Nobody even knows what Newton is bringing to the table. That was kind of my point. If Newton is the starter in the first place, that tells you that AU is possibly in bad shape at QB behind him. Every QB on the roster has more time in the system than Newton. Now, if Newton is named starter then subsequently flops? Then you know for a fact AU is fucked at QB, or the coaches just can't evaluate what they have.
Its not just as easy as "Well, let's see.....Todd wasn't that great, so with Newton being the #1 JUCO QB, that should put him about the same level as Todd." For that matter, Rollison was the #2 dual-threat QB out of high school. He wasn't even the backup QB last season. I understand that AU isn't replacing a Vince Young or a Tim Tebow, but consider the guys that were behind Todd last season and realize they aren't Vince Youngs or Tim Tebows either, and they were behind Todd.
That's not true. I guess it's your opinion, but it's not a fact that if Newton becomes the starter, that the others are flops.
Why:
1. Cameron Newton. He's the "favorite" because of hype maybe, but there are a few facts.
a. He's a big mother fucker. 6-6 245lbs.
b. Supposedly he has an arm. I've seen some video that would seem to back this up.
c. He's an experienced leader on a NC winning team in Junior College.
d. He'll truck defenseless DB's when necessary. I've seen THAT video also. Have you?
e. He didn't leave Florida because he sucked and couldn't hang.
2. Kodi Burns.
a. He's a wide receiver again. Done.
3. Neil Caudle.
a. Really likes Auburn.
b. "a." was a joke.
c. He didn't suck it up when he played this past year. Was a serviceable back up to Todd.
d. He's the only returning QB that truly had a shot in the rotation last season going into this spring.
4. Clint Mosely.
a. He was a true Freshman last season, and nobody really thought that he would challenge for the position.
Thus, it was no surprise when he didn't.
b. This is his second QB race, and he'll be doing it as a redshirt freshman with only scout team experience.
5. Tyrik Rollison.
a. Poof. Gone.
6. Barrett Trotter.
a. Almost had his redshirt lifted to play 3 games, or less in 2008.
b. Was hurt in the spring, before A-Day in 2009. Didn't see the field in 2009.
c. By all accounts, a great talent.
d. This is his first chance post injury, and only second chance to play, or try to earn a spot going into spring.
Bottom line, RWS, is that this is a basically new QB battle going into 2010. It's not the same cast as you suggested. It's a new set of circumstances entirely.
To suggest that AU would be "fucked" if Newton is the starter over the others, would be premature, and ignorant. It probably just means that Newton, is as advertised, and we have serviceable back-ups in Trotter, and a veteran in Caudle.
I'd then also remind you about Mosely and the talent being recruited to Auburn over the next few years. Auburn is nowhere close to "fucked", sir.
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