I'm just going to put this out there on Fitzgerald and Williams.....

I think most of you all probably saw that I saw. When Fitzgerald started, his body language was....well.....'off'. Didn't seem like the team responded well to him. I know it was just 6 plays total, but the playcalling 'seemed' bad, and it was sort of just bad. Williams came in and the offense woke up. Do we all agree there? Hopefully so. Then we saw what would happen with our offense with Williams in the 3rd quarter. Won't lose, but won't win. And with our defense, we can't have that. So we're out of options at current.

I think Tiano is probably the only option. Like I said in the other thread, I'd probably start Williams again, and go to Fitz early against SC. Probably against LSU too since we know that's a beatdown. But if things don't improve I think I would start Tiano against UMass. Bottom line.

We all know how this will go. We'll either win or lose to SC by a score like 17-14. Then LSU will beat us 35-10. So what's the point?

I don't disagree with your observations, but I would say that it's ridiculous to completely judge Fitz off of 6 plays that didn't put him in a position to succeed. FSU's QB looked like garbage last night for the first quarter & a half & then he found it.

Give Fitz the same opportunity. Call plays to his strengths & let him play

Have to find out what you have in fitz first. We don't know at this point.

I was pissed at the early play calling. You have a guy making is first ever start. Give him a simple throw with no read and let him run the ball on Second play. Get him involved and give him a little confidence. It ain't rocket science.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Taog Redloh

I think most of you all probably saw that I saw. When Fitzgerald started, his body language was....well.....'off'. Didn't seem like the team responded well to him. I know it was just 6 plays total, but the playcalling 'seemed' bad, and it was sort of just bad. Williams came in and the offense woke up. Do we all agree there? Hopefully so. Then we saw what would happen with our offense with Williams in the 3rd quarter. Won't lose, but won't win. And with our defense, we can't have that. So we're out of options at current.

I think Tiano is probably the only option. Like I said in the other thread, I'd probably start Williams again, and go to Fitz early against SC. Probably against LSU too since we know that's a beatdown. But if things don't improve I think I would start Tiano against UMass. Bottom line.

We all know how this will go. We'll either win or lose to SC by a score like 17-14. Then LSU will beat us 35-10. So what's the point?

---

Fitz is an option QB and we didn't run the option. Damian gives us a chance at maybe 5 wins max. Dan shouldn't make Fitz try to go through 4 progressions when he can run like he is able. Fitz looked good backing up Dak last year, I don't know why we wouldn't give him more opportunities especially in the 2nd half when we were "rolling" to 3 points. I say give Fitz most of the 1st half and then if he still looks like garbage bring out Tiano.

Way to early to judge Fitz on six plays especially season opening plays. First time starter of a SEC team probably is pretty stressful. If JJ makes that catch maybe we wouldn't be having this discussion. It is a game of inches after all.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tbonewannabe

Fitz is an option QB and we didn't run the option. Damian gives us a chance at maybe 5 wins max. Dan shouldn't make Fitz try to go through 4 progressions when he can run like he is able. Fitz looked good backing up Dak last year, I don't know why we wouldn't give him more opportunities especially in the 2nd half when we were "rolling" to 3 points. I say give Fitz most of the 1st half and then if he still looks like garbage bring out Tiano.

---

5? We couldn't even beat USA. I'd say 3 max, with luck. Samford would be the only sure bet. Did you see UMass vs. Florida?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tbonewannabe

Fitz is an option QB and we didn't run the option. Damian gives us a chance at maybe 5 wins max. Dan shouldn't make Fitz try to go through 4 progressions when he can run like he is able. Fitz looked good backing up Dak last year, I don't know why we wouldn't give him more opportunities especially in the 2nd half when we were "rolling" to 3 points. I say give Fitz most of the 1st half and then if he still looks like garbage bring out Tiano.

---

Not that I don't agree that Fitz deserves another and I believe we will. But I don't recall him getting past his first read on his passes. Much less the idea that Dan had him going through 4 progressions. Williams went through his progressions and early made some good reads. Fitz was locked and loaded on one guy.

To be clear I'm not necessarily judging Fitzgerald. I'm just going off the weeks-long rumors about off the field stuff combined with what I saw on the field. And the fact that he hasn't clearly taken the QB position yet.

This is in no way an indictment of his talent.....I'm on record saying I think he's a great athlete and potentially a great QB.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Taog Redloh

5? We couldn't even beat USA. I'd say 3 max, with luck. Samford would be the only sure bet. Did you see UMass vs. Florida?

---

I was being optimistic. I actually don't see more than Samford, USCe, and UMass. UK might be a toss up but it is on the road.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Really Clark?

Not that I don't agree that Fitz deserves another and I believe we will. But I don't recall him getting past his first read on his passes. Much less the idea that Dan had him going through 4 professions. Williams went through his progressions and early made some good reads. Fitz was locked and loaded on one guy.

