The QB Situation

[Kaos]

I've thought about this and come up with something I think is a major failure on the part of Malzahn when it comes to quarterbacks. 

In 2009 Chris Todd was it.  He was the guy.  He got the job and it was his. Nobody waiting in the wings. Kodi moved to receiver after both sucked splitting the job in 2008. Todd had a year that exceeded expectations. 

In 2010 Cam Newton was it. The guy of guys. His job -- even though Malzahn made ridiculous noise about Trotter pushing him.

In 2011 Malzahn and Chizik waffled.  Was it Trotter? Was it Turtle Moseley?  Gave one the job, but there's another who could possibly play.  So, don't be too comfortable out there.  Because I will yank your ass. Don't make a mistake. Even after Trotter pulled Utah State out of his ass, they'd never fully commit. The Turtle sucked, by the way. 

In 2012 (not Malzahn) the waffle became scrambled eggs.  Was it Cocoa Panda?  A renewed Turtle? Wallace? Nobody did well, nobody ever established themselves and there was chaos.

In 2013 Nick Marshall was the guy. His team. 

In 2014 Marshall was again the guy.  But he never got any better than he was, never really improved his game. Was that all he was capable of? 

In 2015 JJ was the guy. Except there were people waiting in the wings.

Nevermind.  I was just thinking that whenever Malzahn has said there was close competition, we end up with nothing.  Wondered if it's because it causes the QBs to play while looking over their shoulders.  But he didn't really do that with Jeremy Johnson last year.  So..

Other than the improvement Chris Todd showed, it also looks like QBs do not get better at AU under this staff.  Hmmm.

[CCTAU]

Todd only got better because his shoulder got better!

[WiregrassTiger]

I've thought about this and come up with something I think is a major failure on the part of Malzahn when it comes to quarterbacks. 

In 2009 Chris Todd was it.  He was the guy.  He got the job and it was his. Nobody waiting in the wings. Kodi moved to receiver after both sucked splitting the job in 2008. Todd had a year that exceeded expectations. 

In 2010 Cam Newton was it. The guy of guys. His job -- even though Malzahn made ridiculous noise about Trotter pushing him.

In 2011 Malzahn and Chizik waffled.  Was it Trotter? Was it Turtle Moseley?  Gave one the job, but there's another who could possibly play.  So, don't be too comfortable out there.  Because I will yank your ass. Don't make a mistake. Even after Trotter pulled Utah State out of his ass, they'd never fully commit. The Turtle sucked, by the way. 

In 2012 (not Malzahn) the waffle became scrambled eggs.  Was it Cocoa Panda?  A renewed Turtle? Wallace? Nobody did well, nobody ever established themselves and there was chaos.

In 2013 Nick Marshall was the guy. His team. 

In 2014 Marshall was again the guy.  But he never got any better than he was, never really improved his game. Was that all he was capable of? 

In 2015 JJ was the guy. Except there were people waiting in the wings.

Nevermind.  I was just thinking that whenever Malzahn has said there was close competition, we end up with nothing.  Wondered if it's because it causes the QBs to play while looking over their shoulders.  But he didn't really do that with Jeremy Johnson last year.  So..

Other than the improvement Chris Todd showed, it also looks like QBs do not get better at AU under this staff.  Hmmm.

Do you actually believe that this is a new concept and topic that you are just now delving into?

Have you considered being tested for Alzheimer's?

[Snaggletiger]

JJ was the man in everybody's mind.  Not just because Malzahn was pimping him hard.  He had all the physical tools.  He had the H.S. resume.  The one start and the other sporadic playing time prior to last year had everyone excited to see this guy take over.  Ultimately, the coach makes bank, so he takes the blame.  But I honestly don't think Malzahn could foresee the initial fail leading to the kid's confidence going in the dumper.  The bright lights, the hype, the responsibility of being the starting QB at AU may have overwhelmed the guy.  That's obviously just a guess on my part but that's the way it looked from my armchair.

No way JJ was looking over his shoulder early on but holy damn, Gus had no choice but to make the change when he did.

