[Jonathan Carone]

He had great touch on the ball. The potential is undeniable. To me (again, this is my view based on three plays so take it for what it's worth), the game felt a split second too fast for him. He's close to being there, but it hasn't quite clicked speed wise. Part of that is we were playing VT. I'm sure he'd be much better against a team like Jacksonville or Robert Morris.

By conference play he's the starter.

I agree it's a minuscule sample size. That's why I'm taking what I saw live. I'm also factoring Masha's development or lack there of. His knock has always been his lack of touch, well based on today's game, it hasn't gotten any better. He's a better runner, but doesn't have breakaway speed. Calvert can get some yards rolling in the pocket and keep you honest. Let the RB's get your ground yards, they aren't bad.
I am fully aware I may be over reacting on a paltry sample size and I'm all for loyalty, but I wouldn't be surprised if Calvert was starting by Conference play.

I'll pose this question:

If Calvert were ready to play, and if he was comfortable with the speed of the game, then what does it say about the decision making of our head coach if we aren't going to him? Masha, while an incredible athlete and great leader, is not a good thrower of the football. I don't know if it's mechanics or his lack of height or what the issue is, but when he's in the pocket, he can't complete passes. Unless you're gonna go Pat White spread option, why keep a QB in there who can't throw the ball when you have a guy with the potential of Calvert on the bench?

[Jonathan Carone]

15 penalties, even this early in the season, is way too much.

Only one of those was a defensive penalty too. The rest were offensive or special teams.

[Purple Haize]

He had great touch on the ball. The potential is undeniable. To me (again, this is my view based on three plays so take it for what it's worth), the game felt a split second too fast for him. He's close to being there, but it hasn't quite clicked speed wise. Part of that is we were playing VT. I'm sure he'd be much better against a team like Jacksonville or Robert Morris.

By conference play he's the starter.

I agree it's a minuscule sample size. That's why I'm taking what I saw live. I'm also factoring Masha's development or lack there of. His knock has always been his lack of touch, well based on today's game, it hasn't gotten any better. He's a better runner, but doesn't have breakaway speed. Calvert can get some yards rolling in the pocket and keep you honest. Let the RB's get your ground yards, they aren't bad.
I am fully aware I may be over reacting on a paltry sample size and I'm all for loyalty, but I wouldn't be surprised if Calvert was starting by Conference play.

I'll pose this question:

If Calvert were ready to play, and if he was comfortable with the speed of the game, then what does it say about the decision making of our head coach if we aren't going to him? Masha, while an incredible athlete and great leader, is not a good thrower of the football. I don't know if it's mechanics or his lack of height or what the issue is, but when he's in the pocket, he can't complete passes. Unless you're gonna go Pat White spread option, why keep a QB in there who can't throw the ball when you have a guy with the potential of Calvert on the bench?

Loyalty. And I'm ok with that The guy has been waiting for his chance The staff looks like they are wanting to run more spread, which doesn't require pin point accuracy. He can use his legs in the read option. Give the guy his shot and see what he does with it.

That's the thinking I'm sure. That's not an unusual philosophy. If it's close, the guy with experience gets the nod. Some coaches go the other direction. I just hope they are also developing Calvert in case Mashable doesn't rise to the occasion.

[jmmiii]

He had great touch on the ball. The potential is undeniable. To me (again, this is my view based on three plays so take it for what it's worth), the game felt a split second too fast for him. He's close to being there, but it hasn't quite clicked speed wise. Part of that is we were playing VT. I'm sure he'd be much better against a team like Jacksonville or Robert Morris.

By conference play he's the starter.

I agree it's a minuscule sample size. That's why I'm taking what I saw live. I'm also factoring Masha's development or lack there of. His knock has always been his lack of touch, well based on today's game, it hasn't gotten any better. He's a better runner, but doesn't have breakaway speed. Calvert can get some yards rolling in the pocket and keep you honest. Let the RB's get your ground yards, they aren't bad.
I am fully aware I may be over reacting on a paltry sample size and I'm all for loyalty, but I wouldn't be surprised if Calvert was starting by Conference play.

