The House of Blue

I think Smith and Towles will "platoon" next year. Each one brings such unique skills (Smith with ability to make quick reads and find an open man in a "hurry up" offense - Towles with great arm and accuracy plus more pocket mobility) that they will cause problems for Defensive Coordinators. Depending on the match-up with a particular team's schemes one may play more than the other during a particular game. But I feel they will split the time fairly evenly over the entire season. Smith will be particularly useful early and late in games attacking before the defense gets any rhythm going and after they are tired and won't have time to sub in and out. He will also produce longer drives and keep our defense off the field longer. Towles will likely lead us to quicker scores as he can pass so well. Our strong running game will do well with both guys (we could actually play 2 backs mostly with each qb to give them all rest just as pitchers in baseball use particular catchers). GREAT "problems" to have and they will work to our advantage!

IMO... Only problem with repping both of them is with a QB so much of it is getting into a rythme. Hard to do running with two QB's. I believe that is why not many do it. I'd like to see them go with a starter and stick with it and let them get in a rythme and build confidence from play to play and game to game. I could see a few packages set up for the #2 man, but largest share of snaps need to be QB #1.

Smith will be a junior next year.

Once again, if Towels is healthy enough to practice and play he can't get a medical hardship year. It's not as simple as holding him out. Doctors have to sign off to NCAA that the player is physically incapable of performing football duties. Towles isn't in that boat.

No, we're not at practice on Mondays. They do the press luncheon afterward at the stadium.

I think one of the QB's will transfer before the start of the next season. You are not going to keep 3 guys in the same class who feel they can play QB. You may lose two by the end of the year.

Ok, so Smith won't get a medical redshirt? Matt, can you straighten this out?

Unless something has changed, medical redshirts are not awarded until the athlete has otherwise completed his/her eligibility.

I thought playing in one play in any game burned the traditional redshirt.

You don't think the school has a degree of latitude in this? I mean, I'm not saying schools make up injuries, but I'm saying that schools won't have any problem finding a doctor who says, "Yeah, he had a high ankle sprain, and while he could've played at 75% in the last two games, I don't think he was physically capable of performing football duties."

This offseason is going to be very interesting. It's pretty clear (watch me be completely wrong) that MB is keeping CJP through the end of the season and will "evaluate" then before making a decision. If CJP is retained I expect Towles to transfer. If CJP is not retained, I expect the new staff will give Towles every benefit of the doubt to beat Smith out, and ultimately Towles will be the starter. I don't know what Smith does if that happens. I don't see Whitlow playing for the starting position under either scenario, and he either decides he's happy as the backup or he moves to another position.