Crimson Red Sports

I was listening to Coach Saban on Cowherd his afternoon and as usual he was ask the question about qb's.  I got to thinking about the possibility of the two qb system.  What I am wanting here is your opinions.  I look at the situation like this.  The two qb system can be a positive because if one goes down you have a qb ready to step in with experience.  However there could be a downside.  In college players tend to gravitate to others.  Some players will like one qb better than the other.  This is just human nature.   This could lead to problems on the team's chemistry, which is more important than some people actually think with the success of a team. 

Don't take this wrong and think I am trying to create a problem, I am just wondering what other are other people's opinion.

This morning on ESPN, CNS said that as long as there was no adverse effects to the team's chemistry from one or the other QB, he would entertain a 2QB system if both performed well. I guess I would agree with that.

"Usually" doesn't work.  But with this team and these two kids it may work out really well. I havent seen enough of either of them. 

Am I wrong or was the last time we used 2 QBs with some success was when Andrew Zow and Tyler Watts played? Seemed like it worked at times. Times it didn't. That was different time and different kids and of course different coaches. I could see it working with CNS in charge.

CNS builds such a great team around the quarterback, it allows the pro-set and Wildcat to be successful. Having a quarterback out there that runs one offense and the other out there to run a different offense could prove successful.

 8)

Let's say a qb is hot, do you leave him in?

And before that Todd and Rutledge

I don't know. Seems like you tell the players before the game what series they are starting in.

If one takes opening drive for 80 yards do you start the other on the next series?

That's why he the coach. He has seen them practice for 2 years.

 8)

Lot of questions.  They have to be very mature to handle this situation as well as a total team player.

I don't know the answers. We have been fortunate not  having to substitute, until late in last years boogs game. JPW and GMAC took some terrible hits in the last 4 years. I was surprised to see them get up after some of them.

 8)

This is a unique situation.  Neither QB has enough experience to demonstrate that he can take the controls with confidence.  I don't think it's great insight on my part to say that if CNS names a starter now he'll likely lose the other player to a transfer (it seems the norm these days for QBs to skip schools).  So, it seems to me that CNS is doing what I predicted during the spring*.  He's saying he'll give them both a try, let both play during the first few games, then let the better one become the starter.  That way we may keep them both as insurance.

And I still want your opinion, HSCoach**. 

*
http://www.crimsonredsports.com/index.php?topic=45.msg243#msg243

**
http://www.crimsonredsports.com/index.php?topic=62.0

They showed A-Day highlights today on SC and they both looked good. Good defense they were playing against.

 8)

^ What CAT says. CNS has always been against the 2QB system. Now he finds himself thrown into a 2 QB situation. I think he figured out that it is better for BOTH QBS and the team, to have them thinking they are both going to play, until one QB defines himself clearly as a frontrunner. I am relatively sure his is not happy about the situation, other than if you're stuck with a rookie QB, it is better to be stuck with 2 of them.

Yeah, it's not the usual situation: an older, less-talented QB vs a young gun.  And it's not like UF last year: passer vs runner.  Both are pro-style pocket QBs with good arms.  Which can run the offense.  Barring injury, we've got both.  Does that mean we have 2 average QBs, as the talking heads like to say?  Nope, just 2 with exceptional talent and below-average experience.

Speaking of QBs. Matt Mauch is attending U of Colorado in Boulder to become a dentist. He dropped out of the Broncos.

 8)

Yep, I agree completely ... this certainly does not seem to be the usual situation. From a style perspective, they seem like peas in a pod, which will help the offense deal with QB substitutions ... 'cept with snap count, of course. Plus, we're WAY overdue for a significant QB injury.

It is hard to say what to do without really being in the coaching situation with them.  I, as I have said before, think they both are talented and capable of leading the team.
If I did employ the 2 qb system there would be some ground rules.
First, there will be playing time for both.  It may not be equal.  If a qb is hot I may stay with him longer than I plan.  I just can justify pulling a qb if he has completed 10 passes in a row. 
There are things that bother me.  First, team chemistry with some players aligning themselves with a certain qb.  This could cause a division in the team.  Example, I will make up.  One rec says why does the other qb get more pass plays called than you do. 
Also, which qb gets the start.  I think it should be based on two things.  Who has the best week of practice and who has the best grasp of the game plan for the week. 

