Brandon Cox under Al Borges

[StatTiger 3,086]

It will be interesting to see how BC will develop under Al Borges over the next three years. Obviously I'm assuming, Cox will be the starter and Big Al will be our OC for the next three seasons. It was amazing to see how JC transformed into the "killer" QB he was predicted to be and sad to see only one year of the Borges-Campbell combination. Can you imagine if Big Al was JC's OC during his entire career? I can only imagine what kind of records Cox might shatter over the next three years. I rated our passing game since 1961 under the following categories: 1) Com Pct 2 ) QB Rating 3) Avg Att 4) TD/INT ratio 5) Yards per game and 6) Avg TD per Att.

The 2004 pass offense finished #1 by a landslide with the following rankings. Borges' passing game was #1 in com pct, #1 in QB rating and #1 in avg per pass attempt. They were #2 in TD/INT ratio, #4 in yards per game and #8 in TD's per pass attempt. Add up the six rankings and you have an average ranking of 2.83. Here are the final rankings:

Rank- Year

2.83- 2004

8.17- 1970

8.50- 2002

9.00- 1971

9.33- 1995

9.67- 1987

11.00- 1993

11.67- 1994

11.83- 1980

12.33- 1999

12.50- 1997

13.00- 1996

15.17- 1989

15.83- 1988

16.17- 2003

17.00- 1969

17.50- 2001

17.83- 1990

18.50- 2000

19.83- 1986

21.67- 1982

23.17- 1967

23.83- 1984

24.00- 1965

24.17- 1972

24.33- 1979

26.67- 1983

27.00- 1968

27.17- 1961

28.33- 1976

28.67- 1998

29.67- 1991

30.67- 1966

31.17- 1977

31.33- 1974

33.83- 1992

34.00- 1985

34.83- 1981

35.00- 1963

35.83- 1962

36.67- 1978

38.17- 1975

39.50- 1964

42.67- 1973

Of course my fear is that Cox picks up where JC left off and Borges becomes the hottest thing since sliced bread. If this happens, it won't be long before Al is a HFC somewhere. I don't think it's fair to give Borges all the credit because JC showed that he could be very productive under Petrino too. Of course CAB has shown he can field a very good offense with the proper "Jimmy & Joes".

It's going to be interesting to see the Cox-Booker QB battle this Spring.

WDE

[AUHansel 0]

nice work stat...that really surprises me how great our passing game was last season. I know our offense was amazing but looking over all those seasons and this one was the best. I don't see Booker getting the starting job next season. Cox looks like he could be pretty great if he puts the time in. I've seen him make some great decisions but I've also seen him make some bad ones. He has to get goin right off the bat cause we got Ga Tech comin to town for the first game. I think we'll pretty much run a very similar offense next season because the receivers are awesome and I believe that the running backs coming in will share time with each other(at least to start the season). I too hope Borges can stay for a couple of years. If we do well with him, the longer he stays, the better job he will get when he does become a HC.

[mcgufcm 3,869]

the only thing that scares me about cox, and it scares me a lot, is that deep out route that he threw two ints on this year. he's got work to do in the weight room b/c he cannot throw that pass as of right now. watching that thing try to reach the receiver is like waiting on a traffic light at 3 am. it just takes forever and you know it's pointless.

[AUHansel 0]

the only thing that scares me about cox, and it scares me a lot, is that deep out route that he threw two ints on this year. he's got work to do in the weight room b/c he cannot throw that pass as of right now. watching that thing try to reach the receiver is like waiting on a traffic light at 3 am. it just takes forever and you know it's pointless.

144706[/snapback]

I remember the int's but I don't remember what side of the field they were thrown to. were they thrown across his body?

[mcgufcm 3,869]

the first one (against arkansas i believe) was across the field. then there was one against kentucky that was to the left where he just stared down the receiver, floated that duck out there, and got it picked. i swear brandon got worse as the season progressed.

[AUHansel 0]

the first one (against arkansas i believe) was across the field. then there was one against kentucky that was to the left where he just stared down the receiver, floated that duck out there, and got it picked. i swear brandon got worse as the season progressed.