---

Dan didn't give him any easy plays to get comfortable. It wouldn't have bothered me to run the option or throw a screen pass the first 2 series before dialing it up. We did that more with Damian but didn't give Fitz a chance.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tbonewannabe

I was being optimistic. I actually don't see more than Samford, USCe, and UMass. UK might be a toss up but it is on the road.

---

Arkansas would be a tossup IMO but with our offense I doubt it. They'd gash us with the TE anyway.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tbonewannabe

Fitz is an option QB and we didn't run the option. Damian gives us a chance at maybe 5 wins max. Dan shouldn't make Fitz try to go through 4 progressions when he can run like he is able. Fitz looked good backing up Dak last year, I don't know why we wouldn't give him more opportunities especially in the 2nd half when we were "rolling" to 3 points. I say give Fitz most of the 1st half and then if he still looks like garbage bring out Tiano.

---

The very first play of the game was a read option. Just because we don't run the option of old doesn't mean it isn't the option.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tbonewannabe

Dan didn't give him any easy plays to get comfortable. It wouldn't have bothered me to run the option or throw a screen pass the first 2 series before dialing it up. We did that more with Damian but didn't give Fitz a chance.

---

Agreed. Both QBs should have been running the ball first and foremost. Everybody knows this except Mullen.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WinningIsRelentless

The very first play of the game was a read option. Just because we don't run the option of old doesn't mean it isn't the option.

---

Forgot about that, Holloway got the ball up the gut. I want to see Fitz run the Relf offense before I give up on him.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Taog Redloh

Agreed. Both QBs should have been running the ball first and foremost. Everybody knows this except Mullen.

---

It would also help if we put our SEC quality RBs in the game to run the ball instead of a change of pace back and concrete shoes.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tbonewannabe

Fitz is an option QB and we didn't run the option. Damian gives us a chance at maybe 5 wins max. Dan shouldn't make Fitz try to go through 4 progressions when he can run like he is able. Fitz looked good backing up Dak last year, I don't know why we wouldn't give him more opportunities especially in the 2nd half when we were "rolling" to 3 points. I say give Fitz most of the 1st half and then if he still looks like garbage bring out Tiano.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Taog Redloh

Agreed. Both QBs should have been running the ball first and foremost. Everybody knows this except Mullen.

---

Fitz had the option to run the first play and should have ran it. If he makes the right read he is still running untouched today.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WinningIsRelentless

The very first play of the game was a read option. Just because we don't run the option of old doesn't mean it isn't the option.

---

Still dumb. I don't want a young guy having an RPO on the first play of the year. I will not be happy until fitz and aeris are in the game together RUNNING the read option and mix in Holloway for a change of pace. We can win like that. Plus it keeps our secondary off the field for as long as possible.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tbonewannabe

Dan didn't give him any easy plays to get comfortable. It wouldn't have bothered me to run the option or throw a screen pass the first 2 series before dialing it up. We did that more with Damian but didn't give Fitz a chance.

---

Ding! Get him settled. An easy, no read pass. A called qb run. Jet sweep to Mixon, gray, miles, or Ross (who didn't touch ball 1st quarter and when he finally did went 45 yards). It was just a horrible script of first 6 plays and it pisses me off.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tbonewannabe

Dan didn't give him any easy plays to get comfortable. It wouldn't have bothered me to run the option or throw a screen pass the first 2 series before dialing it up. We did that more with Damian but didn't give Fitz a chance.

---

Ok but that's not what you said. You said Dan had him going through 4 progressions. He didn't have him doing. I agree you could have called him differently. But it wouldn't have matter about progressions because Fitz wasn't doing that. It wasn't a deal where he took too much time going through the reads or getting confused through the play.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WinningIsRelentless

The very first play of the game was a read option. Just because we don't run the option of old doesn't mean it isn't the option.

---

Correct

So does anybody know the actual truth about Fitz and the team? Is he really not like or is that a rumor? I've heard he's had some off the field issues but nothing in detail

I think the only thing we learned Saturday is Williams is not the starter. He is the only one who got enough PT to make a judgement....and he couldn't threaten a shitty USA enough to stretch the field at all, and he couldn't beat them.

If we can't beat a USA missing 3 DL starters, with a dink & dunk QB with marginal running skills...who are we going to beat?

No...like TBone, SGD & Confucius said....put Fitz in there (and tell him he is starting and getting at least the first 1/2), then give Tiano a quarter or so.

Also, give Fitz 75% of the snaps this week, and Tiano the remaining 25%.

Process of elimination. Williams is not the answer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Really Clark?

