My 2 cents on AU's QB/Offense this year - why to be optimistic

This would have looked much better in the Spring football thread.

The best part is that if the starter goes down we actually have a capable back up to take his place and can win games. And if the backup goes down then there's still hope because we have a 3rd string that has the potential to run the 2013 offense.

Hopefully White is healthy in time to practice this summer because I think the competition will really pushing Stidham and both guys will end up better QBs because of it.

quote:

---

Which games was that?

---

A day

quote:

---

What about Woody Barrett?

---

Should have included in my OP. IF Woody Barrett is at least as good as White, then we have 3 capable QB's. And I definitely don't remember when we had 3 solid QB's on the roster.

quote:

---

A day

---

No doubt his best performance..

In the 3 or 4 games where he could throw like 15 to 20 yards down field.

If I could amend that, I'd say Stidham is the better QB for current system or for one with less drastic changes. SW could be a great QB with an overhaul of our current playbook and gameplan though.

I honestly don't know wtf Sean was thinking when he chose Auburn. We have severely under utilized his particular talents. I'm not sure why I ever believed that Gus could adjust to the strengths of any QB.

quote:

---

translation: the shite we were calling last 2 seasons would make Cam look below average. i

---

Malzahn knew how to call the game with Cam as QB. Let's give Malzahn at least that much credit. Yeah Cam wouldnt be the same QB in the offense last year but the point is that Gus successfully adapted the offense to Cam.

I believe it is about the players more than the coaches. The oline in 2014, 2015 and 2016 played average to below average. That alone makes up a huge part of our O issues. In 2014 NM's unique gifts paired with Sammie Coates speed made up for the oline issues except in crucial situations...short yardage and red zone. In 2015 minus a NM QB the results were pathetic...the same coaches from 2013 and 2014 at times looked lost. However they really didn't do much different than seasons before outside of personal decisions. In the end you can't make chicken salad with chicken...

In 2016 the QB parade against Clemson was insane and I believe it was a desperate attempt to create something out of nothing...Gus deserves blame for not creating a game plan to use his D. In his defense (pun intended) he has never seen a decent D in practice at Auburn so he might not be able to recognize one verses his O. Gus also deserves blame because he didn't simply pick a QB and ride it out. However, my guess is even if he'd picked a QB Clemson was playing ultra conservative and they'd still found a way to win that game. In 2016 moving James in and Golson over helped our ability to run the ball and we ran over inferior competition. However, every time we played a team with a pulse along the Dline we struggled. We didn't have a QB (healthy or not) capable of making up for the weaknesses of our Oline. IMO James is a huge liability as a pass blocker and unless he improves, him playing left tackle in 2017 isn't a good thing for us. Players often improve so there is optimism.

Things that make me optimistic...
1) JS, I don't normally hype QB's before they arrive, but the bar is pretty low IMO at QB for Auburn right now. Last season an average SEC quality QB would have meant 10 wins...maybe 11. Inspite of the average oline to weak oline (early season)
2) CCL, The schematics of his passing attack can help hide some of the oline issues we have experienced. However, it will still be a problem in short yardage and red zone the closer you get to the end zone.
3) Healthy SW, I hope he is our back up, but man he'd be a great back up to have in a pinch. He'd still limit the O in all the ways he has in the past. I don't believe CCL will suddenly make him capable of things he doesn't have the ability to do but he is capable of winning games we should win and with a decent D and a sound running game he can make a play here and there to beat somebody he shouldn't beat...if he stays healthy.

Side note:

Reasons for concern...I know we have recruited well at Dline...but I doubt we will simply replace Lawson and Monty. Both should be first day if not close to first round picks in the NFL draft. You can't coach that. The resurgence of our D last year was a lot of things but none was bigger than having a true shut down dline with a special interior and outside player to go with a lot of good to better than good players.