My Thoughts - South Carolina

We really are losing the same way every week. Many things remain either uncorrected or, apparently, impossible to fix. So that's going to make this post pretty short. If you want a refresher on why we're losing, see here, here, here, here and here.

Statistically, Casey Dick versus Robert Johnson wasn't a huge difference. Similar completion percentage; one TD and one interception; pretty close on passing yards as well. (Although one long pass to the flat was called a "lateral." Man...even the official statistician must not like Houston.)

But for anyone watching the game, it was like night and day. We actually looked like a real football team throwing the ball. Although the pass protection (always a problem for a Markuson offensive line) and the receiver play (especially route precision and hot routes in blitz situations) now need to improve. But hey...to be working on those things and not on finding a quarterback...that's an improvement, folks.

I feel bad for RoJo because he wasn't recruited here to be a drop-back passer. During his tenure, Houston Nutt has had a hard time figuring out what kind of offense he wants to run. Because of that failing, the man who recruited RoJo (former quarterbacks coach David Lee) brought him here to be a so called "dual threat." (When I hear that about a high school prospect, I usually conclude that he's a good runner and an average passer.)

But it's obvious that what this rush-happy offense needs right now is a pure passer. Although, in RoJo's defense, the results were still the same even after the quarterback change. (Unfortunately, that's not exactly a compliment to him either since he's been on campus two years longer than Casey Dick.)

Through all this, the common thread is the offensive coordinator and head coach. The quarterback he has said he wants is someone like a Mike Cherry or a Clint Stoerner. Not someone like a Matt Jones who couldn't run "his offense."

Well, Houston, maybe you've found your new guy...and I'm sure you're happy that he's no Matt Jones. But there's a trade-off, too, and you are feeling it right now. Because unlike 2001, that also means there's no Matt Jones anywhere on your bench to pull your butt out of the fire this time.

So enjoy that hot seat, Houston Dale...you've earned it.