🏈 When QB efficiency numbers can be deceiving...

[TerryP]

I hate screens. They never seem to work for us. :?

I think it's clear that gym routine isn't working on pent up aggression.

 

[Guest]

Without a solid OL, everything else becomes more difficult. ^^DH That said, I feel like this has been identified as "an area for improvement" and that there is reason for optimism. That OL in a force multiplier.

As for screens ans scrambling QBs, I see then as back up plans one breaks out when you are not dominating the opponent. That said, I see them as mutually beneficial when employed together. A scrambling QB forces the D to collapse to the center while the screen forces a sprint to the flats. Both presume that both the deep ball and a power run up that middle are also covered on that same play. That's spreading it thin.

The Scramble/Screen Inside/Outside threat is exactly why I think we need more runs out of the QB position. These are not planned plays, just opportunistic plays.

 

[Guest]

So if Saban's not much for the running QB, do you think that will change with Star Jackson? Since he is a duel threat and all. And, do you think that if Star really shines, it will make JPW even better so Star doesn't put him on the bench? Or is there even a chance of Star getting the start in 08?

Star is a Pro-style QB.

Terry,
I could have sworn that the first time I hear about Star (last summer or so) that either RIVALS or SCOUT had him ranked as a top 5 Duel-Threat QB, but then switched him to Pro-Style top 10 near the beginning of his Senior season. Do you know anything about this?

If so this speaks to his running ability, a point that would be lost to many who see only the words "Pro-Style" and think Star is just an undersized Ryan Mallet of Jamarcus Russell.

 

[252BAMA]

I'm OK with that as long as he is not dumping them off to DB's for 100 yard TD's.

 

[Guest]

I hate screens. They never seem to work for us. :?

I think it's clear that gym routine isn't working on pent up aggression.

I've hated screens before there were any gyms. :wink:

Maybe I'm forgetting a great part of our past and tradition, but two things come to mind when I think of areas where Alabama has never excelled...screen passes and two point conversions.

And BTW, this whole topic makes me extremely uneasy. You know Terry that my faith in JPW is pretty much at an all-time low. Your opinion that Star won't even challenge....ummm, I hope that isn't the case or that JPW has such a great year that it won't matter.

 

[Guest]

Just an opinion but look at UGA's offense. They use a lot of dink, dunk and screens...it does work but conditioning, coaching and ability lean heavy into the timing of screens. Frankly, we have been lacking a lot of that for the past 10+ years.

 

[TerryP]

Just an opinion but look at UGA's offense. They use a lot of dink, dunk and screens...it does work but conditioning, coaching and ability lean heavy into the timing of screens. Frankly, we have been lacking a lot of that for the past 10+ years.

Add UT to that list. They had a lot of success with it in the last decade. But, they had less when they didn't disguise it well in the last 4-6 years. You could literally read the play from the set.

You are spot on when it comes to the timing. That's the essential ingredient and it isn't something that can be developed in a couple of weeks. Now, if it is worked on heavily in skel drills in the summer time you'll have a better chance of it happening.

We have some athletic TE's and tackles who can move which bodes well for its success.

 

[TerryP]

I hate screens. They never seem to work for us. :?

I think it's clear that gym routine isn't working on pent up aggression.

I've hated screens before there were any gyms. :wink:

Maybe I'm forgetting a great part of our past and tradition, but two things come to mind when I think of areas where Alabama has never excelled...screen passes and two point conversions.

And BTW, this whole topic makes me extremely uneasy. You know Terry that my faith in JPW is pretty much at an all-time low. Your opinion that Star won't even challenge....ummm, I hope that isn't the case or that JPW has such a great year that it won't matter.

Here's where we are going to come on opposite sides of the fence. I had hopes for Applewhite early on but lost those hopes through the season. I'm not one to bang on the coaches until they have just crossed the line with me. Just as a comparison, I didn't come out and say anything online about Shula until the MSU game but I wanted him gone in the biggest way in '05. Yes, even with the 10 win season. I knew it was nothing but a house of cards. Applewhite was out for me by the 3rd-4th game of last season because of the lack of coaching JPW was receiving.

I suspect, firmly, we are going to see a different JP in this upcoming season. After watching as much video as I have on the season before Coach Mac arrived at Fresno and what he did last year I see sufficient reason to trust my instincts.

Personally, the infatuation with Star is misplaced this early as I see it. Bring it into the conversation at the end of the '09 season and then it might be worth discussing.

