Louisiana's 2015 Quarterback Situation

[cajun4life]

Agreed. He is in the driver's seat. If he is not the starter week one, will all of you put it to bed? There is no reason other than ability to keep him from starting.

That depends, I think with Brooks Haack at QB we could see an offense that resembles TCU or Baylor. That is just my preference, I don't really like what we've seen for the last three years as an offense. Don't get me wrong I love the results. I just want us to be more aggressive in the passing game, we are talented enough IMO to execute a similar offense.

If we have a QB on the roster that can run that style of offense that is who I want to see starting. If that is Haack, Davis, Nixon, or one of the incoming freshmen that is who I want to see.

[CajunRage]

That depends, I think with Brooks Haack at QB we could see an offense that resembles TCU or Baylor. That is just my preference, I don't really like what we've seen for the last three years as an offense. Don't get me wrong I love the results. I just want us to be more aggressive in the passing game, we are talented enough IMO to execute a similar offense.

If we have a QB on the roster that can run that style of offense that is who I want to see starting. If that is Haack, Davis, Nixon, or one of the incoming freshmen that is who I want to see.

IMO we are not in position to choose what type of offense we run. We need to get the best athletes we can and if the zone read/spread is our best option for an offense, so be it. Win games. Nothing else matters.

[cajun4life]

IMO we are not in position to choose what type of offense we run. We need to get the best athletes we can and if the zone read/spread is our best option for an offense, so be it. Win games. Nothing else matters.

Next year our best athletes will be at the WR position and it won't even be close. McGuire is a great pass catching RB and he is not a back that can carry the load as the primary back. The NMSU game severely hampered his next three game outputs.

Riles, Fuse, Robinson, Scott, Bates at WR and Barnes and Byrne at TE we will be very dangerous in the passing game. So in a sense you are correct, you cater your offense to the talent you put on the field. All signs point to a dangerous passing game.

[CajunRage]

Next year our best athletes will be at the WR position and it won't even be close. McGuire is a great pass catching RB and he is not a back that can carry the load as the primary back. The NMSU game severely hampered his next three game outputs.

Riles, Fuse, Robinson, Scott, Bates at WR and Barnes and Byrne at TE we will be very dangerous in the passing game. So in a sense you are correct, you cater your offense to the talent you put on the field. All signs point to a dangerous passing game.

I agree with that

[zephyr]

That depends, I think with Brooks Haack at QB we could see an offense that resembles TCU or Baylor. That is just my preference, I don't really like what we've seen for the last three years as an offense. Don't get me wrong I love the results. I just want us to be more aggressive in the passing game, we are talented enough IMO to execute a similar offense.

If we have a QB on the roster that can run that style of offense that is who I want to see starting. If that is Haack, Davis, Nixon, or one of the incoming freshmen that is who I want to see.

So, you didn't like the 2012 offense? Vertical passing game with a mobile QB and heavy rushing threat?

Also, I'll give you Baylor's offense and I like TCU's as well but they have a heavy option threat there as well. Boykin's rushing numbers were very similar to Broadway's numbers this year with over 600 yards rushing and 8 TD's or so. That's anything but a pass heavy offense.

[Just1More]

IMO we are not in position to choose what type of offense we run. We need to get the best athletes we can and if the zone read/spread is our best option for an offense, so be it. Win games. Nothing else matters.

You are right... but the good news is... we are already operating the offense we'll operate next year. The exact "offense" we ran with TB is directly portable to any one of our prospective starting QBs. We'll just go with more pass plays out of our playbook with Haack, specifically. There isn't a receiver mentioned, including Elijah and our TEs that this offense doesn't accommodate in pass plays.

I'm very impressed with our arsenal of plays, and the execution. I'm not always impressed with the sequencing. But we have a very versatile spread offense established already. That is one of the reasons I think Haack has a distinct advantage. He has to know our plays, how to do shifts and audibles, when and why. He would have to show significant lower direct skill levels to be beat out this coming year IMO. But, they're all our recruits... and may the best man win.

[campo118]

You are right... but the good news is... we are already operating the offense we'll operate next year. The exact "offense" we ran with TB is directly portable to any one of our prospective starting QBs. We'll just go with more pass plays out of our playbook with Haack, specifically. There isn't a receiver mentioned, including Elijah and our TEs that this offense doesn't accommodate in pass plays.

I'm very impressed with our arsenal of plays, and the execution. I'm not always impressed with the sequencing. But we have a very versatile spread offense established already. That is one of the reasons I think Haack has a distinct advantage. He has to know our plays, how to do shifts and audibles, when and why. He would have to show significant lower direct skill levels to be beat out this coming year IMO. But, they're all our recruits... and may the best man win.

+1000 been waiting to see this argument posted for over a week...

