"no timetable" naming stating QB

[JFDTiger80 790]

Here's the honest answer from the coaching staff after they have taken truth serim:

Coach, when can we expect the staff to name our starting QB for 2017? Well, excellent question, I can tell you now that Stidham will start for AU this year. We are going through the motions with the other guys, as well as to find a second and third string, but, make no mistake, Stidham is our man. 

[WarEagle1983 2,185]

1 minute ago, McLoofus said:

I'd argue that we probably have 5 guys with better hips- just throwing out names here, but Stove, R. Davis, K. Martin, J. Davis/C. Davis/J. Dean, maybe Alaric Williams?- vision and possibly ball security who may give up a tenth of a second or two in straight line speed but who are likely better suited to return kicks. That's why I'm pushing for him to move to WR. He can loosen up a defense. If he can actually catch a ball, it's six. Several NFL teams have kept a guy like him on the roster- Heyward Bey comes to mind- just for that. Low risk, high reward. 

Agree. Not making an argument for him to return kicks but just saying i'd feel more comfortable with him as a kick returner vs. punt returner. I like all the guys that you've mentioned in front of JF3 to return kicks but if there is a goal to get him more touches that may be an option.

But i agree i want him at WR most of the time b/c he's most dangerous in open space. Other times i want him going in motion. Like DAG mentioned he'd be a good decoy for a few plays if nothing else. I just don't want to see JF3 running in at QB and JS out. Kills momentum and plays in the hands of the defense. 

[AUld fAUx@ 2,584]

Going one-note again.

My only timetable is clear ID of at least two "serviceable"

[McLoofus 35,182]

5 minutes ago, WarEagle1983 said:

I just don't want to see JF3 running in at QB and JS out. Kills momentum and plays in the hands of the defense. 

Preach.

[McLoofus 35,182]

1 minute ago, AUinTLoosa said:

Going one-note again.

My only timetable is clear ID of at least two "serviceable"

I think we're there. Your work is done! Kick your feet up, pour two fingers and enjoy a good smoke. 

[AUld fAUx@ 2,584]

2 minutes ago, McLoofus said:

I think we're there. Your work is done! Kick your feet up, pour two fingers and enjoy a good smoke. 

Been done, but

Thanks. It's the thought that counts.

[GwillMac6 20,666]

Lets be real there is no timetable because they do not want to name Stidham the starter in the spring so that Sean will not transfer.

[DAG 33,976]

5 minutes ago, GwillMac6 said:

Lets be real there is no timetable because they do not want to name Stidham the starter in the spring so that Sean will not transfer.

Sean isn't transferring, although, if he did, I wouldn't blame him at all

[WarEagle1983 2,185]

4 minutes ago, GwillMac6 said:

Lets be real there is no timetable because they do not want to name Stidham the starter in the spring so that Sean will not transfer.

?? 

[GwillMac6 20,666]

1 minute ago, WarEagle1983 said:

?? 

lol no. I thought that was pretty logical. Sean could be a stud at a place like wash st in that mike leach offense where they do not feature the downfield passing game all that much.

[WarEagle1983 2,185]

Just now, GwillMac6 said:

lol no. I thought that was pretty logical. Sean could be a stud at a place like wash st in that mike leach offense where they do not feature the downfield passing game all that much.

Just checking. lol. I have to test the waters around here before i jump in. lol. But unless it is a lower level school i don't see him transferring. SW's playing days at Auburn may be limited but i think they'd be limited even with transferring just because of question marks with him always being injured. I do agree he'd be more effective in a a conference like the PAC 12, Big 12 or SunBelt. 

[GwillMac6 20,666]

2 minutes ago, WarEagle1983 said:

Just checking. lol. I have to test the waters around here before i jump in. lol. But unless it is a lower level school i don't see him transferring. SW's playing days at Auburn may be limited but i think they'd be limited even with transferring just because of question marks with him always being injured. I do agree he'd be more effective in a a conference like the PAC 12, Big 12 or SunBelt. 

Absolutely agree!!!

[oracle79 3,569]

2 hours ago, McLoofus said:

I'd argue that we probably have 5 guys with better hips- just throwing out names here, but Stove, R. Davis, K. Martin, J. Davis/C. Davis/J. Dean, maybe Alaric Williams?- vision and possibly ball security who may give up a tenth of a second or two in straight line speed but who are likely better suited to return kicks.

While you might be right on kick return ability, I'd prefer not to use starters that we can ill afford to have injured, returning punts or KO's.  Put JF3 and Jason Smith back there and be done with it.  Make them carry a football 24 hours a day and if someone takes it from them, make them run stadiums.  And yeah, I'm serious.  Where else are they going to contribute meaningfully to the team?

[McLoofus 35,182]

26 minutes ago, oracle79 said:

While you might be right on kick return ability, I'd prefer not to use starters that we can ill afford to have injured, returning punts or KO's.  Put JF3 and Jason Smith back there and be done with it.  Make them carry a football 24 hours a day and if someone takes it from them, make them run stadiums.  And yeah, I'm serious.  Where else are they going to contribute meaningfully to the team?

Why didn't you quote my whole post? It wasn't that long, and it said that I think Franklin could and should contribute as a deep threat WR. Also, I've posted elsewhere that Jason Smith was our primary deep threat in 2015. (We just either couldn't get him the ball or, when we did, it would get called back.) Not that we owe either of them opportunities to get on the field. We shouldn't put them anywhere where they don't give us the best strategic advantage, especially not just because they can't contribute another way. 

