Well looks like he is at it again. He isn't ready to name a starter at QB because he said neither QB has separated themselves. The only way Hurts doesn't start is if there is an injury.
riley
- Thread starter OUnabomber
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Right now that seems true.
Mordecai and Rattler look to compete for the #2 position, and through whatever situation develops between them, I would not expect Rattler be redshirted.
I don't think Riley recruited Rattler to redshirt as a true freshman, even with Hurts joining the team.
Personally, I'd like to see Mordecai earn the backup spot and Rattler play his 4 games this season while maintaining his redshirt status. That would allow Riley to enter 2020 with Mordecai (a sophomore) and Rattler ( a redshirt freshman) competing for the starting position.
Bottom line: there is no doubt that OU will have a solid starting QB in 2020, regardless of who it is.
Just wish Riley wouldn't play that little game again this year. Hurts was light years ahead of Mordecai in the spring game and I can't believe the competition is close. I get not wanting to just hand it to Hurts but come on.
He kind of has hands tied as who wants to put in the hard work to be considered the solid #2 ? All 3 of the young men must consider camp to be a race to be #1 at this level, right ?
This is why Riley is our head coach and not you.
Its no game he wants Mordecai and Rattler to show their best to keep competing to be #1.
Either of them might be needed in the upcoming season.
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Right.....and neither are YOU.
I'm certain neither one of these kids will just stop playing if they are told they are not going to start. Riley said the same thing last year with Murray and we all saw how that went.
You may be right. But the defense that OUr best two quarterbacks faced in the spring game, were close to polar opposites.
The defense that Jalen faced had two or three non scholarship players in the secondary on most snaps, after mid week injuries a few days before the game and already depleted personnel.
Tanner Mordecai's opposing defense was much closer to normal, and he had a couple of linemen on his side that weren't getting it done.
In the spring game, Hurts looked clearly better. And my guess is that he starts. But it wasn't as clear cut as it seemed. Had the situation been flipped, Tanner might well have had the same "clear cut" advantage. Hurts knew how to pick out weak DB's and throw 50-50 balls at them, and it served him well. But Mordecai is every bit as quality a quarterback, with a better understanding of the offense. If Hurts gets hurt, we'll be fine. And at least as good at quarterback.
How long have most of you been following football? How many times have you seen a HC play the "don't know who the starter will be" game?
Saban did that last year with Jalen and Tua and you see where that landed Jalen, at a place where that was not going to happen again. NO WAY IN HELL HE WOULD BE AT OU IF HE WAS NOT GOING TO BE THE STARTER. I am pretty sure that if OU had a legit contender to be the starter before Jalen transferred he would not be here, we didn't so here he is thank God! Its a mental game Riley is playing, Coaches do it all the time. Riley has 2 Heisman winning QB's and back to back at that mind you, he knows what he is doing.
Mordecai every bit as quality a qb as Jalen? Gtfoh.
Saban did that last year with Jalen and Tua and you see where that landed Jalen, at a place where that was not going to happen again. NO WAY IN HELL HE WOULD BE AT OU IF HE WAS NOT GOING TO BE THE STARTER. I am pretty sure that if OU had a legit contender to be the starter before Jalen transferred he would not be here, we didn't so here he is thank God! Its a mental game Riley is playing, Coaches do it all the time. Riley has 2 Heisman winning QB's and back to back at that mind you, he knows what he is doing.
Mordecai every bit as quality a qb as Jalen? Gtfoh.
Jalen and Tua is a whole different story. Jalen won a national championship and was a starter. Mordecai has never played a meaningful down at OU. To let yourself believe there is actually a competition between those two is ridiculous.
You are saying Mordecai, a player that has never actually palyed at OU (barely), is as good as a national championship QB from Bama? Come on man. There is no way Hurts doesn't start this year. Everyone knows it
Greg McElroy won a title at Bama too. Ifhe showed up his senior year, wouldhe have automatically been the starter? Doubt it.
I think Hurts is likely the starter. But the difference in spring game performance was deceiving. All l am saying is l agree with LR. The decision isn't made yet, and there's good reason it isn't.
My remembrance of Hurts is that Bama won one NC during his time there. That was the game when they took him out at the half, trailing.
I think Hurts is likely the starter. But the difference in spring game performance was deceiving. All l am saying is l agree with LR. The decision isn't made yet, and there's good reason it isn't.
My remembrance of Hurts is that Bama won one NC during his time there. That was the game when they took him out at the half, trailing.
Its comical that one would compare Hurts to Mordecai. I mean thats really laughable. Everyone was praising the move when he came to OU and excited about an experienced and talented QB being here at this particular time. Now we are going to start believing Riley when he says the QB race is too close to call? Surely nobody is that easily swayed
You know more than OUr hc? You're essentially calling him a liar. I'm defending the HC. And I know that you're underestimating Mordecai. You're not alone.
