As I anticipated, Willie Fritz named Justin McMillan the starting quarterback today for the Tulsa game. I missed the entire practice at the Saints indoor facility for I think the first time this year while my son had a tooth pulled by his dentist, but I made it to the interviews at Yulman Stadium just in time to ask Fritz about the QB situation.
Unlike last week, he did not equivocate, probably because they want everyone on the team to get used to the idea of McMillan as the starter. I think it is the right decision, but time will tell. Or more specifically, whether McMillan plays well against Tulsa will tell in a game Tulane absolutely, positively needs to win.
I also asked about Banks' errant third-down throws at the end of the SMU game, and Fritz said he was not at fault for one of them, blaming the receiver instead. Checking the tape, it had to be the second one when Kendall Ardoin stopped running, then started again and could not hold on to a pass. The first one was just a very low throw to Darnell Mooney on a slant.
When I predicted Tulane would win seven games this year, I said it would average a touchdown more per game than last year. Instead, the scoring average has gone down from 27.5 to 24.7.
I've backed Banks longer than most, but it was time for a change. What I saw as his greatest strength--making big plays when it mattered most despite being inconsistent throughout games--has become his greatest weakness.
Tulsa is tied with Navy for last place in the AAC in sacks with seven. This should be a good opportunity for McMillan ahead of games against the third-place teams in sacks (USF with 21) and the first-place team (ECU with 25).
Unlike last week, he did not equivocate, probably because they want everyone on the team to get used to the idea of McMillan as the starter. I think it is the right decision, but time will tell. Or more specifically, whether McMillan plays well against Tulsa will tell in a game Tulane absolutely, positively needs to win.
I also asked about Banks' errant third-down throws at the end of the SMU game, and Fritz said he was not at fault for one of them, blaming the receiver instead. Checking the tape, it had to be the second one when Kendall Ardoin stopped running, then started again and could not hold on to a pass. The first one was just a very low throw to Darnell Mooney on a slant.
When I predicted Tulane would win seven games this year, I said it would average a touchdown more per game than last year. Instead, the scoring average has gone down from 27.5 to 24.7.
I've backed Banks longer than most, but it was time for a change. What I saw as his greatest strength--making big plays when it mattered most despite being inconsistent throughout games--has become his greatest weakness.
Tulsa is tied with Navy for last place in the AAC in sacks with seven. This should be a good opportunity for McMillan ahead of games against the third-place teams in sacks (USF with 21) and the first-place team (ECU with 25).
