It's not clear what will happen for Tulane at quarterback this Saturday, and that's the way coach Willie Fritz wants it to be in anticipation of a huge game against Army. Jonathan Banks, Johnathan Brantley and Khalil McClain all took snaps against the scout-team defense in the last 30 minutes of practice. Publicly at least, Fritz was not brimming with confidence about Banks' availability even though he already has done more this week than he ever did last week.
"It's probably going to be a game-time deal," Fritz said. "We're going to see how he progresses. We've just got to see if he's able to go. You certainly want to make sure that a guy is able to go out there. Nobody is full speed right now. The first day of practice in preseason camp is the last time anyone's full speed. We just want to make sure where he's at."
I've had sources tell me different things, but it's possible that Banks has two cracked ribs. He was in a ton of pain watching the second half of the Navy game, and that injury would explain why Fritz is not sure he can risk playing him this Saturday. They are not worried about Banks' toughness, by the way. It may be that he just can't go, but Fritz sees no reason to A) make a decision yet and B) announce that decision when he does not have to.
Brantley's health status is not certain, either, although Fritz said he could have gone back in in the fourth quarter against Oklahoma after cramping up earlier. I saw no signs of a shoulder injury today, but I didn't see enough to know for sure. Wednesday's workout, when all the TV crews will be gone, should be more telling. The staff was clearly protective of information today, questioning the validity of everyone who came in with a camera.
Fritz had this to say about McClain, who struggled against Oklahoma after entering his first college game in the third quarter. Tulane picked up four first downs in his five series, and he did complete a pass until the final 11 seconds, hooking up with Dane Ledford on an out route for 11 yards. His first throw looked like some of the ones I saw in practice last week, a bouncer to Darnell Mooney near the sideline.
"I told him today I know I threw you out there in a pretty tough spot, "Fritz said. "It's a little different than opening your season up with somebody else, the No. 2 team in the nation on the road. It was tough, but I thought for the most part he handled himself well."
Roderic Teamer practiced today, but he, too, said he was not certain he would play Saturday after missing the Oklahoma game with a foot injury.
"I'm not sure yet," he said. I'm working with the training staff trying to get ready."
I believe Tulane's ideal lineup against Army would be Teamer, Jarrod Franklin, Chase Kuerschen, Rae Juan Marbley, Zach Harris and Luke Jackson starting in some capacity with Parry Nickerson and Donnie Lewis at cornerback and Sean Wilson in the interior of the defensive line. Those guys combined for 56 tackles against Navy. Ade Aruna, who had zero tackles at Navy, and Eldrick Washington (one tackle) also would likely start but with a regular rotation up front including Braynon Edwards, Quinlan Carroll, Peter Woullard and Cameron Sample along with a little bit of Patrick Johnson and De'Andre Williams. Fritz pointed out after the Oklahoma game that Tulane had plenty of bodies along the line, and they will need to keep those guys fresh against Army.
Fritz treats every game the same because that's what good coaches do as they try to build a winning culture, but everyone understands the importance of beating Army. It will be awfully difficult for Tulane to become bowl eligible or even compete in the American Athletic Conference if it can't win at home against a solid but not spectactuar non-conference opponent.
The situation at quarterback makes the prospects more dicey. Tulane, which opened as a 4-point favorite, is down to 1 1/2 on one of the few sportsbooks (Westgate Super Book) that is offering a line on the game without knowing which QB will start.
"Our margin for error is pretty slim," Fritz said. "We're getting better, but we've had some breaks early in the season, particularly with the quarterback, and we've got to fight through that."
"It's probably going to be a game-time deal," Fritz said. "We're going to see how he progresses. We've just got to see if he's able to go. You certainly want to make sure that a guy is able to go out there. Nobody is full speed right now. The first day of practice in preseason camp is the last time anyone's full speed. We just want to make sure where he's at."
I've had sources tell me different things, but it's possible that Banks has two cracked ribs. He was in a ton of pain watching the second half of the Navy game, and that injury would explain why Fritz is not sure he can risk playing him this Saturday. They are not worried about Banks' toughness, by the way. It may be that he just can't go, but Fritz sees no reason to A) make a decision yet and B) announce that decision when he does not have to.
Brantley's health status is not certain, either, although Fritz said he could have gone back in in the fourth quarter against Oklahoma after cramping up earlier. I saw no signs of a shoulder injury today, but I didn't see enough to know for sure. Wednesday's workout, when all the TV crews will be gone, should be more telling. The staff was clearly protective of information today, questioning the validity of everyone who came in with a camera.
Fritz had this to say about McClain, who struggled against Oklahoma after entering his first college game in the third quarter. Tulane picked up four first downs in his five series, and he did complete a pass until the final 11 seconds, hooking up with Dane Ledford on an out route for 11 yards. His first throw looked like some of the ones I saw in practice last week, a bouncer to Darnell Mooney near the sideline.
"I told him today I know I threw you out there in a pretty tough spot, "Fritz said. "It's a little different than opening your season up with somebody else, the No. 2 team in the nation on the road. It was tough, but I thought for the most part he handled himself well."
Roderic Teamer practiced today, but he, too, said he was not certain he would play Saturday after missing the Oklahoma game with a foot injury.
"I'm not sure yet," he said. I'm working with the training staff trying to get ready."
I believe Tulane's ideal lineup against Army would be Teamer, Jarrod Franklin, Chase Kuerschen, Rae Juan Marbley, Zach Harris and Luke Jackson starting in some capacity with Parry Nickerson and Donnie Lewis at cornerback and Sean Wilson in the interior of the defensive line. Those guys combined for 56 tackles against Navy. Ade Aruna, who had zero tackles at Navy, and Eldrick Washington (one tackle) also would likely start but with a regular rotation up front including Braynon Edwards, Quinlan Carroll, Peter Woullard and Cameron Sample along with a little bit of Patrick Johnson and De'Andre Williams. Fritz pointed out after the Oklahoma game that Tulane had plenty of bodies along the line, and they will need to keep those guys fresh against Army.
Fritz treats every game the same because that's what good coaches do as they try to build a winning culture, but everyone understands the importance of beating Army. It will be awfully difficult for Tulane to become bowl eligible or even compete in the American Athletic Conference if it can't win at home against a solid but not spectactuar non-conference opponent.
The situation at quarterback makes the prospects more dicey. Tulane, which opened as a 4-point favorite, is down to 1 1/2 on one of the few sportsbooks (Westgate Super Book) that is offering a line on the game without knowing which QB will start.
"Our margin for error is pretty slim," Fritz said. "We're getting better, but we've had some breaks early in the season, particularly with the quarterback, and we've got to fight through that."
