Sunday Morning QB- September is Ovahhhh Edition
Things we have learned so far this season:
1. State is who many of us thought we were coming into the season. Good QB, good RB's, an average OL, and sub-par WR's on offense and an improved Run D with lots of questions in the Secondary. These 5 games have all but solidified that stance.
2. #13 and I talked at length on the 2017 schedule podcast about how coming out of September 3-2 was a win for us. It still is. Heading into the bye week with 3 wins was paramount for us and we did that. It sets us up to get healthier and improve some problem areas for this stretch of BYU, Kentucky, @A&M, and UMass. It's a winnable 4 game stretch that could get us to 7-2 before the Bama loss. 7-3 with 2 games to go is the ideal place to be for us THIS season.
3. Having Myles out of the WR rotation really makes this group look bad. A few of us on here before the season randomly suggested that our WR's were one of the worst groups in the SEC talent-wise. Nothing has emerged to change that viewpoint.
4. Reese got an education in college football the last 2 weeks. Hang in there young man. It wont always be this overwhelming. Jenkins also learned that playing Center is an adjustment. Eiland is not ready to play at all- last night's SEC welcome was brutal. Phillips will get the same indoctrination next season after he redshirts. Need alot of growth at the OT position by next year. Center and OG will be a strength for us in 2018 though.
5. Fitz is completing 53% of his passes and throwing for 156/game so far this season. 8 TD's and 5 picks. Some people suggested he could be a little better this year but his stats take a step back due to new guys on the OL and our decline at WR. This is certainly the case so far. He has some stat-building defenses coming on the horizon though, so look for the numbers to improve some. Need Myles back by Kentucky for sure because that is going to be a physical showdown.
6. Fitz's carries per game are down 4 from 2016's 15 to 11 in 2017. Aeris is carrying more of the load so far with 73 carries in 5 games. Something to watch moving forward. While Fitz scaling back only means about 25 yards per game less rushing for him- it's 4 less chances of him housing one also. Maybe that is what Mullen sells to the dual-threat guys. We run you more early as you transition and learn to be a complete QB.
7. Watch to see if Hill gets more carries coming out of the bye week. He basically only runs the inside zone play right now when he comes in. Maybe we can teach him a 2nd or 3rd play by the time we take the field vs BYU. Off weeks are good to get back-ups more reps while the starters rest
8. Our DL is the best part of our defense, but we need Cory Thomas back asap. He is a starter plus would give some depth back to the DL
9. LB's have been a little disappointing lately. Leo isn't hitting the gaps he needs to fill on some of the zone plays inside. Got to improve there. Harris is putting up decent numbers but lacks a little speed-wise especially in coverage. Gray and McLaurin are having to make way too many tackles.
10. Our Secondary continues to be bad. Too many trick plays given up by a veteran group of guys. The wheel route to LSU, the flea-flicker to Georgia, and the 2 long passes from Auburn. Really veteran group coached by two good coaches and they arent getting it done. Has to improve.
11. So much for the "Kirby Smart cant coach" and the "Malzahn offense doesnt scare me" mantras. Kirby took over a young team last year. All he has done is recruit well and make them better. He will continue to do so. Anybody thinking Auburn would tank this year simply doesnt pay attention to talent. They returned too much and then added a quality player at QB. Stidham will continue to get better each week after sitting out last year. Too talented not to. I also mentioned in the podcast's about Mullen struggling vs 3-4 defensive teams. 13 points the last 2 weeks. We play more 3-4 D's coming up
12. Dont look now- but Kentucky is 4th in the SEC in Scoring D and 2nd against the rush. Something to watch in 3 weeks when they come to Sville.
13. Another problem we face is that A&M gets the week off before playing us at home. Lots of time to scheme on D and to get a young QB comfortable with a gameplan.
14. Kudos to Saban for letting his back-ups run their offense and not just kneeling on the ball in the 4th Q. Playing "Money for Nothing" over the stadium's soundsystem was savage. OM's D is awful isn't going to get any better. McGriff's "stop any offense" D needs some tweaking it looks like.
15. I said 7-5 before the season and see no reason to change that now. That LSU win could give us that 8-4 bump but until we throw the ball better, it's going to be tough to win on the road in the SEC. UPig and A&M both have been pretty good against the run so far.
HailState!
