Firmly believe some of this goes to Kiffin not properly developing Jalen as the season progressed.Snarky as it is, this is truth here. The staff thought they could teach Hurts in season how to be a quarterback. Whatever his talent or ceiling may be, whatever his composure and maturity, the fact is he was not ready. A dual threat QB has to also be a game manager first. Someone else posted in another thread that Hurts' development may have been stunted instead of advanced by being made the starter too soon.
Because Greg did so much in the title game?We are not is disagreement. You illustrate the point perfectly. The only way this brand of football wins championships is when you have a DW or CN.
On the other hand QBs like GM, AJM and JC can manage their way to NCs otherwise.
this is possible but in the two previous years kiffin was developing first year starters who were 5th year seniors. The basic mechanics and knowledge of the game were already in place. Jalen was being asked to learn everything at once. I certainly do place responsibility on the staff but it's not clear what kiffen could have done.Firmly believe some of this goes to Kiffin not properly developing Jalen as the season progressed.
We wouldn't have got there without GM throwing that TD pass at the end of the Auburn game. Or what about that pass to the tight end against Florida in the SECCG.Because Greg did so much in the title game?
Yes, you win last night with a capable passer .We wouldn't have got there without GM throwing that TD pass at the end of the Auburn game. Or what about that pass to the tight end against Florida in the SECCG.
I'm not down on Jalen Hurts, personally. Didn't even mention him in the OP.
But if I believe with GMac or AJM or JC and a committed effort to run the ball and convert on 3rd and short with qbs like that we win #17 last night.
Don't you?
Is this serious?We wouldn't have got there without GM throwing that TD pass at the end of the Auburn game. Or what about that pass to the tight end against Florida in the SECCG.
I'm not down on Jalen Hurts, personally. Didn't even mention him in the OP.
But if I believe with GMac or AJM or JC and a committed effort to run the ball and convert on 3rd and short with qbs like that we win #17 last night.
Don't you?
I've got tons of respect for JH. Had a great year.Is this serious?
You mention of the Iron Bowl TD warrants bringing up what all Jalen did this year in the regular season.
Think Greg brings us back in Oxford?
Or does what Jalen did to Tennessee?
Or in Baton Rouge?
And with the inconsistencies on the interior of the OL this year, no I'm not sure it matters who the QB is. Remember 4th and 1 in the 2013 Iron Bowl with AJ at QB? How'd that work out?
Of course, we couldn't. We had a total of 15 third downs. We had 8 third downs with 10+ yards to go. We had four more with 5+ yards to go. That's 75% of our third downs on the night.I've got tons of respect for JH. Had a great year.
But the obvious thing is we couldn't pass for a first down on 3rd down.
That is correct, but we only gave up 7 points over the course of those 44 plays. We lost the game in the 2nd and 3rd quarters when our offense could not move the chains, or capitalize on turnovers. No matter how dominant a defense has been all season, you can't expect them to be able to be as dominant against Watson and that Clemson offense after they have been on the field as much as they were. On top of that, Clemson made a couple of great plays on that last drive where you just have to tip you cap to them.You are putting the loss all on the offense, and that isn't fair or accurate. Clemson ran 44 plays in the first half, before you got tired on defense. But to answer your question, another year of poor passing like this and you can say goodbye to any great receiver recruits. Guys like Ridley and Cooper want to play on Sundays and that won't happen playing in this kind of offense without more down field passing.
Yes, and three of those times, Jalen was right on the money -- and our receivers dropped the ball. Two turnovers, two false starts on 1st down. Poor execution all around. Change any one or two of those things and the outcome might have been different. Make one of those first downs, we eat more clock and the defense gets rest. Have no false start when it's 1st down at their 15, and we may come away with 7 instead of three. Have no false starts at all on those plays and we get two additional scores. So IMO Jalen was NOT our problem last night.I've got tons of respect for JH. Had a great year.
But the obvious thing is we couldn't pass for a first down on 3rd down.
You are correct. But it is also true that what led to 3rd and long so often was an incomplete pass on first down that got us behind the chains.Of course, we couldn't. We had a total of 15 third downs. We had 8 third downs with 10+ yards to go. We had four more with 5+ yards to go. That's 75% of our third downs on the night.
Went back and looked at the first down play before the third down plays (not the first play of the drive, but the first play in that series).You are correct. But it is also true that what led to 3rd and long so often was an incomplete pass on first down that got us behind the chains.
Perhaps more running on 1st down would have helped, but at some point you to complete some 5-10 yard passes to move the chains.
that was impressive, we were beating the crap out of himI don't see how Watson kept going after all the solid hits he kept taking.
When we had 1st and 15 and ran the ball we were then in 2nd a long most of the time. I'm looking at the big picture and you're looking at more details (which is cool) but our lack of passing ability is the overall concern I have moving forward.Went back and looked at the first down play before the third down plays (not the first play of the drive, but the first play in that series).
Of the 15, four were pass plays, nine were rushes, and two were rush plays after Cam's false starts.
Exactly, and they scored a whopping 7 points. had the defense not been worn down due to the offense's inability to run some clock, they wouldn't have scored 28 in the second half (21 in the 4th alone) - the defense was completely gassed in the 4th Q because the offense couldn't simply run some clock.You are putting the loss all on the offense, and that isn't fair or accurate. Clemson ran 44 plays in the first half, before you got tired on defense.
As good as he is, I'm glad he'll be in the NFL next year. Goodness.two were rush plays after Cam's false starts.