-
Welcome to Green Bay Packers NFL Football Forum & Community!
Packer Forum is one of the largest online communities for the Green Bay Packers.
You are currently viewing our community forums as a guest user.
Sign Up or
Having an account grants you additional privileges, such as creating and participating in discussions. Furthermore, we hide most of the ads once you register as a member! Furthermore, we hide most of the ads once you register as a member!
NO Driskel
- Thread starter Leakfan12
- Start date
I don't know where you got your info that convinces you of the SECOND point above, Lf, but here's what I have--two points from today, one public/on-record, the other private/back-channel:
From our Head Coach, in his informal presser yesterday afternoon (Wed., Nov.14), Muschamp was "comfortable" with Brisset starting this week, as is now the case for certain (as he notes, once JD was unable to practice by Wed., that was automatic: "Team rules."), and likewise with the outlook for Driskel being back by NEXT week...When specifically asked what the chances were "that Jeff might NOT he ready", he replied, "It's day-to-day, whenever you deal with an ankle...we are confident he will be available, but who knows..."
Behind the scenes, my proverbial and dreaded "source close to the team" says that Driskel's was a moderate LOWER-ankle sprain (good news) that is healing "normally", if a little more slowly than they'd have hoped, "probably due to the tendons being stretched further on the play than was originally thought: according to the Dr's at Shands, that was responsible for the deeper bruising that appeared by mid-week", but those are "responding well to heat, ice and cortisone treatments", and quicker healing is expected now thru' the weekend...JD is "expected back at practice by Mon. or Tues."--with the "practice by Wed.-rule", that's cutting things "closer than you like", but has as much to do with caution, confidence in Brisett, and "the very real concern they have for JD's future as the Gator starter" in seasons ahead that they refuse to rush things "at ALL", and are sticking with the Dr.'s cautious recommendations.
Make no mistake: as I suspected by all the signs and statements already made, according to this "source within the Athletic Dept." there is absolutely solid belief in and support for Jeff Driskel's long-term importance as the Gator starting-quarterback, for the next 2 seasons after this one, uniformly up and down the Gator coaching staff. There is the HOPE that Brisset will stay, as this episode demonstrates "how fortunate" we are to have "such a good and ready back-up", but it is considered "probably better than 50-50" that he will elect to transfer after this season, since as long as Driskel IS healthy, HE will still be designated "the starter"--and while they like Jacoby and hope that he might, especially after THIS episode, elect to stay after all and will encourage him to do so, they have and will continue to be honest with him, won't stand in the way of a decision, and are already considering their plans for "back-up development and competition" should he leave after this season--likely before or early IN spring-ball.
(Interesting side-note: This possibility/likelihood--choose one--is already exerting influence out on the recruiting trail...another slot will likely be set aside for an additional QB-prospect--one reason for sudden interest in young "comers" like that kid from N. Carolina (Will Grier) who threw for 937 yds. and ran up 104 pts. on offense passing his small high school team SILLY over the weekend...Yes, not only do we now have the film highlights, but one of our coach's "contacts" had a guy THERE, having already caught wind of this particular coach's son--and HE was on the phone excitedly WITH RAW HIGHLIGHTS within moments of the game's end, apparently...That's how things go in this day of video-smartphones...The kid was already "on our radar", and one of our coaches has indeed now "been in touch".)
PS--@Leakfan12, OK...I found an ESPN.com article (dated late Wed., Nov.14) that, in typical ESPN-sensationalist style, DOES take the same statements made publicly by Coach Muschamp earlier that day (noted above) and uses them to imply that NEXT weekend's availability for JD is now "questionable"...I suppose that technically, taking the term "questionable" in a particular way, that COULD be interpreted in this way, but as far as I can gather from "inside", there is a fair amount of optimism that he'll be ready--they just don't want even to DISCUSS anything beyond Saturday now, for obvious (and continued "One game at a time") reasons.
InkedAdrenaline
VIP Member
I'm happy, I've thought Brisset was better from the get go. I wanna see if I was right or not...
If Driskel can't go against FSU then I hope Brisset does well against JSU.
This is NOT another round in some ongoing competition between our starting and back-up QBs, under ANY circumstances, and I refuse to approach it that way--just as our TEAM, top-to-bottom, coaches-to-players, have completely ignored such talk among fans.