[WiregrassTiger]

JJ was the man in everybody's mind.  Not just because Malzahn was pimping him hard.  He had all the physical tools.  He had the H.S. resume.  The one start and the other sporadic playing time prior to last year had everyone excited to see this guy take over.  Ultimately, the coach makes bank, so he takes the blame.  But I honestly don't think Malzahn could foresee the initial fail leading to the kid's confidence going in the dumper.  The bright lights, the hype, the responsibility of being the starting QB at AU may have overwhelmed the guy.  That's obviously just a guess on my part but that's the way it looked from my armchair.

No way JJ was looking over his shoulder early on but holy damn, Gus had no choice but to make the change when he did.

I don't blame him for starting JJ the first game. But he stuck with him waaaayyyy too long. it was evident early on, imo. He should've made the change much sooner.

[Kaos]

I don't blame him for starting JJ the first game. But he stuck with him waaaayyyy too long. it was evident early on, imo. He should've made the change much sooner.

Before the third game? 

Not being a dick, but serious question. 

Do you take him out to let him settle down at the half against Louisville? 

What about against JSU?  He started the game 6-7 for 48 yards before AU called two inexplicable passes at the JSU nine after Barber had gashed them for 26 yards on five carries.  Both incomplete.  So FG.

Next drive he's 4-6 for 47 more yards.  Duke drops a first down pass on third and seven.  So FG.

At this point JSU is shredding the AU defense, we've got two field goals on the board and they're up 10-6.  He presses and throws a terrible pick.  BOOOOO!!

First series in the second half?  3-3 for 75 yards, including a 51-yard TD pass. 

They throw an interception and it's time to crush those upstart punks.  Nope.  Dropped pass dooms that drive too.  He started with a 22-yard completion and there were a couple of first down runs, but no death strike to bury the Gamecocks. 

They tie it up early in the fourth and he presses again.  Pick.   BOOOOO!!!

Drives the team to the Gamecock 7 after they took the lead following a fourth quarter interception, but Roc Thomas fumbles there. 

Through three quarters, Johnson was 15-25 for 197 yards, a TD and two picks.
He went 6-7 for 39 yards and a clutch TD in the fourth and OT.   

At what point in that game would you have yanked him? 

Yeah, when he threw the ball backward against LSU and when the team wasn't scoring while the defense vomited up yardage in chunks, he maybe needed a break. 

In retrospect I don't know what else there was to do. 

Johnson played like he was afraid to lose.  White played like he wanted to win.  His performance against Arkansas was great at the end.  I felt like that was entirely on Gushlee.  I think Johnson has a fragile psyche and needs the security that comes with knowing he can play like there's nothing to lose.  He definitely didn't have that.  But neither did Cocoa Panda, the Turtle, Trotter (until the bowl game when he didn't give a shit)....

[WiregrassTiger]

Before the third game? 

Not being a dick, but serious question. 

Do you take him out to let him settle down at the half against Louisville? 

What about against JSU?  He started the game 6-7 for 48 yards before AU called two inexplicable passes at the JSU nine after Barber had gashed them for 26 yards on five carries.  Both incomplete.  So FG.

Next drive he's 4-6 for 47 more yards.  Duke drops a first down pass on third and seven.  So FG.

At this point JSU is shredding the AU defense, we've got two field goals on the board and they're up 10-6.  He presses and throws a terrible pick.  BOOOOO!!

First series in the second half?  3-3 for 75 yards, including a 51-yard TD pass. 

They throw an interception and it's time to crush those upstart punks.  Nope.  Dropped pass dooms that drive too.  He started with a 22-yard completion and there were a couple of first down runs, but no death strike to bury the Gamecocks. 

They tie it up early in the fourth and he presses again.  Pick.   BOOOOO!!!

Drives the team to the Gamecock 7 after they took the lead following a fourth quarter interception, but Roc Thomas fumbles there. 

Through three quarters, Johnson was 15-25 for 197 yards, a TD and two picks.
He went 6-7 for 39 yards and a clutch TD in the fourth and OT.   

At what point in that game would you have yanked him? 

Yeah, when he threw the ball backward against LSU and when the team wasn't scoring while the defense vomited up yardage in chunks, he maybe needed a break. 

