New QB's

[GTTiger]

Just curious why so many people think that LSU's new QB will struggle so much compared to the other new QB's in the league?

Auburn, Vandy, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Miss St are some teams that will be starting new QB's just to name a few and none of these teams will have near the talent LSU has on offense to help them out.

Not trying to start a huge arguement, just curious why people are so convinced that LSU's QB is going to suck and the others won't.

[UAdan]

I don't necessarily think that it's because people think LSU's QB's will struggle more than the other new QB's - It's just that there's more of an expectation that is placed on Lee/Hatch because of the team they play for. I think everyone knows that UK and Vandy are gonna struggle, so people aren't really as vocal about their new QB's. But with LSU, you have a team that many predict to make it to Atlanta, thus they find themselves in the spotlight. When you're in the spotlight, your weaknesses/question marks tend to get emphasized a lot more.

[GTTiger]

I don't necessarily think that it's because people think LSU's QB's will struggle more than the other new QB's - It's just that there's more of an expectation that is placed on Lee/Hatch because of the team they play for. I think everyone knows that UK and Vandy are gonna struggle, so people aren't really as vocal about their new QB's. But with LSU, you have a team that many predict to make it to Atlanta, thus they find themselves in the spotlight. When you're in the spotlight, your weaknesses/question marks tend to get emphasized a lot more.

Oh, I understand that. I saw that someone in the top QB's thread named Miss St's QB, while Miss St had the 109th offense last season and showed no improvement this spring. I also saw that someone though Kentucky's QB would be one of the top 5 in the SEC, even though Kentucky lost most key components of there offense.

Also, I've seen many people pick Auburn to win the west because of LSU's QB issues. I think Auburn could very easily win the west, but I think that's more because Auburn always beats LSU when playing at Auburn.

[UAdan]

Oh, I understand that. I saw that someone in the top QB's thread named Miss St's QB, while Miss St had the 109th offense last season and showed no improvement this spring. I also saw that someone though Kentucky's QB would be one of the top 5 in the SEC, even though Kentucky lost most key components of there offense.

Also, I've seen many people pick Auburn to win the west because of LSU's QB issues. I think Auburn could very easily win the west, but I think that's more because Auburn always beats LSU when playing at Auburn.

Everyone has opinions, I guess. My only thought would be that Burns at Auburn has seen more playing time than Lee/Hatch so people have a better feel for what he's about, whereas LSU's QB's have seen very little playing time. Most regular fans who don't root for LSU don't have any idea as to what Lee/Hatch are going to bring to the table, so they might not express as much confidence in predicting them to do well.

Again, I don't necessarily think the issue is that Lee/Hatch are 'worse' QB's than the likes of Pulley, Carroll, etc. It's just that they have a higher expectation to deal with. LSU is going to come into the season Top Ten, and they are the defending national champs. The same can't be said about Kentucky, Vandy, State, etc.

Overall, I think Lee/Hatch will have some growing pains at first, just as any new starting QB would have. The good news for LSU is that they have an awesome supporting cast to back up their QB, and three winnable games before they hit the bulk of the SEC schedule. Should give their QB's some time to get their feet wet before the showdown in Auburn. :thumpsup:

[GTTiger]

Yeah, I agree. I have read alot about Lee/Hatch and still don't know how they'll react to the season. It's very possible that they'll do well, just as Bradford did his freshman year, or they could blow up and be a Tereshinski type QB.

I believe that if Lee is QB, then we'll see him be more prone to mistakes, but he'll give the offense more options. Hatch will probably be a more conservative choice, but would have a lower talent cieling.

All in all, I think it's basically a crap shoot with SEC QB's outside of Tebow and Stafford. We know those two will perform on a high level. We don't really know if anyone else will.

[UAdan]

Yeah, I agree. I have read alot about Lee/Hatch and still don't know how they'll react to the season. It's very possible that they'll do well, just as Bradford did his freshman year, or they could blow up and be a Tereshinski type QB.

I believe that if Lee is QB, then we'll see him be more prone to mistakes, but he'll give the offense more options. Hatch will probably be a more conservative choice, but would have a lower talent cieling.

All in all, I think it's basically a crap shoot with SEC QB's outside of Tebow and Stafford. We know those two will perform on a high level. We don't really know if anyone else will.

Fair statement, especially the last one. Nothing's really a certainty in this conference.

[Sabanocchio]

Just curious why so many people think that LSU's new QB will struggle so much compared to the other new QB's in the league?

Auburn, Vandy, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Miss St are some teams that will be starting new QB's just to name a few and none of these teams will have near the talent LSU has on offense to help them out.

Not trying to start a huge arguement, just curious why people are so convinced that LSU's QB is going to suck and the others won't.

It has a lot to do with the relative anonymity of either, GT.

