🏈 What is the Skinny on McElroy

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

For those that can offer some real feedback about McElroy, please chime in...

I know that he is from the same HS as Chase Daniel from Missouri, that he was second string behind him, started when Daniel left, won a TX state championship during his first starting year, he passed something like 4k yards that year, & that we took him away from Mike Leach at Texas Tech, BUT what about him now?

How does he perform?

Strengths?

Weaknesses?

Anyone w/ feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[FlaBama]

I know he does very well at practice and Saban has said he's been "chomping at the bits" to play more and take ownership of the team. Saban seems very comfortable with him, and that's good enough for me.

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

Come on staff, what do you guys know that you can print?

I'll take a PM if you'd prefer...

 

[ExiledTidefan]

I'm not staff, but I would like to add that I've watched the guy participate in Spring practice each of the past two seasons, and I feel like that is a pretty good amount to base an observation on.

Tools-wise, I left both spring games under Saban wondering which was better. I could see the strengths and weaknesses of each, and frankly, McElroy looked more composed than Wilson most of the time. That being said, don't think there won't be a drop-off next season from Senior leadership to underclassman. It's inevitable. However, if McElroy can survive the month of September without injury or excessive turnovers, he will get better and better. He will anyway. The real area of concern is who is going to protect his backside.

And he's got lots of weapons around him if he gets enough time!!

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

I'm not staff, but I would like to add that I've watched the guy participate in Spring practice each of the past two seasons, and I feel like that is a pretty good amount to base an observation on.

Tools-wise, I left both spring games under Saban wondering which was better. I could see the strengths and weaknesses of each, and frankly, McElroy looked more composed than Wilson most of the time. That being said, don't think there won't be a drop-off next season from Senior leadership to underclassman. It's inevitable. However, if McElroy can survive the month of September without injury or excessive turnovers, he will get better and better. He will anyway. The real area of concern is who is going to protect his backside.

And he's got lots of weapons around him if he gets enough time!!

I appreciate the feedback from both of ya & just based on Exciled's comments about spring practice I'm going to make it a point to make the spring game.

It is a given that the next QB's success is going to be predicated on how the OL does but I want to get info about the kid...

Tangibles/Intangibles, Pro's/Con's type thing...

 

[Guest]

McElroy knows the offense inside and out for one thing. His arm strength has improved this season and his accuracy is better than Wilson's. Personally I think he would have been better than JPW this year but JPW managed the offense fairly well throughout the season minus the last two games. I am ready for a change.

 

[RussB]

but JPW managed the offense fairly well throughout the season minus the last two games. I am ready for a change.

Wow, such a hater.

 

[TerryP]

McElroy knows the offense inside and out for one thing. His arm strength has improved this season and his accuracy is better than Wilson's. Personally I think he would have been better than JPW this year but JPW managed the offense fairly well throughout the season minus the last two games. I am ready for a change.

What he's touched on here is probably the biggest weakness McElroy has right now.

I could use the term "speed of the game" but that really doesn't describe the situation.

JP, when the pocket is falling apart and he needed to make a quick decision played out of his game, his abilities.

The one area Greg needs to improve in is his reactions when he's under pressure. It's going to be a maturation process- his decision making capability. How he reacts in those situations during a game is probably the biggest question out there.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

In total, I think we'll all be pleased next year with McElroy. I haven't seen enough to give an in-depth comparison with Wilson, but I agree he can be more accurate than JPW. Wilson's TD pass to Julio in the Georgia game, in my mind, was one of the best intermediate/deep throws he made during his entire time at Alabama. I know he made others, but it just stuck with me at the time, thinking "he's really showing some touch tonight". McElroy's pass to Maze against aubrun was of a similar quality. I think you'll see that McElroy puts more air under his deep throws than JPW. I know we were all frustrated with deep overthrows to open receivers during his career, when a little higher trajectory could've meant a score.

The offset to more air, however, means everyone has time to get to the ball, defender and receiver alike.

I may be wrong, but I think McElroy is slower than JPW. He may not be as useful as a scrambler, and I've not witnessed his ability to throw on the run.

RTR,

Tim

 

[Guest]

In total, I think we'll all be pleased next year with McElroy. I haven't seen enough to give an in-depth comparison with Wilson, but I agree he can be more accurate than JPW. Wilson's TD pass to Julio in the Georgia game, in my mind, was one of the best intermediate/deep throws he made during his entire time at Alabama. I know he made others, but it just stuck with me at the time, thinking "he's really showing some touch tonight". McElroy's pass to Maze against aubrun was of a similar quality. I think you'll see that McElroy puts more air under his deep throws than JPW. I know we were all frustrated with deep overthrows to open receivers during his career, when a little higher trajectory could've meant a score.

The offset to more air, however, means everyone has time to get to the ball, defender and receiver alike.

