Mason... King of the check down

Stahp

Check-downs equal first downs, ball possession, and a rested defense. I'll take it.

I did get the feeling in the Mizzou game that once Bobo realized we could keep Mizzou off balance with the short passes and the run game, there was no reason to go away from it.

I was getting really worried early on when they keyed in on Chubb every play and we still couldn't get the passing game going.

I will say that Mason handled it well though and made some nice 3rd down conversions spreading the ball around. And that TD to Bennett was beautiful.

Basically, no Mason doesn't have Murray or Staffords arm strength but I actually think he's doing enough to get us by this year so far. We haven't lost a game because of him yet (and I realize that's not the best standard). Hopefully the Mizzou game got his confidence going, I know multiple players commented on his leadership.

I did think he seemed to do a better job of working through reads vs Mizzou but I do agree it has to improve. Also doesn't always seem to trust his line in pass protection.

And yea, you're definitely right that vs teams like Auburn and MSU (or whoever we'd face in Atlanta if we get there), we do need more of a downfield passing threat or else we will have a much tougher time.

And honestly I still think that in all of our games except maybe the Auburn game, that's all we need and I think Mason can do it.

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But everyone all said before the season that with our running game all we needed was a game manager that didn't make mistakes and turn the ball over. We got what they wanted.

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And we're 5-1, top 10 in the country, and leading the east. What else could you want right now? Every goal we started with at the beginning of the season is obtainable.

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What else?...I wanted the win at Columbia

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we didn't lose to SC because of mason. Not even close.

And ya know...there are far worse things than checking down. I mean, he's completing 70% of his passes and making good decisions. That's a good thing. I'd rather have a QB that checks down than a guy who locks in on his primary receiver and chucks it his direction regardless of what the coverage dictates.

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we will have that next year. Can't wait to hear people complain about then.

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people will always complain about the QB unless he's an all american.

And yes, we will struggle with ramsey at QB. That's not a knock on him, that's just the way it goes with young, new starters. Murray was meh as a freshman. Stafford was God awful his first year until the last 3 games. Ramsey will make some stafford like throw on a deep out and everyone will claim he should've started this year. Then he'll throw one in teh middle directly to the MLB with no receiver around and people will want to put in bauta.

It just sucks becuase our true QB of the future will be here in '16 and we'll have to decide if we go ahead and give him the keys, or let ramsey play it on out.

I love how he played against Missouri. Patient, accurate, smart, and got rid of the ball quickly.

The short passes were like an extension of our running game and kept us in a nice rhythm while frustrating the heck out of the Mizzou defense.

We get more of the same on Saturday and we'll have a nice shot at a win.

Loved the work Mitchell got in the Mizzou game, too.

Some easy pitch and catch getting him used to game speed and getting hit.

I'm looking for Bobo to do some hitch and go routes with Mitchell this Saturday as they start to open up the entire playbook to him again.