I don't believe everything Riley says. Call it lying, fibbing, gamesmanship, whatever. Last year he told us Murray and Kendall were neck and neck. Ha...that was a good one. If that were true then Kendall should have stayed because he could possibly win the Heisman this year. If they thought Mordecai was so good then they wouldn't have gone after Hurts. Do I really need to say these things? I thought this was common football sense
It is common sense. I like Mordecais potential but let's be honest, Hurts was brought here to start. Riley HAS to say it's a competition, but everyone knows better.
Plaino nailed it.
Yea Hurts is the favorite to be the man, but Lincoln Riley is handling the situation perfectly.
I get it. You're right and everybody else is wrong. Even the HC.
Sometimes the truth bites you in the butt, and you don't know it's the truth til it hits you in the forehead with a two by four. If Hurts hadn't come to OU, we would have had two scholarship quarterbacks. He is a quality quarterback, but so is Tanner. And Mordecai is a stud, who knows the offense better. And for a good part of the spring, he outplayed Jalen. THAT is why the decision hasn't been made yet by those who made the decision.
There are plenty like you who think they know, but they don't. Not yet. Tanner can play.
Did you read what I said? I don't believe there is a competition between the two. Jalen was the starter before the ink was dry on the transfer papers otherwise he would not be at OU.
None of this discussion matters until September 1st.
I do like the addition of Hurts who represents a proven performer from the nation's best program.
I do like the addition of Hurts who represents a proven performer from the nation's best program.
I doubt the competition will be close and Riley MUST proclaim it's up for grabs. However our fans shouldn't be naive.
So you are saying that the QB competition, according to Riley, is still up in the air and too close to call? Let me guess....you also believed that Murray and Kendall were neck and neck. Get back to me in September when Hurts takes the field.
Let's just say I trust Riley a whole lot more than I trust you. And he makes a lot more sense.
You have this idea that you know stuff, just because of your feelings. It works pretty well sometimes for teenage girls, but most adults, not so much. But in you cozy little world, I'm sure it makes you comfortable.
The fact is that Murray didn't have a great spring. And Kendall was better than Murray in the spring game, on a day when passing was tough, because of mostly 30 plus wind speeds. Coaches don't make decisions based on how many stars recruiting sites gave you in high school. At least good coaches don't. Starts have to be earned.
When we started August camp, Murray had not yet earned the starting job. His best assets were not really allowed to shine in the flag football that makes up quarterback play in practices or scrimmages. He did eventually earn the job, and obviously had a great season. But as is often the case on this site, your hindsight is far less than 20/20. You saw a guy earn a Heisman, and assumed it was clear cut before the season, when it wasn't.
But of course, you know more than LR. So many of your brethren here feel the same way. It doesn't make you right, only part of the herd.
In a way, coaches are politicians. Riley is no exception, and this is not necessarily a bad thing.
Last season, Riley declared the starting QB spot was still undecided through the summer between Murray and Kendall.
This year, he says the same of Hurts and Mordecai.
As in 2018 and now in 2019, OU will have a new starting QB. Seems to me Riley is holding off declaring a starting QB to amp up the team's morale and the fans' speculation and interest.
It's working.....even if Riley has already determined who the better player is.
Last season, Riley declared the starting QB spot was still undecided through the summer between Murray and Kendall.
This year, he says the same of Hurts and Mordecai.
As in 2018 and now in 2019, OU will have a new starting QB. Seems to me Riley is holding off declaring a starting QB to amp up the team's morale and the fans' speculation and interest.
It's working.....even if Riley has already determined who the better player is.
A long post that was mostly jibberish and nonsense. The Murray/AK competition was never close and this one isn't either I assume. As I said don't be foolish enough to believe everything Riley says because sometimes he has to say the correct thing team wise. At this point do you really think he would say it's not an open competition?
I think Riley just wants to protect his players' morale and be as much of a mystery as possible to OU's opponents as the season approaches.
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YOU sir are part of the herd mentality. Riley says it...you believe it no matter how ridiculous it is. When Hurts takes the field as the starter you will say well he must have separated himself in fall practice. I like Riley...he is really a great coach, but I don't believe everything he says. I also never believed everything Bob said and I was usually right. You honestly think OU pursued Hurst to be a back up? Come back to reality
CT I can see that to point with some players, but I'm pretty sure the teams preparing for us will be anticipating Hurst being the starter.
It's "Hurts", BTW.
You're right, I doubt if OU's opponents think Hurts won't start, but it's never a bad idea to add some degree of uncertainty.
yes I know its Hurts. Now I'm not sure it would really matter which QB was going to start because they are pretty much going to be running the same system and plays. I see Mordecai as probably a career back up at OU along the lines of Kendall. Unless there is an injury to hurts.
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