JA Might consider his portal destination

[Brisket]

Bottom post of the previous page:

Not only are you wrong, it is obvious you are wrong.
Everyone knows NFL teams such as the Steelers take time to develop QB talent. The Patriots put some time into Brady.

But let's use your attitude and put you in charge of recruiting and in charge of player development. Instant gratification or hit the road.
What could go wrong?

Very quickly, the guys who take the hits learn they play for more than money.
But just keep telling our young players we will trash, ridicule, insult, dismiss, and throw them under the bus.

A. The NFL signs rookies to 4-year contracts, so the teams do have them under control & can take time to develop them. Although most 1st & 2nd round draft picks are expected to come in & start pretty much from day 1.

B. Last time I checked, OU is not part of the NFL. There are no player contracts. A player may enter the transfer portal any spring or winter with no ramifications or consequences. Here's how ridiculous the current environment is: OU recruits & signs a player for the 2025 recruiting class. That player graduates early & enrolls at OU in January 2025 for the spring semester. He can enter the transfer portal in April of 2025 having never played a down for OU & there's nothing the coaches or university can do about it.

C. I think the "instant gratification or hit the road" mindset is almost completely on the players due to NIL & the transfer portal. I think coaches would LOVE to keep players for 3-4 years to help them grow, develop, & improve. The players - or their families or handlers - don't want to be patient. They want to get PAID. Even if they do get immediate playing time & are getting paid, another school may come along & offer them even more money, so they jump with no consequences for the player (see Green, Cayden) or the tampering team (see Missouri).

D. As far as "telling our young players we will trash, ridicule, insult, dismiss, and throw them under the bus," no one on this thread or board has done anything of the sort.

[Pokerman]

SMH

Players are paid to produce. If they don't produce, then they are an expense to the organization & will get discarded accordingly.

You mean...like regular jobs?? (wink-wink)

[OU Chinaman]

Not only are you wrong, it is obvious you are wrong.
Everyone knows NFL teams such as the Steelers take time to develop QB talent. The Patriots put some time into Brady.

But let's use your attitude and put you in charge of recruiting and in charge of player development. Instant gratification or hit the road.
What could go wrong?

Very quickly, the guys who take the hits learn they play for more than money.
But just keep telling our young players we will trash, ridicule, insult, dismiss, and throw them under the bus.

...taking yourself kinda serious aren't you?
I put up the OP, so maybe you & I should joust a little.
My point was that Team 130 has embraced Hawk as their QB.
The fans for the most part,(and there's a fair representation of them right here on this MB) have changed their minds about JA.
He's not the first highly recruited hotshot QB who didn't fare well in Norman, OK. He likely won't be the last.

College football is a highly competitive sport. It is profoundly performance based, and the fans are loathe to excuse poor play.
Fair? Well fair is a four letter word. LIFE ain't fair!
It's not impossible that JA could win back the fans, but I don't think its plausible at this point given Hawkins Win in his first start.

So, given we're in this NIL world, if you were wearing JA's cleats, would you want to stay & be the backup OR might it be wiser to go for a significant payday and a new start at another program.
One where the fans will probably welcome him, and he might have a chance at not just redemption, but resurrection of a promising career?

Your moral indignation seems misplaced.
"Me thinketh the lady doth protest too much."

[SoonerinLA]

I suspect I am in the minority with this view. I believe JA will be the starting QB before this season ends. Yes the Hawk has played better so far but he isn't SEC ready either.

[Aries]

I think Arnold has a higher ceiling than Hawkins. He pretty clearly looked rattled after his last turnover, but I hope they don't give up on him.

[WishBone]

I agree Aires........but I think MH is the best option now and maybe going forward.JA just looked so "Deer in the Headlites"

[RussC]

I think Arnold has a higher ceiling than Hawkins.

Hawk’s ceiling just went up in my eyes after Saturday, to the point where I’m not sure which of the two has more potential. Not sure at all

[SoonerTony]

Doesn’t really matter how high a QBs perceived ceiling is, when he keeps giving the ball to the other team.

[Brisket]

I think Arnold has a higher ceiling than Hawkins.

Hawk’s ceiling just went up in my eyes after Saturday, to the point where I’m not sure which of the two has more potential. Not sure at all

I think Hawkins has shown to have even greater potential than JA. His production, command of the offense, decision making have all been substantially better than JA. I will reserve judgement after Hawkins' has played 4 games so we can look at similar sample sizes, but the early returns are sure favorable for him over JA.

[Aries]

I don't think there's any question that Hawkins has played better so far than JA was playing.

The question of "ceiling" is, CAN JA play better at his best than Hawkins can at his best?

I'm just hoping we don't give up on Arnold. I'm not sure he will supplant Hawkins this year, if at all, but if they can get his head straightened out he clearly has physical skillz. He looked shell-shocked when he came out, for sure.

[SoonerinLA]

His best game was the bowl game vs Arizona--after those oskies. He showed he had a good arm. Don't know what happened this year. Obviously the lack of a running game and WRs hasn't helped him.

[Brisket]

I don't think there's any question that Hawkins has played better so far than JA was playing.

The question of "ceiling" is, CAN JA play better at his best than Hawkins can at his best?

I'm just hoping we don't give up on Arnold. I'm not sure he will supplant Hawkins this year, if at all, but if they can get his head straightened out he clearly has physical skillz. He looked shell-shocked when he came out, for sure.

Agreed. He has the physical skills, but the game was moving too fast for him to process. You could see him get that deer in the headlights look. One mistake would zap what little confidence he had & it would all snowball out of control for him.

[gcruse7]

I'm just hoping we don't give up on Arnold.

There is no reason to give up on Jackson this quickly and I don't think Venables will - it's not his style. As has been mentioned, I think it is far more likely that JA would shop himself around, especially if Hawkins puts a tighter grip on QB1 with his play the rest of this season. There is no doubt that there would be a long list of suitors for a former 5 star QB, regardless of how he's looked. Case in point: DJ Uiagalelei.

[OU_Tom]

I certainly haven't given up on Arnold. My guess is he will have a very good college career before it is over. He definitely still has some learning and growing to do. Only time will tell if Arnold sticks it out at OU or takes the easy out, jumps into the portal and has that career at another school.

[captnop]

Being a good QB is like 50% mental. Clearly something is going in JA's head. So until he get's that cleared up. His ceiling is Hawk - 50%. JA couldn't even keep it together at home.. let alone on the road at Auburn ... OU has to go to LSU, Mizzou and OLE Miss. Physically JA MAYBE can do make throws Hawk can't. At this point we may never know, cause he can't seem to hang onto the ball. Sorry a 60 yard completion to the opponent's Defense doesn't count. I don't whats up, JA and Hawk have been to the same practices and team meetings so it's not that one's getting something from the Coaches the other one isn't. I feel for the kid, BUT OU is probably paying high 6 or 7 figures. These kids want to be paid, that makes them MOL pro's. In words of my old DI. Suck it up butter cup. ( one of the few things he said, I can actually post on this board).