As for making Franklin and Smith carry a ball around, that doesn't make them able to field kicks- including knowing whether to fair catch, attempt a return or let it go- read blocks, find seams, or avoid bad contact. It certainly doesn't guarantee they won't cough it up the first time a gunner rings their bell, which is kind of a big deal when these collisions are often happening fairly close to your own end zone. 

As for the "don't risk injury to starters on kick returns thing", it's crazy overblown. When's the last time we had a guy get hurt returning a kick? 

Finally, of the guys I named, Carlton Davis and maybe Stove are the only starters for sure. Even then, it seems like it kinda worked out when we had Chris Davis return a kick one time. And Alaric Williams certainly won't be a starter. Not saying he's "like Tre Mason", but you might remember that Tre's first touch in his first college football game as a true freshman was a kick return for a touchdown. 

Kick returns can change football games. Ask the 2013 team. It's not some throwaway spot we can afford to waste on guys who aren't inherently good at it. 

Edit: I originally posted about   Franklin and that's still who I'm mostly talking about. I think Smith can be a player, as long as he has his head and heart in it. That wasn't the case last season, we'll see this season. 

[oracle79 3,569]

I didn't quote your entire post because I was just focusing on the kick returning aspect.  I don't think either of them would/will succeed at receiver with the young talent we have, plus TE's, plus HB, I don't see them on the field on offense.  While Smith was the deep guy in 2015, he barely sniffed the field last year.  Both have speed to burn, and if you let them focus on returning kicks, they "should" be able to become proficient and with their speed, change games.  But, who knows.

[DAG 33,976]

13 minutes ago, oracle79 said:

I didn't quote your entire post because I was just focusing on the kick returning aspect.  I don't think either of them would/will succeed at receiver with the young talent we have, plus TE's, plus HB, I don't see them on the field on offense.  While Smith was the deep guy in 2015, he barely sniffed the field last year.  Both have speed to burn, and if you let them focus on returning kicks, they "should" be able to become proficient and with their speed, change games.  But, who knows.

 

Ditto

[lionheartkc 6,150]

40 minutes ago, oracle79 said:

While Smith was the deep guy in 2015, he barely sniffed the field last year.

The one hope I have for Smith is that he was just being improperly utilized and Lindsey will see a better fit for him. It wouldn't be the first time that a player with obvious ability struggled until the right scheme/coach came along. The same might happen for Franklin.

[McLoofus 35,182]

1 hour ago, oracle79 said:

I didn't quote your entire post because I was just focusing on the kick returning aspect.  I don't think either of them would/will succeed at receiver with the young talent we have, plus TE's, plus HB, I don't see them on the field on offense.  While Smith was the deep guy in 2015, he barely sniffed the field last year.  Both have speed to burn, and if you let them focus on returning kicks, they "should" be able to become proficient and with their speed, change games.  But, who knows.

Smith was in the doghouse last year. As for him on offense, he's a senior and a serious athlete. The sophomores are outstanding but the dude isn't hot garbage. As for returning kicks, I could totally see it.

Agree to disagree on Franklin, kick returns and WR potential as a deep threat specialist. We all hope he finds value as one or both.

[AUBwins 10,074]

I don't guess anyone noticed that JF3 was on the Starburst kick return, which happened to be the worst return implosion of the season.  Just pointing out he has experience, not that the result of that return would have any bearing on this season. 

[AU64 10,122]

My standard answer.....

I'm fine with it if Gus waits until the team takes the field for game #1. 

JMO but with two quality QBs and a very winnable game with Ga Southern, White and Stidham....and /or Joey too if he looks good enough....should get fairly equal reps.  Hoping the top 2 get plenty of playing time in our first game and the Gus or Lindsey can make the call before the Clemson game.  JMO

[lionheartkc 6,150]

14 hours ago, AU64 said:

My standard answer.....

I'm fine with it if Gus waits until the team takes the field for game #1. 

JMO but with two quality QBs and a very winnable game with Ga Southern, White and Stidham....and /or Joey too if he looks good enough....should get fairly equal reps.  Hoping the top 2 get plenty of playing time in our first game and the Gus or Lindsey can make the call before the Clemson game.  JMO

Who's Joey?

[AU64 10,122]

11 minutes ago, lionheartkc said:

Who's Joey?

Sorry ...meant Woody....thanks....

[lionheartkc 6,150]

1 hour ago, AU64 said:

Sorry ...meant Woody....thanks....

Thinking ahead a year or two... I get it

[AU64 10,122]

44 minutes ago, lionheartkc said:

Thinking ahead a year or two... I get it

Nah..just a senior moment..

[boisnumber1 2,818]

On 3/2/2017 at 1:49 PM, McLoofus said:

I'd argue that we probably have 5 guys with better hips- just throwing out names here, but Stove, R. Davis, K. Martin, J. Davis/C. Davis/J. Dean, maybe Alaric Williams?- vision and possibly ball security who may give up a tenth of a second or two in straight line speed but who are likely better suited to return kicks. That's why I'm pushing for him to move to WR. He can loosen up a defense. If he can actually catch a ball, it's six. Several NFL teams have kept a guy like him on the roster- Heyward Bey comes to mind- just for that. Low risk, high reward. 

Agree. JF3 upside is pure straight line speed.