Ok but that's not what you said. You said Dan had him going through 4 progressions. He didn't have him doing. I agree you could have called him differently. But it wouldn't have matter about progressions because Fitz wasn't doing that. It wasn't a deal where he took too much time going through the reads or getting confused through the play.

---

I was more referring to the offense Dan ran with Dak. Dan even mentioned Damian was going through his progressions better than Nick and he felt the offense was rolling better under Damian so he stuck with him. Just because Nick didn't go through all the progressions doesn't mean that isn't the offense we were running on Saturday. If Nick is slow through progressions then you run the Relf offense of 1 or 2 checks then run.

Yeah, probably should just quit delaying the inevitable and go with Tiano. I think we are going to struggle at QB until Key Thompson is a redshirt sophomore.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tbonewannabe

I was more referring to the offense Dan ran with Dak. Dan even mentioned Damian was going through his progressions better than Nick and he felt the offense was rolling better under Damian so he stuck with him. Just because Nick didn't go through all the progressions doesn't mean that isn't the offense we were running on Saturday. If Nick is slow through progressions then you run the Relf offense of 1 or 2 checks then run.

---

If our game plan for fitz was to call pass plays that require him to go through numerous progressions then we're doing it wrong. He ain't dak as a senior. He's much more dak as a sophomore or relf as a jr. Mullen over-complicates stuff.

Williams failed us by not getting the ball in the endzone in the second half. Not sure why the drives stalled, but they did. I did like Williams running the two minute at the end of the game. Great job there. I'm not sure what's wrong with Fitz but I'm hoping he can get it cleaned up. Point is that you've got to score to win. Didn't like the way we threw away the first two drives of the game. Hurtful loss but glad we're not throwing in the season towel like we did after we lost the opener to La. Tech. Doubt we can get a true freshman out there right away. If we can and he's all that, do it. Otherwise, Williams needs to be more agressive at pushing the ball downfield or Fitz needs to get his head on the field where it belongs. One or the other.

Yeah, I will repeat what others said. I don't think we gave Fitz enough opportunities. Maybe he did lock on his first read and/or didn't make correct reads. Mullen knows if he did or didn't. But the play calling was definitely more of the Dak offense rather than the Relf offense. SO, I don't think Mullen gave Fitz the best opportunity to succeed. I want to see Fitz given the opportunity to run the Relf offense before I call him a bust.

Tiano......if Mullen feels Fitz can't handle the pressure and is making the wrong reads, you need to go with Tiano now. WHy wait for Umass week? He will need to get some snaps under his belt now to ensure his best effort by UMass week. But this is just what I think should happen. Obviously, Dan thinks Williams is more than capable.

What probably will happen...... Williams starts this weekend. The game is within a TD one way or the other. Dan says Williams did just fine. Williams is the QB going forward. LSU will beat us 42-0, btw.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tbonewannabe

Fitz is an option QB and we didn't run the option. Damian gives us a chance at maybe 5 wins max. Dan shouldn't make Fitz try to go through 4 progressions when he can run like he is able. Fitz looked good backing up Dak last year, I don't know why we wouldn't give him more opportunities especially in the 2nd half when we were "rolling" to 3 points. I say give Fitz most of the 1st half and then if he still looks like garbage bring out Tiano.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Taog Redloh

Agreed. Both QBs should have been running the ball first and foremost. Everybody knows this except Mullen.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tbonewannabe

Forgot about that, Holloway got the ball up the gut. I want to see Fitz run the Relf offense before I give up on him.

---

Some of you need to get up to date on current offenses. Fitz misread the end and gave the ball to holloway inside. If he keeps it he is still running. Our fan base hasn't evolved with the offenses today.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ShotgunDawg

I don't disagree with your observations, but I would say that it's ridiculous to completely judge Fitz off of 6 plays that didn't put him in a position to succeed. FSU's QB looked like garbage last night for the first quarter & a half & then he found it.

Give Fitz the same opportunity. Call plays to his strengths & let him play

---

His six plays nothing happen and then Williams came in and we moved the ball. Maybe Mullen should have given him another shot but when the qB you send in starts moving the offense you stick with him.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jack Lambert

His six plays nothing happen and then Williams came in and we moved the ball. Maybe Mullen should have given him another shot but when the qB you send in starts moving the offense you stick with him.

---

I had no problem sticking with Williams in the 1st half but Damian didn't set the world on fire in the 2nd half. Dan or Brian Johnson should have been talking to Fitz on the sideline or at halftime and then give him another shot. Instead we let Damian lead a couple of drives that at most results in FGs. That isn't having the offense rolling, that is shitting the bed against a mediocre at best Sunbelt team.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tbonewannabe

Dan didn't give him any easy plays to get comfortable. It wouldn't have bothered me to run the option or throw a screen pass the first 2 series before dialing it up. We did that more with Damian but didn't give Fitz a chance.

