QB Competition: Bray and Simms

[Gator H8R]

So he should smoke it until he fails the test? That doesn't make much sense. I understand the social acceptance of weed today. But if it is against the rules being a leader means you follow the rules. The principal applies to pot, curfew, practice, etc. You lead by example.

Some people need a reality check from time to time. If he gets caught smoking and fails a test, then im sayin that should be a reality check for him and he should put it down.

 

[C-town Vol]

I believe Simms was benched in his last JUCO game.

now if that is true...that's interesting? Disciplinary reasons or poor play?

 

[Gator H8R]

I believe Simms was benched in his last JUCO game.

I was unaware of this as well. That being said, I do think the kid wants it pretty bad. Hes obviously a decent athlete or he wouldnt be here in the first place. I think he may realize this is his last shot to do something. You can even tell him calling the snap just by the sound of his voice he sounds confident and willing to lay it all on the line.

 

[tri_vol]

I understand that. Thats the way it should be. I would say 90% of the kids on this team do it. So its hard to try and lead by doing the right thing and staying away from it when you only have 10 people following you. Im not sayin that he should do it for that reason. Im just saying its going to happen. Just as it does at any university.

You're right but I kind of hold the qb to a higher standard. I can't see someone like Manning or Brady getting high after practice and still being able to be effective.

 

[Gator H8R]

You're right but I kind of hold the qb to a higher standard. I can't see someone like Manning or Brady getting high after practice and still being able to be effective.

Weed doesnt always make people ineffective. Some people handle it differently. If its after practice i would want to be ineffective anyway. Weed or not. Im sure these guys are pretty wore out by the time practice is over.

Do I think they should do it? No. I think they have bigger things on their plate to worry about. But that doesnt mean ill turn a blind eye and assume they dont. I think if you wanna sit around and smoke pot all day you need to change your major to music appreciation or some bogus crap like that.

 

[DMG]

I was unaware of this as well. That being said, I do think the kid wants it pretty bad. Hes obviously a decent athlete or he wouldnt be here in the first place. I think he may realize this is his last shot to do something. You can even tell him calling the snap just by the sound of his voice he sounds confident and willing to lay it all on the line.

Totally agree. You can see how a team could get behind that guy.

 

[Fijivol72]

He continually praises Simms while barely mentioning Bray, plus he indicated early on that it was wide open and would not be settled until late in Fall practice. Then he comes out right after Spring and says Simms is number 1. I watched the O/W game twice and Bray looked like the best QB to me and in fact showed more poise in the pocket than Simms. But you can pretty much count on Simms being the guy this year, from afar I just don't know why.

 

[tri_vol]

Weed doesnt always make people ineffective. Some people handle it differently. If its after practice i would want to be ineffective anyway. Weed or not. Im sure these guys are pretty wore out by the time practice is over.

True people handle it differently but what image do you present when it's time to work? Smoking pot during camp, leading up to a game or even during the season tells your teammates that football is secondary to your need to get high. It would be no different than if he was going out getting drunk. He may be able to "handle" pot or alcohol but it will prevent him from playing at his peak. Leaders always set the example by giving 100%.

 

[dw0731]

I'm going to trust that CDD and Chaney make a wise decision. Bray did look promising during the OW game while Simms struggled some with accuracy. Simms apparently was impressive during a camp so he has upside. Really the only sound decision is what qb will help us win the most games. Every other factor should be irrelevent to fans. Manning, Ainge all started the majority of games during their freshman season and played very well and the team won most of their games. So being successful at qb your freshman season is not unheard of. We all want to be armchair coaches and give the board our expert insight but we all know the coaches see these kids everyday and have the best perspective on who should play. I'm optimistic either can be successful as a starter. GO VOLS!!!!

 

[PeytonBerry]

PeytonBerry...

Simms isn't "my" guy anymore than Bray is "my" guy. I am for what is best for the Vol football team. Ultimately, like you, I will be 100% behind whatever the coaches choose because they know all the variables. I was just commenting on your OP based upon the information/rumors that are out there. I honestly don't know who would win more games. I do think we will see both QBs play meaningful snaps this season due to either injury or inadequate QB play. At that time we will get a direct comparison and it will be interesting to watch. I just hope we come out of this season with 6 or more wins.

