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[SIZE=+2]June Jones made right call about SMU's quarterback
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]01:21 AM CDT on Saturday, August 30, 2008
[/SIZE]
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HOUSTON – June Jones made the right decision when he decided to start SMU's season with a true freshman quarterback for the first time.
Bo Levi Mitchell proved it Friday night.
Even though you couldn't tell from the final score, a pretty easy 56-27 win by Rice. And you couldn't tell from his stat line that featured three interceptions and a lost fumble.
Bo Levi couldn't stop SMU from losing its 11th consecutive game, but his performance provided some hope to a program that has been devoid of it for nearly 20 years.
"He'll get better as he goes," Jones said. "But we have to get better around him while he's still learning."
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/colleges/
SMU still has a considerable way to go before it can even be a respectable football program again. There are too many holes on defense – SMU was atrocious on third down – and there aren't enough playmakers on offense to make this scheme work consistently or win many games this season.
But it won't take too long for Bo Levi to maximize this offense once he gets comfortable enough to react instead of think on the field. That should happen about the seventh or eighth game.
Until then, you have to live with his mistakes.
But once it clicks for him, there won't be any question Jones made a good decision to start him over Justin Willis and Braden Smith. The question is not whether Willis is the better quarterback now, the question is whether Willis will be better than Bo Levi in a month. Or two months. Or by the end of the season.
That answer is no.
You can see it in Bo Levi's arm strength. And you can see it in the way he quickly gets rid of the ball. You can see it in the poise he displayed as a freshman less than four months removed from Katy High School.
Bo Levi didn't play in this scheme in high school, so he's still learning the nuances of the offense. Still, he completed 25 of 43 passes for 244 yards.
Those numbers could've been considerably higher because he overthrew at least two deep balls that could've resulted in big gains, and Aldrick Robinson dropped what should've been a 71-yard touchdown pass because he didn't have a defender within 10 yards of him.
The most important thing Bo Levi did Friday is prove the job is not too big for him. He didn't seem to care that he was playing in front of a national TV audience on ESPN or making his first collegiate start.
He finished with three touchdown passes and three interceptions, all in the second half when Rice turned the game into a blowout and he forced some throws.
Bo Levi showed his composure on a 22-yard touchdown pass that pulled SMU within 28-20 early in the third quarter.
After officials used instant replay to overrule an apparent touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders, who made a diving catch in the corner of the end zone, Bo Levi made another nice throw on the next play.
He slid left to avoid pressure but didn't run, although he could've easily gained 10 yards. Instead, he waited patiently for Robinson to separate on a post pattern and threw a perfect pass.
Jones also showed confidence in his youngster by not limiting the playbook. In the second quarter, SMU faced a first-and-10 from its own 2. Jones called a deep pass play that Bo Levi overthrew.
He overthrew another deep ball on second down. And a third one on the next play. SMU punted, but Jones made his point. He trusts Bo Levi.
Clearly, the freshman wasn't perfect. In addition to his interceptions, he dropped two shotgun snaps, apparently because he didn't look the ball into his hands.
SMU isn't nearly good enough to overcome those mistakes, and backup Logan Turner played the final five minutes.
Bo Levi will eventually give the Mustangs an opportunity to win games. It's just going to take awhile.
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]01:21 AM CDT on Saturday, August 30, 2008
[/SIZE]
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/columnists/mugs/mug_jtaylor_new.jpg
• E-mail
HOUSTON – June Jones made the right decision when he decided to start SMU's season with a true freshman quarterback for the first time.
Bo Levi Mitchell proved it Friday night.
Even though you couldn't tell from the final score, a pretty easy 56-27 win by Rice. And you couldn't tell from his stat line that featured three interceptions and a lost fumble.
Bo Levi couldn't stop SMU from losing its 11th consecutive game, but his performance provided some hope to a program that has been devoid of it for nearly 20 years.
"He'll get better as he goes," Jones said. "But we have to get better around him while he's still learning."
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/colleges/
SMU still has a considerable way to go before it can even be a respectable football program again. There are too many holes on defense – SMU was atrocious on third down – and there aren't enough playmakers on offense to make this scheme work consistently or win many games this season.
But it won't take too long for Bo Levi to maximize this offense once he gets comfortable enough to react instead of think on the field. That should happen about the seventh or eighth game.
Until then, you have to live with his mistakes.
But once it clicks for him, there won't be any question Jones made a good decision to start him over Justin Willis and Braden Smith. The question is not whether Willis is the better quarterback now, the question is whether Willis will be better than Bo Levi in a month. Or two months. Or by the end of the season.
That answer is no.
You can see it in Bo Levi's arm strength. And you can see it in the way he quickly gets rid of the ball. You can see it in the poise he displayed as a freshman less than four months removed from Katy High School.
Bo Levi didn't play in this scheme in high school, so he's still learning the nuances of the offense. Still, he completed 25 of 43 passes for 244 yards.
Those numbers could've been considerably higher because he overthrew at least two deep balls that could've resulted in big gains, and Aldrick Robinson dropped what should've been a 71-yard touchdown pass because he didn't have a defender within 10 yards of him.
The most important thing Bo Levi did Friday is prove the job is not too big for him. He didn't seem to care that he was playing in front of a national TV audience on ESPN or making his first collegiate start.
He finished with three touchdown passes and three interceptions, all in the second half when Rice turned the game into a blowout and he forced some throws.
Bo Levi showed his composure on a 22-yard touchdown pass that pulled SMU within 28-20 early in the third quarter.
After officials used instant replay to overrule an apparent touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders, who made a diving catch in the corner of the end zone, Bo Levi made another nice throw on the next play.
He slid left to avoid pressure but didn't run, although he could've easily gained 10 yards. Instead, he waited patiently for Robinson to separate on a post pattern and threw a perfect pass.
Jones also showed confidence in his youngster by not limiting the playbook. In the second quarter, SMU faced a first-and-10 from its own 2. Jones called a deep pass play that Bo Levi overthrew.
He overthrew another deep ball on second down. And a third one on the next play. SMU punted, but Jones made his point. He trusts Bo Levi.
Clearly, the freshman wasn't perfect. In addition to his interceptions, he dropped two shotgun snaps, apparently because he didn't look the ball into his hands.
SMU isn't nearly good enough to overcome those mistakes, and backup Logan Turner played the final five minutes.
Bo Levi will eventually give the Mustangs an opportunity to win games. It's just going to take awhile.
