re: Not meaning to be critical but where are the TE pass catch plays?

haha. No need to get sassy. Just voicing an opinion. You are absolutely correct in what you say that he is throwing to Dural for those reasons, and why not throw it to him if he is Open? We did, and he only got 3 catches in the game and was pulled out after as we didn't NEED him in there. The goal of getting those reps and associated confidence and in-game dependability was met.

BUT, it still doesn't negate my point. While you may differ in my opinion and be sarcastic with the whole "just dial up the TE Special play ...." comment, I truly believe that these cupcake games are MEANT FOR EXACTLY this reason. To give our players the reps to get used 1) game speed and 2) develop that in-game rapport. Sometimes, especially with a talented, but new QB, we don't HAVE to go for the home-run threat just because he is open. We already know that DURAL has that special speed and was able to get open even against Wisconsin. That isn't going to change. Its why he only got 3 receptions and we took him out and started throwing to other receivers.

But yes...dialing a special TE-only play to bolster the TE's confidence to make the play, and the QB's confidence in his TE's that they will catch it when he needs them to is EXACTLY why we have these cupcake games...and YES...I believe it WILL be more automatic. So what if we don't throw it to the WR"s that are and will be TOTALLY OPEN every play? SO what if we throw for a premeditated, measly 5-15 yards instead of the long throw? We are still going to to win against them it will still have been a shut-out, and I think the score may NOT have looked much different. But the benefit far outweighs the cost, and these cupcake games are the PERFECT platform to do so.


Yes..you are right that we have MANY palymakers and only so many plays, and your deduction that people would have gotten upset if we didn't rush as many times and give our RB core the appropriate reps is accurate. Which is exactly the point i made earlier in the thread. But i think in the next game and moving forwards, the direct to TE catches may be necessary so that we are aptly prepared before we start playing high caliber SEC teams. That way Jennings isn't necessarily 'zeroed in' on Dural and Quinn or Diarse and has already developed, maybe forcefully, that rapport with teh TE's and will as you say"automatically" start looking to throw to them if and when the time comes before tucking the ball in running it.