In retrospect I don't know what else there was to do. 

Johnson played like he was afraid to lose.  White played like he wanted to win.  His performance against Arkansas was great at the end.  I felt like that was entirely on Gushlee.  I think Johnson has a fragile psyche and needs the security that comes with knowing he can play like there's nothing to lose.  He definitely didn't have that.  But neither did Cocoa Panda, the Turtle, Trotter (until the bowl game when he didn't give a shit)....

I don't remember when my epiphany was but I certainly think that it was within the first 3 games. And IIRC, there were others on here that felt the same way.

I get what you are saying. And Gus makes the big bucks but shit on a shingle, he was bad. Lost. Scared. Deer in the headlights.

And we discussed that there didn't appear to be an alternative in his eyes or he would've yanked him sooner.

I don't really care what the numbers looked like because I just thought he generally looked like shit. Mainly scared.

Regardless, I must admit that I will have mixed emotions about seeing him this season. I would like to see him have a shot at redemption. At the same time, I will have the "oh, shit...not again" going on.

[Snaggletiger]

2007 Paul Smith  327-544  5,065 yds  47 td  19 int

2008 David Johnson  258-400  4,059 yds  46 td  18 int

2009 Chris Todd  198-328  2,612 yds  22 td  6 int

2010 Cam Newton  185-280  2,854 yds  30 td  7 int  1,473 yds rushing  National Championship

2011  Fro Throw  92-167  1,184 yds  11 td  6 int  Fetal Mosely 66-108  800 yds  5 td  3 int

2012 Ryan Aplin  276-406  3,342 yds  24 td  4 int  438 yds rushing 

2013 Nick Marshall  142-239  14 td  6 int  1,068 yds rushing Played for National Championship

2014 Nick Marshall  178-293  20 td  7 int  798 yds rushing

2015 Jeremy Johnson 95-157  1,054 yds  10 td  7 int  White Boy  83-143  1,166 yds  1 td  4 int


I left out his short time at Arky because he was OC in name only.  That didn't even remotely resemble a CGM offense.  Plus, he was also the WR coach and didn't work with the QB's.  What it comes down to is in 9 years of running his offense and working with QB's (Don't know what you would call this past year, (Him or Lashlee?) there have only been 2 years, 2011 and 2015, where the QB wasn't either total badass or at the very least, extremely efficient. 

2011 I give a pass.  People may forget that the roster was decimated beyond belief by graduation and early departures.  Try your entire offensive line and two top receivers, not to mention virtually the entire front 7 on D.  And a head corch who told him to slow it down that year. 2015 was really hard to explain.  So much promise but your new stud QB goes mental.  Your sure-fire 1st round pick WR beats up his own teammates and your promising redshirt freshman backup QB gets injured.  On top of that, it appears from up here in the cheap seats, that the Gushlee experiment looks to have gone awry.  No direction.  They don't know what QB or RB they want to play.  Inexplicable stoppages in the flow of the offense with constant personnel changes etc. 

And that's really my only reservation about Gus.  What 2015 looked like has never happened before.  A lot of weird shit and injuries going on with key players.  Did that throw everything out of wack?  Had to. Had he relinquished too much control of the O early on to Lashlee and he crumbled too with all those problems?  Gus' history certainly suggests 2015 was an anomaly.     

[CCTAU]

When I left the dome after that first game, I wondered if JJ was too lost to continue.

It took two more games to confirm!

[djsimp]

When I left the dome after that first game, I wondered if JJ was too lost to continue.

It took two more games to confirm!

The difference b/w HS ball and big boi college ball is measured in miles.

[dallaswareagle]

The difference b/w HS ball and big boi college ball is measured in miles.

Or in interceptions. 

[RottenBottom]

The difference b/w HS ball and big boi college ball is measured in miles.

Big Boy college ball? Jeremy could barely beat an FCS team. That's JV Big boy ball at the best.

[djsimp]

Big Boy college ball? Jeremy could barely beat an FCS team. That's JV Big boy ball at the best.

Thats my point.

[bottomfeeder]

Sooo. Is Clint Mosley returning this year? Or Marshall redux?

