QB/Offense Question

[Snaggletiger]

First and foremost, the coaches will play who they think gives them the best shot...so what I say below menas exactly squat.  But just for kicks and giggles...let's discuss.

I started writing a bunch of crap about our QB situation, but then realized it's all been said 1000X.  Bottom line, I don't see Trotter making us better.  Can he improve?  Probably, but not to the point of getting us back to that next level again.  And the often used phrase of the back up being the most popular guy on the team...well, that theory took a swift cowboy boot to the jimmies Saturday night.  So, do we continue with Trotter in the hopes that he starts getting it, and work Frazier in?  Or do we roll with the new guy and work an offense around him he can handle?

First, I'm not a fan of "dumbing down" an offense unless you're asking the guys to be rocket surgeons with terminology only John Gruden could understand.  But, I think you can run your entire set of running plays with Frazier while working in 5-6 pass plays that you beat into his head until he can do them in his sleep.  Question, how many different pass plays did Utah State run against us?  I saw the true freshman throw bubble screen and hit his big tight end about 75% of the time.  And when it wasn't there, he took off or threw it away.  Here we go.  Play #1...Reed is option one with a quick slant.  If the corner or LB (I'm making this shit up) are here..you hit Reed.  If the corner is here...quickly go to option #2..Lutz on a turn around.  Okay, let's run it 1200 times.  Repitition = Recognition.  Okay, play #2...play action to Dyer and find Blake 15 yards across the middle.  If the safety is here....

You get the idea.  IMO, as long as your running game is half way effective, you don't have to have trick plays or force your QB to go through a lot of progressions.  You can run a variety of pass plays but keep Frazier's choices quick and simple. If you see A...go to B.  Repitition, repitition, repitition.  The kid has talent, he just needs reps.  Probably far fetched but I don't have a ton of confidence in any of our remaining games with our current QB situation. As I said, the coaches know who can and can't.  Thoughts?   

[CCTAU]

I would love to see Mosely get a shot. At least then we all know what the coaches' seem to know. Other than that, keep it the way it is and allow KF to get a few more short receptions. Why they gave him a green light to throw down field is beyond me.  The first thing they did with Mosely was let him throw a short pass. Confidence booster (controversy creator). But to throw KF to the wolves would not be wise long term. You want to have his psyche saying that I can learn and get better, not "I let the team down".

And then again, maybe we need to stick with short crossing routes for all the QBs until they ALL get a little better. I feel like I'm watching 2008 all over again. RUN.RUN. BOMB. PUNT.

[Snaggletiger]

My problem with Frazier's throws (Other than them being intercepted) was that I think they told him that was the play and he meant he was going to make the throws regardless.  Both were passes that most high school guys could read but he got the ball, stared them down, wound up and threw it.  It was like the safety went, "Oh I know he's not going to....holy shit, he did...thank you."

[AWK]

My problem with Frazier's throws (Other than them being intercepted) was that I think they told him that was the play and he meant he was going to make the throws regardless.  Both were passes that most high school guys could read but he got the ball, stared them down, wound up and threw it.  It was like the safety went, "Oh I know he's not going to....holy shit, he did...thank you."

Frazier did stare the receiver down.  However, he is 18 years old and the mistake is fixable.  Barrett Trotter is a 4th year junior and stares down the receiver and holds on to the ball too long.

[Snaggletiger]

Frazier did stare the receiver down.  However, he is 18 years old and the mistake is fixable.  Barrett Trotter is a 4th year junior and stares down the receiver and holds on to the ball too long.

Agreed. 

[JR4AU]

Frazier did stare the receiver down.  However, he is 18 years old and the mistake is fixable.  Barrett Trotter is a 4th year junior and stares down the receiver and holds on to the ball too long.

How can you be sure it's fixable when it's still not fixed with Trotter.

[GH2001]

How can you be sure it's fixable when it's still not fixed with Trotter.

The same reason Cam didn't do it.

[AWK]

How can you be sure it's fixable when it's still not fixed with Trotter.

You can fix a flat tire, you can't fix full retard.  That being said, I still think Trotter should start.

[JR4AU]

The same reason Cam didn't do it.

Huh?

[AUTiger1]

Huh?

Cam had the same habit his first few games.

[CCTAU]

Cam had the same habit his first few games.

Everyone keeps forgetting that. We stayed alive by Cam's feet the first part of the season. About the 5th or 6th game of the season, he started seeing the open guy earlier. That is when I felt we probably might be in for a treat.

The sad part is that everything I had seen from Trotter said that he could already see the open guys. Apparently not.

Something happened to him to make him totally gun shy. He does not have what it takes to stand int he pocket and take the hit while making the throw. That is a recipe for disaster. As a QB, you have to take the hits until the line gets settled in. Trotter is shitting bricks within 1.5 seconds of the snap. This is where I think Mosely might make a difference. If they wre that close, if he can stand in and take the hit, it might make a difference.

