The QB "controversy"

[WaveProf]

Let me add to the drumbeat here. The QB controversy we have is with the way we use them and the overall quality at the position.

McMillan is game, has a rocket arm, and is a willing runner. On the other hand, he isn't very accurate and isn't a very good open-field runner.

Banks is game, has an acceptably strong arm, has some nice escape moves, and runs very hard. On the other hand, he isn't very accurate and seems to lock into bad reads.

Meanwhile, we have a bunch of WR's who are having a bad collective case of stone hands and have been instructed to run short to medium routes that don't get very open because defenses load up so close to the LOS that there are always bodies around when the QB looks out at an RPO decision point.

This is not good. And last week, as at least one person here pointed out, we totally abandoned the usual features of the offense and instead tried to run something like a pro set.

We should be running the ball a lot more. We don't appear to be running as much because too many RPO decisions are going "pass" when they shouldn't. We are also missing outside action, counter options, and other stuff that surely must be in the current playbook. That's all disheartening. I wonder how much of that has to do with the struggles we have getting hold and drive blocks by the tackles and ends.

Anyway, I'd be tempted in Ruse's position to take some decisions away from the QB and script some play sets based on the looks we are getting from every defense we see. I don't know how well that would sit with WF, though.

This. Every word.

[OGSB]

Advocate: Tulane's Willie Fritz noncommittal on QBs, wants better execution around them

[tjtlja]

We want better offensive coaching. Tell the staff to study Saints route running. Have a sit down with CJ. Brees has completed five passes to RB’s and Alex Smith has completed seven to RB’s. And this is at the nine minute mark of third quarter. We have completed 2 passes all year to our RB’s. Love to see our playbook.

[TUPF]

Have a sit down with CJ.

What have we come to?

[krewe of ham and eggs]

Have a sit down with CJ.

What have we come to?

Are we trying to incorporate words like "amazing, fantastic, and phenomenal" in our post game press conference?

[windywave]

Have a sit down with CJ.

What have we come to?

Are we trying to incorporate words like "amazing, fantastic, and phenomenal" in our post game press conference?

Careful those are some big words

[gerryb323]

Have a sit down with CJ.

What have we come to?

Are we trying to incorporate words like "amazing, fantastic, and phenomenal" in our post game press conference?

[tjtlja]

Thought you’ll would get a kick out of the CJ comment.

We are currently 107 out of 129. Our staff does struggle with the passing game.

[OGSB]

Advocate: Tulane football notebook: Fritz remains mum about QB pecking order

[BACONWAVE]

After watching yesterday's game, I've come to a (disappointing) conclusion: Justin McMillan is not the answer. He is a good QB with a rocket arm and apparently a nice touch too, but Tulane can't win with him because he's a pro-style, pocket passer. He's not going to run, or even run the option. You know, like what Banks tried to be in the first three games.

Tulane has NEVER (at least in the modern era) won with a pocket passer. Terrance Jones. Shaun King. JP Losman. Heck, even Devin Powell was mobile. Our only bowl games in how long? Heck... Steve Foley. I'm sure some old timers will come up with a pocket passer that won at Tulane, but before you bother thinking about it, the game was COMPLETELY different than it is now. And we had more beastly offensive linemen then.

We all screamed that Banks was trying to be a pocket passer in the first three games (to avoid injury since we had no backup) and that he's not good at that. But regardless of whether that's his strength or not, we don't have the line, nor the receivers, to win with that style. We've recruited specifically for the option-type offense. Remember all the folks on the recruiting board justifying linemen who were not highly recruited because "they are mobile guys who fit our system"? Now we're taking those guys and asking them to straight up pass block. Not going to work.

So I believe our only chance to win this year is with Banks being Banks. Yeah, he's not as good at the type of offense we want, nay, NEED - He doesn't pitch at all and he hasn't run as much as we need (or at least made himself a threat to do so) - but we will not win with a pocket passer, even if he's got a great arm and a great touch.

Banks needs to start, and be the clear starter. Deal with the 3-&-outs when it other times means sustained drives or huge TD plays in between. Try try try to get him to run an option and make a correct read and pitch the friggin ball sometimes. And then use McMillan as a change of pace. Bring him in when the defense starts keying on the run. Bring him in mid-drive for a play, before the defense realizes it. But don't telegraph things by saying "we're in pro mode now because McMillan is in". It's just not going to work.

My opinion. What say ye?

Banks should be toast.....play McMillan & see what we have going forward. Year is lost & Banks obviously isn't the answer so move on now.....

[doncecco]

After watching yesterday's game, I've come to a (disappointing) conclusion: Justin McMillan is not the answer. He is a good QB with a rocket arm and apparently a nice touch too, but Tulane can't win with him because he's a pro-style, pocket passer. He's not going to run, or even run the option. You know, like what Banks tried to be in the first three games.

Tulane has NEVER (at least in the modern era) won with a pocket passer. Terrance Jones. Shaun King. JP Losman. Heck, even Devin Powell was mobile. Our only bowl games in how long? Heck... Steve Foley. I'm sure some old timers will come up with a pocket passer that won at Tulane, but before you bother thinking about it, the game was COMPLETELY different than it is now. And we had more beastly offensive linemen then.

We all screamed that Banks was trying to be a pocket passer in the first three games (to avoid injury since we had no backup) and that he's not good at that. But regardless of whether that's his strength or not, we don't have the line, nor the receivers, to win with that style. We've recruited specifically for the option-type offense. Remember all the folks on the recruiting board justifying linemen who were not highly recruited because "they are mobile guys who fit our system"? Now we're taking those guys and asking them to straight up pass block. Not going to work.