[Buzz Killington]

Looks like our choices are:
1.  Get half our balls batted down at the line.
B.  Throw 3-4 deep interceptions a game.
Tres.  Run the read-option.

[Kaos]

Looks like our choices are:
1.  Get half our balls batted down at the line.
B.  Throw 3-4 deep interceptions a game.
Tres.  Run the read-option.

Coaching search starts today ?

[Buzz Killington]

Coaching search starts today ?

Smart money says yes

[AUownsU]

Honestly I thought JJ showed flashes. That deep ball was a damn near perfect throw. I think he still misses his reads on who to throw it to. You could hear Gus yelling at him telling him where to throw the ball. They run the exact play, he does what he is told,  and throws a TD pass to Roc. Still if the competition is close between him and Sean, I'd start Sean. One has 1 year left, the other has 3. Sean has more room to grow. JF3 kinda looks like a poor mans Nick Marshall. Not near the arm strength or strength period. Nick could break tackles like a RB. I don't see that happening with JF3. To summarize, if we want to throw the ball, White is the guy. If we want to try and revert back to '13 style offense where we only throw the ball 15 times a game,  the choice is obviously Franklin.

[Snaggletiger]

As I've said, I stopped making predictions on how we'll do in the Fall based on the results of a Spring game.  I came out of one thinking Neil Caudle was the second coming of Tom Brady.  The very nature of how Malzahn runs the game should tell you the QB's are already behind the 8 ball in terms of being able to get in any type of a rhythm.  Sean runs a series with the blue team....then the white team.  3 series later, he's with the white team...wait two series, he's with the blue team.  In fact, the QB's not getting in a rhythm was the only real complaint I had today.

#1 line blocked well today.  Kozan made the seal block on several of the plays they busted for long runs. 

Kamryn Pettway was damn impressive. Showed more speed than I recall and gets up the field.  Be prepared to take a lick if you take him on.  Good speed on Chandler Cox too.

Ryan Davis looks like he could be a real weapon.  I've read some good reviews on him and his speed. Showed out a couple of times today.

The TE's were solid as usual. 

Wait....what?

Curious if this was an indication of how they'll use Roc. He carried it very little, if at all.  Appeared they were trying more to hit him with short passes in space, wheel routes etc. I imagine he's the #2 back and they just wanted to work him that role.  Got Jovon just enough carries to work up a lather.  JR looked good IMO.  The stretch play is his bread-n-buttah.

I don't know what the definition of much improved is when last year's D gave up 26+ a game.  But, I think we might just find out.   

[Kaos]

I really tried to convince myself that last season was an anomaly and things would clear up beautifully.  But the more I go back and read comments from last season and hear just how out of touch Gus seemed to be and how baffled he seemed in being able to fix it?  And then we look like monkeys fucking footballs in the spring game? 

He can talk about vanilla, wind, rock salt, lo mein noodles or whatever he wants to say standing up there, but the point remains.  We looked utterly inept on offense last season.  The stench from that cloud hovered over the offseason.  From a perception standpoint, he needed to soothe some nerves and provide a solid offensive performance at A-Day. 

Instead?  Johnson looked like the same bumbling, indecisive failure he was last season.  Franklin had all the mechanics of a high school receiver who had to play QB when the first and second stringers were injured. On his "awesome" TD throw, he spun backward when he threw, floated the ball out in space to the inside shoulder of the receiver and if the DB had been half ass looking, it would have been a pick.  It was a shitty backyard toss that Davis made look better than it was.  I like White, but he will never have the confidence or the backing as this staff keeps going on QB hunts outside the program. 

If Gus had one single task yesterday it was to give the QBs a chance to succeed and calm some of the freakout from fans and the al.com haters. 

Maybe he tried and THAT shit splatter was the result.  If so, we are fucked worse than anyone can imagine.   If not, he shit the bed and opened the door for growing doubt and lots of negative chatter going into the season. 

I've come to believe he's just not a good head coach.  He doesn't delegate well and he consistently backs the wrong horses on his staff and on the field.  I don't know what guides his decisions, but as sad as this makes me, I have little confidence any longer in him being able to make the right ones.