he wasn't doing the little things with regularity, you can't expect the team to throw him out there more in games. He probably projected all world when he showed up and they had a month to decide whether to use him or not, then he didn't execute in practice quite as well and progress the way they had expected based on his first few weeks, and a decision had to be made. "It is what it is." New coaches, new start, hopefully he improves and takes the strides he needs to in order to confidently put him into games next year.
I think you have a great perspective on the situation
But no, let's fry the guy on his way out instead.
Sarcastica font...
I'm not as upset about burning the redshirt as it gives Lawson another year in case he suffers a season ending injury early in the season. If he doesn't pan out, he frees up a scholarship a year sooner (assuming he stays all 4 years) or he has a transfer year available to him if he decides to transfer because he's been passed on the depth chart. If he has NFL talent, which many suspect he does, and bolts for the NFL, then it is a win/win for him and for Tech. Lawson is making some mad money in the NFL and Fuente gets another feather in his cap to show off to all the stud QB recruiticorns.
I also think a redshirt this year would have been a waste as he would have been learning Loeffler's offense. I know Loeffler and Fuente run similar schemes, but I'd rather Lawson be redshirting under Fuente's tutelage as Fuente's offense is the future.
I am looking forward to seeing all of the QB's development over these next few years and seeing complete domination from the defense AND offense! GO HOKIES!
" or how about when Zaire left ND's game on a season ending injury and a true freshman came in?"
FWIW, Kizer, Zaire's replacement, is a Soph. That's a big step over a TFr. stepping into that situation at ND. A full season, a spring, and a summer in an offense makes a huge difference. Also, Brian Kelly is VERY invested and involved in the way his QBs operate. While it is impressive to the degree of how well Kizer played, it's not surprising that he was effective and successful.
I'll agree with the thought line that DL2 was promised some sort of playing time. I am a little disappointed though that he wasn't able to make an immediate impact and shine on a few plays early (esp. vs. Furman). Lefty keeps indicating that he has all the talent, but right now is still a step away. If that's true, then the RS should have been a no-brainer. We had Motley and Durkin (for emergency).
I have a feeling that we are going to see an interesting QB battle on our hands this spring, and honestly, I wouldn't rule out Durkin or Jackson in this mix. They just might be the type that CJF is looking for...?? CJF thrives on timing and getting the ball to playmakers in space and making the defense play into his hands, not the other way around. Who knows, maybe Jackson turns some heads upon arrival. Either way, CJF is not going to idly stand by an ineffective QB situation.
He rolled the dice on a young Lynch at Memphis who he leapfrogged over a Sr. There's a chance this case could present itself again this spring with Motely and Durkin, since he has 2 young QBs to chose from and groom in DL2 and JJ.
Either way, it's gonna be fun as hell.
I'm willing to give Loeffler the benefit of the doubt here.
If he says that Lawson wasn't ready, I'm thinking he wasn't ready. I'm sure they wanted him to be, particularly since they burned his shirt pretty early in the season.
I think the key point getting lost here is how good that uniform/helmet/facemask combo looks (and I am not even a fan of the throwback uniforms with the shoulder stripes). I think the white facemask just ties it all together
Surely a travesty, but I have only one leg to give.
Could you imagine the fan pressure there would have been to put Lawson in when Motley was only doing ok (assuming Lawson still had on the red shirt)? At least, since the shirt was already gone, we trusted that Loeffler was playing the most qualified qb. I'm not saying that's why they did it, but it's interesting to think about how our reactions would have been different.
TOTAL SPECULATION:
I think this was a point of contention between Beamer and Lefty. Beamer several times after bad play from Motley said that we need to look into what we have with Lawson and Lefty just kept saying he's not ready.
It seemed to me that Beamer really wanted Lawson to get out there and get playing time. Hoping he would be that "Lighting in a bottle" that could ignite this team. It's what he had in both Vick and Tyrod.
Of course, in Vick's case, the Lightning remained in the bottle in year one
But that was because Beamer made a promise to Vick's High School Coach that he would redshirt him in 1998. But looking back and knowing he would have left early, we could've used him (espcially on that game that we did not play in 1998 but people still think we played).
