Bulldog Quarterbacks & The 3-4 Defense
This is the most compelling spring pratice since Stafford showed up early in 2006. The 'Dogs will find out who's ready to be the QB AND Grantham's 3-4 defense will be on display. Big stories on both sides of the ball.
Sure hope that new 3-4 can force as many turnovers as Erk's Split-60 defense did a few years back. That's the best way to get this defense turned around and hunkering down. Coach Grantham will be looking for playmakers this spring. Guys that can make a difference. Dudes that can force turnovers. Make plays in space. This new 3-4 looks good on paper. And it will allow the 'Dogs to match up better against the spread offense. But who are the players?
Richard Samuel is the guy on defense to keep an eye on this spring. He's back to his roots...hitting people with the ball. This guy is tough and talented. Plug him in at linebacker and turn him loose. Had a high school coach tell me that Samuel is one of the best linebackers he's ever seen. LIke the sound of that.
The green flag on the QB competition is about to drop. Sounds like Logan Gray is ready to compete. Bobo has dusted off the bootlegs and roll-outs. Get him on the go, with a run pass option. But the big thing for Logan is proving he can be successful in the pocket, working the short to intermediate passing game. He hasn't backed down to these highly-publicized redshirt freshmen.
Zach Mettenberger is 10 times better than this time last year. Can't wait to see this. He's now 6'5, 237. The ball gets downfield in a hurry. There is some zip on it. Looking for two things from Zach: accuracy and handling the pass rush. But if he's 10 times better than last year, this will be something to see.
Aaron Murray showed me last spring that he can stand in the pocket and wing it around AND escape out of the pocket and make plays on the run. Throws a catchable ball. The thing with Aaron is just staying healthy. The last two years he's had a broken leg and a bum arm.
The best advice I could give these 2 young quarterbacks is this: 1- Step into the huddle and take charge. Project confidence. 2- Execute the offense. Limit the mistakes. Show them you are serious about winning.
All 3 quarterbacks will benefit from the experience and solid play of the other 10 guys. That should make it easier to perform at a high level. Stay tuned. Spring ball in less than 3 weeks.
Sure hope that new 3-4 can force as many turnovers as Erk's Split-60 defense did a few years back. That's the best way to get this defense turned around and hunkering down. Coach Grantham will be looking for playmakers this spring. Guys that can make a difference. Dudes that can force turnovers. Make plays in space. This new 3-4 looks good on paper. And it will allow the 'Dogs to match up better against the spread offense. But who are the players?
Richard Samuel is the guy on defense to keep an eye on this spring. He's back to his roots...hitting people with the ball. This guy is tough and talented. Plug him in at linebacker and turn him loose. Had a high school coach tell me that Samuel is one of the best linebackers he's ever seen. LIke the sound of that.
The green flag on the QB competition is about to drop. Sounds like Logan Gray is ready to compete. Bobo has dusted off the bootlegs and roll-outs. Get him on the go, with a run pass option. But the big thing for Logan is proving he can be successful in the pocket, working the short to intermediate passing game. He hasn't backed down to these highly-publicized redshirt freshmen.
Zach Mettenberger is 10 times better than this time last year. Can't wait to see this. He's now 6'5, 237. The ball gets downfield in a hurry. There is some zip on it. Looking for two things from Zach: accuracy and handling the pass rush. But if he's 10 times better than last year, this will be something to see.
Aaron Murray showed me last spring that he can stand in the pocket and wing it around AND escape out of the pocket and make plays on the run. Throws a catchable ball. The thing with Aaron is just staying healthy. The last two years he's had a broken leg and a bum arm.
The best advice I could give these 2 young quarterbacks is this: 1- Step into the huddle and take charge. Project confidence. 2- Execute the offense. Limit the mistakes. Show them you are serious about winning.
All 3 quarterbacks will benefit from the experience and solid play of the other 10 guys. That should make it easier to perform at a high level. Stay tuned. Spring ball in less than 3 weeks.
Buck, great article. Could not agree with you more. I was in the stands when a condfident young freshman came of the bench to save us against Georgia Tech, I believe his name was Belue. We know how important leadership and confidence is for a QB, the QB owns it.
My take for what its worth is that mobility is going to be the key for our QB this year. More QB draws, rollouts and run options are in order to loosen up Defenses for our tough inside running game.
My fellow dogs may disagree but Gray and Murray look like that type QB. Mettenberger I just don't know other than a killer arm. But again with our powerful inside running game, opening up the Defense may be more important.
Buck, wouldn't you have loved to throw to these fabulous TE's and WR's? This is a young QB's dream, plus behind an experienced OL with 2 outstanding RB's and 2 excellent FB's? Trully I feel that our QB's will be fine with good decision making.
Great article
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Nice blog Buck, Made me remember the great days of when you were leading the ship. You were a winner, and expected to win, loosing was not acceptable. That is really what made that 1980 team so special. They always found a way to win. I was a sophmore that year, and the experience we felt as students was MAGIGAL! I feel like today's Dawgs have gotten used to loosing and that is a big problem they may not like it but it can become a cancer. It is time for the Junkyard dawg to return!!
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G-Day game should be really interesting, and hopefully enlightening too!!
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