144709[/snapback]

yea...i remember now. that one against kentucky was really stupid. i was gettin real excited about him after the A-day game last year. then he looked good in some games but he can't make those throws or we'll be in trouble.

[Erik81 0]

the one against arkansas wasn't deep at all-like under 20 yards he just threw it short-I think the one against kentucky slipped out of his hand-CTT said that if i remember correctly

i think him getting less time on the field and less reps at practice had a little to do with it

[weagl1 1,725]

StatTiger, you are one more number crunching dude! You never cease to amaze me!

I wouldn't worry about Borges leaving, that is just all part of the game. I would rather us win the games while we have him. I'm sure LSU would love to have Saban back. They could have kept him from now on if he was going 6-5 every year, but then who would have wanted him? The best coaches will always be a hot commodity.

Can't you just imaging what ole Al was feeling when Tuberville called him last year to rescue him from "football hell" as he called it? I bet the first time he saw Jason, Caddy and Ronnie in practice his mind was going about 100 miles an hour thinking about what he was going to be able to do with those guys. Talk about your wildest wet dream for an offensive coordinator!

I just hope he can keep it up. The challenge will be much greater this year, the defensive coordinators in the SEC will begin to pick up on his schemes and the talent level is going to fall off. I think we have some good players coming on but I don't see any first round draft choices in the group like the 3 we are losing. I hope they are eventually that good but it remains to be seen. It should be fun to watch though, and that is what it is all about. One thing about Al, you never know what to expect. He has certainly made Auburn football fun again!

[quietfan 233]

Interesting to me that the top four years were Jason and Pat Sullivan (well, I guess 2002 wasn't all Jason..) Guess that pretty much tells us who the top two QB's of all time at Auburn were!

Seems like Brandon's rep coming out of high school was being very accurate and very bright, if not necessarily the strongest arm. (or am I remembering wrongly?) While it's good to have a long ball, seems like in Borges' offense it's most important that a QB be accurate and smart than have a cannon for an arm--which sounds like Cox to me.

[Guest Tigrinum Major]

Interesting to me that the top four years were Jason and Pat Sullivan (well, I guess 2002 wasn't all Jason..)  Guess that pretty much tells us who the top two QB's of all time at Auburn were!

Seems like Brandon's rep coming out of high school was being very accurate and very bright, if not necessarily the strongest arm.  (or am I remembering wrongly?)  While it's good to have a long ball, seems like in Borges' offense it's most important that a QB be accurate and smart than have a cannon for an arm--which sounds like Cox to me.

144719[/snapback]

Actually, I remember a lot being made of his arm strength in hig school. I saw him during one of the basketball games I refereed during his senior year and he was downright scrawny. He has bulked up some since then, but he has always had a strong arm.

[StatTiger 3,086]

the only thing that scares me about cox, and it scares me a lot, is that deep out route that he threw two ints on this year. he's got work to do in the weight room b/c he cannot throw that pass as of right now. watching that thing try to reach the receiver is like waiting on a traffic light at 3 am. it just takes forever and you know it's pointless.

144706[/snapback]

JC clearly has the stronger arm but Borges has already said Cox can make all the throws Campbell was asked to make. On deep passes, it's more about when the ball is thrown than how it's thrown. Brandon's goal is to get up to 215 for the season. I think we will be okay if he's at least 205-210.

[tiger88 934]

the first one (against arkansas i believe) was across the field. then there was one against kentucky that was to the left where he just stared down the receiver, floated that duck out there, and got it picked. i swear brandon got worse as the season progressed.

144709[/snapback]

He got a td in the la tech game that shoulda been intercepted but he got a lucky bounce off the db. He really just floated it up for grabs.

[mcgufcm 3,869]

the deep ball takes a lot less arm strength than a well timed out route. it's only 10-20 yards up the field, but you have to throw the ball a solid 40-60 yards depending on what hash mark you're on. throwing deep you can put air under it and let it fall into place. that's why danny wonderful was so good in college and so bad in the pros. he could throw the timed deep ball, but he couldn't complete the short passes b/c he couldn't get it there fast enough.

if he keeps getting stronger, he should be just fine. that should just be priority number one for him b/c he already knows most of the offense i assume.

