re: Did anyone see the AL.com story with Grubb talking about the QBs?

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Why?

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True freshmen QBs don't win national titles as a rule. Yeah, Trevor Lawrence did, but he was 19 his entire freshman year whereas Keelon is 17 and won't turn 19 until he's a sophomore.

The two P4 QBs that started as true freshmen for the whole year went 6-7 and 7-6 in 2024.

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It’s a different time. If dude doesn’t play, at least as a sophomore, there’s a good chance he’ll go elsewhere.

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Bama has 2 QBs on the roster that didn't start as sophomores.

If Russell starts this fall then DeBoer and Grubb are staking their livelihoods on Russell being a generationally elite talent, on Russell being “Him.” Because all honeymoon credit for this staff expired after last year.

I have repeatedly said that I want the best QB to play, period, I don’t care who he is or how long he’s been here.

But when we’re talking about a true freshman, you better be F-ing sure.

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But overall, I would like to see a more dynamic and fluid offense and not some mix-match version of the same 12 plays all season long.

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I guess I'm probably wishcasting here, but I'd prefer to see us go back to establishing the run to open up the pass, rather than just assuming the pass will be there and expecting that to open up everything else. With a strong running game, you can win even if your QB isn't a worldbeater or has an off game. If you depend on the pass, then if your QB play isn't stellar you have no plan B.

People keep talking about we need to run the ball more. I just ran the numbers and we were in the top half of the conference as far as running vs. passing.

Percentage of plays that were runs:

S.C. 61.7%
Tennessee 61%
Vanderbilt 61%
A&M 59.3%
Kentucky 58.7%
Oklahoma 58.3%
Bama 58%
Florida 57.4%
Missouri 56.2%
Arkansas 54.4%
Ole Miss 53.5%
Miss. State 53.2%
Auburn 52.3%
Texas 52%
Georgia 45.5%
LSU 41.1%

That being said, I am fully aware that people are talking about getting the ball to the backs more. I really hope that we get the ball to the backs more. But the QB is inherently the most important person in this offense, and we shouldn’t expect DeBoer and Grubb to change the basic stuff they do.

Where I said the ship has sailed is people that want us to go back to the Wishbone or have 67 ISO plays in the playbook and DeBoer to channel Woody Hayes and us to go back to a game manager at quarterback because that’s what they grew up with and what they think is tradition.

Lord no he’s not getting fired next year, never in a million years intended to suggest that, but his seat is going to get awful warm if we’re 9-4 again and things are discombobulated.

Moot point... Mack gonna start next year.

Yards, number of carries, nor % of touches the RBs get should be a focus. Can we run the ball effectively/efficiently, and more importantly, can we run when we NEED TO? That should be the priority with the run game.

Sounds promising. I would be willing to bet that all 3 guys could be more consistent quarterbacks than the one we had last year. I know everyone expects a Simpson/ Russell battle, but I would not count out Austin Mack. I think he could have more upside than both of the other quarterbacks and Grubb recruited him personally out of high school