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[Darth Vader]

The performance that Wallace put in on Saturday night (granted mostly against A&M scrubs) made me start to wonder this morning what the 2012 season would look like right now had he been our starter the entire season.

Think back how the lack of an effective passing game has allowed teams to focus on stopping the running game. Think back how we had a chance to go down on the last drive of the LSU game and win. Think back how Frazier failed to hit wide open Auburn receivers on that drive. Think back to all the sacks we've given up, many of which were due to the ball staying in the QB's hands far too long. Think of the turnovers due to balls being thrown into coverage or behind the receiver. Think of all the 3 and outs caused by poor QB play. Think of all the times the defense left the field only to have to turn around and go right back out because the offense could not move the ball or worse yet turned the ball over.

Now am I saying we'd be sitting at 8-0 or 7-1? No, I'm not going to make that claim. But at the same time we'd be far better off than 1-7 in my opinion. The question though is how much better off would we be? 6-2 or 5-3 perhaps? Were Auburn sitting at either number the discussion right now would be not about firing everyone from the strength & conditioning coach to the AD, it would be centered around the fact that Auburn is having at least a decent season with a Frosh QB playing for a new OC in a new offensive system with a likewise young o-line coupled with a new DC on the other side of the ball. In short, Auburn fans would be looking at this season as building towards better things to come rather than the need to burn the whole thing down and start anew.

In the end the fact that Wallace, despite being "used" in every game this season, only was able to show his ability once Auburn was down 30+ points in the second half of a lost game, 8 games into a season that was already laying in ashes, is in my opinion one of the biggest failures of this coaching staff this season. And considering the long list of coaching failures we've seen thus far in 2012, that's saying something.

Thoughts?

[GvilleDave]

No change - Wallace wasn't ready and will struggle to finish the season but is better now that either other option so far...  I cringe to think how Wallace would have fared starting against Clemson in the dome...  MSU would have rattled him too.  Maybe we could have picked up Ark or Ole Miss but probably we would still be 1-7.  The real difference is we would be 1-7 with a QB that had some experience and was better prepared for the UGA and bama games coming up all too soon...

Even if he had started it would not have changed all the other underperforming players and coaches in this program this year...

Edited by GvilleDave, 31 October 2012 - 09:03 AM.

[WadeWilson]

Had Wallace been starter, I think your sole win would have come during regulation, not overtime, against LA Monroe.



Not sure about Wallace, just wanted to get a jab in. Proceed with pointing out I'm a dick, I'll allow it.

[FlyingEagle]

If we fire Chiz, then I'm glad we are doing as poorly as we are. If having Wallace in would have somehow increased our record to "average" then we would still be with Chiz for next year...and the next. That was my fear once Gus left. That we'd be "ok" with Chizik for a long time since a natty buys you plenty of "ok" seasons.

This season we are having is the only season bad enough to get his ass out of here and give us a better coach.

To answer your question though, I agree with Gville. The Wallace we are seeing now has been slowly adapted into the offense and learning more every week in practice etc. He would have been a better "player" earlier on, but would have lacked the necessary knowledge and experience to have changed our record much. He'd be blossoming now though, instead of slowly crawling into the position...

Edited by FlyingEagle, 31 October 2012 - 09:23 AM.

[uscrules]

With Frazier starting I was amazed at how few running plays were designed for him, considering last year that was the thing he did best and was his strength.

[AUskip07]

Imagine what he will be like after next year.   Mobility.   He has good touch.   He knows when to roll out.   ( i dont think ive seen frazier look down field when he rolls out yet) Im pretty happy about the start. I sort of wonder what is wrong with frazier.

Granted he only has 7 completions this year

Edited by AUskip07, 31 October 2012 - 09:41 AM.