So I believe our only chance to win this year is with Banks being Banks. Yeah, he's not as good at the type of offense we want, nay, NEED - He doesn't pitch at all and he hasn't run as much as we need (or at least made himself a threat to do so) - but we will not win with a pocket passer, even if he's got a great arm and a great touch.

Banks needs to start, and be the clear starter. Deal with the 3-&-outs when it other times means sustained drives or huge TD plays in between. Try try try to get him to run an option and make a correct read and pitch the friggin ball sometimes. And then use McMillan as a change of pace. Bring him in when the defense starts keying on the run. Bring him in mid-drive for a play, before the defense realizes it. But don't telegraph things by saying "we're in pro mode now because McMillan is in". It's just not going to work.

My opinion. What say ye?

Banks should be toast.....play McMillan & see what we have going forward. Year is lost & Banks obviously isn't the answer so move on now.....

Agree - at least give McMillan a shot. Banks made some nice runs at times yesterday, especially the one called back, but careless with the ball and too many easy passes misfiring. Nothing to lose to let McMillan play. If he stinks it up, then flip a coin.

[gerryb323]

Better idea: put Keon Howard in Banks' jersey and get him done reps now!

[windywave]

McMillan plays the rest of the year to get ready for next year. Probably should have someone else call the plays to move away from "tendencies" if you know what I mean

[TUPF]

When did you realize this season and perhaps this program was toast?

For me it was late in the game when all we needed was to gain 3-4 yards on 3rd down to move the chains and perhaps run out the clock for a win, and then Banks shot putted a pass to the receiver’s feet. A) Why the hell are we passing on an obvious give the ball to Bradwell down, and B) Why did we see Banks chirping at the receiver like it was his fault?

Showed idiotic play calling by Ruse and Neidermeyer team dynamics by Banks.

If the team is half as crushed as we 50 fans who are left we won’t win again this season.

[windywave]

When did you realize this season and perhaps this program was toast?

For me it was late in the game when all we needed was to gain 3-4 yards on 3rd down to move the chains and perhaps run out the clock for a win, and then Banks shot putted a pass to the receiver’s feet. A) Why the hell are we passing on an obvious give the ball to Bradwell down, and B) Why did we see Banks chirping at the receiver like it was his fault?

Showed idiotic play calling by Ruse and Neidermeyer team dynamics by Banks.

If the team is half as crushed as we 50 fans who are left we won’t win again this season.

That's why you need a big change. To give them hope and start preparing for next year.

As to your first question probably the Wake game with some of the decisions and calls

[OGSB]

When did you realize this season and perhaps this program was toast?

For me it was late in the game when all we needed was to gain 3-4 yards on 3rd down to move the chains and perhaps run out the clock for a win, and then Banks shot putted a pass to the receiver’s feet. A) Why the hell are we passing on an obvious give the ball to Bradwell down, and B) Why did we see Banks chirping at the receiver like it was his fault?

Showed idiotic play calling by Ruse and Neidermeyer team dynamics by Banks.

If the team is half as crushed as we 50 fans who are left we won’t win again this season.

That's why you need a big change. To give them hope and start preparing for next year.

As to your first question probably the Wake game with some of the decisions and calls

Alarms were definitely going off during and after that game.

[OGSB]

A) Why the hell are we passing on an obvious give the ball to Bradwell down, .

If it's obvious and we do it, isn't that...predictable? Isn't that one of our peeves, predictable play calling?

[windywave]

A) Why the hell are we passing on an obvious give the ball to Bradwell down, .

If it's obvious and we do it, isn't that...predictable? Isn't that one of our peeves, predictable play calling?

There's unpredictable and then there is stupid. The last two drives falls in the latter category

[Sophandros]

After yesterday afternoon/evening, I'm on board with a complete change to McMillian at QB.

While Banks gives us a chance to win with his obvious talent, his decision making and lack of ball security have cost us at least two games this season, including last night.

There were several times that he did not see open receivers and either took the sack or throw an interception when he tried to force it into a covered man. He was late on a pass to Jones out of the backfield which would have resulted in a TD had he hit him sooner. Yes, we scored on that drive, but we shouldn't make things more difficult for ourselves. And then there are the fumbles.

Granted, we don't know his progressions on each of the pass plays, but you don't have to know that to see that he's holding on to the ball for too long, regardless of the reason.

While McMillian doesn't offer the same threat with his legs, he does provide us with a QB who doesn't seem to turn the ball over as frequently and who is capable of making the correct decisions in the passing game. We have running backs for the run game. We need to show more of a threat in the air in order to get teams to stop stacking the box against us. And we need to stop turning the ball over.

[Wave Revival]

Banks has started all seven games this year, hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass since Game 3 vs UAB. In other words, Tulane’s starting quarterback hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass in four straight games.....that’s utterly pathetic!

[WaveProf]

Banks is not the answer, but he isn't the problem. McMillan is not the answer either, yet to be determined if he's a problem. We need to fix our playcalling.

Willie Fritz had also better be praying the USM transfer IS the answer. If McMillan wins the starting QB job next year that's not a good sign.

[wavedom]

Banks has started all seven games this year, hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass since Game 3 vs UAB. In other words, Tulane’s starting quarterback hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass in four straight games.....that’s utterly pathetic!

He threw one yesterday. A really long one. Problem is Jones tripped over his own feet. Only at Tulane.

[visualmagic]

When did you realize this season and perhaps this program was toast

UAB game

[tjtlja]

When did you realize this season and perhaps this program was toast

UAB game

FIU, taking QB transfers in mass before the season started, and recruiting OL to fit a system we cannot run.

[PeteRasche]

So I completely missed the game yesterday due to other commitments and can only go by what folks say here, but it sounds like my post that started this thread should be amended to say "neither of our QBs are the answer, we're screwed this year and probably next unless we miraculously recruit someone for next year who can really run the Fritz offense."