Piling on?

        The current wisdom (thouroughly researched and compiled by The Heffalump’s Department of Asking People We Know About Stuff) is that JPW blew the MSU game. Cecil Hurt does his best to  deflect criticism from the kid but tune in to any sports radio show in the state and all you hear is “Paul, why didn’t he put that McElroy kid in. I mean… etc.” followed by a woe is me (woe are us?) lack of depth-McElroy must be awful if the coaches prefer what they are getting-Shula sucks. 
         I understand the problems people have with JPW but let me have a second. He is on course to break passing records at Alabama in a number of catagories. He doesn’t have the talent of a Namath, Stabler, or Starr. He’s not as strong as Croyle, he doesn’t have the vision of Zow (I said it! He was good!) Jay Barker, his name be praised, had a modicum of talent, Derrick Lassic, and half of the ’95 pro-bowl defense (again, thoroughly researched) on his side. John Parker Wilson is no All-American, but he has more than a modicum of talent. His problem is that he has a “work in progress-part of the process” defence, a running game that is unbelievable in the secondary but hasn’t got the size to get there, and an offensive line that can’t play because they are injured or banging hookers on piles of illgotten textbook cash. So how is it that JPW is on the verge of breaking so many records?
          He passes more. Oh, and D.J. Hall.
          We haven’t had a reliable run game since Shula/Rader developed John Riggins disease (Gut 51!) and abandoned any run outside the tackles. JPW has been called on to pass more than any Alabama QB in memory (no research here, just seems that way, but I’m sure I’m right.) His numbers are inflated as are his mistakes. So when he throws the ball away sooooo many times take into account that opposing defenses know that we have to pass alot and are therefore covering us tightly. Be thankful rather than exasperated. Remember that his number is being called often and that he is tossing it rather than taking another sack or trying to force one in and risk an interception. And when after an afternoon of throwing it away to avoid a sack he decides to take a sack and not to throw it away with no time outs and 4 seconds left, throw your beer at the cat, burn something small and inexpensive, and get on with your day. I started this rant with the fact in mind that JPW is a kid and as such shouldn’t be the subject of so much scorn from a bunch of adults who at his age may have been able to throw a football through a tire swing at ten yards even with Glen Dorsey, who would have been about two at the time, unblocked and closing in on them. While writing the last paragraph I realized that such noble protect-our-youth-for-they-are-the-future sentiments would not allow me to mention Capps and his role in the JPW saga of oops. So I won’t. But you know what I would say. If you don’t I hope you have a high tolerance for alcohol. 
           The Cecil Hurt article rightly points out that there was plenty of time to make up for the disasterous interception/touchdown at the end of the first quarter. I think he dismisses the effect of momentum to easily. On that note: Alabama’s first possession, 2nd and 10 on the MSU 22, JPW fires a pass to Nikita Stover on a slant pattern. Stover is wide open on about the 7 or 8 yard line with no one between him and the end zone. The pass isn’t perfect – just a little behind him – but very catchable. He drops it. We looked good up until that point. It could have been a different game. Parker made mistakes. So did others.