[ULdude]

Need our OL to be much improved to make the lateral passing game successful. In passing downs the ability to get to Broadway was far & away too easy nearly the entire season with only 3-4-5 rushing. This has to be a strength in 2015. Pass protection has to be a huge priority of improvement this off season. Didn't throw deep against Nevada the entire game (except for hail Mary at end of 2nd qtr) and still gave up 5 sacks. One sack resulted in a red zone turnover in 3rd qtr. Another knocked us out of FG range late in 2nd qtr and forced us into the Hail Mary. That 2nd qtr sack is my vote for our lowest IQ moment in bowl game. Carelessly poopoo'd away a good chance for more points.

Outside of pass defense scheme being our #1 area of improvement for 2015, our OL effectiveness overall with an emphasis on pass protection IMO is a very very close #2. #3 being special teams, both improvement in return effectiveness & replacement of Cadona/Stover. Didn't come close to breaking anything the entire season. OL effectiveness is where I see leaner, long & quicker O lineman can be more effective. Could care less if they weigh 300+ lbs. Big and slow is a recipe for failure. Most teams, good or bad have 300 lb big guys on the OL. Being big at OL is nothing unique anymore.

With most of end of year secondary returning that showed clear improvement from what happened earlier in year AND strong new additions projected to secondary.....next year's success will be determined by the strength of our OL play.

[VObserver]

Need our OL to be much improved to make the lateral passing game successful. In passing downs the ability to get to Broadway was far & away too easy nearly the entire season with only 3-4-5 rushing. This has to be a strength in 2015. Pass protection has to be a huge priority of improvement this off season. Didn't throw deep against Nevada the entire game (except for hail Mary at end of 2nd qtr) and still gave up 5 sacks. One sack resulted in a red zone turnover in 3rd qtr. Another knocked us out of FG range late in 2nd qtr and forced us into the Hail Mary. That 2nd qtr sack is my vote for our lowest IQ moment in bowl game. Carelessly poopoo'd away a good chance for more points.

Outside of pass defense scheme being our #1 area of improvement for 2015, our OL effectiveness overall with an emphasis on pass protection IMO is a very very close #2. #3 being special teams, both improvement in return effectiveness & replacement of Cadona/Stover. Didn't come close to breaking anything the entire season. OL effectiveness is where I see leaner, long & quicker O lineman can be more effective. Could care less if they weigh 300+ lbs. Big and slow is a recipe for failure. Most teams, good or bad have 300 lb big guys on the OL. Being big at OL is nothing unique anymore.

With most of end of year secondary returning that showed clear improvement from what happened earlier in year AND strong new additions projected to secondary.....next year's success will be determined by the strength of our OL play.

While everyone always wants improved OL play; our failure in the vertical passing game was decidedly NOT lack of pass blocking. It was a combination of lack of arm strength, slow delivery and inconsistant reads of progressions by our quarterback.

[zephyr]

Need our OL to be much improved to make the lateral passing game successful. In passing downs the ability to get to Broadway was far & away too easy nearly the entire season with only 3-4-5 rushing. This has to be a strength in 2015. Pass protection has to be a huge priority of improvement this off season. Didn't throw deep against Nevada the entire game (except for hail Mary at end of 2nd qtr) and still gave up 5 sacks. One sack resulted in a red zone turnover in 3rd qtr. Another knocked us out of FG range late in 2nd qtr and forced us into the Hail Mary. That 2nd qtr sack is my vote for our lowest IQ moment in bowl game. Carelessly poopoo'd away a good chance for more points.

Outside of pass defense scheme being our #1 area of improvement for 2015, our OL effectiveness overall with an emphasis on pass protection IMO is a very very close #2. #3 being special teams, both improvement in return effectiveness & replacement of Cadona/Stover. Didn't come close to breaking anything the entire season. OL effectiveness is where I see leaner, long & quicker O lineman can be more effective. Could care less if they weigh 300+ lbs. Big and slow is a recipe for failure. Most teams, good or bad have 300 lb big guys on the OL. Being big at OL is nothing unique anymore.

With most of end of year secondary returning that showed clear improvement from what happened earlier in year AND strong new additions projected to secondary.....next year's success will be determined by the strength of our OL play.

I would agree with this. I've argued all season that the OL pass protection was a large contributor to our lack of passing effectiveness, rather than it all being on Broadway like many want to project. The OL was very good in run blocking but lacked the athleticism at the tackles to stop the edge rushers. I still think that the CB position will be a bigger question than many will want to admit but we've been weak there for a long time, even with potential pros in the lineup.

[zephyr]

While everyone always wants improved OL play; our failure in the vertical passing game was decidedly NOT lack of pass blocking. It was a combination of lack of arm strength, slow delivery and inconsistant reads of progressions by our quarterback.

The delivery looks a lot slower when he's got 3 defensive players barreling on him just after he receives the snap.

[VObserver]

I would agree with this. I've argued all season that the OL pass protection was a large contributor to our lack of passing effectiveness, rather than it all being on Broadway like many want to project. The OL was very good in run blocking but lacked the athleticism at the tackles to stop the edge rushers. I still think that the CB position will be a bigger question than many will want to admit but we've been weak there for a long time, even with potential pros in the lineup.

If this is the case, and I agree it is, that is a coaching problem, not a personnel problem.