| FTBL I was just thinking about the QB situation and '08...

[TerryP]

...and I do realize there is a certain segment out there that can only be described by the phrase "when they take Viagra they get taller" that won't like or agree with this.

Two thoughts starting off this thread.

One. The last two times we have had a senior QB lead the Crimson Tide we've posted 10 win seasons. In '05 with Brodie and in '02 with Tyler.

Two. When you look around the SEC Western division, who is putting the most experienced QB on the field?

Bama - JPW.
Auburn - Kodi Burns
LSU - ?
Arkansas - Casey Dick
Mississippi - Jevan Snead
MSU - Wesley Carroll

Then, in context of the entire SEC...

Georgia - Matthew Stafford (impresses me.)
Florida - Tebow (name says it all)
USCe - Smelley or ?
UK - Curtis Pulley
Vandy - Chris Nickson
UT - Jonathan Crompton

I can see where people would like to have Tebow under center and I certainly would have loved for Bama to have signed Stafford. However, looking over the East Stafford is the only QB we'll face that has the same amount of experience as JPW considering we don't have Florida or Vandy on our schedule.

I realize I a lot of people are going to point to the schedule, specifically road games, as the make or break ingredient of the '08 season. That, I agree with. But, it has to be taken into this context. While road games are tough in the SEC the one thing a team needs to be successful on road games is experience under center.

While I'm not going to venture into speculating on how next season will end (in terms of W's and L's) my early looks into our opponents have me cautiously optimistic.

 

[Guest]

cautiously optimistic.

That pretty much sums me up!

 

[firestorm]

You said it Terry. I've been thinking these days about the same thing. I think the west division and our rivals as a whole are weak in the QB spot in terms of experience. Besides, in our division, LSU, Auburn and Arkansas, as the main rivals in the contention, are under something like a transition (one more than others). Auburn because they've got a new offensive coordinator and an inexperience QB, LSU has lost some key players in different areas and last Perrilloux's issue could affect them. Arkansas is in year one after D-Mac and under a clear rebuilding mode. I think 'Bama could be the team more established in that sense... and we could emerge under the radar, although Georgia is a tough one, and as you said, Stafford is a heck of a player, maybe he's the most polished QB in the nation to be ready to play in the next level...

RTR,

 

[Guest]

I am cautiously optimistic as well. Though Clemson puts an experienced QB on the field, they have an almost completely new OL, anotgher area where experience is important. I think we have a pretty good shot at that game as well. Of course I thought we'd handle them in basketball at home in January, and they thoroughly torched us, so maybe I need to stay away from predictions about dear old Klempson.

 

[Guest]

Terry, no disrespect intended but more important to me than JPW's years under center is his ability to recover from mistakes. If he can't rebound from mistakes and poor decisions then we're no better off from a QB perspective than we were 1 or 2 years ago.

He has to learn to "shake it off". 3 straight passes out-of-bounds and handing the ball over to the opponent deep in critical situations just isn't going to cut it.

I hope it's all a non-issue though kind of like in the Arkansas and UT games.

 

[imalive1459]

I'll have to agree with Terry.

I've thought alot about the QB situation. It's a very interesting situation, but hearing the players talk about the strides they've made in the off season is leading me to be cautiously optimistic.

 

[TerryP]

Terry, no disrespect intended but more important to me than JPW's years under center is his ability to recover from mistakes. If he can't rebound from mistakes and poor decisions then we're no better off from a QB perspective than we were 1 or 2 years ago.

He has to learn to "shake it off". 3 straight passes out-of-bounds and handing the ball over to the opponent deep in critical situations just isn't going to cut it.

I hope it's all a non-issue though kind of like in the Arkansas and UT games.

If a female took Viagra, what would...oh, never mind.

Point taken, but hang tight Sandra...you are going to feel different this time next year. If a gal can trust a guy to say "trust me," I hope you will this time.

 

[bamabarney]

I think the thing with JPW is he has to settle down a little and not rush things. Hopefully, the OL will be improved and give him the time he needs to make the reads and make a good throw. I hope the new OC can get him from throwing off of his back foot and losing velocity on the ball. If he can maybe JPW can hit a WR in stride for some long plays, I know if DJ didn't half to slow down and wait for the ball in a few games last year, he would of been gone for a couple of long TD's. JP should be improved, but I think it will start in the trenches.

 

[bamatommy]

Terry, no disrespect intended but more important to me than JPW's years under center is his ability to recover from mistakes. If he can't rebound from mistakes and poor decisions then we're no better off from a QB perspective than we were 1 or 2 years ago.

He has to learn to "shake it off". 3 straight passes out-of-bounds and handing the ball over to the opponent deep in critical situations just isn't going to cut it.

