No more DT over Aaron talk...

[troymarkus]

I think Aaron showed he is capable of leading our offense today. DT showed that while he is very athletic and will be great one day--that he is FAR from ready to play at this level. Aaron was 9/10 with 3 TD's!! Great way to step it up!

[TrojanHoarse]

we were all off the mark on that, Leak stepped up today, finally. If he plays at or near that level all season.............

[troymarkus]

I think Aaron can do the job as long as Fleetwood has a good gameplan and executes it. Today was the perfect gameplan and it was executed perfectly. Way to go Trojans!

[tgrad8384]

Today we stuck with our gameplan at least through the first half. Too many times in the past we have panicked and diverted from our plan. When we follow the script, we do pretty well. The first half was as good of a total team effort as I have seen from TROY in the past ten years.

[faithintsu]

I am going too agree that the Leak vs D.T. showdown is over. D.T. was horrible with a capital "H" in the second half.

He proved too me that he is not ready with the way he played. Leak is the man and there is no more QB controversy at all.

[matttsu40]

I really think Leak read the message boards last week, he looked pissed and poised to win. Keep bringing the nagging comments in case he is reading them so he will play consistant. HAHAHA. I am kidding, I need to have more faith in him, he is going to be our starter for the rest of the year, we better get used to it. Great win TROY, I am proud of the way they are competing in 1-A, we deserve respect from now on. GO TROJANS!

[faithintsu]

I agree Leak played great now I just hope we can have it vs Ark St. as well. COnsistancy is the key too this game, as long as he can play consistant everything should be gravey!!

[Navarre Trojan]

I agree that Aaron looked a lot better today than the last couple of weeks. What I would like to know is "what kind of talent did DT have on the field with him?" I would also say that playing Utah St is not the same as playing USC, Missouri, and Marshall. We are now (with the exception of LSU)playing teams that better reflect our talent level as well, meaning that the game probably slowed down some for Leak this weekend. We were probably more physical than the Aggies and that showed.

What I really liked was that Blakeney played everyone but the drum major according to the Montgomery rag. What an awful paper (Messinger too!). There were no/zero/none stats of the game. Not a first down number or yards penalized or anything in between, how many folks were there Saturday?

[faithintsu]

The university released that there was Attendance of 20029

SO not too bad.

[FRED_of_TROY]

You said something about the talent on the field with D.T. I'm not sure about the whole time he was out there, but I know that DeWhitt and Samples were both out there with him some.

[faithintsu]

Yeah Betersons run at the end of the game was with DT at the healm.

I think you might be meaning having leak and DT out there, and maybe put DT in the slot or as a receiver?

[Hector]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. DT McDowell is the quarterback of the future for the Trojans. Yes, Leak did well Saturday. We'll see if he can be consistent. But, DT needs reps. He has done some good things out there for us. But, he has also been a victim of numerous offsides penalties incurred by his linemen, which put him into holes. I think the anybdoy who knows football should be able to see his talent level out there. he will be excellent. Yes, he through a pick on third and long that was ill-advised. But, he is a competitor. he was trying to make something happen down near the goal line. We must give him reps this year.

[faithintsu]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. DT McDowell is the quarterback of the future for the Trojans. Yes, Leak did well Saturday. We'll see if he can be consistent. But, DT needs reps. He has done some good things out there for us. But, he has also been a victim of numerous offsides penalties incurred by his linemen, which put him into holes. I think the anybdoy who knows football should be able to see his talent level out there. he will be excellent. Yes, he through a pick on third and long that was ill-advised. But, he is a competitor. he was trying to make something happen down near the goal line. We must give him reps this year.

He also fumbled the ball on the goaline as well as botched a sweep too Richardson when he threw it too his ankels instead of his chest, but rather then that and as you mentioned the Interception, oh and the delay of game his first series, other then that he handed the ball off nicely :lol: :lol: :lol: . He did have a great arm, i did notice that.

