URBAN LEGEND ALERT: (Modern day Justise Hairston as a chronic fumbler)
"What boggles my mind is every coach who has ever coached Rettig has thought he shouldn't get snaps. We're talking about more than three completely different staffs at multiple schools."
What boggles the minds of those who are not trying to defend a position is that this yarn gets perpetuated as proof of a lack of qb skill by the kid. If you actually look at the history it's pretty silly to perpetuate, but it of course is the knee jerk to support a position.
First, he wasn't going to play as a freshman at LSU. Don't believe it was ever in the plans. To say that the staff thought he would never get snaps there is just incorrect. By accounts, the type of O changed and the kid looked for a situation likely where he could get a shot to be the starter (w RU ) and took the opportunity. Last year it was said that he was in a tight competition and he threw td passes in actual games. If you want to use Flood's judgment of playing or not playing him more as a measure of proof well that speaks to the merits of the position. Lastly, we are now trying a spread (although the game v Wash really could have fooled many) and the staff may feel his skill set is not a fit. All of that doesn't mean 3 staffs thought he shouldn't get snaps. There was a move, some very poor judgment and now an O that may be a poor fit.
Considering Laviano's well known skill set and abilities under pressure do I think Rettig could do as well or better with this offense-absolutely. Just the threat of an actual 10+ yard pass would loosen the D.
Would Gio or Allen do better--have no idea but I would like to see the result. This staff clearly wanted to start with experience at qb and ease into the new system.
While that's understandable to a degree, all the talk about competition and all positions being open is feeling like it's perhaps hollow. Muller-a senior got pulled! We had no threat of an O on Saturday FROM THE QB POSITION. Why not pull Laviano and see if one of the others could light a spark if competition truly rules the day? Ash's commnets had led the faityhful to believe that any player -qb included-would be pulled if not performing. THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY HE HAS HAD SO MUCH SUPPORT AND THE OFF SEASON WENT SO WELL. There was no negativity as the belief was that if Laviano played it was fine-if he did well he would play and that would be great--if he put up 0 td's and lost by more than 30-he would certainly be pulled. That was at leas the understanding I had from all of Ash's comments.
Ash yesterday said that the green jersey work is different from real games-somewhat of an acknowledgement. Could always go back to Laviano for the Howard game and extoll all of his great non pressure passes we will see v inferior competition if another qb got time v Wash. It appears a decision was made to give Laviano until Iowa at least to prove himself. Howard and NM will allow for the statements of a 2-1 qb to be made and yadda yadda about a tough opening day but he has grown etc. That's their choice but don't expect many who have been on board with the true competition mantra not to see this as a disappointment and incongruous with what has been put out.
