Is Syvelle the Answer at Quarterback?

[GAMECOCKBOY]

http://southcarolina.scout.com/2/569430.html

[RW13]

In a word....................NO.

[GAMECOCKBOY]

newton is the answer until this ol can improve....spurrier said on his tv show just now newton will start and they might play another qb in the game saturday...so looks like a 2 qb system saturday...

[GTmorris1970]

I think with the blocking right now....ABSOLUTELY.....Blake would have gotten us beat last night.

[rabidcock]

I think with the blocking right now....ABSOLUTELY.....Blake would have gotten us beat last night.

Exactly...a mobile quarterback is the only answer now. And he (Newton) is the most elusive one we have, at this juncture. Perhaps by the end of the season, our young O-line will mature to the point that it can protect the QB in the pocket.

[scunyon]

In a word....................NO.

I'm curious as to who you think should be since none of the other choices are as mobile and elusive.

[GTmorris1970]

I want to say one other thing. I REFUSE to jump off the band wagon. I watched the game. Was it pretty? Not necessarily, but there were some bright moments. I am not making excuses. This team has some issues right now, but they can be fixed. Like Spurrier said, anytime you start 2 freshmen on the OL it's going to be tough. However, he knows what he is doing, and this was the game to get their feet wet. This is a Wofford offense that most SEC teams never see, and we will not see another one like it this season. I say again. If Blake were at QB last night, we lose. Plain and simple. Let's use this game and the one next week to find our best eleven. Spurrier says we can still be a good team. I believe him.

[cocky4ever]

I agree that Newton is the answer until our O-Line improves. I would like to see some of the younger QB's get some playing time as well, but right now Newton should be the starter when all things are considered. If he improves his accuracy he will be DEADLY. He is just a playmaker, plain and simple. Whether he makes the plays with his feet or his arms I dont care as long as he makes em.

[RW13]

I say Smelley or Mitchell. Newton may have been mobile and have won the game last night but.............and this is a big one...., he would have made us lose against any SEC team last night (outside of the Miss schools), his throws were reminiscent of the Holtz/Pinkins days where the ball was just lobbed up and we hoped a WR came down with it. He would have thrown 3 or 4 INTs last night against a good SEC defense. I don't care if you guys are in love with the "mobile" QB crap, that stuff isn't gonna work against the fast SEC defenses, crappy OL or not.....

[GamecockinIL]

I say Smelley or Mitchell. Newton may have been mobile and have won the game last night but.............and this is a big one...., he would have made us lose against any SEC team last night (outside of the Miss schools), his throws were reminiscent of the Holtz/Pinkins days where the ball was just lobbed up and we hoped a WR came down with it. He would have thrown 3 or 4 INTs last night against a good SEC defense. I don't care if you guys are in love with the "mobile" QB crap, that stuff isn't gonna work against the fast SEC defenses, crappy OL or not.....

Hey RW! It's nice to be stirring it up with you and Cockytalk like last year. :happy: Nice to have you both hanging around again.

That being said, I'm finding myself to be about 50/50 with you this week. You are being a lot more pessimistic about our Cocks than even I am right now. As discouraged as I am with the nature of our team right now, I think you may be just about ready to swallow the death pill for the year. I'm not ready to go there yet.

But......

I absolutely agree with you about your observations above. We play in the SEC...not the Big South. We can't just throw balls up (not even to Sydney Rice) and just expect that we will either have a completion or it will hit the ground. In the SEC, most of those will wind up in the defenses hands.

I must say that having read the link that was posted to start this thread, I have great respect for SN and his own assessment of his ability. I think even he's not sure that he's the right answer....but he's a warrior and will do what is asked of him. He had nothing but good things to say about the rest of the QBs on the roster. I give him kudos for that.

Yes....our line absoulutely sucks right now. No....I don't like the idea of having a young QB eaten up and spit out....but how do we know if we don't put one in there who can back-pedal and pull the trigger quickly? WE know BM cannot make reads that fast...he has never displayed a sense of urgency as our QB. But I got the sense that Smelley has EXACTLY that quality.

I am absolutely baffled by the insertion of Thompson in the game rather than Smelley. I just don't get it. Which partly makes me wonder again about whether Spurs is still holding Smelley back until we get Garcia. It just doesn't make sense to me. I have no doubts about SOS and his ability to coach. I'm just clueless as to his choices. It really makes me wonder what the motivations are. He definitely has his reasons....I just don't understand them.

AT this rate, i don't like our chances to even go bowling this year. I have HIGH, HIGH expectations for 2007, and I had modest expectations for 2006, but 2006 is quickly morphing into another "Wait till next year!"

[GTmorris1970]

I say Smelley or Mitchell. Newton may have been mobile and have won the game last night but.............and this is a big one...., he would have made us lose against any SEC team last night (outside of the Miss schools), his throws were reminiscent of the Holtz/Pinkins days where the ball was just lobbed up and we hoped a WR came down with it. He would have thrown 3 or 4 INTs last night against a good SEC defense. I don't care if you guys are in love with the "mobile" QB crap, that stuff isn't gonna work against the fast SEC defenses, crappy OL or not.....

Well, it's either play a mobile QB, which Smelley can also put some moves on, or let Blake stand back there and lose 10 yards a play. I have also seen how Blake throws when pressured. I think I'm gonna leave it up to one of the winningest coaches in college history. That is my take. :dry:

[RW13]

Well, it's either play a mobile QB, which Smelley can also put some moves on, or let Blake stand back there and lose 10 yards a play. I have also seen how Blake throws when pressured. I think I'm gonna leave it up to one of the winningest coaches in college history. That is my take. :dry:

You must've been one of those that never questioned Holtz either just b/c he won a NC at some point. Sorry GT, but even coaches are human, Holtz and Spurrier aren't Gods. Spurrier's decision making this season has been suspect, NC rings/Heisman trophies and all....

