re: We need to make some changes

Bentley...
He came in and played af a true freshman
In 7 games 1420 yards 9 tds and his highest QB rating.
When we recruit “elite” talent, which you can say Bentley was, they should be ready to go from Day 1

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Shaw didn’t see that much significant playing time his true Freshman year and was still behind Garcia.

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It was amazing at the growth of Shaw as a QB. If I remember he played WR in HS until his senior year. His first game as a starter was the East Carolina game where we got down by 17. Garcia came in and saved the day. Shaw admitted he was not ready. His coming out was against KY, hard to believe. Shaw caught hell from our fans too. "He was too short, didn't have a strong arm, took off running too soon, held onto the ball too long". It wasn't until his senior year that he started looking more like a QB. He went through his progressions but still would run when needed. He seldom threw an interception and was confident and tough as nails. The expectations for Jake are, and should be, much higher. I am most concerned about his demeanor. He looks scared and unsure in critical situations and throws the ball up for grabs too many times. His skill set reminds me of Dylan Thompson but his demeanor reminds me of Connor Mitch. I am hoping he can get a swagger to his game but honestly, I am very concerned that Jake is not the QB we were hoping for.

I would def be okay with that but I feel like there may be some stupid NCAA rule about that.

It's almost as if that is so spot on that every team should be doing it.

Or Bama, Georgia, Clemson etc get kids that are already good at that?

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I would def be okay with that but I feel like there may be some stupid NCAA rule about that.

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Nah. The players can essentially do it on it's own. The components are:

1) Goal setting: Breaking task down to smaller peices
2) Visualazation: Putting yourself in the stressful situation before it happens.
3). Self talk: essentially positive affirmation
4). Arousal control: Deep breathing and other techniques to control the physiological response to fear.

All it would take is an awareness of these techniques so they could implement them.

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The military trained me that way. Funny thing even now if I stop and think I'm nirmally not as good as when I go with my instincts and just react. Bentley thinks to much. I want everyone to remember Jake himmself said he does better in the hurry up offense. The reason why is he only has enough time to react not think.

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SOS,

I'm sure you heard this one in the Navy, "You fight like you train."

If that's the case, we need to change the way we're training.


Edit: Ironically, when I taught skiing, I was fortunate enough to ski with Mermer Blakeslee, a PSIA demo team member. In her book, "the Yikes zone" she talks alot about fear and how it influences athletic performance. The more fearful we are, the lower our athletic performance. She says that, for athletic endeavors, we all have four "zones" 1) The automatic zone, 2) The comfort zone, 3) the Yikes zone and 4) The OMG I'm gonna die zone. For skiing, as an example, everyone's zones (as it relates to terrain) might be a little different. For some people, they are just as comfortable on Double black diamonds as they are the bunny slope. For others, the bunny slope may be their OMG I'm gonna die zone. But as we progress thru our careers, we all move those boundaries and our comfort zones and automatic zones become bigger. For the sport I taught, the idea was, if you had to think too much about what you were doing, you couldn't relax and enjoy it. IF you are always in the yikes zone (or above), you're more prone to make mistakes.

For a sport like football, it becomes a question of maximizing performance. The more automatic you are with your actions, the more likely you are to make the correct decisions, and physically execute the task.

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Shaw was not a difference maker as a freshman.

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He didn't play much at all as a freshman. First time I remember him playing was at Auburn. Sitting in the stands, I just remember thinking WTF when he trotted Shaw out in the fourth quarter of a close game in one of the most hostile environments in the SEC. Shaw wasn't ready. Game ended when he threw an interception in the endzone when we had a chance to tie the game. Long walk down from the upperdeck after that game. I still think if Garcia had stayed in the game we might have pulled it out, was a great game, though soon as we missed the extra point at 20-7 I had that feeling we'd find a way to lose.

SOS,

We're on the same page with regards to this.

The Bentley family needs to take some of daddy's coaching money and spend it on a good sports psychologist.

In a down SEC east. Sorry IBG the variables are not the same therefore the end result cannot be looked upon as equal.

I do understand that there could be some of the older folk who feel Freshmen shouldn't get the nod right away because they have to "wait their turn" "pay their dues" etc etc.
Kind of like how freshmen weren't allowed to play a ways back.

But now days it's about talent, it shouldn't matter your class.

I'm not ancient but have been going to Gamecock games since 1975. If the freshman are the best players then they should start. The one thing ,that is in our favor with Hillinski, is he plays in arguably the toughest high school league in America. The talent level he plays with and against is closer to college ready so the speed and talent difference will be minor for him. If he can lead us better than Bentley then he should be the man but thats all speculation at this point.
Im my opinion, unfortunately, I don't see Muschamp making that switch. Muschamp values experince and isn't known as being a " risk taker". This could lead to his downfall though.