 

[Guest]

After watching as much video as I have on the season before Coach Mac arrived at Fresno and what he did last year I see sufficient reason to trust my instincts.

You have mentioned the Fresno videos you have studied. If you will, when you get the time, could you please throw up a sticky with some of the links to these videos? I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to see what it is you have been looking at.

Thank you in advance.

 

[TerryP]

Here is a link to video's

 

[Guest]

I can't say that this makes me unhappy. It isn't like JP has the strongest arm in the world. I would think that the majority of our play calling would involve dink and dunk passes to try to lure the secondary in close and then try to pop a big one down field. I would also expect to see more flare type passes to backs out of the backfield behind a Julio fly route, provided that our backs can catch of course.

Weak arms are most likely to be exposed on short patterns. If a long one floats, a short one will float too. Remember the Mississippi State game? Ugh.

 

[Guest]

Personally, the infatuation with Star is misplaced this early as I see it. Bring it into the conversation at the end of the '09 season and then it might be worth discussing.

I totally agree with that. In fact the only reason I'd like to see Star challenge is if John Parker struggles again this year. I'd prefer JPW take care of business and never have to worry about competition or a back-up.

I have no infatuation with Star. In fact I can't stand all that pre-college hype. It has blown up in our face almost every time when looking at hot-shot QB recruits that come to Alabama. Lately our only success stories at QB have come in the form of hard workers with no glitz and glamor.

 

[TerryP]

Personally, the infatuation with Star is misplaced this early as I see it. Bring it into the conversation at the end of the '09 season and then it might be worth discussing.

I totally agree with that. In fact the only reason I'd like to see Star challenge is if John Parker struggles again this year. I'd prefer JPW take care of business and never have to worry about competition or a back-up.

I have no infatuation with Star. In fact I can't stand all that pre-college hype. It has blown up in our face almost every time when looking at hot-shot QB recruits that come to Alabama. Lately our only success stories at QB have come in the form of hard workers with no glitz and glamor.

And a few cases where that didn't even fit the bill...

 

[jocephus8179]

I thought JP played fairly well in 06. Which gave me high hopes for him in 07. But 07 shocked me pretty bad. It seemed like once he got the snap, he was under preasure. He played well against ARK, and murdered TENN. I just couldn't figure it out. I wanted to say it was the OL, which some of the time it was. But I couldn't figure out a reason for overthrowing receivers when he wasn't under any preasure and the receiver was wide open. But being his last year, you can't help but have faith in him. I've seen him put up big numbers. I think with the slack in the OL being gone, maybe he'll have more faith in the protection and relax and make good plays. And I've seen Fresno States's stats from last year. Awesome. Maybe the OC change will improve JP. It's all up to him. And what happened to an aggresive Alabama team that we used to see?

 

[DustyG]

Weak arms are most likely to be exposed on short patterns. If a long one floats, a short one will float too. Remember the Mississippi State game? Ugh.

I agree thaat any QB who throws off of his back foot while falling is going to float the ball anywhere he throws it. JPW has shown that he can hit short to intermediate routes when he has time. I haven't seen a lot of him hitting long passes, even with time, without the receiver having to wait on the ball to get there. That indicates to me either a lack of arm strenght or an inability to understand the timing of the route. I believe that in JPW's case, it is the former and not the latter.

 

[TerryP]

Weak arms are most likely to be exposed on short patterns. If a long one floats, a short one will float too. Remember the Mississippi State game? Ugh.

I agree thaat any QB who throws off of his back foot while falling is going to float the ball anywhere he throws it. JPW has shown that he can hit short to intermediate routes when he has time. I haven't seen a lot of him hitting long passes, even with time, without the receiver having to wait on the ball to get there. That indicates to me either a lack of arm strenght or an inability to understand the timing of the route. I believe that in JPW's case, it is the former and not the latter.

You've hit part of it with his footwork. While I agree he doesn't have the arm strength Brodie had (IE: quick release) placing the blame for underthrown balls falls more in the timing category the way I see it. There was a reason why JP and DJ did so well last season and that was the experience they had together. He hasn't had the opportunity to work with the other guys as much. We would have likely seen better numbers from JP if Keith Brown would have been on the field more but that falls on KB.

Keep in mind, he just as many over thrown balls as he did under thrown balls. Applewhite did have calls that were for JP to throw to a spot and let the receivers run under the ball as well.

One phrase often used is the OL "gelling" together as the work more and more with each other. You can include the offensive backfield with that as well. Having over 3/4th's of our games with different guys on the OL hurt in a lot of different ways.