[pc72687]

I wonder how much of it was play calling or just plain dumb decisions by the signal caller. An example being the QB draw vs. UGA. The play was for Mitchell to go the the line and decide if he could make it or change the play, he chose to try it even though the box was stacked.

[GTmorris1970]

You must've been one of those that never questioned Holtz either just b/c he won a NC at some point. Sorry GT, but even coaches are human, Holtz and Spurrier aren't Gods. Spurrier's decision making this season has been suspect, NC rings/Heisman trophies and all....

I certainly have questioned both, however I base my opinion on the obvious. What I have seen on the field. As far as QB's, there is no better coach in the business. I don't practice them and see them every day. All I know is Blake sux. I didn't like him last year, and he is showing this year how little talent he truly has. As far as I'm concerned, we are down to Syvelle and Smelley. I give kudos to either one. Spurrier made it clear last night and today he would practice him hard in the passing game this week.

[Neo]

May I remind everyone that this was the first time Newton started behind the center in over a year.

Just my 0.02

[GTmorris1970]

May I remind everyone that this was the first time Newton started behind the center in over a year.

Just my 0.02

That is correct. And, it's his first start ever in an offense like Spurrier's, where you drop back and fire the ball. Spurrier made it clear Syvelle can make all the throws. He just wants to tweak him a bit.

[RW13]

I certainly have questioned both, however I base my opinion on the obvious. What I have seen on the field. As far as QB's, there is no better coach in the business. I don't practice them and see them every day. All I know is Blake sux. I didn't like him last year, and he is showing this year how little talent he truly has. As far as I'm concerned, we are down to Syvelle and Smelley. I give kudos to either one. Spurrier made it clear last night and today he would practice him hard in the passing game this week.

He said he would practice Smelley hard in the passing game this week?? Awesome news, I hadn't heard that....

[cocky4ever]

As far as QB's, there is no better coach in the business. I don't practice them and see them every day. All I know is Blake sux. I didn't like him last year, and he is showing this year how little talent he truly has.

It is starting to appear that Rice made Mitchell look a lot better than he actually was last year.

[BigSpur]

May I remind everyone that this was the first time Newton started behind the center in over a year.

Just my 0.02

Well he adjusted to looking like the old Newton in a hurry.

[lacene]

I agree, Newton as QB for next week, or until there's some improvement with the OL. But after that, it's against Auburn.......I don't know which will be more important: having a mobile QB behind that poor OL, or having a more capable (for what it's worth) QB in Spurrier's pocket-offense going against the Auburn Defense....

[cocky4ever]

Well considering what Auburn did to us last year and what they did to LSU Sat. I would say it doesnt really matter who we have under center. I would like to see Newton though since he's such a playmaker and considering the Barn's pass rush we need someone who can make things happen with his arms or legs back there. Whether or not you liked the performance by Newton on Sat. everyone has to admit that he is the only QB to utilize the weapons we have at WR. Plus he makes plays with his feet and helps open up plays for Boyd since Newton has to be held accountable as a running threat. At this point I dont care who's under center as long as they are helping the offense score points.

[GTmorris1970]

He said he would practice Smelley hard in the passing game this week?? Awesome news, I hadn't heard that....

No. He is going to work Syvelle hard, teaching him the 3, 5, and 7 step drops and how to drop back and fire the ball. He said he had never been taught those things before.

[uscrules]

The only thing I was a little disappointed in Newton was I think he sometimes took off running a little too soon. At times he should have stayed iin the pocket and allow his recievers to get open. Other times, he had no choice. I will say this also, the play that the ball was snaped over his head and he ran back and picked it up under pressure and threw it out of bounds was nothing short of spectacular. The next play he scrambled and threw 46 yards to Sidney. Mitchell could not have made either of those plays. Newton is our best option right now.

[SPURED]

Right now Newton is our best option. our o line is just too bad to put Smelley in there. Spurrier knows what he is doing.

[pc72687]

I as said in another thread, the Charleston paper reported that SC may be looking to get a medical redshirt on Smelley since his heel has been bothering him alot lately.

[RW13]

I as said in another thread, the Charleston paper reported that SC may be looking to get a medical redshirt on Smelley since his heel has been bothering him alot lately.

Must mean they are giving up on this season, I think if they thought this would be a successful year (7+ wins) they would leave him in to get experience, playing time, etc. This action speaks volumes if true.....

[GeauxTo]

Newton may have been mobile and have won the game last night but.............and this is a big one...., he would have made us lose against any SEC team last night (outside of the Miss schools), his throws were reminiscent of the Holtz/Pinkins days where the ball was just lobbed up and we hoped a WR came down with it...
I think this is right on the money. Newton got you through one, but can he be "elusive" against a quality SEC defense (such as you'll see in Auburn and Tennessee and Florida)? I think not. But, you have the best coach of QBs in the nation; he'll find the right person or the right combination. Your problem is lack of talent, not lack of coaching, IMO.

[RW13]

I think this is right on the money. Newton got you through one, but can he be "elusive" against a quality SEC defense (such as you'll see in Auburn and Tennessee and Florida)? I think not. But, you have the best coach of QBs in the nation; he'll find the right person or the right combination. Your problem is lack of talent, not lack of coaching, IMO.

I'm hoping that's the case, it's nice to see an outsider thinks our coach still has it....

[shanksta13]

I'm hoping that's the case, it's nice to see an outsider thinks our coach still has it....

I would second Geaux on that. But then again Spurrier did get us a ring... so I'm probably a little biased.

[pc72687]

The oline makes it impossible to accomplish anything. Until that is fixed we're in trouble.