Why do we struggle so much to throw the football?

[CullmanTide]

AJ is in the Top 3 in all QB categories in the SEC. Only Wilson and Murray are slightly better than him. at times, AJ is better and leads at certain categories. all this for a first time starter in the best conference.

Indeed, AJ in my opinion is having a fine season playing within the system which is all any quarterback is supposed to do.

 

[SirCrimson]

I think McCarron is average at the very best and i also think we're missing the talents of a JJ/Duron Carter. We are not making these defenses fear the pass like we need to be. When you put 9 men in a box and stack the line you cant run against that, I dont care if your name is Bulldozer it just aint happening. We need to throw more to loosen up the LOS so TR can run the ball more effectively and i also think the redzone play calling is suspect as well.

 

[UAChemE2013]

It seems to me like Aj locks on to a receiver as soon as the play begins. If that receiver doesn't get open, he either dumps off to trent or the play is completely squandered. I felt like Greg and JPW did the same thing. It's like the quarterbacks are afraid to hit anyone other than the intended receiver on the play.

 

[Nolan]

Really? It's not like our passing game is anemic... I saw the title and thought this thread was created by an auburn poster, lol.

 

[bamaslammer]

ok, how about this info. What do Freddie Kitchens, Mike Shula, Jay Barker, Walter Lewis, Andrew Zow, David Smith and Tyler Watts have in common? The answer is that AJ McCarron has already passed for more yards this season than any of those guys did in a single season in their careers. McCarron has two games more to go and has done this with no real star at receiver.

Alabama has struggled in the red zone lately and the long passes haven't fallen for us. For a while it seemed McCarron was off but lately I think it's been more our receivers not being aggressive enough to make the catch. Maze had one in his hands last week, he just needed to haul it in. Hopefully this will be the week we see it.

 

[b2v4ua]

Seems to me that when we need it AJ makes a throw. All be it maybe not a deep throw but none the less a 10 or 12 yarder good for a 1st down. There is a lot less room for a turnover with the run than a pass. 2 out of 3 things can go wrong with a throw, 1 a drop 2 an interception. I like the run.

 

[ElkhartTider]

I'll never understand why other teams can get amazing quarterbacks, and we just keep getting those "game managers". Its been the case for a long time, regardless of the coaching staff.

All of the QB's on our roster were elite 11 guys coming out of high school. They all have talent and would put up huge numbers in offenses that aren't balanced and don't care about turnovers. It all has to do with coaching. Saban preaches about not turning the ball over... AJ won the job because Saban thought that he would be the most responsible with the ball in his hands. We don't take very many risks in the passing game. I think we've got some talent at WR but the problem is now that we're banged up and some of the talented youngins need to step it up asap.. they've been very inconsistent all year. I hope we see Norwood and Gibson getting a little more PT in the last few games.. and Hanks return would gel a lit also.

 

[LCN]

I notice that none of you have pointed the most obvious reason as to why the Alabama passing attack is not as polished as it could and should be .....

 

[wisten]

One word. Julio.

I would not say that we "struggle" to pass, stats are sound. Marquis is very very good, but, we had it all in 2009 and this year we only have it all.

 

[257WBY]

I think It's like Dean Smith being the only one that could hold down MJ. The talent is there but the game plan is low risk low reward.

 

[CajunCrimson]

I notice that none of you have pointed the most obvious reason as to why the Alabama passing attack is not as polished as it could and should be .....

Ball Control
Field Position
Strong Defense

Am I close?

 

[JTH]

We also face real defenses every week in the SEC. Most of these "high powered" offenses in other conferences only appear to be amazing because they are playing against mediocre defenses.

 

[Sweaty]

You guys can throw up stats all day and sugar coat it, but the fact is AM CAN NOT hit a receiver down field over 20 yards. Those past QB's mention never had an O-line like we have now nor a RB as good as we have now. I wonder how many more plays AM has had to put up those numbers in than the guys mentioned before. I do agree that he is limited somewhat in the system he is in and what he is asked to do, but quit drinking the Koolaid boys. (Let me add, I would take him over 75 % of the other guys we have had through out the years).

 

[CapstoneTider]

All of the QB's on our roster were elite 11 guys coming out of high school. They all have talent and would put up huge numbers in offenses that aren't balanced and don't care about turnovers..

correctamundo

 

[Harmost]

The answer is coaching, mentality, and scheme.

And what is this "past champions haven't had good passing games" sentiment? Can you really think we wouldn't be better with the ability to consistently pass the ball? No one wants to see the Air Raid come to Ttown, just greater ability in the passing game.

 

[Mystical]

By the middle of next year AJ will be talked about is he leaving early. Write it down count on it he will be that good.

 

[RedStar]

I think what the OP is getting at, and maybe i'm wrong about this, is how come we never have an Andrew Luck type player, or Sam Bradford, etc....

It's a valid question, and it's not just us. For as great as the defenses and running games are in the SEC, we always seem to struggle at developing QB's. We get lots of 4 & 5 star guys (The SEC, not just us) who never develop the way they are projected to.

 

[CrmznApklps]

and I think many of the posters have hit on the point. Its not our style. AJ and others have had the raw ability, but they arent developed to be that type of player. If AJ was in a DIFFERENT program, it is quite possible he'd be the player you're talking about. I'm sure Coach is the type who practices what he wants to see on the field. That said, how often do you think they practice the long ball? My guess is not that much.

 

[deliveryman35]

Because it is not our default position when we are on O, and our HC wants our team to have the reputation as being a very physical football team that likes to move the sticks mainly by keeping it on the ground. Watch the next time we play, and you will notice that we usually only throw when 1) we're on 1st down, or 2)we are strictly in long yardage situations.

 

[Rolltide_PA]

i'll take a game manager that puts us in the NCG over a high powered passer anyday

none of the top qb's in the NFL won a title ... manning, brady, brees, roethlisberger, eli, rivers, cutler, rodgers, romo, schaub, stafford, ryan, bradford, etc

maybe sCam will be top 10 one day but he had 1500 yards rushing in their title year...clearly not a "pass happy" scheme

fact is you have a much better chance of winning a national title with a great running game with a great winner like McElroy, Tebow, Flynn, Krenzel, Leak, Dorsey, etc

...and hopefully AJ