Good post. We will just have to wait and see, I just think this is an interesting topic. The coaches will make the right call. I would love to be a fly on the wall as they discuss the QB battle though. It would put a lot in perspective.

 

[PeytonBerry]

I believe Simms was benched in his last JUCO game.

Where did you hear that?

 

[PeytonBerry]

He continually praises Simms while barely mentioning Bray, plus he indicated early on that it was wide open and would not be settled until late in Fall practice. Then he comes out right after Spring and says Simms is number 1. I watched the O/W game twice and Bray looked like the best QB to me and in fact showed more poise in the pocket than Simms. But you can pretty much count on Simms being the guy this year, from afar I just don't know why.

That is EXACTLY how I feel on the matter.

 

[PeytonBerry]

True people handle it differently but what image do you present when it's time to work? Smoking pot during camp, leading up to a game or even during the season tells your teammates that football is secondary to your need to get high. It would be no different than if he was going out getting drunk. He may be able to "handle" pot or alcohol but it will prevent him from playing at his peak. Leaders always set the example by giving 100%.

To add to what you are saying. Smoking pot is against the law and against team rules. It should not be a matter of tolerance. Breaking team rules and putting your teammates in jeopardy is just selfish... period.

 

[PeytonBerry]

I'm going to trust that CDD and Chaney make a wise decision. Bray did look promising during the OW game while Simms struggled some with accuracy. Simms apparently was impressive during a camp so he has upside. Really the only sound decision is what qb will help us win the most games. Every other factor should be irrelevent to fans. Manning, Ainge all started the majority of games during their freshman season and played very well and the team won most of their games. So being successful at qb your freshman season is not unheard of. We all want to be armchair coaches and give the board our expert insight but we all know the coaches see these kids everyday and have the best perspective on who should play. I'm optimistic either can be successful as a starter. GO VOLS!!!!

Another great post!

 

[peaygolf89]

This entire thing is simple.

Simms starts the season and if UT gets out of the gate pretty well in the first 4-5 games.....go with Simms the rest of the way. If Ut starts 2-4 or 1-5....Go with Bray and look towards 2011-2012.

This is not rocket science.

 

[Neyland Law Vol]

CDD is going to start Simms just by his comments and praise for Simms compared to for Bray. I understand the posts about the play in the Spring Game, i saw it too. But you better get behind Simms because he is TN's quarterback for 2010 barring an injury or a 2008 crompton performance.

 

[PeytonBerry]

CDD is going to start Simms just by his comments and praise for Simms compared to for Bray. I understand the posts about the play in the Spring Game, i saw it too. But you better get behind Simms because he is TN's quarterback for 2010 barring an injury or a 2008 crompton performance.

You are right, we need to get behind whoever the coaching staff decides on. Until then it is fun to speculate though.

 

[Gator H8R]

True people handle it differently but what image do you present when it's time to work? Smoking pot during camp, leading up to a game or even during the season tells your teammates that football is secondary to your need to get high. It would be no different than if he was going out getting drunk. He may be able to "handle" pot or alcohol but it will prevent him from playing at his peak. Leaders always set the example by giving 100%.

Right. Like i said, these boys have bigger things to worry about. Winning football games should be numero uno. If it were you or me out there, pot wouldnt be an issue. But its not. I would live sleep and breath football if i had the opportunity these boys have. But again, these are college kids. Although the passion the may have for the sport and the university they represent may be strong, they are going to do what they want to do in the long run.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

Give him a break? Are you kidding me? If he smokes weed with regularity he will eventually fail a drug test. Fail 2-3 drug tests and the kid gets kicked out of school. Man, all that potential will sure do us good then. In my opinion if the kid is immature enough to risk his career on weed then he is not mature enough to be a starting QB in the SEC. Beyond that I want the QB of my team to be more of a role model than that...call me old fashioned. Do I think smoking weed is equal to some of the other stupid stuff our players have done? Not necessarily, but it is indicative of an attitude that leads to stupid stuff.

Before anyone says it, I know Simms had problems with weed in the past...but it seems to be just that...in the past...that's when I give someone a break.