We ALL want Jacoby to do well; He's a Gator, that's why we got him AND why the Coaches HOPE he won't leave (but are planning already as if the odds are no better than 50-50 he'll stay--'cause he's STILL THE BACK-UP to Jeff Driskel, their starter for the next 2 seasons, provided HE is healthy and stays!)...No matter WHERE you stand on this though IA--and it ought to be an argument mainly OVER by now, since "it is what it IS", and the argument at this point is between a minority of FANS who feel as you do and a LARGE majority who do NOT, and not in ANY way a "controversy" within the TEAM (and would be a disaster for team-unity if one were able to somehow arise--which shouldn't be the case on THIS team, with it's strong leadership in its Head Coach and among players in the locker room)--but as I was saying, regardless of your preference here, I just can NOT understand how or why you'd say "I'm happy.." at JD's injury giving Brisset a chance, which DOES appear to be what you are saying, after all. It'd be one thing to give that opinion, say, 10 weeks ago in the event that he had won the starting job by his own hand--though you'll notice that players and most fans who preferred JD (I just saw him as clearly the more level-headed field-general, myself) refrained from anything more than a muted optimism when the decision became clear (and even the way THAT was handled was low-key, for similar reasons, I think): no one wanted to see any kind of split in the locker room, and it was STILL hoped, as it is now, that Jacoby might stay, so that we'd have a back-up that would be close enough in talent and poise to step in and carry us in the event of injury to the starter, always a great comfort at the least, and a saving grace if and when that starter DOES go down.
Now it has happened--not a very serious or long-term injury, but just bad enough, just late enough to put these last couple of weeks into question, and fulfill our good-fortune at HAVING such a capable back-up. Again: WE ALL WANT JACOBY TO DO WELL--and if he does, he will be complimented and appreciated and the coaches will once more openly state their hopes that he'll stay, BUT: He'll remain the back-up, regardless. That has been made clear all along, and HAS to remain clear, from the POV of our Head Coach's philosophy (one I agree with, no matter WHO would have originally been named the starter, by the way, whether anyone believes it or NOT) that in a case such as this, TEAM UNITY , locker room harmony consisting of open, honest and consistent communication and clear-chain-of-command, are of PRIME importance in the kind of tough, "never-say-die" pride that underlies this team's growth and success--ALL of which begins with this very kind of "Fundamental Decision". "Man down, Man UP" doesn't work if it's just words, if you can't trust and depend on the guy to either side, or what your coaches and team-leaders have sworn is the case. I can't say what "might or could happen" next spring/summer if he DID stay, whether his CLEARLY out-playing Jeff Driskel by 2013's Spring Game might re-open consideration of the actual "pecking order" should that come to pass, but as things stand NOW: Driskel can NOT lose his job because of a sprained ankle, and he hasn't. Don't you think we ought to, and CAN, be united in our support of BOTH young players, whomever is in there? THEY appear to be managing it.
We ALL want Jacoby to do well; He's a Gator, that's why we got him AND why the Coaches HOPE he won't leave (but are planning already as if the odds are no better than 50-50 he'll stay--'cause he's STILL THE BACK-UP to Jeff Driskel, their starter for the next 2 seasons, provided HE is healthy and stays!)...No matter WHERE you stand on this though IA--and it ought to be an argument mainly OVER by now, since "it is what it IS", and the argument at this point is between a minority of FANS who feel as you do and a LARGE majority who do NOT, and not in ANY way a "controversy" within the TEAM (and would be a disaster for team-unity if one were able to somehow arise--which shouldn't be the case on THIS team, with it's strong leadership in its Head Coach and among players in the locker room)--but as I was saying, regardless of your preference here, I just can NOT understand how or why you'd say "I'm happy.." at JD's injury giving Brisset a chance, which DOES appear to be what you are saying, after all. It'd be one thing to give that opinion, say, 10 weeks ago in the event that he had won the starting job by his own hand--though you'll notice that players and most fans who preferred JD (I just saw him as clearly the more level-headed field-general, myself) refrained from anything more than a muted optimism when the decision became clear (and even the way THAT was handled was low-key, for similar reasons, I think): no one wanted to see any kind of split in the locker room, and it was STILL hoped, as it is now, that Jacoby might stay, so that we'd have a back-up that would be close enough in talent and poise to step in and carry us in the event of injury to the starter, always a great comfort at the least, and a saving grace if and when that starter DOES go down.
