If McCarron starts next season; we will have to live with INTs

[TIDEnGA]

Why do people keep posting that Sims is so much more mobile than McCarron. They are both prostyle QBs. Niether is a scrambling/mobile type QB, I don't believe.

I guess I need to go back and watch more tape on him then. I could have sworn the night they showed Oscar Smith High School on ESPN that Sims was all over the place. Scrambling and passing and some running to boot. Maybe I'm mistaken or maybe that was just one game.

 

[RTR91]

I think people assume that just because Sims is black that he's a dual threat QB. Sims is a pure pro-style QB. In fact, I think AJ may be more mobile than PS...

Why do people keep posting that Sims is so much more mobile than McCarron. They are both prostyle QBs. Niether is a scrambling/mobile type QB, I don't believe.

We all know Star Jackson was a running QB. :rolleye2::wink:

 

[WMack4Bama]

I saw several points I wanted to comment on. First, Sims is not a running QB in the same vain as a Randall Cunningham or Steve Young but he (and AJ) are elusive enough to avoid a rush.

About the offensive line play: it has been better, but they did an ok job this season. As much as good o-line play is essential for a good QB, good QB play can help with O-line play as well. If a QB makes the right reads and makes a defense pay heavily for blitzing, the dogs will be called off. If the QB gets rid of the ball quickly, decisively and with authority, the chances of more pressure is lessened.
In addition, play calling variety would help a ton. Screens to the RBs out of the backfield, middle screens to the slot receiver, shovel passes, draws..break a few of those for big gains and that'll force aggressive d-linemen (like Nevis and Fairley) to stay honest and play their assignments instead of just pinning their ears back.

But to answer the original question, we can definitely expect more TOs. But because of inexperience, not over aggressiveness. I can't think of one QB that Coach Saban has ever had that he just let play, even Daunte' Culpepper when he was with the Dolphins. My armchair QB guess is that they will keep the reigns around whichever QB plays with the mindset of playing not to lose will ultimately lead you to wins.

 

[BocaLance]

All good points guys, but unless the OL improves dramtically it makes no difference who the QB and WRs are. It all start in the trenches.

This is where the problems all started and ended this season IMO. Our backs had few holes to hit, and it seemed like McElroy was running for his life 50% of the time.

 

[rangerman]

i dont predict a perfect season with him at the helm during his first year. however i think he may have a arm similar to mallett. if we can rum the ball next year watch out we may have a miracle season on hand. however in teh next three to four years we will be back in the title game again i believe.

 

[gmoney]

the mindset of playing not to lose is a sure fire way to lose.you have to pla to win always. there will be more its but there will also be more big plays and that will keep the box from getting to crowded. the more field a D has to cover the less pressure and box crowding it is able to do.

 

[bamagradinATL]

I think people assume that just because Sims is black that he's a dual threat QB. Sims is a pure pro-style QB. In fact, I think AJ may be more mobile than PS...

It reminds me of Zow & Watts. Everyone assumed Zow was the running QB.

 

[h2o]

It takes a strong armed QB to roll the pocket. That is something we didn't see alot of with GMac. Rolling the pocket can cover up some weakness on the O-line. I hope to see more of this next year with a stonger armed QB.

 

[Alasippi]

We'll have a few more ints maybe but we'll also probably have a lot more TD passes.

AJ reads quicker than GMAC, has a stronger arm, and is more accurate.

He'll be our starter.

 

[bamacon]

People are assuming the AJ will beat out P.S. What if he doesn't????

 

[REBELZED]

People are assuming the AJ will beat out P.S. What if he doesn't????

Then I guess PS will be our starter

 

[64met]

Won't matter who our starter is @ QB, unless the O Line plays much better.

 

[BamaFossil]

...
Greg will be missed though. AJ has more upside than Greg and Philip Sims as well. ....