Vick was a natural talent who could play without a plan. Most players aren't capable of that.
Oh, I know the deal they had. The image of him standing on the sideline against Temple while Sorensen played QB is burned into my brain permanently. I had a great view of the "action" from the East stands that day.
I was there too - I've never known such pain existed.
I have a friend who is very calm and rational. He flipped out like I have never seen after that game. We still talk about it.
I agree that this is total speculation.
Reading this has me feeling it's 1 of two things either
1. Lawson's doesn't have the grasp to take over a college level program like 99% of true freshman or
2. Needs to pick up the 'mental' side is coach talk for this kid has some character issues and needs to take things more serious.
I really hope it's not 2 but there have been a lot of signs pointing in that direction...his hs coach being brought in to the program, the rumors about his redshirt ultimatum, his bad attitude on the sideline, rumored spats in coaches doghouses...
I don't want to read the writing on the wall so I try to just ignore them. I just hope it's 1.
Really!!! How few true freshmen QB's come into a P5 program that isn't a dumpster fire and plays right away and plays well? College football for a QB is a difficult thing.
I know right,
someone said it earlier and I agree, fans in general need to temper their expectations for Freshman, this cant be all of them but maybe, NCAA had a list of comparison for true freshman starters, I think its only freshman starters, because I know more true freshman QB's have played, this table only has 18, so Im assuming its true-freshman QBs who are considered the starter?
http://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2015-09-08/was-josh-rosens-debut-best-true-freshman
If thats true, which, honestly I dont know if it is, but if it is, that would mean there were only 18 true freshman QB's who won the starting job in 12 years...it just doesnt happen, the jump in level of competition from High school to college is huge, I think Andrew Ford's a good example (I still wish he had stayed), smart kid, looked like one of the best QB prospects from a throwing standpoint we've had in a while on tape, it took him 2 years to really get up to college speed just in practice
As a former D1 basketball coach, I disagree with your #2, you are assuming that SL's coach talk of his mental side is directly character related. That's an extremely shallow thought. We don't know the kid on a personal level to make that assumption. It could be just as much as him having trouble grasping and implementing the concepts issue as it is a 'character' issue.
You very well may be right that the kid has some growing up to do, BUT implying that the definition of 'coach talk' in regards to the 'mental side' is character related is an extremely uneducated sweeping generalization of coach talk.
I agree with you that I hope it isn't character related and that he has a bad attitude. Honestly, I think his HS coach being brought aboard has more to do with them being a package deal under the table in order to seal the deal. I'd be willing to bet this type of action happens significantly more than we think.
Either way. I am pumped about the talent we have in the stable for QB and it's going to be exciting to see who emerges from the pack and blossoms under CJF.
Oh I agree, if there werent some of the other stuff going on, some of the sideline rumors, his body language, a lot of things other peole have noticed, things other QBs in the room have said...that comment would have been just taken for what it was, I just think in the context, in the way it was said, its getting a little harder to ignore some of the signs...
youre right Ive never met the kid, but Ive also never met JC Coleman/Sam Rogers and from things people have said and their actions I'd never question their character or work ethic...
I still want to give him the benefit of the doubt, I mean there hasnt been any off the field issues Ive heard of or any direct locker room issues, but I guess Im just starting to hope its not the case, rather than not even worrying about it like some of the other kids on the team..
I am glad someone finally mentioned #2, which has been my theory for awhile. He obviously has the physical skills but the QB has to be the LEADER of the offense and no coach wants a guy being QB who isn't setting a good example to follow; this would be poison, regardless of the player's physical skills. Who here would reward a player with increased PT if he isn't setting a good example by being on time, having a positive attitude, etc. Not saying this definitely the issue with Lawson but so many people have ignored it as a possibility and Loeffler has used every euphemism in the book to tip-toe around it all season.
My #sauces are telling me that Lawson is struggling academically. Maybe the coaches knew this, and it played into his playing time as well. Hopefully it is not an issue moving forward. I hope this isn't true, but if it is, I hope he gets to work and straightens it out. I'm rooting for him, as is most everyone else.