A huge part of me agrees with your views. But if you're a drinker (alcohol), that puts you on par with pot smokers as both substances impair mental and physical functionality. However, I also try (said try) to aspire to the adage that you can't judge a book by its cover. An excuse for promoting impairing yourself and risking throwing away a possible career? Heck no! But I do promote being aware that humans while a bunch of paradoxical morons far too often make it hard to fairly judge them. Take a gander at Max McGee:

Because McGee didn't expect to play in the game, he violated his team's curfew policy and spent the night before the Super Bowl out on the town. The next morning, he told starting receiver Boyd Dowler, "I hope you don't get hurt. I'm not in very good shape," alluding to his hangover. [2] Dowler went down with a separated shoulder on the Packers' second drive of the game, and McGee, who had to borrow a teammate's helmet because he had not brought his own out of the locker room, was put into the game. A few plays later, McGee made a one-handed reception of a pass from Bart Starr, took off past Chiefs defender Fred Williamson and ran 37 yards to score the first touchdown in Super Bowl history. By the end of the game, McGee had recorded seven receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns, assisting Green Bay to a 35-10 victory.
The following year, he recorded a 35-yard reception in the third quarter of Super Bowl II that set up a touchdown in the Packers 33-14 win over the Oakland Raiders. McGee retired shortly after the game. He finished his 12-season career with 345 receptions for 6,346 yards and 12 carries for 121 yards. He scored 51 touchdowns (50 receiving and 1 fumble recovery). On special teams, he punted 256 times for 10,647 yards, an average of 41.6 yards per punt, and returned 4 kickoffs for 69 yards.
[edit]Post NFL career

After retiring from football, he became a major partner in developing the popular Chi-Chi's chain of Mexican restaurants with restaurateurs Mike Geselbracht and Marno McDermott.
McGee's ties to the Packers continued from 1979-98 when he served as the color commentator for radio broadcasts of Packers football games. With droll wit and keen insights, McGee was extremely popular as a color commentator and was named Wisconsin "Sportscaster of the Year" an unprecedented ten times over his career — in 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1989. [3]
McGee founded the Max McGee National Research Center for Juvenile Diabetes in 1999 at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. He raised money for diabetes research. []Error

 

[LordVOLdemort]

srsly?
The only time I don't play a marginally better player is if the barely better athlete is an upperclassman when the real contender is an underclassman, certainly not the other way around. Give me the higher ceiling with more years, every day of the week.

Dooley said he is not holding any freshman back. If they are better they will play

 

[BigPapaVol]

They will handle this just like every other coaching staff in the country. Barring peripheral issues they will start the QB that gives us the best chance to win.

yes. All the gibberish about a potential injury is nonsense. The concerns about becoming David Carr style gun shy are equally nonsense.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

He continually praises Simms while barely mentioning Bray, plus he indicated early on that it was wide open and would not be settled until late in Fall practice. Then he comes out right after Spring and says Simms is number 1. I watched the O/W game twice and Bray looked like the best QB to me and in fact showed more poise in the pocket than Simms. But you can pretty much count on Simms being the guy this year, from afar I just don't know why.

Well, word has it that during a recent defensive (or might have been offensive) line only practice at night, Simms was the ONLY Vols player who came to observe it. Fake or real, this darn sure gives a strong impression that he wants it BAD.

 

[Gator H8R]

Well, word has it that during a recent defensive (or might have been offensive) line only practice at night, Simms was the ONLY Vols player who came to observe it. Fake or real, this darn sure gives a strong impression that he wants it BAD.

Exactly. I would almost bet the kid stays up til 1 or 2 in the morning reading the playbook and understanding what he has to do to get the job done. Like i mentioned earlier, i can tell from the way he carries himself the kid is confident and ready to win some games.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

This entire thing is simple.

Simms starts the season and if UT gets out of the gate pretty well in the first 4-5 games.....go with Simms the rest of the way. If Ut starts 2-4 or 1-5....Go with Bray and look towards 2011-2012.

This is not rocket science.

Well, it depends on how we lose. Simms can throw five TD passes per game but if the defense gives up six TDs per game, it's not Simms fault we lose so why beat up on him? REMINDER: This is a "That depends" post.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

Exactly. I would almost bet the kid stays up til 1 or 2 in the morning reading the playbook and understanding what he has to do to get the job done. Like i mentioned earlier, i can tell from the way he carries himself the kid is confident and ready to win some games.

Hey GatorH8R, I'm with you here. I know I stated it in another post last month but I really believe Simms understands IF he has ANY chance or hope of making it to the NFL, this is his do or die last chance. So I think we're going to see EFFORT out of thus guy win lose, or draw.