With Kodi Burns, you have seen him play enough to know that he has the potential to be good if he can minimize mistakes - same with Crompton.

We should have beat you guys two years ago with Crompton and that was his freshman year. He's gonna be fun to watch this year. He has all the tools that Ainge had and much, much more. There's no reason really to think we are going to struggle at the position.

[GTTiger]

It has a lot to do with the relative anonymity of either, GT.

With Kodi Burns, you have seen him play enough to know that he has the potential to be good if he can minimize mistakes - same with Crompton.

We should have beat you guys two years ago with Crompton and that was his freshman year. He's gonna be fun to watch this year. He has all the tools that Ainge had and much, much more. There's no reason really to think we are going to struggle at the position.

Fair Enough. I don't know about "should have won" though. I believe LSU had about 200+ more yards that game and a few missed field goals. Sure, LSU had to come through in the end with a 4 down play, but the only reason they were in that situation was that they failed to come through earlier in the game =)

But yeah, Crompton had those two nice bombs in that game.

[gatorunvrsty]

It has a lot to do with the relative anonymity of either, GT.

With Kodi Burns, you have seen him play enough to know that he has the potential to be good if he can minimize mistakes - same with Crompton.

We should have beat you guys two years ago with Crompton and that was his freshman year. He's gonna be fun to watch this year. He has all the tools that Ainge had and much, much more. There's no reason really to think we are going to struggle at the position.

That's exactly what it is. We've seen some of the other guys play a little. Also, it's not that I don't think teams starting new QB's won't be good, or that their QB's won't be good; it's that I think any fan of those teams who thinks their team will be JUST as good, with no drop-off, while starting brand new freshman QB's is smoking something. I don't confine it to LSU, either. I don't think Auburn will win as many games as a lot of people are predicting, for many of the same reasons. With AU, it's changes in coaching staff, QB, and offense.

It's a little easier for UF fans to say these things, because we went through a lot of what other teams are about to. In AU's case, we watched how our team struggled the first year with a brand new OC and the spread offense. We won 9 games, but we also had a very experienced QB and team. Since AU doesn't have that experience at QB, I feel like they should win about 8 or 9 games.

With LSU, we watched our team struggle to 9 wins after winning a NC, and graduating most of our leaders on the team, along with our senior QB. We were lucky to get the 9 wins, in large part because of a great QB who Meyer was smart enough to start playing some in his freshman year. LSU has no such QB, so I expect them to do no better than UF did, and probably a game worse. I don't think it's strange to assume that if LSU can lose 2 games last year, with all those seniors and award winners, they could easily lose an extra 2 without them. To assume otherwise is almost like saying the guys they lost weren't that great in the first place... and we all know that's not true.

[JerryBeeds]

We are starting a new QB this year. Whether it be Tommy Beecher or Stephen Garcia no one knows yet. I think Smelley just doesn't have what it takes.

[WayzUp]

We are starting a new QB this year. Whether it be Tommy Beecher or Stephen Garcia no one knows yet. I think Smelley just doesn't have what it takes.

In Smelley's defense (cuz I think the jury's still out on him), I think he just hasn't reached a comfort level with the offense to really excel. In high school, he called all the plays himself the last two years he was there so he knew that offense so backwards & forwards that I think it's been a huge adjustment for him to have to keep checking with Spurrier for a play call after every play.

Even with Blake, a 5th year senior, it seemed to me that several times over he'd be staring over at the sideline with the, "GD it, gimme a play to call!" look on his face, he'd get it, run to the huddle and by the time they got to the line, there'd be 3 seconds left on the play clock. Maybe I'm mistaken but I've seen A LOT of that these past 2-3 seasons and part of me wonders if maybe Spurrier has become too much of a control freak since he's been to USC. Last year, I didn't see Flynn/Perriloux, Tebow, Ainge, Stafford, etc etc etc have to stare and wait for plays nearly as much as our QBs have had to. ...but maybe I'm seeing something that isn't there & reading too much into it. :o

Regardless, whether it be Beecher or Smelley or Garcia, their success or struggles will be determined by the play of our offensive line. :unsure:

[GeauxTo]

We are starting a new QB this year. Whether it be Tommy Beecher or Stephen Garcia no one knows yet. I think Smelley just doesn't have what it takes.

I thought Smelley came in at LSU last year and did a pretty good job. Are you sure he's not going to be the man?

[PalmettoPig]

I thought Smelley came in at LSU last year and did a pretty good job. Are you sure he's not going to be the man?


He had a bad spring and Spurrier has put Beecher at #1. Knowing Spurrier you'll probably see 3 different starters before the year is out.

Garcia is by far the most talented, but he can't stay out of trouble.

[Tennessee Ted]

Just curious why so many people think that LSU's new QB will struggle so much compared to the other new QB's in the league?

