RE: Post FIU / Pre NT Mean Green FB Thread
Ok... I've had a hiatus... But, I'm about to spell it all out and end the debate about the QB situation.... This is fact based (as was the ABO btw), and while abstract and subjective in nature, beyond dispute: (this could get a little long)
1) Why Stank in the beginning? Stank was "their guy". They (coaches) brought him to be their QB. They selected him early in their tenure and made an investment in him. All the while that Tyner was getting reps and being touted as the number one, I knew in my heart that Bloom didn't waste his first major signing of a scholarship on a guy not to play. Stank showed some potential right up until two game films exposed him... At that point, it was over for him.... Just didn't have enough speed or arm to produce.
2) Why the young guys now? It's simple and I get it. Bloom ain't stupid. He has calculated that this rebuild isn't one year away but two or even three. So why not play guys that will be there in three years. By the way, there ain't gonna be an Evan Marshman show either if and/or when he ever gets "his" guy on campus.. It's the business of the business and I get it, but it does suck for guys who came to Rice to play and truly commit to helping turn it around.... But hey, I'm sure they'll all get a big hug on Senior day...
3) Why not Tyner? Multiple part answer: 1st: It came apart for him in a short stint against UTSA, but that leash this year has been awfully short. He had a small window to emerge and the window closed when the center hit himself in the leg with a snap. 2nd: MOSTLY, Tyner ain't their guy... He wasn't Lynch's "guy". He was recruited as an "athlete", they saw his arm talent and Edmonson loved it. Edmonson out, Lynch in... Lynch had "guys"... Bailiff and Lynch out, Bloomgren in... Bloom has "guys" coming or brought a "guy" (Stank)... Tyner is like the Tom Hanks character in the Terminal. There's nothing wrong with him. In fact, he's one of the hardest workers in the Patterson Building. He simply does not have an advocate. No one invested their reputation in him, so the result is this: a 6'5" 250 athletic QB with "Andrew Luck type arm talent" (I happen to know these words were used by Bloomgren in front of the team) that has A) not been properly developed at this point by either staff, B) Has not been used.
So... to sum up the whole situation and this is truth... I don't know "what the best answer at QB is", but I know with 140% certainty, that NONE of the QB options (including Stankavage) are/were better than Tyner. That is not to say that Tyner didn't need to play better in spots.... But here is a summation of Tyner's time: Has started 3 games in his career... ONLY ONCE, was he named the starter on the Sunday ahead of the game (Stanford in Palo Alto). That means that was the only game where a game plan was built for him. His 2nd start against FIU last year, he was named on Wednesday after Glaesman was ruled out and were it not for a dropped pass on the 1 yard line, the Owls win that night. His 3rd start at Pitt, he was named on Thursday after Glaesman fell ill in Houston. His first appearance was as a Freshman vs. UTEP where he threw for over 200 yards and two TD's including a TD reception. He threw for 232 at Pitt. (Btw... that is PITT.. Not a power house like Wake Forest or Hawaii...) He was serviceable off the bench at UH after Glaesman got hurt last year, and actually sparked the Owls vs. UH this year when Stank cramped.
It's unfortunate that the program is in a rebuild....I hate that Bloom feels he has to go this route. But had Lynch given Tyner the ball last year and been as patient and guarded in the game plan as he was willing to be with Glaesman and Smalls, Rice wins 4 games in conference. And if Rice wins 4 games in conference, Bloom might have a confident signal caller with true arm talent and REAL EXPERIENCE.
BUT.... I get it...I'll get accused of sour grapes... I'll get accused of "just being too close"... I've told you all before, I ain't the kid's daddy, I ain't his best friend.. I know the kid. I know the family... I know football... If it weren't for that family, I wouldn't give two plops for Rice....
But like I said... It's the business. I played the game at the highest level...THE HIGHEST LEVEL... I know what it means to be better than your competition and still get the apple and the road map because "I wasn't their guy"... It sucks.. But at the end of the day, it don't mean diddly sh**.
So going forward it is really pretty simple.... Bloom can do one of two things: 1) The Coach Move: protect staff competence and direction which means NEVER let Tyner behind Center again, because once they do, it will be evident he was better or at least as good an option... 2) Play the best guy and try to win these games today and now...
But look, Bloom was hired to rebuild a program, so while I do begrudge what a kid might have to go through, I don't begrudge the man doing what he thinks he has to. It's a business and a big business. I'm not so sure I wouldn't bottom it myself to lower the floor and raise the ceiling....
I wish them luck... Every kid in that program is going to leave that institute better off. They will be Rice graduates. I do hope that Bloom doesn't think guys are going to just "transfer"... That ain't Cougar High, that's Rice. They ain't leaving that Engineering Degree from Rice...
(This post was last modified: 10-24-2018 09:22 AM by Neely's Ghost.)
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