He made the comment about how he was surprised about Etling being able to come on as quick as he did. Coming from Purdue and learning a new playbook within one season. Also I don't think he wanted to quit on Harris and didn't think he wanted to do to Etling like he did to Lee and throw him out to the wolves. Les Miles seems to gravitate toward his veterans. I think he made the comment that Harris plays well at practice and he just needed to settle in but also followed up by saying he didn't think that was going to happen. Against Jacksonville State he saw Harris's confidence was all but shot and had no choice but to make a switch. As a die hard fan I can tell you Etling looked much more composed in his first snap against J State but also looked better in the spring game. So it must have to do with Miles wanting to give Harris the sense in thinking he had every opportunity to compete. Etling just seems to have it all. Kid has heart and moxy.
To the point of losing our first game of the season because we could not complete a forward pass. Damn that fucker.
Jesus he really has set the bar low for his quarterbacks. To be surprised a guy can't come in and after a season learn 6 plays is pretty fucking sad.
I actually like the loyalty to a degree. He just needs a better gauge of when it's gone too far. Like with DJ Welter. Sometimes a guy who's scatterbrained needs a moment to settle down and see stuff from the sideline. Noone would've outright blamed him if he pulled Harris for Etling against Wisconsin...even if Etling outperformed him and won the game, then turned around and gave Harris the start against Jacksonville. Results probably would've been the same, but at least you give your starter a chance to breathe and see the action before he's completely destroyed. He's toast now. I have no doubt Harris transfers after the season...probably somewhere that requires more reaction and less thinking. A pure spread. Wouldn't surprise me to see him sit a year and go somewhere like Ohio State since he still has a redshirt to burn. I doubt he's close to graduating so he'll have to sit if he wants an FBS school.
He's not surprised, he's just covering his own ass for being so hard headed that he started the brain dead Harris over Etling to start the season. Like I've posted numerous times, no way in hell Etling didn't look 1000x better than Harris in fall camp.
You're probably right from a timing perspective, but he will have options. My point is, he's probably much better than coaching here allowed him to be. Put him with someone who knows how to get the most out of their QBs and I BET you'd see a different Harris. Parkway went to the 5A championship game because of him. They had no defense and no one else on that offense went anywhere significant. There is some talent there with Harris. That's all I'm saying. You think he has no talent, cool. But stick him somewhere where they go straight spread with a coach who knows how to "coach em up" and you'd see something different.
Not saying he has no talent, I'm saying he has no brain. Of course he would be better with any competent coaching. Of course he would be better if placed in an offense that actually fits his skill set and requires less thinking. Still with only 2 years to play and showing no mental ability to play the position up to this point, I think his options will be limited.
I don't think he's stupid. In fact if he was stupid he wouldn't be so panicked at game time. He's way too deep in his own head to perform and it's quite obvious. And I think a large part of that is the destruction of his confidence by this shit bag coaching staff on offense. You put a guy like Harris and build his strengths he can do most things gs you ask of him. But we do the opposite of nurturing this. Sadly like other offensive talents to come thru here we will never know.
