Mullen's quotes in the paper about the QB shuffle........
- Thread starter Hanmudog
- Start date
My take
We HAD to play three QB's last season.
We only have so many games that can be used as a training period. So Williams is getting his reps., with the game on the line.
I really don't see Williams getting this much playing time at LSU, etc.
It's possible that Dak is being protected, and would have played less had the game allowed.
I did not see much of a smile on Dak's face yesterday, until very late.
Lot of what if's, what's going on out there.
We HAD to play three QB's last season.
We only have so many games that can be used as a training period. So Williams is getting his reps., with the game on the line.
I really don't see Williams getting this much playing time at LSU, etc.
It's possible that Dak is being protected, and would have played less had the game allowed.
I did not see much of a smile on Dak's face yesterday, until very late.
Lot of what if's, what's going on out there.
Last edited:
i doubt Williams plays in SEC games unless we are winning big or Dak goes down. I think a lot of the reason he subs Williams in for Dak is to keep Dak from taking so many meaningless hits and getting Williams valuable reps. At no time was I worried about losing to UAB even when we were behind. We had over 500 total yards and scored 47 points. When have we ever done that and ***** about the second team QB playing meaningful time in the first half?
I think substituting Williams early is something we will be thankful that he did 2 years from now. I don't expect to see that same plan in SEC games, with the exception of Vanderbilt. As long as we continue to win these games, I'm fine with getting Damian early minutes and saving hits on Dak. Our more pressing concerns are cornerbacks who can't go man to man on Conference USA wideouts.
I'm perfectly ok with playing 2 qb's
but holy **** let's let Dak get a rhythm, score some points, then put Damian in and let him get a rhythm. You cannot expect anybody to come in per series and go all out and wow everyone. That I don't understand. Again, I understand playing 2 qb's. Let's get Damian some experience, but either leave him in a few series or bring him in after Dak has had a few series. This rotating ******** drives me up the wall.
On that note, I'm not defending the kickers at all, missed PATs are no excuse, but I think some of the blame falls on Mullen in rotating the kickers. It's the same thing with the qb's. I think we would get a more consistent kicker if they knew that they were going to be the starting kicker for the game. They are head cases, why rotate them? If Sobieski misses 4 consecutive kicks, then by all means, put Graves in.
but holy **** let's let Dak get a rhythm, score some points, then put Damian in and let him get a rhythm. You cannot expect anybody to come in per series and go all out and wow everyone. That I don't understand. Again, I understand playing 2 qb's. Let's get Damian some experience, but either leave him in a few series or bring him in after Dak has had a few series. This rotating ******** drives me up the wall.
On that note, I'm not defending the kickers at all, missed PATs are no excuse, but I think some of the blame falls on Mullen in rotating the kickers. It's the same thing with the qb's. I think we would get a more consistent kicker if they knew that they were going to be the starting kicker for the game. They are head cases, why rotate them? If Sobieski misses 4 consecutive kicks, then by all means, put Graves in.
I think they're just testing guys to find out who's ready.
We've found out that a Dak with only one good ankle is better than a 100% Williams. We needed to know that because Dak is for sure going to get beat up throughout the season. And now we know taking out an injured Dak isn't an option.
We know we have three TEs who are receiving threats. Teams can't ignore MJ, Hill, or Walley when they're on the field.
And we know J-Rob is far & away the best RB on this team. Not sure who's #2, but we know Robinson should be ou workhorse.
I'm sure the coaches have answered a lot more questions than those, but that's what we've found out for sure by rotating our 1s and 2s these first two games.
We've found out that a Dak with only one good ankle is better than a 100% Williams. We needed to know that because Dak is for sure going to get beat up throughout the season. And now we know taking out an injured Dak isn't an option.
We know we have three TEs who are receiving threats. Teams can't ignore MJ, Hill, or Walley when they're on the field.
And we know J-Rob is far & away the best RB on this team. Not sure who's #2, but we know Robinson should be ou workhorse.
I'm sure the coaches have answered a lot more questions than those, but that's what we've found out for sure by rotating our 1s and 2s these first two games.
Completely agree with this. By my count, Dak had 9 possessions. 6 TDs, punt, pick, and turnover on downs. We could have put that game away in the first half if we'd just played Dak more, then let Williams get most of the 2nd half.
The mismanagement by Mullen
let this game be a contest in the first half. We should've smoked these clowns by 30+.
let this game be a contest in the first half. We should've smoked these clowns by 30+.
Agreed wholeheartedly. Williams is an emergency insurance policy that is good about not making any big mistakes. He's the only QB that we've got on the bench with any experience, so it's important for him to get some reps, but let's not act like he's the heir apparent for the future
Dak had 8 straight possessions.
The drive charts are pretty interesting, and a little worrisome.
First off, Dak had 8 straight possessions starting from the middle of the 2nd quarter when the score got tight, until the middle of the 4th when the game was out of reach.