[Darth Vader]

FlyingEagle, on 31 October 2012 - 09:22 AM, said:

If we fire Chiz, then I'm glad we are doing as poorly as we are. If having Wallace in would have somehow increased our record to "average" then we would still be with Chiz for next year...and the next. That was my fear once Gus left. That we'd be "ok" with Chizik for a long time since a natty buys you plenty of "ok" seasons.

This season we are having is the only season bad enough to get his ass out of here and give us a better coach.

To answer your question though, I agree with Gville. The Wallace we are seeing now has been slowly adapted into the offense and learning more every week in practice etc. He would have been a better "player" earlier on, but would have lacked the necessary knowledge and experience to have changed our record much. He'd be blossoming now though, instead of slowly crawling into the position...

Very good points you made. Perhaps we would be somewhat better right now from a win/loss standpoint had Wallace been the starter. But there is the consideration of him possibly not known much of the offense earlier in the season. However, I will counter that by pointing out how little the other QB's seemed to know or grasp the system early on as well. Considering how little we've developed either of them I think our QB's live or die on their pure talent alone. And I think it's clear that of the three Wallace is the most talented QB.

That still leaves the problems with the o-line and defense though. Having said that, though I think Wallace would at least be somewhat more effective in that perhaps he would not hold the ball as long (thus not give up as many sacks) and with more accurate passes help keep drives alive and relieve some of the pressure on the defense by keeping our offense on the field. Considering the performance from Frazier and Mosley, I don't see how he would have fared any worse than they have.

In the end the bottom line is all this falls on Chizik and his staff as they are the ones who have failed to develop these players and failed to install an effective system to give them a chance to win. For that they all need to go.

[tawoody]

Never will truly know but I'm going to say that you would still suck.  Mostly because your defense is terrible.

Edited by tawoody, 31 October 2012 - 10:11 AM.

[SECorBust]

It all comes back to changing offensive philosophy on these players.  I think also if you start and play Wallace then Frazier transfers.  Zeke is gone and Moseley will be gone.  By giving the QB a limited role then opposing teams aren't sure of his capabilities and it preserves the confidence of a young QB.  When you put him out there with the game on his back to win or lose each week that is a tough test.  Teams will find his weaknesses and exploit them.

They had to develop Frazier as a pass first quarterback to make their offense work.  I'm sure that he is not happy going spread to pro, and then being confused with when to run and when not to behind that young O-line.

[FlyingEagle]

tawoody, on 31 October 2012 - 10:11 AM, said:

Never will truly know but I'm going to say that you would still suck.  Mostly because your defense is terrible.

Our defense only sucks now because they've give up. Earlier in the year it played well enough. The problems begin with the offense sending them back 3 and out after 3 and out over and over again.

[Darth Vader]

FlyingEagle, on 31 October 2012 - 10:21 AM, said:

Our defense only sucks now because they've give up. Earlier in the year it played well enough. The problems begin with the offense sending them back 3 and out after 3 and out over and over again.

Very good point. It's clear the defense, not that great to start with, has had it's spirit shattered and has all but thrown in the towel. This was painfully clear in the A&M game this past weekend. They knew early on that there was little hope for the offense to sustain are drive, much less score.

[Neil Caudle is Superman]

I think that if Wallace started all year long we would have beaten LA Monroe, LSU, Ole Miss, and Vandy and would have been close against Arkansas. 4-4 would look a lot better than 1-7 right now and with two more easy games we could have salvaged a bowl game.

[AUskip07]

Guys remember  any defense if out there long enough will wear down.  the reason we are having such a hard time in the 4th is because the defense has played 70% of the game on the field.

[Caligula]

I don't think it would have changed, maybe one more win. The auburn defense needs a playmaker as well.

[AUsome]

WadeWilson, on 31 October 2012 - 09:07 AM, said:

Had Wallace been starter, I think your sole win would have come during regulation, not overtime, against LA Monroe.



Not sure about Wallace, just wanted to get a jab in. Proceed with pointing out I'm a dick, I'll allow it.

You're being a dick.