[troymarkus]

DT is the future QB at Troy. No dbout about it. But I agree with a friend of mine that I talked to last night. DT is an incredible athlete. He needs to be on the field right now-as a WR. Look, tell DT he will get his reps in the next 3 years at QB. That is where he'll be. But right now, we need him on the field making plays as a slot receiver. His speed, quickness, athleticism, competitiveness--all of it is needed on the field. But not at QB. Leak is our QB. Period.

DT will be a great QB for us. I don't think any of us doubt that. But DT is NOT ready for 1-a college football at the QB position. He looked like a deer in headlights--and he should--he's a true freshman that didn't show up until after our first fall practice was over. The only time DT looked good Saturday was when we was handing off! And even then he looked nervous.

Again, DT is going to be great--but now is Aaron's time. Period.

[tgrad8384]

Yes, DT is the QB of the future. Yes, he needs reps. I was comfortable with him getting reps after the first series of the second half. We had the game comfortably in hand by that point. Leak was able to establish some consistency in the first half, and I beleive that had a lot to do with him staying in the game. I hope that will continue to be the plan. Let Leak stay in until the 3rd or 4th quarter when the games are in hand (or out of control). Then let DT get some experience for next year and beyond. Personally, I would also like to see Meadows get a shot.

[Hector]

Faithintsu said:

He also fumbled the ball on the goaline as well as botched a sweep too Richardson when he threw it too his ankels instead of his chest, but rather then that and as you mentioned the Interception, oh and the delay of game his first series, other then that he handed the ball off nicely . He did have a great arm, Idid notice that.

Dang, you made me see the light, faith...DT is terrible, just like you said. He can't play worth squat. The fact the major programs like Nebraska were after him is just, well, an accident we can't explain. I wish I knew as much about football as you.

[faithintsu]

I was not meaning too mock you at all, just pointing out the kid is not ready yet.

As other have said, he is the future, and he is a great athlete, so lets just get him no the field as a WR or RB and see what he can do that way.

[Troy91]

If he is our future quarterback, he needs reps at quarterback, not as a WR or tailback. I agree he's not ready yet, but the more he plays, the better he'll be in the long run.

[troymarkus]

He needs reps at QB--just like Saturday when the game is not on the line. He is not ready to play the position when it matters. But we need him on the field.

[Troy93]

Does DT need to see the field, yes. As a WR Or RB, absolutely not. Main reason, injury. If I was LB & even thought about entertaining the idea of placing his marquee recruit at anohter position, please let Olmstead kick him square in the head. Guys, the kid has talent, he will mold into a great QB. Let him learn from the sidelines, get reps when he can. Only put him in key situations at QB when they are warranted. He is more of threat at QB, where he can either run, pass, or handoff than he is anywhere else.

[troymarkus]

To win games, you need the best athletes on the field at all times! Period. Why do you think we've temporarily shifted players around on the field before? Look at Florida, Tennessee...etc. Heck, even the Pittsburgh Steelers did it. You have a better chance of winning when you put the best athletes out there.

Injury is a risk you take in football. To not play an athlete because you're scared they might get hurt is wuss. Put him on the field.

[Troy93]

Let me clarify. I am in agreement that the best players should see the field. But any coach will take experience over talent any day of the week. I believe that risk of injury is part of the game. Hell, I had them both in High School & at Troy. I believe your point is valid. He needs to be on the field more often. Playing him at WR or RB could help him become better acclimated to the offense. Most QB coaches would tell you it is better to have a backup playing the position learning from the sideline. The offense showed improvement Saturday.

Most of coaching & preparing for games is considering "what if" scenarios. What if Leak & McDowell went down in the same game playing different postions? Everyone on this board would be after LB's head. We need to be patient. LB & Fleetwood have said that DT is improving each week. Trust me on this one, you move a player from a postion that he is improving at, it sends a mixed message especially to a QB.