I'll pose this question:

If Calvert were ready to play, and if he was comfortable with the speed of the game, then what does it say about the decision making of our head coach if we aren't going to him? Masha, while an incredible athlete and great leader, is not a good thrower of the football. I don't know if it's mechanics or his lack of height or what the issue is, but when he's in the pocket, he can't complete passes. Unless you're gonna go Pat White spread option, why keep a QB in there who can't throw the ball when you have a guy with the potential of Calvert on the bench?

Calvert should be starting.

[JK37]

Loyalty is all well and good. As the coach, loyalty to the player who gives you the best chance to win.

I said it in another thread: if you're giving a series to a true frosh QB in the 3rd quarter of this kind of game, obviously he's good and you're plannin to use him THIS year. Otherwise, one wouldn't use him until necessary.

Interestingly, Masha's best series was the one right after Calvert's.

[Jonathan Carone]

Interestingly, Masha's best series was the one right after Calvert's.

They moved the pocket and got him out in space where he could see better and he threw the ball better. My hope is we do more of that as we open the playbook more.

[jmmiii]

Calvert is the better qb today. I honestly don't think it's close. Masha could be moved to WR or RB and make a huge impact.

I really can't believe they tailored this whole new offensive philosophy based on Masha at QB. They said that multiple times. I just don't see how his limitations at that position lead to a decision to make that kind of an offensive overhaul. What am I missing?

Glad we have Wimberly. That guy and his staff on the defensive side should always have a job here. Liberty's Bud Foster.

[Purple Haize]

Loyalty is all well and good. As the coach, loyalty to the player who gives you the best chance to win.

I said it in another thread: if you're giving a series to a true frosh QB in the 3rd quarter of this kind of game, obviously he's good and you're plannin to use him THIS year. Otherwise, one wouldn't use him until necessary.

Interestingly, Masha's best series was the one right after Calvert's.

But in FB coaches throw a different QB all the time at all sorts of stages. So I don't really read too much into WHEN or THAT they did it. What will be interesting moving forward is if he gets increase practice and game reps.
Also, they have several years of experience with Masha but only a few weeks with Calvert. It may take them some more time to become more comfy with him. I would have liked to see Calvert get another series or two and I think he's the better talent. I also don't have a problem giving Masha some room to prove himself

[FlamesHighontheTide]

Yes, Masha didn't play well at all.

But to say Calvert is no doubt better is bogus. We have no way to prove this due to his 3 college snaps which ended up in a turnover.

If Calvert ends up winning the job later on in the year, great! I want what is best for this team, but AGAIN this was the first game and to dump Masha under the bus is absolutely unfair to him. Give the man a chance and let's see what happens in the coming weeks.

Go Flames and enjoy your Sunday worshipping the One True God!

[forbidden]

lol, I've said it ALL along, but no one really wanted to listen. I watch college football all day and I see TRUE FRESHMEN playing in multiple positions throughout the day. I know I watched the game after LU, and the BENCHED the regular starter for the TF simply because he wasn't moving the team. Yes, loyalty is great but job security is even better. I have no knock on SM other than his inability to be consistent, everyone talked sample size this sample size that last year when he HAD to play, but still couldn't hit his targets consistently. Great athlete playing the position, he is undersized and if you are really about team find another way to use him. Like I said early in the summer he could clearly be the Braxton Miller of LU. Seems to me, this move could be more about SM possibly transferring out than SBC, and you have no depth behind him, so you play the elder till you have to make a switch.

To put it bluntly VT basically manned up our WR's and said we don't think you can beat us. When your whole secondary looks like a bunch of Walt Aikens as I was told, you dang sure better be accurate. He wasn't accurate today, now next week he will get another chance and we will go from there.

[TH Spangler]

Special Teams actually didn't do terrible...yeah Probert missed an XP and a field goal (as I said in another thread Lunsford was 0-2 on field goals in his first college game) and of course King had the return where he got tackled for a safety but the coverage was outstanding on punts and kicks and Turner looks like he has tightened up his mechanics and can still blast punts.

Multiple delay of game penalties
A safety
A missed extra point
Too many men on the field penalty

That's pretty bad, Beej.

The too many men on the field was ridiculous.

