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I guess it’s never too early to start talking about next season since we are finished for this year, right. And this is post has no bearing on if Omar is back or not. We all saw flashes of what Turner can do after he was forced into the #1 spot when Jacobs went down. Some of it was good, some of it was not. But he’s still young and his better days are ahead of him. I think there are two things that Turner could really work on during the offseason that could help him a lot come next year.

1. Throwing a ton of passes: Turner never really looked comfortable throwing the ball. He was thrown to the wolves against WMU, but actually looked better in that game passing than he did against Akron or Kent State. Most of his yardage came through the air when WMU was ahead, but it almost seemed that as the season progressed, his passing touch regressed and the play-calling for him kept getting more and more conservative. I think an off-season of throwing the ball with some wideouts running patterns over and over could really help him come next season with his accuracy, timing and most of, confidence. He seemed to have good zip on his ball, it just didn’t always find his receivers.

2. Watching film from the WMU, Akron and KSU games: Lot of people, including Coach Brandon, say Turner is more of the mold of a Josh Harris. There’s no doubt he got better wheels than Jacobs, but the thing that I felt he really lacked despite being such a good runner was knowing when to tuck the ball and go. On the designed running plays, he looked pretty good running the ball and took some shots and bounced back. But it seemed time and time again, when he didn’t have anyone open downfield in a passing situation, he found himself sitting in the pocket way too long and if he would have tucked the ball and run, he’d have eaten up chucks of yardage instead of getting brought down or throwing the ball away. It just seemed like he sat back there way too long when his mental clock should have told him to go. Maybe he was coached to stay back there that long, I don’t know. But watching a guy with his running ability get sacked or taken down by a three or four-man pass rush with all kinds of green space downfield was frustrating. And that is what Josh Harris did so well - he knew when to run and when to sit tight in the pocket and that is why and how he became do dangerous. Harris could be you with his feet or arm, and Turner can do the same. Again, Turner is young and will improve, but watching game film in the offseason could help show him how many times he had chances to tuck it and run.

I still believe Turner will turn into a good QB. Josh wasn't great until the end of the 2001 season. But, to get there, Turner has to be able to do more than run--he has to be able to pass effectively as well.

Anyone remember how Omar did as a RS freshman against Ball State?

1987alum wrote:Anyone remember how Omar did as a RS freshman against Ball State?

exactly. I'm kind of surprised at all the negative energy towards AT. Sure he didn't look that great this year, but people are forgetting he was a freshman. Maybe some unrealistic expectations of what he was supposed to do this year. I still think Turner could be one of the best QB's we've seen here once it's his ship.

AT will be fine. I worry more about him staying healthy if he is running the ball 10-20 times a game.

Yep...he's not nearly as thickly built as Harris was and Josh had his share of minor injuries trying to run 15-20 times a game.

Maybe that shot he took at Kent will help him realize that he needs to protect himself better when running. Slide, baby, slide!

I am really excited to see what AT can do. The kid is a heck of an athlete.

33,
You hit on the two things I think AT needs to work on...but there is no question he is physically gifted.

Falconfreak90 wrote:33, You hit on the two things I think AT needs to work on...but there is no question he is physically gifted.

Yeah, there's no question he is gifted. I am excited to see him grow too, and those points were just some observations from watching him play in the few games he did. I believe he will do fine and if he can become a complete dual-threat (runner & passer) like a Josh Harirs....look out!