Good points, HSC.  Assuming there are "ground rules", who sets them?  CNS?  And does CNS alone decide when to substitute during games?  That could be a sticky situation too.  I'd think CNS gets away from this 2-QB system (equal playing time) as soon as possible.  I'll bet we know by the end of the Penn State game.

I think that is right.  I expect this to be settled before SEC play begins.  It is great right now as it motivates both guys to get better, so there is no need for it to be resolved until the games begin.  And the first game is more like a sparring round, so let them keep competing at least until after that game.

It would be a plus if we had two strong centers so that the QB's/centers could be like a pitching battery in basball but, alas, we would not want to take Vlachos out.

It can work, like G. Rutledge and Todd, but more so when you are heavily into the running game --- which, by all means, I hope will be the case!

Yippee .... finally busted my "lurker" cherry in this forum. The 49 year old virgin, if you wil ...

 #+

Welcome

Have a welcome #+ but lets not have any more talk about sitting an all-american center on the bench.

Welcome.  #+

For the record my favorite Bama 2 QB combination was Jeff Rutledge and Steadman Shealy. That combo had 2 NC's.

I just wish A.J. would have came in at the end of the Auburn game and saved the day with a "Favre-like" performance.  But, he didn't, and I guess this is a good problem to have.  I really like both quarterbacks.  A.J. seems to have more Namath-like swagger, and Sims seems like a physical freak.

I think CNS and CJM would decide the ground rules.  Usually there is a certain time/series people using 2 qbs set for them to come in.  However, that could change depending on how the first qb is playing.  I am not sure it will be decided by the PSU game.  I think they looked very close in the spring game.  However, I am not in player meetings and practice.   One huge issue is who will play Coach Saban style football?

I Agree.

Saban ball needs a good leader at QB. We may have 2 leaders down there. Like I said, CNS and CJM may already know but want both to improve.

 8)

That is going to be the bottom line I'm sure.  AJ may have some trouble in that area, since he wants to play AJ style football.  But I'm sure he is over that by now or CNS would not be considering him to be the potential starter at this point.  If AJ can keep that self-confidence, but learn just a touch of humility to go with it, he will be a force to reckon with.  I like his swagger, he just needs to make sure he doesn't try to out swagger the coach our he will be riding the pine.

Welcome to the forum.  Have some e-creds.

#+

I am thrilled that we have established an environment where long time lurkers feel comfortable signing up and posting.  I am certain that most forums miss out on a ton of good posters who simply don't want to deal with the jerks that normally dominate the discussion.

For now, the uncertainty at QB requires that both players work hard to improve their game, which I think is what Saban hopes to accomplish.  Nothing like competition to motivate players.  Sims will be a star one day, and he deserves a shot at the head QB job now.  I think eventually Bama will have one starting QB, but it may not happen until the third game.

We're on the same page.  We'll need an established pattern of starting QB by SEC TIME.

Images of Bama's two leading QBs:

(http://larrybrownsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/AJ-McCarron-Has-Obnoxious-Chest-Tattoo.jpg)

(http://www.nefariousfilms.com/Images/Monsters/predator.jpg)

Yikes.  Twice yikes.

So I guess you are on team AJ?  If he has a Jesus tattoo and a blonde co-ed on his arm he has to be the best QB.  :D

I wouldn't want to meet that second guy on a QB sneak at the goal line.

That predator pick is freakin' hilarious.

"So I guess you are on team AJ?  If he has a Jesus tattoo and a blonde co-ed on his arm he has to be the best QB. 

I wouldn't want to meet that second guy on a QB sneak at the goal line."

I like them both for now and trust Saban's judgment.

AJ's girlfriend has a bag over her head, so the verdict is still out on him.  And if the Predator can master that invisibility device, then all bets are off.

          :lol:

#+

BTW, I'm on team bandwagon too.

I'm confused. Is the Predator pic a reference to Sims, or to A.J. with the junior high girl.