Now it has happened--not a very serious or long-term injury, but just bad enough, just late enough to put these last couple of weeks into question, and fulfill our good-fortune at HAVING such a capable back-up. Again: WE ALL WANT JACOBY TO DO WELL--and if he does, he will be complimented and appreciated and the coaches will once more openly state their hopes that he'll stay, BUT: He'll remain the back-up, regardless. That has been made clear all along, and HAS to remain clear, from the POV of our Head Coach's philosophy (one I agree with, no matter WHO would have originally been named the starter, by the way, whether anyone believes it or NOT) that in a case such as this, TEAM UNITY , locker room harmony consisting of open, honest and consistent communication and clear-chain-of-command, are of PRIME importance in the kind of tough, "never-say-die" pride that underlies this team's growth and success--ALL of which begins with this very kind of "Fundamental Decision". "Man down, Man UP" doesn't work if it's just words, if you can't trust and depend on the guy to either side, or what your coaches and team-leaders have sworn is the case. I can't say what "might or could happen" next spring/summer if he DID stay, whether his CLEARLY out-playing Jeff Driskel by 2013's Spring Game might re-open consideration of the actual "pecking order" should that come to pass, but as things stand NOW: Driskel can NOT lose his job because of a sprained ankle, and he hasn't. Don't you think we ought to, and CAN, be united in our support of BOTH young players, whomever is in there? THEY appear to be managing it.
InkedAdrenaline
VIP Member
You say he's the back up, but driskel will be benched ASAP if Brisset puts 2 offensive wins in against jsu and Fsu...
With this offensive line and these wide receivers, neither Brissett nor Driskel will win or lose the starting job based on wins and losses against JSU or FSU. It will come down to two things: how good Brissett looks in the next two games and how healthy Driskel is at the end of the season. More than likely, this will mean that barring injury, Brissett will be the starter for the remainder of the year and the QB competition will open up again for next year.
I'm sorry, IA, I don't want to argue with you (nor will I, at least on this subject after this), but on this point, you are simply wrong.
As far as THIS season is concerned, JD will be the starter again AS SOON AS he is healthy enough to do so.
I hope Jacoby DOES do well--we're GATORS: We want our players, ESPECIALLY whomever is at QB, to do well, 'cause above all, WE WANT TO WIN!!! But this is something that would seem clear even if I DIDN'T happen to have some feedback from inside the Athletic Dept. and the locker room that is beyond "adamant" (that simply DISMISSES any discussion of "controversy", or even "question", on this point) regarding "how things are".
I hope you can support our QB, whomever that is--and whether Brisset can reopen "consideration" there in the spring/summer-to-come (and whether he will stick around to do so) is not something that we should discuss now, since it isn't even on-the-radar as far as a "subject to be considered" right now, and SHOULDN'T be, inside or outside the team--All Gators should be able to see that trying to drum up a "Quarterback Controversy" mid-season can NEVER be a good thing for your team--something the staff and players understand intuitively, even if some of us out here do not...
(PS--One OTHER tip-off to look for in Pease's overall plans for this offense will be in how much we may see Trey Burton on the field today, for the expressed purpose of the zone read-option running game in its various guises...It has been too much an important and successful part of our offense this season to abandon it--and without JD in there, the best person we have to run it, including its important option-aspects in what otherwise "seem" clear running-situations, will be Trey. There's a much better threat-to-pass and have it WORK if carried out, with Trey in there, than there is a "threat-to-run" succeeding with Jacoby in there in the same situation--the opposing defense can likely ignore the "threat" entirely and still recover well-enough to stop it, should he actually try it, Brisset's "running skills" being that weak...He is considered a "pure drop-back passer" for a reason--in this case because his "mobility" is completely in the service of "getting out of the way" if/when the pocket breaks down--and given our 2-second-or-less O-line pocket-protection so far this year, Jacoby may have to do that on practically every PASSING play, never mind running ones.)
