Devil's Advocate regarding football hype...

[CadaverDawg]

We're all wooly about football, myself included, so I'm going to play devil's advocate, and you guys tell me why I'm wrong or if you agree.

Everyone agrees Moorhead will open up the offense and we'll pass more. Well, whether you want to give Don credit or not, his "safe" play calling helped us when it came to turnovers....and turnovers are a recipe for disaster in the SEC. Why should we not be slightly concerned that we're about to start throwing it a lot more with a QB that sits around 50% completions for his career?

Could more passing and more reads actually end up hurting the O due to potentially causing more turnovers?

[ShotgunDawg]

Are we going to throw it more or just throw it differently?

If we throw more, are more passes to the RBs actually going to increase turnovers or are they an extended running game?

After that, I concur with your post.

My biggest fear is that Fitz just isn't an accurate passer and lacks the touch to throw a bunch, which will lead to a ton of 3 outs where our offense only ate up 30 seconds of clock.

[bulldawg28]

Are we going to throw it more or just throw it differently?

If we throw more, are more passes to the RBs actually going to increase turnovers or are they an extended running game?

After that, I concur with your post.

My biggest fear is that Fitz just isn't an accurate passer and lacks the touch to throw a bunch, which will lead to a ton of 3 outs where our offense only ate up 30 seconds of clock.

Fitz was forced the ball perfectly or a tight window due to smaller WR's . Now that he'll have more size the pass radius increases.

[ShotgunDawg]

Fitz was forced the ball perfectly or a tight window due to smaller WR's . Now that he'll have more size the pass radius increases.

You just described about 40% of his issue. Certianly a major part but not the entire issue.

[MetEdDawg]

Are we going to throw it more or just throw it differently?

If we throw more, are more passes to the RBs actually going to increase turnovers or are they an extended running game?

After that, I concur with your post.

My biggest fear is that Fitz just isn't an accurate passer and lacks the touch to throw a bunch, which will lead to a ton of 3 outs where our offense only ate up 30 seconds of clock.

I think some of the action we see in the offense Jo Mo will run will help create bigger windows.

I'll also say that I believe the vertical passing philosophy that comes with this offense will open the short and intermediate passing game. That was my biggest complaint about the Mullen offense was that we got played so close by good secondaries that we could never get separation. The deep threat was never really a threat. So teams played us close and that cut our windows down in the short and intermediate passing game.

Fitz isn't a bad passer. He made some damn good throws last year including the one to win the Arkansas game. But just like any QB, the function of your offense and the types of playmakers at your disposal dictate how you throw. A strong OL, bigger WRs, and a vertical passing threat with the Joe Mo offense have me feeling very good about the passing game this year.

[bulldawg28]

Fitz is a above average passer. His WR's hurt him a lot. Also, Jomo is smart enough to adjust to our strengths. He will not try to make a square peg fit a circle with the offense.

[ShotgunDawg]

Fitz is a above average passer.

I'm a fitz fan but I don't agree with this. He's shown no sign of being an above average passer. He has above average arm strength but throws off his back foot consistently, which leads to him airmailing the ball consistently. Additionally, he throws a heavy, hard pass.

While, I'm a fan, for him to take the next step as a passer, he needs to transform himself from the football equivalent of a 98 mph reliever with control issues to a a starting pitcher with touch, feel, and command.

[bulldawg28]

I'm a fitz fan but I don't agree with this. He's shown no sign of being an above average passer. He has above average arm strength but throws off his back foot consistently, which leads to him airmailing the ball consistently. Additionally, he throws a heavy, hard pass.

While, I'm a fan, for him to take the next step as a passer, he needs to transform himself from the football equivalent of a 98 mph reliever with control issues to a a starting pitcher with touch, feel, and command.

He's 50% right now. If you simply include the passes dropped that's above average.

[GreenheadDawg]

I'm a fitz fan but I don't agree with this. He's shown no sign of being an above average passer. He has above average arm strength but throws off his back foot consistently, which leads to him airmailing the ball consistently. Additionally, he throws a heavy, hard pass.

While, I'm a fan, for him to take the next step as a passer, he needs to transform himself from the football equivalent of a 98 mph reliever with control issues to a a starting pitcher with touch, feel, and command.

I don?t think anyone can argue with this. Fitz is a great bulldog and hell of an athlete but an above average passer he is not.

[Ifyouonlyknew]

I don?t think anyone can argue with this. Fitz is a great bulldog and hell of an athlete but an above average passer he is not.