When we needed a score to create separation from UAB, Mullen ran Dak. When we went up, and early in the game, Mullen ran the backs and passed. In all 5 touchdown drives, Dak ran at least once. In the drive to regain the lead in the 2nd quarter, and in the two drives in the third quarter when the score was still tight, Dak ran a ton. These drives really demonstrate, I think, what Mullen is going to do when he really needs to move the ball.
Dak never ran the ball again after that touchdown at the end of the third – including that 4th and 1 in the next series. I think it is pretty obvious Mullen is scared stiff of getting Dak dinged up when he doesn’t need to. When the score got uncomfortable, Mullen ran him, and we scored touchdowns. That seems pretty smart to me.
The drive charts are pretty interesting, and a little worrisome.
First off, Dak had 8 straight possessions starting from the middle of the 2nd quarter when the score got tight, until the middle of the 4th when the game was out of reach.
When we needed a score to create separation from UAB, Mullen ran Dak. When we went up, and early in the game, Mullen ran the backs and passed. In all 5 touchdown drives, Dak ran at least once. In the drive to regain the lead in the 2nd quarter, and in the two drives in the third quarter when the score was still tight, Dak ran a ton. These drives really demonstrate, I think, what Mullen is going to do when he really needs to move the ball.
Dak never ran the ball again after that touchdown at the end of the third – including that 4th and 1 in the next series. I think it is pretty obvious Mullen is scared stiff of getting Dak dinged up when he doesn’t need to. When the score got uncomfortable, Mullen ran him, and we scored touchdowns. That seems pretty smart to me.
Nothing smart about what Mullen is doing. Nothing. We could have gone up by four TDs if Dak plays the whole first half and then Williams could have played the entire second half while Dak chills with a cap and a headset on the sideline.
It also has not been mentioned where Mullen put Williams in. We were on about the 10-15 yard line and gave UAB good field position after the three and out (plus the fumble).
It also has not been mentioned where Mullen put Williams in. We were on about the 10-15 yard line and gave UAB good field position after the three and out (plus the fumble).
ideally, Williams would have been leading scoring drives on those early possessions. Honestly, I think if Williams was effective he would have played most of the game, and Dan brings Dak in a few series and sees what the offense can do without him running. My guess is that Dan sees this as our best shot at LSU since he's been here. That game Dak is going to run a ton - that's the offense that Mullen knows and understands, and it is when we are our most dangerous, because it sets up everything else on offense. But that game is our 4th in as many weeks, and he needs more than anything else, a healthy Dak.
The best way to keep Dak from getting hit, is to leave him in the game until we are up by 24+. If Dak had been allowed to establish a rhythm, we may very well have been up by 24 or more in the 3rd Quarter, and Dak could have called it a day.
I really didn't mind Williams coming in to run a series with the first string in the first quarter. But one series was plenty.
I really didn't mind Williams coming in to run a series with the first string in the first quarter. But one series was plenty.
Long story short...Mullen has learned a lot since he`s been here but still makes some of the dumbest in-game decisions I`ve ever seen. You can bank on him losing at least 1 game this year himself because it`s very difficult to coach with your head up your ***.
Interesting analysis in your OP. Did you happen to capture what DW did when he was in? To me, it seems like we were throwing with DW (and running with the RBs)... insinuating that Dan was forcing DW to throw much like he appears to be doing with Dak when we were in a close game.
I have probably been one of Williams biggest supporters but I have to admit
he took a step or two back on Saturday. I am concerned about his quickness for the most part. I think he can be trusted but I'm starting to think he just can't move well enough to create plays.
he took a step or two back on Saturday. I am concerned about his quickness for the most part. I think he can be trusted but I'm starting to think he just can't move well enough to create plays.
Gonna be hard to bet a Top 20 team with Mullen coaching like he did the last two games..
We won't be seeing
Damian coming in on the 2nd or 3rd drives (and the overall QB shuffling) in SEC play.
Damian coming in on the 2nd or 3rd drives (and the overall QB shuffling) in SEC play.
Dan is just setting lsu up. When lsu watches the film their players will chalk it up as an easy win***
I think Williams has a lot of promise, he's athletic and has a very big arm. But the timing seems off when he comes into the game. It makes you wonder how many snaps he's getting with the first team in practice.
From what I can tell, you are correct. In 5 drives, DW had two design runs - one in his first drive, and one in the fourth quarter; both because we needed a first down. The rest of the time he was passing or handing off the football. That really confirms to me that Dan was treating these two games like a glorified scrimmage. My take is he could try and keep his quarterbacks healthy, work on some things, and at the same time hide any wrinkles he's put in on the QB running attack. I know people were freaking out about the score getting tight, but frankly that game was never really close - when Mullen wanted to score he did, easily, by going to the Dak attack, and their TD's came on one badly covered long ball, two pretty well covered long balls, and at the end of the game.
Agree. There was never a point in that game where I seriously thought there was a chance we could lose it. And when UAB took the lead, we finally started running our real offense for a while and scored 5 TDs on 5 straight possessions. I'm a little concerned about the defensive lapses, but really that all boils down to correcting one problem. We will get it corrected.