Experience matters, especially behind a weak OL against real defenses. Samford is weak for an FCS team. Western Georgia's QB smoked Samford's "D." I'm very interested to see what both do against the Aggie's. Samford is no measuring stick.
He did much better against Miami too. I’d rather DJ have a full season in by the time we get to fsu. Mertz may be better against A&M but not better than DJ with a season under his belt. The oline can be handled better by a mobile qb too.
I think it’s the right call. Can’t throw Mertz, a 6th year guy, under the bus already or elevate a guy based on looking great vs Samford. Now if Mertz struggles the next few games things could get interesting.
If BN waits until mid-season to do the obvious, and yet another season goes down the drain due to his slavish adherence to "the process," he will deserve everything he gets.
Possibly. It’s just that i don’t think dominating Samford moves the needle either way. DJ looked as good as he possibly could. But then again Emory Jones put up 400 against Samford. I just don’t think a starter loses a job to injury because a guy looks great against… Samford. It was never going to happen and QB play isn’t the weakness, against Miami it was a defense that still can’t cover anybody with a pulse in the passing game. Lagway should definitely get some drives. He earned drives from his impressive performance. Maybe those drives lead to something sooner than expected, but a change as far as handing him the keys was never going to happen this week.
His QBR was three times higher than GM against the Miami defense as well. He’s only 9 days removed from a concussion and we think putting him behind that OL against another touted front 7 is a good idea? Um, no.
He was ok, nothing against him, but most of his completions were behind the line of scrimmage, a few of them basically forward hand offs that went for long yardage. He isn’t great throwing the ball downfield. He isn’t terribly mobile. Napier used him to the best of his ability but people really get wrapped up in his completion percentage. Hopefully I’m wrong but I don’t think I am.
I think people are trying too hard with the "it was Samford" stuff. Yes, it was Samford. But Lagway made some throws that a lot of QBs couldn't make against air. Samford sucking wasn't the primary reason those plays got made. Sure, he probably has learning to do in terms of reading defenses and making the right checks and whatnot and he's probably behind Mertz in those areas. But that Grade A passing talent might be enough to outweigh the youth.