What AUBURN really needs.

[ssgaufan]

Is a true QB coach.  Don't let the OC be the QB coach, it obviously doesn't work very well.  After Jason Campbell's senior year have we really seen any improvement with our qb's?  Cox was Mr. Football in the state, Caudle was pretty good coming out of HS, Burns was a top rated duel threat qb, yet they don't improve once they get here.  They say that Kodi needs work to become a better passer, well get somebody that can work with him.  Somebody that can help him with his footwork, pocket presence, reading the defense at the line, and checking off to all of his receivers instead of just two of them.  I hate to use the school across the state as an example, but, each time a qb graduates they hold most if not all of the schools passing records.  Why?  Do they recruit the qbs that can coach themselves, or do they have somebody that works with them each practice, and during the off season, spring, and during two a days?  The OC can't give the qb's the coaching that they need to grow into a top notch player, because they have too much other stuff to worry about.  When you have a week to develope a game plan for a SEC game, then you really don't have much time left to coach the qb.

We also need a WR coach, but that has been discussed enough already.

Agree/disagree  give me your thoughts on this.

[wesfau2]

  I hate to use the school across the state as an example, but, each time a qb graduates they hold most if not all of the schools passing records.  Why? 

Hahahahaaaahhhaahahahaaaaaa.....

The QB records at bama are so laughable that Sarah Jessica is able to hold them all. 

Think about that.

[Aubie16]

Where do you take a coach away from though? We are only allowed to have 9 assistant coaches. Right now they are spread out like this:

TBA: Offensive Coordinator/QB's
Eddie Gran - Running Backs/Special Teams
Greg Knox - Wide Receivers & Recruiting Coord.
Steve Ensminger - Tight Ends
Hugh Nall - Offensive Line

Paul Rhoads - Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
Terry Price - Defensive Ends
Don Dunn - Defensive Tackles/Noseguards
James Willis - Linebackers Coach


Do you put tight ends with the offensive line?
Or do you get rid of Price or Dunn and have the remaining one coach the whole defensive line? Not to mention people are already wanting to add a special teams coach and take that duty away from Gran.

Unfortunately it is not as simple as adding another coach.

[Aubie16]

Just for comparison purposes this is how Alabama spreads the duties 9 ways.

Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach
Running Backs
Receivers/Recruiting
Offensive Line
Tight Ends/Special Teams

Head Defensive Coach/ Inside Linebackers
Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
Defensive Line
Outside Linebackers

As you can see, the only difference is that they split up their linebackers whereas we split up our defensive line.

[ssgaufan]

I don't know how they should arrange the coaches in order to fix it, but it is a huge problem IMO. 

Also, JPW has improved since his days at Hoover, so somebody is giving him the coaching that he needs to be successful. 

[RWS]

I don't know how they should arrange the coaches in order to fix it, but it is a huge problem IMO. 

Also, JPW has improved since his days at Hoover, so somebody is giving him the coaching that he needs to be successful. 

Applewhite and McElwain both filled the role of OC/QB Coach all rolled into one. i don't think its a bad idea or impossible to find somebody who can successfully handle both duties, you just have to find the right person with the right combination of skill to do both well. i think McElwain has probably done more for us as a QB coach than as an OC. it will be interesting to see how he does with one from scratch though.

[AUJarhead]

Applewhite and McElwain both filled the role of OC/QB Coach all rolled into one. i don't think its a bad idea or impossible to find somebody who can successfully handle both duties, you just have to find the right person with the right combination of skill to do both well. i think McElwain has probably done more for us as a QB coach than as an OC. it will be interesting to see how he does with one from scratch though.

I've watched two Bama games, and the biggest improvement I saw wasn't necessarily with the playcalling, but with the improvement of your OL.  Is the playcalling that much different than Applewhite, or is it that now, you've actually got time to let your play develop?

[RWS]

I've watched two Bama games, and the biggest improvement I saw wasn't necessarily with the playcalling, but with the improvement of your OL.  Is the playcalling that much different than Applewhite, or is it that now, you've actually got time to let your play develop?

i agree that the playcalling isn't really the difference maker here either. the whole offense as a unit is just so cohesive now. there is nothing fancy, cute, or finesse about our offense. it is just straight up we're coming at you and you can't do anything about it.

-we actually have a solid running game. last season we had to hang our hat on Terry Grant, and he was hurt half the season. this season we have a SOLID stable of RBs, and Mark Ingram has been a pleasant surprise.

-the OL set out on a mission during the off season, and that was to play up to their potential that they knew they could play up to. plus, we are using alot more two TE sets now. the protection has been good, but it still needs to get better.

-the WR corps imho is on par with last season, if not better. call me crazy but i think overall, they are right there. Maze is just a flat out threat. very quick and elusive. Jones is just an absolute beast. he is being eased into the offense, but by next season he will rack up some numbers. has improved greatly at running routes, and along with the WR corps as a whole, has become better at blocking downfield to support running plays.

the bottom line is, we have multiple threats on the field this season. last season we had DJ Hall, that was it. i don't think the playcalling is drastically different, but i think the philosophy is if that makes sense.