Maybe... But I'm not buying in. AJ certainly has more college experience, albeit nowhere near what I hoped he'd have at this point. I don't expect Sims to catch AJ this spring or fall... but IMO Sims could easily have more upside than AJ. He's not the gunslinger AJ is, but after a few too many INTs we might be looking for a QB with a strong arm, protective of the ball, and a good/quick decision-maker. Enter Sims, stage right.

Next year should be fun.
:smile:

 

[MOAN]

All good points guys, but unless the OL improves dramtically it makes no difference who the QB and WRs are. It all start in the trenches.

Correct Sir! What gets me is that after '08 our O-line was supposed to be a liability in '09 after losing all we lost. Then we go out and win 14 and the BCSNC. This season the O-line was supposed to have been a strength.

The only thing I can think of is that last season it took Auburn (Chizic) to figure out how to stop our running game and then everyone capable of playing good run defense this season copied their success. So then we had to rely on the passing game more which everyone knew the way to hurt us there was to pressure the hell outa the QB.

So with the defense losing almost the entire starters and the offense supposedly going to have to make up for it till they come around, its a small miracle we won 9 games with the chance to win 10.

 

[Harmost]

We'll also see fewer fumbles from the QB...

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Not if he's got defensive tackles busting through the line unblocked and putting a helmet in his chest before he even takes two steps...

We'll also see fewer fumbles from the QB...

 

[graydogg85]

I'm not totally convinced that starting AJ will lead to more interceptions. We all were saying the exact same thing about Greg two years ago.

Coach Mac's passing game prominently features a lot of high-percentage, low-risk stuff, and we've seen low interception totals from starting QBs for three seasons now. John Parker threw 13 INTs in 2006, 12 in 2007 and was down to either 8 or 9 in 2008. Greg has thrown 9 in two seasons as a full-time starter. We're a risk management offense and I don't think we'll see a high interception count from a starting QB as long as Coach Mac is around. With AJ's apparent arm strength, I'm sure we'll look to stretch the field a little more often, but I don't necessarily see that resulting in more picks. I see his big arm leading to overthrows on the deep stuff, and when you go downfield it's the underthrown passes that are more susceptible to interception.

I'm not saying that AJ will go out next season and only toss 3 or 4 picks, but I don't think he'll throw 13 or 14, either. I think 6 or 7 is a realistic number. Now, being a first-year starter I'm sure we'll see completion percentage drop a bit. Hard for a first-year guy to complete 70% of his throws.

 

[Bigalstide1877]

to be honest i dont think were gonna see a big increase in int's next year yes both qb's are very young but they have alot of talent

 

[crimson2713]

More picks but more TD'S i would imagine. Whether it's AJ or Simms i think we'll be missing GMAC next year.

 

[twofbyc]

I'm not totally convinced that starting AJ will lead to more interceptions. We all were saying the exact same thing about Greg two years ago.

Coach Mac's passing game prominently features a lot of high-percentage, low-risk stuff, and we've seen low interception totals from starting QBs for three seasons now. John Parker threw 13 INTs in 2006, 12 in 2007 and was down to either 8 or 9 in 2008. Greg has thrown 9 in two seasons as a full-time starter. We're a risk management offense and I don't think we'll see a high interception count from a starting QB as long as Coach Mac is around. With AJ's apparent arm strength, I'm sure we'll look to stretch the field a little more often, but I don't necessarily see that resulting in more picks. I see his big arm leading to overthrows on the deep stuff, and when you go downfield it's the underthrown passes that are more susceptible to interception.

I'm not saying that AJ will go out next season and only toss 3 or 4 picks, but I don't think he'll throw 13 or 14, either. I think 6 or 7 is a realistic number. Now, being a first-year starter I'm sure we'll see completion percentage drop a bit. Hard for a first-year guy to complete 70% of his throws.

When you have an athletic wr like Julio (like Alshon Jeffry (sp)), you throw it to them when they are covered and give them a chance to beat a defender (which most of the times, IMO, they will do, even if well covered - AJ did it to Bama for a TD). I don't know how many times this year or last that has been done with Julio, and I haven't watched every play of every game, but I just think it should have been done more.