[tiger88 934]

Yeah, I'm not jumping on the guy and I think he will develop nicely although I don't think he is a lock with booker on his heels. They both look very good.

[BustemBigBlue 22]

I think Cox is going to be real good once he gets a little more experience. I dont think I've ever seen Booker take a snap so I have no clue about him.

[API50 0]

Our talent level hasn't dropped as low as many may think. As far as the qb position is concerned, it takes a whole lot more than a srrong arm to be a winner. How to read the defense and get us in the right play is just as, if not more, important.

When Carnell was a freshman, he came on strong, but when Ronnie was a soph. he ran kinda timid. Look how much he improved in one year to his Jr. year.

Trey Smith is as good as Darby for Bama and both he and Irons have SEC experience. We will be very good at TB. Stewart reminds me of a young Ronnie Brown. Watch him come on strong.

Cox is getting ready to excel as QB of the Auburn Tigers. He is spending a lot of time in the film room....studying defenses and offense.

If the 'ole ball bounces our way like it did for the basketball team yesterday, we will have another dominating season this year.

[quietfan 233]

So would you rather have our BC (Brandon Cox) at QB, or Bama's BC (Brodie Croyle)?

Obviously Brodie's injuries have to be part of the equation in choosing, but then Brandon has had his health problems. I'd say Brodie's survivability is more in question than Brandon's these days, though. Brodie has a bit more college experience, although its split up among several seasons/games/injuries, and has looked pretty good in some games.

IMHO, Brodie has certainly shown more in the past, but Brandon is a better gamble for the future, even if they both stay healthy (and ignoring the difference in remaining eligibility for each). I don't think Brodie will improve much more from where he is, while I think Brandon has a lot of untested potential and a chance to be very good. But time will tell.

[i'll certain take Brandon's coaches over Brodie's!]

[API50 0]

So would you rather have our BC (Brandon Cox) at QB, or Bama's BC (Brodie Croyle)?

I'll take Brandon Cox.

[Wishbone 0]

I told Kenny King's dad that Brandon Cox would be the best qb in the SEC.

[passthebiscuits 6,025]

Brandon had some personal trouble last year that affected his performance. He'll be back--and he'll be a good one.

[tiger88 934]

That seems to be a recurring problem with him. I hope he is getting a handle on things.

[mcgufcm 3,869]

the difference that i've seen between cox and booker is the arm strength/ mobility. surprisingly, brandon has looked more mobile (not necessarily running for yardage but sliding the pocket) than booker, but booker's arm is a LOT stronger. biggest knock i have on him is the delivery. it is SO slow. you can get away with it in college (just like a weaker arm), but it's not ideal. he reminds me of rohan davey with that big sweeping motion with a powerful arm and a big body.

personally, i'd rather have brandon than brodie though. brodie has a MUCH stronger arm and more experience. brandon has more potential. he's as accurate as any young qb i've ever seen. he's shown a penchant for reading defenses (with some notable failures that caused turnovers). he hasn't had the injury problems (namely a repaired knee that will limit brodie's future mobility), and he's younger. you get brodie for one year or brandon for three?

[RollTideRollUA 0]

I know you guys will call me a bit of a but I'll take brodie over cox. COx has hardly any experience. Brodie's first 2 years wern't that great. He really had no touch early in his career and seemed to be trying to put a hole in the receiver. Has really improved in this area. But I'm a brodie fan because he a tough guy. He plays hurt alot, although he could use 10-15 lbs of muscle, that would help his injury prob.

don't know alot about brandon cox, i know he got a good bit of mop up work against so teams, seems talented enough. how big is cox, anyway?

Roll Tide!

[WarTim 3,293]

I have said it before and I will say it again. I have had season tickets for twenty consecutive years, and I attended many more games before.

Brandon Cox throws the best pass I have EVER seen.

Give him time , and some good old AB coaching , and he will be a GREAT qb.

Time will tell....

p.s. Who is this "brodie" guy you are talking about?

[mcgufcm 3,869]

he's about 6'2" or 3". goes about 205 on a good day. needs to get up to 215. looks like brodie. tall and skinny.