I’ll be very surprised if Fitz isn’t a 60-65% passer this year.

[ShotgunDawg]

I’ll be very surprised if Fitz isn’t a 60-65% passer this year.

If he is, then watch the 17 out for Mississippi State. Playoff contender.

[Matty Dispatch]

I'm a fitz fan but I don't agree with this. He's shown no sign of being an above average passer. He has above average arm strength but throws off his back foot consistently, which leads to him airmailing the ball consistently. Additionally, he throws a heavy, hard pass.

While, I'm a fan, for him to take the next step as a passer, he needs to transform himself from the football equivalent of a 98 mph reliever with control issues to a a starting pitcher with touch, feel, and command.

It's not easy to run the ball 25 times a game, going toe to toe with linebackers and then getting back up and seconds later trying to throw an accurate pass. Moorhead doesn't plan to use Fitz as a battering ram quite as much, so that alone should help him with his accuracy.

[ShotgunDawg]

It's not easy to run the ball 25 times a game, going toe to toe with linebackers and then getting back up and seconds later trying to throw an accurate pass. Moorhead doesn't plan to use Fitz as a battering ram quite as much, so that alone should help him with his accuracy.

Not disagreeing, but I think you're kind of making an excuse that only encapsulates about 5% of Nick's issues. So between short WRs and running's a lot, we've got somewhere around 45% of his issues solved. 45% is a lot though and could certianly make him more effective.

[Matty Dispatch]

Not disagreeing, but I think you're kind of making an excuse that only encapsulates about 5% of Nick's issues. So between short WRs and running's a lot, we've got somewhere around 45% of his issues solved. 45% is a lot though and could certianly make him more effective.

I think it's a lot more than 5%. He pukes on the sideline every game, his arms are beat red from the abuse. Imagine running full speed into a brick wall, then get up call the play and try to hitting a moving target 15 yards downfield that's being covered by a defender. It's one thing to be a running QB who is trying to pick up a 1st down on 3rd & 3, it's another when you're the home run threat and trying to break one to the endzone every time. That's part of his game, and inaccuracy is a side effect. If you turn him into Tyler Russell it's really hard to imagine he's not a lot more accurate. But I'll deal with some wild throws because he's such a great athlete who can make so many more plays with his legs.

[viverlibre]

Fitz is a above average passer. His WR's hurt him a lot. Also, Jomo is smart enough to adjust to our strengths. He will not try to make a square peg fit a circle with the offense.

He's iffy over 20 years, he's at best an average passer, maybe below average on deep balls.

[basedog]

The late but great Coach Darrel Royal once stated, "There are three things while passing and two of them are bad".

And the late but great Coach Pat Summit once stated, "Offense sells tickets but Defense wins games".

[msstatelp1]

The late but great Coach Darrel Royal once stated, "There are three things while passing and two of them are bad".

And the late but great Coach Pat Summit once stated, "Offense sells tickets but Defense wins games".

"Chicks dig the checkdown" but I forgot who said it.

[Percho]

The late but great Coach Darrel Royal once stated, "There are three things while passing and two of them are bad".

And the late but great Coach Pat Summit once stated, "Offense sells tickets but Defense wins games".

I think that was Woody Hayes Ohio State.

[thf24]

The wooliness in me says that while Mullen's offense limited turnovers in conventional situations, he probably added at least 3-4 over the course of a season due to boneheaded gimmicks that never worked (fake punts, etc.). He also wasn't without his share of 4-5 turnover blowouts despite safe playcalling.

As far as Fitz completion percentage, I'd like to think we're going to see that go up due to giving him bigger windows to throw into as a result of competent WR coaching. Hard for almost anyone to throw 65% when you barely have anyone who can get loose from even SWAC CB's on a consistent basis.

[Ezsoil]

The wooliness in me says that while Mullen's offense limited turnovers in conventional situations, he probably added at least 3-4 over the course of a season due to boneheaded gimmicks that never worked (fake punts, etc.). He also wasn't without his share of 4-5 turnover blowouts despite safe playcalling.

As far as Fitz completion percentage, I'd like to think we're going to see that go up due to giving him bigger windows to throw into as a result of competent WR coaching. Hard for almost anyone to throw 65% when you barely have anyone who can get loose from even SWAC CB's on a consistent basis.

But yet if Mullen had called shorter routes rather than having an inexperienced QB force throws in the egg bowl, MSU wins by two touchdowns