🏈 QB Russell Wilson to Wisconsin - Effect on Auburn?

[planomateo]

the other schools in Big Ten gotta be cringing over this move.

so how good will they be with a dual threat QB...

 

[TerryP]

the other schools in Big Ten gotta be cringing over this move.

so how good will they be with a dual threat QB...

Link to ESPN's story.

I'd dare say, before the committment of Wilson, that Wisconsin had a backfield in the same league as ours. It's truly a three headed monster.

I know I'm comparing the Big 10 and their run defense to SEC and our run defenses. Apples to oranges? I'm not going to knock the Big10's run defense because we are in two different leagues. You can't sit back and just leave the Ohio State success on the back burner. They didn't have a problem running on an SEC run defense in the bowl game. I'd have to look but I know it was 225-250 yards or so they got on the 'Backs.

Anyway...

Wisconsin had two of their backs get over 1000 yards last season and the third back missed the 1000 yard mark by less than five yards. Five.

What bearing does this have on the SEC?

Wilson was down to two; Auburn and Wisconsin. IF Wilson would have committed to Auburn it would have changed the dynamic of that offense, completely.

Now, Auburn is left with Barrett Trotter likely taking the starting role with Clint Moseley backing him up. Two guys we looked at for our pro-style attack but we see how that ended. They just weren't the right fit for our system. Can't say they are for Malzahn's either.

Enter Kiehl Frazier

 

[Duder]

Link to ESPN's story.

I'd dare say, before the committment of Wilson, that Wisconsin had a backfield in the same league as ours. It's truly a three headed monster.

I know I'm comparing the Big 10 and their run defense to SEC and our run defenses. Apples to oranges? I'm not going to knock the Big10's run defense because we are in two different leagues. You can't sit back and just leave the Ohio State success on the back burner. They didn't have a problem running on an SEC run defense in the bowl game. I'd have to look but I know it was 225-250 yards or so they got on the 'Backs.

Anyway...

Wisconsin had two of their backs get over 1000 yards last season and the third back missed the 1000 yard mark by less than five yards. Five.

What bearing does this have on the SEC?

Wilson was down to two; Auburn and Wisconsin. IF Wilson would have committed to Auburn it would have changed the dynamic of that offense, completely.

Now, Auburn is left with Barrett Trotter likely taking the starting role with Clint Moseley backing him up. Two guys we looked at for our pro-style attack but we see how that ended. They just weren't the right fit for our system. Can't say they are for Malzahn's either.

Enter Kiehl Frazier

I don't see Kiehl Frazier starting. He didn't enroll early so he will essentially have, what, two weeks to beat out the kids already there? I think (hope) we can redshirt him.

As for Trotter, he isn't exactly what Malzahn would like but remember, the offense wasn't exactly horrible with Chris Todd and he damn sure wasn't a fit for Malzahn's system. Trotter isn't that fast but he offers enough of a run threat that the defense will have to at least look at him on the zone read plays before attacking Dyer. Malzahn has pretty much said we're going to try and throw the ball more. His offense wouldn't ordinarily be as QB-run heavy as we were last year if we didn't have a freak as a QB. Will we be as dangerous as we were last year? Not a chance in hell. Will the wheels completely come off the offense? I doubt it--we were an 8 win team with Chris Todd and an almost identical schedule (the road games with LSU, Arkansas, etc.) and Trotter at least offers a scramble threat and a live arm. Chris' arm was almost dead by the end of the 2009 season--he has some pretty major reconstruction. I'm in a wait and see mode. I don't see AU winning the West but we won't finish last in the SEC. We will drop a few, if we can beat someone we aren't supposed to we will have a pretty good season. The West will come down to Bama/LSU.

So, again, so no one can twist my words--our offense will not be as good as it was last year. I'm not going to be one of those guys that rattles off last year's back-ups and says "they're basically starters, we're just reloading, etc."

All that being said, I'm all for getting the best players possible but I'm glad he went to Wisconsin. As Malzahn tries to recruit QBs past Pike and Frazier I don't want them feeling like they have to look over their shoulder because we're going to bring in a transfer. I would prefer to avoid that pattern altogether, especially when the kid didn't even go through spring ball. At least Cam enrolled in January and participated in spring ball so he could try and learn the offense. I would have been concerned that Russell wouldn't be able to learn all the plays in time and would just tuck it and run every time he got confused or didn't feel comfortable. That worked for Cam because he was built like a DE--Russell Wilson is 5'11". I certainly would have taken him but I'm just as happy that he went to Wisconsin. I wish him well.

As for Wisconsin, it certainly puts them in the driver's seat in the Big 10. I think Bama exposed MSU as a paper tiger last year. Ohio State is obviously falling apart and I just don't see Nebraska being able to knock off Wisconsin IF Russell Wilson puts up the numbers he's expected to.

 

[shipley00]

All that being said, I'm all for getting the best players possible but I'm glad he went to Wisconsin. As Malzahn tries to recruit QBs past Pike and Frazier I don't want them feeling like they have to look over their shoulder because we're going to bring in a transfer. .

I always enjoy reading your posts and replys. I have several AU friends and most are fun to talk with to get their honest opinion of their program without going over the top. I like talking football more than just talking smack. I think you hit the nail on the head with your statement above. That was exactly my thought when I heard Wilson was looking at AU. WHile bringing in the occasional player from Juco works well in most cases, at a high profile position like QB, bringing them in over and over will have an effect on recruiting HS kids for that position.