I may be wrong, but I think McElroy is slower than JPW. He may not be as useful as a scrambler, and I've not witnessed his ability to throw on the run.

RTR,

Tim

I would rather see our receivers have a shot than none at all.
That pass over NS head friday night....and yeah there were a lot of them this year.
I still wonder what kind of qb JPW would have been if he had the line and coaching all these years, but the same could be said for Brodie.

 

[Guest]

Point of clarification regarding playing behind McDaniels. Chase was a Senior while Greg was a Junior, so its not saying much to point out that Chase "beat him out". My take away was that Greg played with/among a team that clearly knew how to be a winner, and his success in HS speaks to him being one as well.

That said, we may have someone who scrambles better, can chuck the rock 5-10 yards further...but this system does not ask our QBs to be our winning solution. Our QB needs the skills required to utilize the weapons assembled around him. That means to be a leader, to play smart and mistake free, to be athletic enough to thread the needle on short passes or stretch the defense on a blown coverage, to be savvy enough in the pocket to skirt a breached pocket long enough to find the hot route, and sturdy enough to scramble often and far enough when needed. In short, we don't need Tebow or V. Young, or Dan Marino. We could win with Doug Flutie.

Here's the good news, we have several guys that have that potential. The bad news is that no one is rock-solid proven yet. After a sprinkling of snaps, Greg has moved more toward the "Proven" side than the "Unproven". For me, I have seen enough to be confident enough to be more concerned about other positions. If there is an issue, I suspect that it will not be because of the QB play. (CAVEAT: This is said even before the first snap of spring practice.)

 

[TidePride50]

but JPW managed the offense fairly well throughout the season minus the last two games. I am ready for a change.

Wow, such a hater.

I agree with RP. I'm glad JPW played well this year and all that, but I'm ready to see someone else take the reigns at QB.

 

[bammer1684]

I may be wrong, but I think McElroy is slower than JPW. He may not be as useful as a scrambler, and I've not witnessed his ability to throw on the run.

I agree with you here...I don't think McElroy is quite as quick as JPW but with that being said I believe it takes a little bit more to get McElroy down, and he also seems to be more durable.

 

[TerryP]

I may be wrong, but I think McElroy is slower than JPW. He may not be as useful as a scrambler, and I've not witnessed his ability to throw on the run.

I agree with you here...I don't think McElroy is quite as quick as JPW but with that being said I believe it takes a little bit more to get McElroy down, and he also seems to be more durable.

Greg's shuttle times are very good...he's got quick feet, and cuts quick...so he has the skill set to be elusive in the pocket.

The question that comes into play in my mind is can he combine that skill with being able to look down the field at the same time and throw the ball.

 

[Guest]

I may be wrong, but I think McElroy is slower than JPW. He may not be as useful as a scrambler, and I've not witnessed his ability to throw on the run.

I agree with you here...I don't think McElroy is quite as quick as JPW but with that being said I believe it takes a little bit more to get McElroy down, and he also seems to be more durable.

Greg's shuttle times are very good...he's got quick feet, and cuts quick...so he has the skill set to be elusive in the pocket.

The question that comes into play in my mind is can he combine that skill with being able to look down the field at the same time and throw the ball.

Terry and Tim, you are not making me feel better. :? Just big concerns out of the McElroy camp. Then again I had big concerns about JPW. At least I knew he had experience though.

 

[jdpas29]

McElroy surveys the field very well. He doesn't have the tendency we've seen a lot over the last 10 years with our QBs of staring down one receiver.

He is very accurate and has pretty good footspeed.

he is better at throwing the long ball than any QB we've had in a while.

most of all... Greg is sharp as a tack.

i look forward to a healthy QB battle over the next few months with Greg eeking out the first spot due to his accuracy and knowledge/execution of the plays. i think GM and Star will both play plenty of snaps in the fall however...

i will be surprised if our O-line isn't a serious problem next year. so expect our QBs to get dinged up a bit.

 

[UAgrad93]

I believe McElroy will do just as CNS needs from his QB. Manage the game, make the throws when we call for them and don't make any bone-headed mistakes. If McElroy shows that he can sling it around with more consistency than what JPW did, then he will allow the offense to open it up more.

 

[lilstat]

Is it "Set in Stone" so to speak that he is our QB next year or will Star have a "good" chance at getting the job ?

 

[UAgrad93]

I think that Star gets a look this spring to show what he has with a year under his belt and AJ gets a crack at it in the fall. To me though, the job is McElroys' to lose.

 

[DIXIEDARLING]

I think that Star gets a look this spring to show what he has with a year under his belt and AJ gets a crack at it in the fall. To me though, the job is McElroys' to lose.

And, IMO, that is the way it should be in order for us to develop Quarterbacks that can bring enough knowledge of the game, when it is their chance. 2 years Mac amd next two STAR, next two AJ.