So the only thing anyone will remember about Pope's performance today is the horrific early drop. But the reality is that after that he was our leading receiver for the day, with 6-115, all against the 1s on defense as far as I can remember.
So he's a guy that can still help this offense. But here's what scares the crap out of me.
Let's say we're defying the odds and hanging with Bama. We're down 24-20 in the 4th and Bama's driving, trying to put the game away but 'Rique comes up with a pick in the end zone.
The very next play Lashlee dials up something he's been waiting for all game, a wheel route, just like today, and a WR is breaking free. D'eriq lays out a beautiful ball and the WR just has to run under it and it's an 80 yd TD and we take the lead. Then we see who the WR is... And it's #6.
What happens? Does he catch it? Do we know? Does he know? Does Lashlee know? No. No one has any idea. He might catch it. It might doink right off his hands. It's a coin flip.
If he drops it, our chances of winning the game become daunting, if not infeasible. That ball has to be caught.. That situation HAS to be capitalized on in this situation. It's a program-defining moment.
So the question is, can we afford to role the dice with Pope in that situation? Can we put ourselves in that position? Can we put Mark Pope in that position? What do you do with a guy who clearly has talent and can help your team but you can't trust in crucial situations? I honestly don't have the answer. I don't know if you can compartmentalize your offense and strategy to protect him from those situations.
So he's a guy that can still help this offense. But here's what scares the crap out of me.
Let's say we're defying the odds and hanging with Bama. We're down 24-20 in the 4th and Bama's driving, trying to put the game away but 'Rique comes up with a pick in the end zone.
The very next play Lashlee dials up something he's been waiting for all game, a wheel route, just like today, and a WR is breaking free. D'eriq lays out a beautiful ball and the WR just has to run under it and it's an 80 yd TD and we take the lead. Then we see who the WR is... And it's #6.
What happens? Does he catch it? Do we know? Does he know? Does Lashlee know? No. No one has any idea. He might catch it. It might doink right off his hands. It's a coin flip.
If he drops it, our chances of winning the game become daunting, if not infeasible. That ball has to be caught.. That situation HAS to be capitalized on in this situation. It's a program-defining moment.
So the question is, can we afford to role the dice with Pope in that situation? Can we put ourselves in that position? Can we put Mark Pope in that position? What do you do with a guy who clearly has talent and can help your team but you can't trust in crucial situations? I honestly don't have the answer. I don't know if you can compartmentalize your offense and strategy to protect him from those situations.