Jasper wrote: ↑Fri Jun 29, 2018 4:18 pm
fufanatic wrote: ↑Fri Jun 29, 2018 10:13 am
The Jackal wrote: ↑Thu Jun 28, 2018 1:21 pm
fufanatic wrote: ↑Thu Jun 28, 2018 11:13 am
Hard to make much of a prediction without knowing how the QB play will be, but assuming it's at least adequate and improved play elsewhere helps offset any loss at the position in experience or talent from Blaze graduating, I would think somewhere between 7-4 and 9-2 and playoffs seem fair and certainly realistic. Really think we need to win that Elon game ... while we proved last year you can start rough and still have a successful season, I don't want to risk it two seasons in a row. 0-2 puts you in a tough spot to start the year. @ Citadel and @ Mercer look challenging on the road. Would be disappointing to lose a home game, but tough slate so you never know. Western, Wofford and Samford back-to-back is no picnic.
Personal opinion here.
This offense deemphasizes the QB significantly more than other offenses. Samford, for instance, runs their entire offense through Devlin Hodges. Furman really needs more of a "game manager" type and not a guy out there making highlight reel plays every day.
Just look at the maturation of Blazejowski in a single season under this new coaching staff. He went from an athletic and gifted QB who was often very careless with the ball to playing a mobile-yet-controlled style where he was asked to protect the ball, make high percentage throws, and do his job (which often includes carrying out fakes).
I saw this on Twitter yesterday, actually. It purports to be Hamp Sisson, working on RPO throws this summer. That's what, a 25 yard flat footed throw on a dime? The fact that he is working on RPOs also suggests that you may see some new wrinkles in a George Quarles offense, as he relied heavily on RPO at Maryville.
Long story short, good OL play and a strong running game is going to make most QBs look pretty good. I expect we will have the former, which will by default help the running game, and subsequently the QB. You have two veteran options this season that have been in the "system" now for two years. You have a couple of really talented freshmen that could compete. If we ran Samford's offense, I'd be a little concerned. With our offense, I think there is going to be plenty of talent surrounding whomever is QB we shouldn't notice too much of a hiccup.
I understand what you're saying and agree for the most part, but at the end of the day a championship team is going to have to have a QB that can make plays at some point. Even if that's just knowing when to pitch and when to keep. Or hitting that receiver down the field in crunch time. Not every player can do that. They just can't. So while I think we can be successful (7-4ish) with an average QB, if we want to be 9-2 and heading to the playoffs as a high seed, average at the QB position isn't going to get it done in my opinion. Unless the defense turns into the Ravens or Bucs from the early 2000s. We could very well have that QB on the roster. I like the bios of a lot of the guys so I'm certainly hopeful. I just have no clue and I don't think anyone knows except for maybe the coaches.
I think there is a lot to be said for both points of view. I think Blaze did a great job as a game manager last season and as a result we had a very formidable offense. This offense can function very well with the kind of performance he turned in. However, I have the feeling that if the QB himself is much more of a threat - especially as a creative, illusive runner - the entire offense would move to a new level. CCH made it clear that just getting to the playoffs is not his goal. He wants FU to go deep into them and that will require more than good game management from the QB position. Nothing breaks a defense's heart like having a QB evade a great rush or coverage while scrambling around until a receiver breaks loose or even taking off on an ankle breaking run that gets to the house. Although I have no idea what his name is, I have a sense that kid may well be on the roster this year. I saw some good things from the 2 lead QB's in the spring game and am impressed with the athleticism of the QB's coming in. I don't believe we will suffer a drop off in the position at all and depending on whether the QB play is simply adequate or dynamic, I can see anywhere from 7-4 to 10-1.
We know that the new QB is going to be relatively untested. Harris Roberts has some mop up duty, JeMar Lincoln has a year in the system and has been on the sidelines calling plays, and the other two guys aren't even on campus yet.
Going for them, though, is we know they are probably going to benefit from a good offensive line. We lost two good ones, but return a ton of depth up front. We know they'll have a strong running game led by Dirks and Morehead. We know they'll have guys to throw to and, perhaps, the most athletically gifted group of receivers we've had in a long while. I also think there will be some big and athletic options in the TE game as well.
So, there will be a lot of help there. Both returning guys looked good in spring practice and throw the ball well. It wouldn't really surprise me if we featured both of them. I mean, Hendrix in year 1 certainly showed he was willing to get creative with personnel and move guys around out there. While I do not normally like 2 QB systems, Furman is a team that could probably pull it off.