[TH Spangler]

That certainly didn't come through live. That kid saw every receiver and moved in the pocket like he should have. I'm not even sure he forced it. He had nice touch on the incomplete and would have certainly had completed the pass that got picked. He did not look like a true Freshman out there

We have a QB controversy. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Calvert. Why didn't he finish out the game.

[rtb72]

Although there were some significant negatives; I guess I'm just a "glass half full" kind-a-guy. I have renewed confidence in our running game (something I lost early last year, like after GW). I'm with BJ on the special teams. Yeah, we had bonehead mistakes, but they did not pickup crazy yards against our ST. We made some very nice plays to end the return. Defense this year will be a monster. We had good coverage and held VT on several 3rd downs. All in all....I'd say we played up to them on D. Penalties killed us....that can and HAS TO BE fixed! The safety was the cornerstone in my opinion. It just seemed to take the air out of us. I know everyone is pushing the QB controversy and sure.....it may exist (for the betterment of the team, it should be continual), but I don't think Calvert had enough reps IMHO to determine his impact. Comfortable? Nice touch on the ball? I just didn't get enough intell to make that conclusion. Masha had missed reads and his passing game was off....has this never happened before??? First game of year against against an arguable good VT team.....I'm just not ready to say all is lost on offense or on Masha. At the end of the day, we were up in the 1st half and we had a couple series late in the 3rd that we were able to move the ball. I hope and believe we can polish it up, get a feel for who will be the game winning QB, and remedy the penalty/boneheadedness (now a word) before conference play.

[Purple Haize]

lol, I've said it ALL along, but no one really wanted to listen. I watch college football all day and I see TRUE FRESHMEN playing in multiple positions throughout the day. I know I watched the game after LU, and the BENCHED the regular starter for the TF simply because he wasn't moving the team. Yes, loyalty is great but job security is even better. I have no knock on SM other than his inability to be consistent, everyone talked sample size this sample size that last year when he HAD to play, but still couldn't hit his targets consistently. Great athlete playing the position, he is undersized and if you are really about team find another way to use him. Like I said early in the summer he could clearly be the Braxton Miller of LU. Seems to me, this move could be more about SM possibly transferring out than SBC, and you have no depth behind him, so you play the elder till you have to make a switch.

To put it bluntly VT basically manned up our WR's and said we don't think you can beat us. When your whole secondary looks like a bunch of Walt Aikens as I was told, you dang sure better be accurate. He wasn't accurate today, now next week he will get another chance and we will go from there.

Actually, Shells looked pretty good. He consistently beat his guy but he wasn't often targeted. The Tech QB spoon fed Ford and neglected everyone else, that's going to be a problem for them.
It's also a truism that the most popular person on a team is the back up QB
LU's most glaring issue is a PK. That needs to be solved immediately if not sooner

[LUDad]

To give Masha the benifit of doubt, VT had good coverage on receivers throughout the game. I'm hoping his really bad passes were simply a matter of throwing the ball away to prevent coverage sack. It's also hard to throw a ball against a Bud Foster defense when you are starting off 1st and 20. Having said that, he's got to put some touch on the ball in tight coverage. Especially fades in the endzone. No doubt Calvert can be special but he has to take advantage of his opportunities. I just don't want the season coming down to being behind to CSU late in the 3rd qtr with no hope of being able to generate the offense to be able to come back.

[LUminary]

Calvert had only a couple of plays but I wanted to see more. I don't know how he looked on TV but live there was just something about him. The pick he threw was more an incredible defensive and athletic play than a poor decision. I am not in practices but I hope they aren't married to Masha for the season. This kid deserves some reps

Totally agree. He throws the ball with authority. If going to burn a year of eligibility, It would be nice to see him get more than one arbitrary series a game.

[Purple Haize]

To give Masha the benifit of doubt, VT had good coverage on receivers throughout the game. I'm hoping his really bad passes were simply a matter of throwing the ball away to prevent coverage sack. It's also hard to throw a ball against a Bud Foster defense when you are starting off 1st and 20. Having said that, he's got to put some touch on the ball in tight coverage. Especially fades in the endzone. No doubt Calvert can be special but he has to take advantage of his opportunities. I just don't want the season coming down to being behind to CSU late in the 3rd qtr with no hope of being able to generate the offense to be able to come back.

