re: Fall Camp Discussion- Bo Nix Named Starting QB

The data determining who is Auburn's starting quarterback

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AUBURN, Alabama — Whether it's next week or when the season opens, Auburn will pick a starting quarterback.

It will happen, even if both split snaps in the season opener Aug. 31 against Oregon. The two options are true freshman Bo Nix, the son of an Auburn legend; and redshirt freshman Joey Gatewood, the strong-armed, big-bodied quarterback that has fans dreaming of inside-zone plays and running over linebackers.

Both can throw deep. Both are accurate. And both can run.

But only one can be the starter and the day is coming when coach Gus Malzahn sits them both down in his office and tells them his decision. Then it's up to offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham to settle emotions.

"We've already talked about it," Auburn's first-year OC said. "Everybody in that room is going to help us this year. And you see it year in and year out. Our motto is ride for the brand. So if you're with us right now, you're with us.

And that's kind of what we've talked about in our room. We have to be the closest room on the football team regardless of who wins the job. We're going to have each other's back in all aspects of life. And that's kind of what we've talked about. And we've put that on the table since I got here, and I firmly believe in that."

How Auburn's coaches have handled the competition is nothing short of stressful. The Tigers are installing plays day to day faster than at any other time in Malzahn's six previous preseason camps.

"They're keeping up, for sure," receivers coach and co-OC Kodi Burns said. "I've really been impressed with both of them, to be honest, just to be able to go out there and run with the first team and handle what they've handled.

We're throwing a lot at them as ... freshmen, as quarterbacks. But I think they've done a really good job so far."

Coaches applied the expectation on the quarterbacks to improve their accuracy and timing with their teammates in voluntary workouts and passing drills in the summer.

The competition was so fierce, Nix and Gatewood would argue over who would throw the first pass in summer workouts with teammates, defensive lineman Derrick Brown said.

"You can see the growth from spring," Dillingham said. "... What people don't realize is we can’t watch them throw the football, we can’t do football with them from spring until camp.

So, watching them learn the offense, get better and come out and execute things from spring until now, they've all drastically gotten better. So I've been pleased with both of them. I think they are both really good players. We've been dealing with both. We’ll just kinda see how camp ends up."

Dillingham said he "wouldn't say" Auburn is "much closer" to announcing a starter, adding that the coaches do have more "data" on each player and their specialties, strengths and weaknesses.

"We're measuring times you put the ball in jeopardy, times you had bad footwork that causes a potential turnover, times that you're in rhythm with a throw, times that you locate the football," Dillingham said. "All of those things we measure daily, to see who gives us the best chance to win."

Nix threw three interceptions — two deflections off receivers — in the first scrimmage of preseason camp, but was the only quarterback to lead the offense to a touchdown with two passes and a rushing score by a running back, according to sources. Both quarterbacks scored in the second scrimmage, but there were no touchdown passes.


Malzahn and his assistant coaches usually review the entirety of preseason camp and begin making decisions with the depth chart on the first day of classes, which falls on Monday. A starting quarterback could be announced as soon as then, though only Malzahn knows when he will make such a decision public.

"You know, I think the biggest thing is when you're in a competition is rooting for each other," Dillingham said. "And that's one thing I've been extremely pleased with -- is those guys are rooting for each other's success. It's not rooting against them; it's that we're rooting for Auburn. And when one person makes a great throw, everybody gets excited. It's not, 'Oh, man. That's not good for me.' It's, 'Oh man. That's great for Auburn.' And I think that's something that I firmly believe in -- us being close as a group."

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Our dline vs their oline will be fun to watch.

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This isn't the same Oregon from years ago. Cristobal recruits differently. Not saying we won't whip them up front but they definitely don't run those 2' splits anymore with 280lb linemen.

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Both can throw deep. Both are accurate. And both can run.

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If that were true would it be Gatewood?

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Says nothing about intermediate or short passing game, nor who's best at handling RPO or running through reads or handling pocket pressure.
WE've all seen the importance of starting the season with more than couple plays and a gimmick or two. So what jumped out at me was . . .

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We're throwing a lot at them as ... freshmen, as quarterbacks

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. . which implied stiff ompetition has each QB forcing the other to be even more ready for game one.

... and I'm hoping with a more trusted/consistent offense* there's a return to HUNH.

(and not just a rush to the line and wait)


*etc: offense not just QB

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If that were true would it be Gatewood? I mean wouldn't you go with the guy who can single handily pick up 3rd and 3 if the above was true.

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You don’t know that is true. Pump the brakes a little.

Bryan Matthews and Jay G Tate both think Nix will be named the starter in the coming days.

I don’t buy it - just reporting.

Marcello just posted an insider update and said he's hearing Nix is most likely the starter as well.

frick. A true freshman QB is gonna make for a long year with this schedule.

I'll be happy with whatever Gus' decision is...til I'm not. This is Gus' team -- win or lose. If he wins out, he's the hero and he re-ups for a few more million. If he blows it, he may be gone.

But I won't pretend to know anything until the Oregon game is done.

If it were me, I wouldn't tell anyone anything. There's ZERO advantage to telling the fans -- and opposing coaches -- anything. Even if there isn't much game planning difference for Oregon, less info is better. Always. If I wasn't sure who my leader was, I'd play both and try to give each an equal number of reps the first half.

If I still wasn't sure then, well...

You think Gus told the team?