re: So, here we are (Mauk/Lock)

No. Those are your words. Not what I was or am saying at all. Mauk gives this team the better CHANCE to win at this point. That was my original viewpoint.

When it comes to a position like QB, it's more significant than other positions. What position is usually regarded as a leadership position on offense? Which position is usually the conduit to a well run offense? What position touches the ball and directs the ball on every offensive play? What happens when that position fails? What happens if you score less points as a result? What position is usually the one that comes under scrutiny when the offense faulters?

To be clear on my part, my original post, it had nothing to do with pinning wins or losses on individual players but had everything to do with common sense of not getting a freshman QB killed by throwing him to the wolves to soon. There never was an argument from me on who is more talented. Mauk has seen and played against some very good fast defenses, Lock has not yet. He held on to the ball a little to long on one series and got sacked in the pocket by a regarded lesser talented Dline of SEMO. What do you think will happen against a Dline from say Florida or another SEC defense? When he goes against better coverage players requiring him to hold the ball longer or read the defense faster?

I think that was common opinion of Mizzou fans including myself when James Franklin stepped on an SEC field the first time for conference play. His talent level would override the big bad SEC defenses. If I remember right, he was going to blow up and the SEC had never seen a QB like him. Then reality settled in. The lack of playing top defenses took itcs effect on him and not in positive ways. Much controversy followed and then people were wanting Matty Mauk. Well, now he's here and now people want Lock after seeing justva snipit of his ability against a subpar defense. But in the end, Franklin had trouble and injuries in his first year in the SEC, not because of talent but because lack of experience of knowing what SEC defenses are like. Not talent. He had that, but talent isn't everything when you have equally talented players on the opposite side of the ball.

It's all good news no matter how you slice it. Just saw a thread on tRant listing the SEC QB's production in week 1.

Mizzou had 2 QB's higher on the list than any one QB from Auburn or from SC.

And Lock did that essentially on 2 possessions, I guess a 3rd if you count the one at the very end. I would like to see Lock work into another series or 2 a game. What was good to see was Mauk embracing Lock after he threw the TD. I think everyone recognizes that we have something a little bit special with Lock. I view him as a kid with all the measurables that Gabbert had but also with the head to actually be a QB and a leader.

I'm pretty sure his struggles and health had much to do with the level of competition and his experience against that level of defense.

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I'm pretty sure his struggles and health had much to do with the level of competition and his experience against that level of defense.

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A little. A bad OL, an injury and a gimmicky OC were more of a factor, and in that order.

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I don't sense much of a controversy right now, but how many weeks does this continue before we have a full blown controversy?

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Mauk will have to struggle and Mizzou loses a game or two where they were favored.

Lock will be a better QB. However, he is a true freshman right now, and eventually they all except a very, very rare handful will have troubles to work through that a more seasoned QB would avoid. Even if that trouble is simply knowing how/when to take a hit.