Auburn, Vandy, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Miss St are some teams that will be starting new QB's just to name a few and none of these teams will have near the talent LSU has on offense to help them out.

Not trying to start a huge arguement, just curious why people are so convinced that LSU's QB is going to suck and the others won't.

If you look at other poster's and pundits predictions for some of the teams you have listed I think there are a lot of people who think Auburn, Vandy, Kentucky, and Tennessee will struggle more than LSU, so I do not agree with your point. I have seen people predict Tennessee anywhere from 6-6 to 10-2.

[Hawginitall]

Fair Enough. I don't know about "should have won" though. I believe LSU had about 200+ more yards that game and a few missed field goals. Sure, LSU had to come through in the end with a 4 down play, but the only reason they were in that situation was that they failed to come through earlier in the game =)

But yeah, Crompton had those two nice bombs in that game.

The relevent point to this thread is that Crompton lost both games he started as a freshman, to Arkansas and LSU. He's got talent, but a freshman QB in the SEC is gonna struggle much of the time.

LSU and Auburn have the advantage over many teams because of their talent level and the fact that both rely heavily on the run. The QB won't have to do as much. Still, LSU won the UT game in '06 because a veteran QB made a great play.

[JerryBeeds]

I thought Smelley came in at LSU last year and did a pretty good job. Are you sure he's not going to be the man?

He can't throw the deep ball and seems to not have much confidence. A source of mine told me he asked to be removed from the UT game last year after throwing a costly pick. Anyone who knows Spurrier knows that he doesn't ever want to hear a QB say "take me out Coach".

[CRUSTY]

That's exactly what it is. We've seen some of the other guys play a little. Also, it's not that I don't think teams starting new QB's won't be good, or that their QB's won't be good; it's that I think any fan of those teams who thinks their team will be JUST as good, with no drop-off, while starting brand new freshman QB's is smoking something. I don't confine it to LSU, either. I don't think Auburn will win as many games as a lot of people are predicting, for many of the same reasons. With AU, it's changes in coaching staff, QB, and offense.

It's a little easier for UF fans to say these things, because we went through a lot of what other teams are about to. In AU's case, we watched how our team struggled the first year with a brand new OC and the spread offense. We won 9 games, but we also had a very experienced QB and team. Since AU doesn't have that experience at QB, I feel like they should win about 8 or 9 games.

With LSU, we watched our team struggle to 9 wins after winning a NC, and graduating most of our leaders on the team, along with our senior QB. We were lucky to get the 9 wins, in large part because of a great QB who Meyer was smart enough to start playing some in his freshman year. LSU has no such QB, so I expect them to do no better than UF did, and probably a game worse. I don't think it's strange to assume that if LSU can lose 2 games last year, with all those seniors and award winners, they could easily lose an extra 2 without them. To assume otherwise is almost like saying the guys they lost weren't that great in the first place... and we all know that's not true.

Florida and Auburn are different teams Auburn has won many games in the last few years with defense so as long as Kodi dont turn the ball over we should be fine. IMO I think we will better this year but then again I might be walking around with my foot in my mouth.

[gatorunvrsty]

Florida and Auburn are different teams Auburn has won many games in the last few years with defense so as long as Kodi dont turn the ball over we should be fine. IMO I think we will better this year but then again I might be walking around with my foot in my mouth.

Florida did the same thing. We had to depend on defense much of the time, because as experienced as Leak was, he was still struggling with a new OC and the new spread offense. Kodi is more suited to that offense, but virtually all freshman or newly starting QB's throw completions to the other team... growing pains. I think eventually, he could be one of the premier guys in that type offense... I just don't see it his first year, with the whole team having to learn the spread. Changing to it ain't simple; and every position has all new assignments and blocking schemes that don't seem natural.

[GTTiger]

With LSU, we watched our team struggle to 9 wins after winning a NC, and graduating most of our leaders on the team, along with our senior QB. We were lucky to get the 9 wins, in large part because of a great QB who Meyer was smart enough to start playing some in his freshman year. LSU has no such QB, so I expect them to do no better than UF did, and probably a game worse. I don't think it's strange to assume that if LSU can lose 2 games last year, with all those seniors and award winners, they could easily lose an extra 2 without them. To assume otherwise is almost like saying the guys they lost weren't that great in the first place... and we all know that's not true.

LSU is in a much different situation than UF was last season. The young QB wasn't the reason that UF lost any games. The defense wasn't able to stop anyone. LSU this season is expected to have one of the top if not the top defense in the SEC, but the offense will obviously not be as good as Florida's was last season.

I think that LSU could easily lose 4 games this season, but I think they could also go the season with less than 2 losses. The main contributing factor to LSU's losses last year were the injuries. Injuries can happen any season of course, but when doing preseason predictions, we tend to assume they don't.