Coach Brandon on Columbus Radio

[Falconboy]

No offense to AT fans, but he should have been able to impress or at least show a spark last year durring Omars absence. My take is he would make a better back as I think he lacks the intuition and smarts to be a competent QB. Another year on this guy is a wasted year, lets build on the future now and pick one of our true fresh to be our QB. not to mention I bet G is better anyway and will develop more quickly. If for some reason we go AT we will be medicore this season.

I tend to agree with Macman on this one.

[hammb]

As far as I am concerned, we should expect to at the very least contend for MAC Championships every single year. By October, we may realize this team will not win a title, but right now, how can we expect anything less? Maybe I am unrealistic, but I feel this program is at a level that we should expect championships, not rebuilding years.

Oh, I whole-heartedly agree with you. I was just pointing out that trying to win a game (a la Herm Edwards) is not always condusive with the long term goal of winning a championship. The Tigers a couple years ago brought up a bunch of young kids, took their lumps, and saw which ones had long term potential. That team won 119 games, but the kids that survived are now the core of the team that has a legit shot of winning a title. That's all I was trying to say

Warthog, I must disagree with you. If we get 4 or 5 games into this season and see that neither QB is capable of leading the team, and they believe Glaud or Sheehan is likely next year's starter, I think we're better off to get that player some time against real competition. Let them get their feet wet this year, so they're not completely unproven as a starter going into next year. To me this is drastically different than peeling off a redshirt to play a kid at a different position for a couple games. I would not want to burn the redshirts so they could play RB or DB or something, but if one of them looks to be the QB of the future, by all means burn the redshirt to get them some experience, IMO. You still have 3 more full seasons of them, and by that time you could likely find someone to replace them.

I don't necessarily think any of these things will play out. It is still quite possible that Turner or Barnes come out on fire and grab the job for the remainder of their tenure here.

[Warthog]

That team won 119 games

I think you meant lost 119 games.

Warthog, I must disagree with you. If we get 4 or 5 games into this season and see that neither QB is capable of leading the team, and they believe Glaud or Sheehan is likely next year's starter, I think we're better off to get that player some time against real competition. Let them get their feet wet this year, so they're not completely unproven as a starter going into next year.

I hear what you are saying, but mostly disagree. Turner is in his third year in the program. If they feel he isn't going to cut it at QB, then don't waste anymore time on him. Alternatively, if Glaud or Sheehan looks that good, they should be starting now, not waiting until the season is half over. Either they are good enough to start now or that aren't. If they can't beat Turner/Barnes out in camp, then they should be redshirted.

Additionally, Turner has three more years left in the program. I think it is way too early to be looking past him. I think he will play well this year and all this talk of Glaud/Sheehan will be moot. Or is it mute?

[hammb]

Either they are good enough to start now or that aren't. If they can't beat Turner/Barnes out in camp, then they should be redshirted.

Not necessarily. At this point we're still trying to win this season. I would be shocked if a true freshman were better right now than a guy who's been in the program for a couple years already. There is just no way they could know the offense well enough yet. So we play who is best NOW.

If, halfway through the season, we are out of contention for the MAC, and the staff thinks that one of the freshmen are the likely starter next year, then you put him out there now. He may be worse than Turner initially, but perhaps he'll be that much better than he would've been in '07?

Additionally, Turner has three more years left in the program. I think it is way too early to be looking past him. I think he will play well this year and all this talk of Glaud/Sheehan will be moot. Or is it mute?

Agreed. I'm just making an argument to argue I doubt very seriously if the staff is ready to give up on AT after a few games. Personally I saw VERY little promise from him last year, but he did look very good in the spring game. I'm sure the talent is there, but he needs to start showing something. He doesn't have the size to play like he did last year or he'll get himself killed. He absolutely must learn to make some reads as well. He held onto the ball way too long last year. He looked like a deer in headlights at times, but he was a RS FR, so it's not unexpected. I expect him to come out this year looking like a different player.

[Warthog]

Remember that Jacobs didn't look too hot in his few opportunites as a redshirt FR either. I know that AT didn't look that good last year, but keep this in mind. He was working in the framework of a Jacobs-oriented offense. That is, pass first-run second. I think Brandon has been pretty clear that it will be the other way around this year because that is more of the type of QB Turner is. Last year, the offense had been preparing for months to be a passing team. So when Omar gets hurt, you can't just flip the switch and have the enitre philospohy of the offense changed for the new guy. I think that is part of the reason why Turner struggled a bit. Now that the game plan for the season will be geared more to his skills, I expect Turner to look a lot better out there.

[hammb]

As do I.

[Schadenfreude]

I see the point in investing in the future, but I think we should cross that bridge when we come to it. I really do feel that Turner is the real deal and will play much better this year after getting a lot more experience and coming in on more natural terms.

This seems to be Brandon's hunch, and it seems reasonable.

[Schadenfreude]

I am sure there is not one Falcon fan who before the 2004 season would have said they would have rather had a redshirt soph Jacobs at QB as opposed to a redshirt SR in Harris.

I'll say this: I had a TON of confidence in Omar.

[Warthog]

I am sure there is not one Falcon fan who before the 2004 season would have said they would have rather had a redshirt soph Jacobs at QB as opposed to a redshirt SR in Harris.

I'll say this: I had a TON of confidence in Omar.

As did I. But, before the season started, were you not lamenting the fact that we could have Harris back there for another year if not for Blackney throwing him out there at RB for a few meaningless games at the end of a terrible season?

[mmisbg]

This is my take on AT, and please don't take this as any presumption about whether or not this will change for this year:

I'm impressed with his athleticism, but he has a nasty habit. He throws the ball deep when he is scrambling. Nearly every interception I saw him throw was due to this. He needs to learn to either chuck it to a wide open reciever for short gain, throw the ball away, or tuck it down and run like mad.

Most NFL QB's aren't capable of making the types of passes he was attempting. Right now, only McNabb comes to mind as somebody with that club in his bag.

I really think AT would have looked pretty good last year if it hadn't been for this. Yes, it is a nasty habit to have, but I'm hoping it is one that he can work through.

If so, I don't think that we'll be talking QB controversy a month from now.

Go Falcons!