That's been the issue for his entire time at LU. He had some incompletely because of great coverage and timing. But he had a ton (which I'm sure will be pointed out in game film) where the receivers looked at him in disbelief. They ran one route and we're open and he threw the ball like they were supposed to be running another route.
Of the points LU scored one TD was by the defense and one was a spectacular catch after a Special Teams error by VT. Tech had a spy on Masha all game which eliminated him doing anything with his legs. With that gone........

[TH Spangler]

No disrespect intended for Masha in my commit. I think he was playing against a top 20 defence yesterday. But Calvert blew me away with his throwing mechanics and his movement away from pressure. Got a feeling it would make the OL's life easier. It's just a matter of time. I trust the staff to know when the time is right.

The defence is mean all over!

[Purple Haize]

Kicking game will be fine. I'm not sure why Purple has chosen that spot to dwell on. The kid made a couple of mistakes, but he clearly has some talent in that leg. We need to recalibrate our expectations after Lunsford. He did things no one does in college football. Probert can easily become Bevins like though.

The bigger problem is, do we have a QB and offense that can get into FG range? I'm not sure. It will be nice to see the system against FCS competition.

There didn't seem to be much tempo to the up tempo offense. Maybe they were never able to go fast because they never got any positive plays? It looked like Malzahn's "Dive, dive, mistake" offense.

Because they decided to go for it on a long 4th down in average FG range instead of kicking a FG
Because he kicked it OB on the free kick
Because his kickoffs weren't always in the end zone
Because he missed a PAT
Because rather than attempt a long but reasonable FG they took a penalty so they could punt

Those aren't comparing him to anyone but an average kicker. That's not even comparing him to Tech's kicker who had a solid leg
BUT on a positive note LU's punter was light years better than Tech's

[Jonathan Carone]

I never though the delay of game was intentional either. I thought it was a mistake.

[Purple Haize]

No excuse for the extra point but nerves.

The 4th down call, I believe, was more predicated on trying to go for it and win than a lack of confidence in Probert.

You keep saying the delay of game was intentional. It wasn't. They were trying to get the snap off, it was just poor management not to take the time out. Of course we should be used to that with Gill by now.

The OB kickoff is frustrating, but correctable. The kickoff length was adequate. He's a freshman in his first game, Probert is the least of our issues.

You may have info I don't. But the kicker and the holder didn't look like they were in a hurry to get the snap off. It seemed designed to me. It was a great move either way. Because that kid wasn't making that FG so to have Tech pinned was a good thing

[Jonathan Carone]

It's also out of Gill's normal personality to take the penalty. He chases points any chance he can.

[Purple Haize]

It's also out of Gill's normal personality to take the penalty. He chases points any chance he can.

Which enforces my point they have 0 confidence in the kicker

[olldflame]

No excuse for the extra point but nerves.

The 4th down call, I believe, was more predicated on trying to go for it and win than a lack of confidence in Probert.

You keep saying the delay of game was intentional. It wasn't. They were trying to get the snap off, it was just poor management not to take the time out. Of course we should be used to that with Gill by now.

The OB kickoff is frustrating, but correctable. The kickoff length was adequate. He's a freshman in his first game, Probert is the least of our issues.

What he said Way, WAY too early to be writing off Probert He is a D1 kicker, and I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up in the mix for all BSC at the end of the year

The snap judgements being made here based on tiny samples of work are mind-boggling

[Purple Haize]

No excuse for the extra point but nerves.

The 4th down call, I believe, was more predicated on trying to go for it and win than a lack of confidence in Probert.

You keep saying the delay of game was intentional. It wasn't. They were trying to get the snap off, it was just poor management not to take the time out. Of course we should be used to that with Gill by now.

The OB kickoff is frustrating, but correctable. The kickoff length was adequate. He's a freshman in his first game, Probert is the least of our issues.

What he said Way, WAY too early to be writing off Probert He is a D1 kicker, and I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up in the mix for all BSC at the end of the year

The snap judgements being made here based on tiny samples of work are mind-boggling

It's 1 game. I grant you that. He's got a whole season to turn it around. But based on what happened yesterday he has a long long way to go