;w;w

 

[Swamptick]

Terry, no disrespect intended but more important to me than JPW's years under center is his ability to recover from mistakes. If he can't rebound from mistakes and poor decisions then we're no better off from a QB perspective than we were 1 or 2 years ago.

He has to learn to "shake it off". 3 straight passes out-of-bounds and handing the ball over to the opponent deep in critical situations just isn't going to cut it.

The thing to remember though when following the above line of thought, is that JPW and the entire team for that matter were still adjusting to Coach Saban and Coach Saban still adjusting to them. **Note that by Coach Saban I mean the whole coaching staff by proxy. That ongoing adjustment makes a world of difference for all transition years like we had last year. It is truly a shame that JPW won't have more time under one system. That was a problem that plagued Croyle as well. No consistency from the coaching staff. Those days are over.

I think we will see a transformed JPW this year. Will he be a record breaker? I don't know. Will he be a leader and experienced difference maker? Absolutely.

 

[jocephus8179]

I think the thing with JPW is he has to settle down a little and not rush things. Hopefully, the OL will be improved and give him the time he needs to make the reads and make a good throw. I hope the new OC can get him from throwing off of his back foot and losing velocity on the ball. If he can maybe JPW can hit a WR in stride for some long plays, I know if DJ didn't half to slow down and wait for the ball in a few games last year, he would of been gone for a couple of long TD's. JP should be improved, but I think it will start in the trenches.

EXACTLY!

 

[imported_porkchop]

Terry, no disrespect intended but more important to me than JPW's years under center is his ability to recover from mistakes. If he can't rebound from mistakes and poor decisions then we're no better off from a QB perspective than we were 1 or 2 years ago.

He has to learn to "shake it off". 3 straight passes out-of-bounds and handing the ball over to the opponent deep in critical situations just isn't going to cut it.

I hope it's all a non-issue though kind of like in the Arkansas and UT games.

I agree with Delta, Terry. You stink. I mean..er..ah.. that's another thread. My bad.

Seriously though, Delta has a point in that John Parker needs to be able to put the mistakes behind him. One thing that I noticed from him last year, as opposed to the year before was his "gunslinger" attitude, or lack thereof. IMHO it seemed like JPW came in his first year with more of that attitude and almost no fear. We all remember the whirly-bird plays that he'd make while imporvising and it seemed like he wasn't afraid to take chances to make something happen. Now granted, that can be dangerous, but last season he seemed far more reserve and timid in games. Especially after making mistakes. He has to be able to get past that.

If you guys remember, JPW had lots of trouble last year against zone coverage. Arkansas is a prime example of that. He comes out against man and goes nuts early then struggles against the zone. I've been told that some of that is due to how Shula ran the offense and the propensity to put men in motion to isolate matchups favorable to JPW. This may also explain a lot of Wilson's problems with coming off his primary target. He's always been bad at that, but last year he was just horrible at times. Under Shula he may have been able to get away with it due to motion and matchups, but with a different offense he may have struggled with it since the comfort level and the matchups were not there.

Whatever the case is, JPW needs to be able to (1) shake it off, and (2) go through his progressions.

All in all though, I expect him to have a good season. I relate it a little to like being a 3rd year pitcher in the majors. Statistically speaking the 3rd year is when many pitchers put it all together and break out.

 

[Guest]

The more I have thought on it, the less that I have been worried. If you think back to 2006, JPW was not as prone to getting rattled. He seemed almost abnormally good at shaking off mistakes to be so inexperienced. The problem really became severe under Applewhite. I think that the track record of McElwain as a QB developer will continue to impress in 2008. JPW looked like the next great QB in 2006...I think 2008 will show him to be the QB that was promised in 2006.

Applewhite's offense gave him problems. The subtle differences in McElwain's offense will give him solutions.

Terry, no disrespect intended but more important to me than JPW's years under center is his ability to recover from mistakes. If he can't rebound from mistakes and poor decisions then we're no better off from a QB perspective than we were 1 or 2 years ago.

He has to learn to "shake it off". 3 straight passes out-of-bounds and handing the ball over to the opponent deep in critical situations just isn't going to cut it.

I hope it's all a non-issue though kind of like in the Arkansas and UT games.

I agree with Delta, Terry. You stink. I mean..er..ah.. that's another thread. My bad.

Seriously though, Delta has a point in that John Parker needs to be able to put the mistakes behind him. One thing that I noticed from him last year, as opposed to the year before was his "gunslinger" attitude, or lack thereof. IMHO it seemed like JPW came in his first year with more of that attitude and almost no fear. We all remember the whirly-bird plays that he'd make while imporvising and it seemed like he wasn't afraid to take chances to make something happen. Now granted, that can be dangerous, but last season he seemed far more reserve and timid in games. Especially after making mistakes. He has to be able to get past that.