---

Why did Dan do this, he wanted to play Williams b/c he is the upperclassman..

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jack Lambert

His six plays nothing happen and then Williams came in and we moved the ball. Maybe Mullen should have given him another shot but when the qB you send in starts moving the offense you stick with him.

---

Mullen did give him another shot...let him go back in and take a knee right before half.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Interpolation_Dawg_EX

Mullen did give him another shot...let him go back in and take a knee right before half.

---

True, did anyone notice if Aeris, DLee, Gibson, or Murphy were out there also? No wonder Dan doesn't give them a chance, instead of running the offense we just wasted clock by taking a knee.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tbonewannabe

Fitz is an option QB and we didn't run the option. Damian gives us a chance at maybe 5 wins max. Dan shouldn't make Fitz try to go through 4 progressions when he can run like he is able. Fitz looked good backing up Dak last year, I don't know why we wouldn't give him more opportunities especially in the 2nd half when we were "rolling" to 3 points. I say give Fitz most of the 1st half and then if he still looks like garbage bring out Tiano.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Taog Redloh

Agreed. Both QBs should have been running the ball first and foremost. Everybody knows this except Mullen.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tbonewannabe

Forgot about that, Holloway got the ball up the gut. I want to see Fitz run the Relf offense before I give up on him.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by fishwater99

Why did Dan do this, he wanted to play Williams b/c he is the upperclassman..

---

That's bullshit. Williams got the same play calls as Fitz, he just made the better read and moved the ball.

With that being said I don't think williams is our qb, but I don't fault Dan for not pulling him Saturday.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Taog Redloh

I think most of you all probably saw that I saw. When Fitzgerald started, his body language was....well.....'off'. Didn't seem like the team responded well to him. I know it was just 6 plays total, but the playcalling 'seemed' bad, and it was sort of just bad. Williams came in and the offense woke up. Do we all agree there? Hopefully so. Then we saw what would happen with our offense with Williams in the 3rd quarter. Won't lose, but won't win. And with our defense, we can't have that. So we're out of options at current.

I think Tiano is probably the only option. Like I said in the other thread, I'd probably start Williams again, and go to Fitz early against SC. Probably against LSU too since we know that's a beatdown. But if things don't improve I think I would start Tiano against UMass. Bottom line.

We all know how this will go. We'll either win or lose to SC by a score like 17-14. Then LSU will beat us 35-10. So what's the point?

---

Anyone know how Fitz is thought of on campus?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tbonewannabe

True, did anyone notice if Aeris, DLee, Gibson, or Murphy were out there also? No wonder Dan doesn't give them a chance, instead of running the offense we just wasted clock by taking a knee.

---

Not sure about that, but what a dick move by Mullen....talk is that D Lee has an ankle

Here's my only observation from a practice and game standpoint so take it however you will. I am a veteran. A proud one at that. And when I go to battle the guy leading me doesn't have to be the most liked guy. But he does has to be the most prepared guy. So blame Dan and blame Damien all you want. The problem isn't them. The problem is Fitz just won't step up and take control of HIS team. Until that light comes on its not a Mullen or Williams problem. It's a Nicky Fitz problem

Regarding the Relf-offense:

For those more in the know than myself, is that something that can be implemented now that the season has started, or should we have been practicing that in Spring/Fall camp for it to be a legitimate strategy this year? Given how much Mullen still wanted to pass and use the wrong RBs for situations, I'm guessing we didn't practice much of that style in the off-season...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WinningIsRelentless

That's bullshit. Williams got the same play calls as Fitz, he just made the better read and moved the ball.

With that being said I don't think williams is our qb, but I don't fault Dan for not pulling him Saturday.

---

We are really between a rock and a hard place. We are limited with Williams no doubt but he apparently is the more settled, mature QB. People forget that although Fitz has been on campus almost as long as Williams, he only started ONE year as a QB in HS. I think he even played a different position up until his SR year. Still very green for a guy trying to start in the SEC but he no doubt has much better overall potential than Williams. We may have lost this past Saturday with Fitz playing as well but long term I believe we would have gotten more positives out of it because Fitz desperately needs game reps moreso than Williams does.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ShotgunDawg

I don't disagree with your observations, but I would say that it's ridiculous to completely judge Fitz off of 6 plays that didn't put him in a position to succeed. FSU's QB looked like garbage last night for the first quarter & a half & then he found it.

Give Fitz the same opportunity. Call plays to his strengths & let him play

---

I'm not saying fitz isn't better than Williams, I think he has more upside for sure. However, we ran the first play of the game to his strength and he read it wrong or he'd still be running....he's the better runner of the two by far and he didn't capitalize on it. Now 6 plays shouldn't and won't be his end, but he failed on those 6. Drops be damned.