Besides, nobody wants to block for a puss.

[JR4AU]

Cam had the same habit his first few games.

Cam and Todd proof that they can improve.  Trotter proof, they can't all be fixed. 

[AUTiger1]

Everyone keeps forgetting that. We stayed alive by Cam's feet the first part of the season. About the 5th or 6th game of the season, he started seeing the open guy earlier. That is when I felt we probably might be in for a treat.

The sad part is that everything I had seen from Trotter said that he could already see the open guys. Apparently not.

Something happened to him to make him totally gun shy. He does not have what it takes to stand int he pocket and take the hit while making the throw. That is a recipe for disaster. As a QB, you have to take the hits until the line gets settled in. Trotter is shitting bricks within 1.5 seconds of the snap. This is where I think Mosely might make a difference. If they wre that close, if he can stand in and take the hit, it might make a difference.

Besides, nobody wants to block for a puss.

Brandon Cox became the same way in 07.  I remember watching the USF game and we were backed up to the 10.  We had endzone seats with a perfect view of the this particular play.  3rd and 6, we snap the ball, they bring some fire.  Our OL picked it up and we had a couple of guys open to make a catch.  Cox actually ducked as he made the pass with no one around him.   He was always a little gun shy after the pounding he took in the 06 LSU game.   I wonder if Trotter feels the same?

[AUTiger1]

Cam and Todd proof that they can improve.  Trotter proof, they can't all be fixed.

I don't think AWK, GH and myself are saying that it can be fixed in Trotter, but we are saying that with Fraizer it should be correctable since Malzahn fixed the same problem in Todd and Cam.

[JR4AU]

Everyone keeps forgetting that. We stayed alive by Cam's feet the first part of the season. About the 5th or 6th game of the season, he started seeing the open guy earlier. That is when I felt we probably might be in for a treat.

The sad part is that everything I had seen from Trotter said that he could already see the open guys. Apparently not.

Something happened to him to make him totally gun shy. He does not have what it takes to stand int he pocket and take the hit while making the throw. That is a recipe for disaster. As a QB, you have to take the hits until the line gets settled in. Trotter is shitting bricks within 1.5 seconds of the snap. This is where I think Mosely might make a difference. If they wre that close, if he can stand in and take the hit, it might make a difference.

Besides, nobody wants to block for a puss.

I normally don't like replacing the starter, but in this case there's such a lack of production that I see nothing to lose by just seeing if Mosley might be one of those guys that suddenly elevates his play on Saturday when the bullets start flying.  Worst case, he looks like shit and we go back to Trotter, who looks like shit.

[JR4AU]

I don't think AWK, GH and myself are saying that it can be fixed in Trotter, but we are saying that with Fraizer it should be correctable since Malzahn fixed the same problem in Todd and Cam.

Look, he's been in this system for 2 seasons prior.  I just don't think it's going to get fixed.  Hey, I think Malzahn is a great coach, but he could coach me for 10 seasons, give me every offensive rep in practice, and he'd still not be able to make an SEC QB out of me.  Hell, he couldn't make a HS QB out of me.  Some guys just don't have what it takes.  It appears to me Trotter just doesn't get it.

[JR4AU]

Thinking about how they're going about it, what they're saying...

I don't care about what they said in the summer about a close race, it would appear to me that Mosley isn't even close to Trotter.  I said when Mosley signed he'd never take a meaningful snap at Auburn as a QB.  I think that's still the case.  It's hard for me to believe they were that close, that Trotter sux this bad, and they won't give him a shot.

Either that, or they're trying to stick with Trotter, and find things he can execute, though frankly, I don't see what he can do that Malzahn does.   They've already added more screens than you'd normally see.  Malzahn has very little quick game/3 step drop passing, and it seems Trotter just doesn't get the play action stuff. 

I bet (hope) when Pike comes in next season, you'll see him and Frazier in a battle for the job, and Trotter and Mosely riding the pine. 

[AUTiger1]

Look, he's been in this system for 2 seasons prior.  I just don't think it's going to get fixed.  Hey, I think Malzahn is a great coach, but he could coach me for 10 seasons, give me every offensive rep in practice, and he'd still not be able to make an SEC QB out of me.  Hell, he couldn't make a HS QB out of me.  Some guys just don't have what it takes.  It appears to me Trotter just doesn't get it.

Once again, I don't think we (or at least myslef) is saying that Trotter can be fixed.  We are saying that Frazier is an 18 year old Freshman and it might can be fixed.

[JR4AU]

Once again, I don't think we (or at least myslef) is saying that Trotter can be fixed.  We are saying that Frazier is an 18 year old Freshman and it might can be fixed.

I think I misread you before.  We agree. 

[AUTiger1]

I think I misread you before.  We agree.

I thought we did.