| NEWS Has Gus dug himself another hole with his quarterbacks? Say one thing, do another part ?
- Thread starter Max
- Start date
Max
Member
JG Tate:
"So now we know OFFICIALLY what we've known for approximately two weeks now — Bo Nix is the guy.
What now?
The first thing is that it's crucial to keep expectations in check. Nix is a terrific talent and a skilled football player who has everything going for him right now. He's healthy. He's been here long enough now to understand the offense and what is being asked of him. He's had enough time to establish rapport with his receivers and his blockers. He knows the typical checks like the back of his hand.
With all that said, he's still a true freshman.
Only the most VETERAN Auburn supporters have ever supported a true freshman quarterback on opening day. The last one? Travis Tidwell in 1946.
Nix is going to make mistakes. He's going to get baited into bad reads. He plays with a gunslinger mentality, something that Malzahn has actually supported, and that aggressive approach has allowed him to make some incredible throws during fall camp. The kinds of throws that Joey Gatewood cannot make right now.
Some of those risks will turn out badly. Some of them will be miraculous. Gotta take the good with the bad. Get that in your head now; that's going to be life with Nix at quarterback right now.
The upside? Nix is not your usual true freshman. Just the other day, after the second official scrimmage, Nix hollered for defensive coordinator Kevin Steele to slow his exit from Jordan-Hare Stadium. It seems that Nix was confused by a particular version of Cover-2 that Steele had used during the scrimmage — Auburn had divided zone and man responsibilities in an unusual manner — and the freshman wanted more information on why Steele made that call when he did.
Most of Nix's teammates were socializing after an intensely warm two hours of work. Nix, however, wanted answers. So he walked all the way back to the football complex with Steele — listening to everything the veteran coordinator had to say.
It's one moment of one day, sure. But it's a moment that seems to define what gives Nix a chance to succeed at a young age. He's programmed to compete. He is driven by a strong distaste for losing, for making mistakes. His drive to be excellent TODAY has amazed most everyone inside the complex. And while Nix's passing was more consistent that Gatewood's, which probably would have been enough to yield a starting nod on its own merit, Nix's unstoppable search for strategic enlightenment sealed the deal. He's thinking like an upperclassman.
That's a big plus.
Just don't expect miracles all the time. It doesn't work like that. Top-level defenses designed and operated by top-level coordinators will get the upper hand on Nix at times this fall. Oregon certainly is included in that group. Nix will have to play with confidence in Dallas and then adjust his game with that same gusto. Those adjustments won't be easy to make. Still, Malzahn believes Nix will be able to refine his game on the fly — and he's not alone. Steele has seen it, too.
"So now we know OFFICIALLY what we've known for approximately two weeks now — Bo Nix is the guy.
What now?
The first thing is that it's crucial to keep expectations in check. Nix is a terrific talent and a skilled football player who has everything going for him right now. He's healthy. He's been here long enough now to understand the offense and what is being asked of him. He's had enough time to establish rapport with his receivers and his blockers. He knows the typical checks like the back of his hand.
With all that said, he's still a true freshman.
Only the most VETERAN Auburn supporters have ever supported a true freshman quarterback on opening day. The last one? Travis Tidwell in 1946.
Nix is going to make mistakes. He's going to get baited into bad reads. He plays with a gunslinger mentality, something that Malzahn has actually supported, and that aggressive approach has allowed him to make some incredible throws during fall camp. The kinds of throws that Joey Gatewood cannot make right now.
Some of those risks will turn out badly. Some of them will be miraculous. Gotta take the good with the bad. Get that in your head now; that's going to be life with Nix at quarterback right now.
The upside? Nix is not your usual true freshman. Just the other day, after the second official scrimmage, Nix hollered for defensive coordinator Kevin Steele to slow his exit from Jordan-Hare Stadium. It seems that Nix was confused by a particular version of Cover-2 that Steele had used during the scrimmage — Auburn had divided zone and man responsibilities in an unusual manner — and the freshman wanted more information on why Steele made that call when he did.
Most of Nix's teammates were socializing after an intensely warm two hours of work. Nix, however, wanted answers. So he walked all the way back to the football complex with Steele — listening to everything the veteran coordinator had to say.
It's one moment of one day, sure. But it's a moment that seems to define what gives Nix a chance to succeed at a young age. He's programmed to compete. He is driven by a strong distaste for losing, for making mistakes. His drive to be excellent TODAY has amazed most everyone inside the complex. And while Nix's passing was more consistent that Gatewood's, which probably would have been enough to yield a starting nod on its own merit, Nix's unstoppable search for strategic enlightenment sealed the deal. He's thinking like an upperclassman.
That's a big plus.
Just don't expect miracles all the time. It doesn't work like that. Top-level defenses designed and operated by top-level coordinators will get the upper hand on Nix at times this fall. Oregon certainly is included in that group. Nix will have to play with confidence in Dallas and then adjust his game with that same gusto. Those adjustments won't be easy to make. Still, Malzahn believes Nix will be able to refine his game on the fly — and he's not alone. Steele has seen it, too.
JoseyWalesTheOutlaw
Member
It will be a mistake to underestimate the Barn. I hope they never win another game but they have talent. Steele will keep them in games and Guz offense is always a problem.....and sometime a problem for the barn as well.
50+yeartidefan
Member
Gus must believe that every team will play like purdue
I agree that Auburn has always been a Jeckle and Hyde kind of team.
I'm very interested in seeing how this season turns out for them. Malzahn has painted himself in a corner, in the fact, that if the team struggles offensively, he has no one to blame. While he technically has an OC, we all know that he has stated and reiterated that he is calling the shots on offense.
Will he be able to flow and call the game and make the offense the speed demon potent scoring machines he has developed in the past, or will this effort falter because the defenses have caught up to the RPO? Will be interesting to see how this plays out.
I'm very interested in seeing how this season turns out for them. Malzahn has painted himself in a corner, in the fact, that if the team struggles offensively, he has no one to blame. While he technically has an OC, we all know that he has stated and reiterated that he is calling the shots on offense.
Will he be able to flow and call the game and make the offense the speed demon potent scoring machines he has developed in the past, or will this effort falter because the defenses have caught up to the RPO? Will be interesting to see how this plays out.
JoseyWalesTheOutlaw
Member
Ten Bears and his fine staff tell me the Barn is their pick to surprise in 2019. They have them pegged as 9-3. Nix is going to be a very good player for the cow college. I still have hopes that they will never win another game.
TerryP
Staff
Ten Bears needs to refresh his memory. History says 9-3 isn't a surprise; that's Auburn football.
Can Nix run?
If not didn't we see this last year with Stidham?
If not didn't we see this last year with Stidham?
Hope springs eternal
50+yeartidefan
Member
Well. Dallas and bright lights of stadium may be hard to over come as a true freshman..... 
Tough to be a Duck. They've been wanting Bama for the longest and they keep getting the Barn.
94 Grad
Member
Gus sucks. Cam bailed his ass out on so many plays... 95% of Cam's success has ZERO to do with the play scheme or call from Gus. It had to do with Cam... being Cam. I'm guessing he is hoping that Nix will be the same thing... Gus in the pre-game prep talk to Nixs. "Hey, Patrick... I don't have a clue on what I'm doing... so just go out there and Johnny Manziel the shit out of it."
planomateo
Member
Let's be clear here, Gus painted himself into the corner of a bank vault. Thanks to that ridiculous contract Auburn signed.