If you guys remember, JPW had lots of trouble last year against zone coverage. Arkansas is a prime example of that. He comes out against man and goes nuts early then struggles against the zone. I've been told that some of that is due to how Shula ran the offense and the propensity to put men in motion to isolate matchups favorable to JPW. This may also explain a lot of Wilson's problems with coming off his primary target. He's always been bad at that, but last year he was just horrible at times. Under Shula he may have been able to get away with it due to motion and matchups, but with a different offense he may have struggled with it since the comfort level and the matchups were not there.

Whatever the case is, JPW needs to be able to (1) shake it off, and (2) go through his progressions.

All in all though, I expect him to have a good season. I relate it a little to like being a 3rd year pitcher in the majors. Statistically speaking the 3rd year is when many pitchers put it all together and break out.

 

[imported_porkchop]

The more I have thought on it, the less that I have been worried. If you think back to 2006, JPW was not as prone to getting rattled. He seemed almost abnormally good at shaking off mistakes to be so inexperienced. The problem really became severe under Applewhite. I think that the track record of McElwain as a QB developer will continue to impress in 2008. JPW looked like the next great QB in 2006...I think 2008 will show him to be the QB that was promised in 2006.

Applewhite's offense gave him problems. The subtle differences in McElwain's offense will give him solutions.

Terry, no disrespect intended but more important to me than JPW's years under center is his ability to recover from mistakes. If he can't rebound from mistakes and poor decisions then we're no better off from a QB perspective than we were 1 or 2 years ago.

He has to learn to "shake it off". 3 straight passes out-of-bounds and handing the ball over to the opponent deep in critical situations just isn't going to cut it.

I hope it's all a non-issue though kind of like in the Arkansas and UT games.

I agree with Delta, Terry. You stink. I mean..er..ah.. that's another thread. My bad.

Seriously though, Delta has a point in that John Parker needs to be able to put the mistakes behind him. One thing that I noticed from him last year, as opposed to the year before was his "gunslinger" attitude, or lack thereof. IMHO it seemed like JPW came in his first year with more of that attitude and almost no fear. We all remember the whirly-bird plays that he'd make while imporvising and it seemed like he wasn't afraid to take chances to make something happen. Now granted, that can be dangerous, but last season he seemed far more reserve and timid in games. Especially after making mistakes. He has to be able to get past that.

If you guys remember, JPW had lots of trouble last year against zone coverage. Arkansas is a prime example of that. He comes out against man and goes nuts early then struggles against the zone. I've been told that some of that is due to how Shula ran the offense and the propensity to put men in motion to isolate matchups favorable to JPW. This may also explain a lot of Wilson's problems with coming off his primary target. He's always been bad at that, but last year he was just horrible at times. Under Shula he may have been able to get away with it due to motion and matchups, but with a different offense he may have struggled with it since the comfort level and the matchups were not there.

Whatever the case is, JPW needs to be able to (1) shake it off, and (2) go through his progressions.

All in all though, I expect him to have a good season. I relate it a little to like being a 3rd year pitcher in the majors. Statistically speaking the 3rd year is when many pitchers put it all together and break out.

Agree whole-heartedly. I didn't say anything about a new coordinator and system this season because given McElwain's track record with quarterback's I'm not really all that worried. I think Mc is just what the doctor ordered here for JPW.

 

[reger60]

I hope we have a monster running game. :?

 

[Guest]

I hope we have a monster running game. :?

This was funny :lol:

 

[bamabarney]

I forgot about JPW stareing down on who he was going to throw too. Seemed like he knew when he came out of the huddle. That will need to stop. I knew who he was going too when he was coming out from center or when he got the ball in the shotgun. Wouldn't going over the middle help move the ball against a zone defense?

 

[BamaFan19]

All I know is that I better start seeing some vision around the field... :lol:

 

[It Takes Eleven]

Barring injury, it's highly likely that JPW will have the all time passing and all-time total offense records. It's also likely that he'll have the three highest single season totals for passing - each under three different coordinators.

Don't get me wrong. He bugs the crap out of me locking on receivers, throwing out of bounds or not protecting the ball. There's certainly room for improvement, and most of it is between his ears. All of that being said, I see him as the third best QB in the conference this year. With a stout D, I'll take that every year.

RTR,

Tim

 

[Guest]

Barring injury, it's highly likely that JPW will have the all time passing and all-time total offense records. It's also likely that he'll have the three highest single season totals for passing - each under three different coordinators.

Don't get me wrong. He bugs the crap out of me locking on receivers, throwing out of bounds or not protecting the ball. There's certainly room for improvement, and most of it is between his ears. All of that being said, I see him as the third best QB in the conference this year. With a stout D, I'll take that every year.

RTR,

Tim

That could be a problem. I think we will be improved but I am not sure about stout.