Beasts Bench Harding

[Kozure]

A 0-2 start has sent GM Mark Lukehart into panic mode. Quarterback Chad Harding, who set several Beasts passing records last year, has been benched and will be replaced with Deron Markel in an attempt to jump start an offense that has struggled at sustaining drives this season.
Much of the issues comes from Harding's problems converting third down passes. This season he has only two completions in 13 pass attempts on third down.
"That just isn't getting the job done," Lukehart said today. "I think we have to give Markel a shot. This doesn't mean we are done with Harding. We just feel we need to change something at this time."
Markel was acquired for a second rounder in a preseason trade from the Georgia Generals.

[JesterBlaze]

How far were these 3rd downs? Harding looks to have been having a good year in every other area.

Certainly Markel looks to be better suited to converting on 3rd though so the move makes perfect sense. When Harding went #3 in the 2010 draft I bet Markel wasn't thinking "I'm gonna take this guy's job in 5 seasons".

[DDT]

I'm scared to death of this game regardless of who plays QB. You're much better than 0-2.

[Kozure]

I'm sure he had some long conversions to do at times, but he probably had some short ones too. Overall, we averaged 7.1 yards to go per third down attempt. That's a little better than league average.

Also, Markel knows more formations, which I'm big on. I think Harding is the more talented QB, and this doesn't mean he isn't going to be the starter this year. I just need to see if our problems are a gameplan issue or a personnel issue.

[Kozure]

I'm scared to death of this game regardless of who plays QB. You're much better than 0-2.

Well, we aren't sustaining drives, so if it happens again this game, I can see us losing easily. If we convert, keep our defense off the field, then I think we win. But isn't that basically the recipe for anyone's success?

[Kozure]

Just want to add that it's hard for me to bench Harding. I think our struggles through two games are just bad luck, too. We did play two very good teams on the road. And Harding is the better QB of the two even though his scout rating doesn't show it.

[DDT]

I kind of like the move. In IRL there would be a QB controversy in WV. I don't think that's a bad thing, and you're getting Markel in before rust becomes an issue. The major downside is Markel seems more likely to turn it over and it's gonna be a windy and rainy morning.

[Kozure]

Don't really think Markel did too much better than Hardings on third down. He did go 2 for 4 on third down conversions, but one of the failed attempts came on a third and short. Overall, Markel had three incompletions and two of them came on third down.