Most important game of the year ?

[The Jackal]

*I still think we are underestimating the loss of Roberts a little. The difference last year was stark - think about the Samford game where he left mid-game.. or the ETSU debacle where he was just working his way back. I think we will be fine EVENTUALLY but it may take a year or at least 5 games for the new QB to get going... I am glad we have VTech early as a loss there wouldn't be held against us. Hopefully we can beat CSU even in our new QBs first game.. If Roberts were back I would be more hopeful about Georgia State. But Mercer / ETSU / Samford scare me as those are good teams vs a new QB.. wish VMI and Point were earlier in season

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You know who else has a new QB? Samford and ETSU. Mercer has a talented sophomore who has looked good in limited action, but has about the same in-game experience as Darren Grainger.

I may be in the minority, but I think we're better than Wofford. They lost a bunch of their defense to graduation, including most of their defensive backfield and defensive line (which includes their best defensive player). On offense, they lost their top two rushers.

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Agree. So glad ETSU and Sam have new QBs! I give Mercer a big edge there as they have two great QBs w winning experience returning. I could see Mercer making a real push this year. They were decimated w QB injuries and honestly outplayed us in the second half w a QB on a gimpy wheel. If he plays the whole game I think we lose. I would have to think through it but Mercer probably has the second best QB situation in the conference to Western ...
[/quote]

I guess I think you are trying to create a narrative that really isn't there.

Yes, Furman has to replace a QB. So does ETSU. So does Samford.

Mercer, like Furman, is going to rely on a young QB to carry the load. Robert Riddle is a good player, but I think it's a stretch to say he has "winning experience." He has four total games played (same as Grainger). Mercer lost two of the four games he played.

Kaelan Riley played well against Furman last year. As I've argued before, though, that game was primarily about Tyray Devezin, who put Mercer on his back for four quarters that afternoon (remember, a lot of Riley's passes were to Devezin). And, again, who won the game?

Remember, too, this is an apples and oranges comparisons. Mercer, Samford, and ETSU were primarily single back offenses that throw the ball a lot more than Furman. Mercer and ETSU attempted over 200 more passes than Furman did last year. Samford attempted 400 more passes. Furman isn't going to rely on a QB to go out and throw the ball 25-30 times like those teams are.

[cavedweller2]

I’ll take our 3 young guys at QB over any in the conference. I’m not worried. In fact I’m excited. I expect the QB play to be superior to last year with any of the 3 in the mix.

[gofurman]

I’ll take our 3 young guys at QB over any in the conference. I’m not worried. In fact I’m excited. I expect the QB play to be superior to last year with any of the 3 in the mix.

wow.. that's quite a statement. ANy of the three better than Roberts at his best last year? I do hope you are right! I want you to be right. I just am not sure RFr or a transfer can replace that experience factor just yet - especially EARLY in the year. Early games usually go to the older OL (great article I read on this once) and elder QB. Granted, the article showed how OL experience was the single largest factor to winning in September.. and QB experience was second.

We have more OL experience this year and are continuing to build great depth there! I just meant our QB (My guess is Sisson or transfer in first few games then transfer or Grainger later) may struggle some early. I would expect some early struggles at QB.

Cave, I am sure you speak from what you have seen and I am pulling for you to be right !

[The Jackal]

I’ll take our 3 young guys at QB over any in the conference. I’m not worried. In fact I’m excited. I expect the QB play to be superior to last year with any of the 3 in the mix.

wow.. that's quite a statement. ANy of the three better than Roberts at his best last year? I do hope you are right! I want you to be right. I just am not sure RFr or a transfer can replace that experience factor just yet - especially EARLY in the year. Early games usually go to the older OL (great article I read on this once) and elder QB. Granted, the article showed how OL experience was the single largest factor to winning in September.. and QB experience was second.

We have more OL experience this year and are continuing to build great depth there! I just meant our QB (My guess is Sisson or transfer in first few games then transfer or Grainger later) may struggle some early. I would expect some early struggles at QB.

Cave, I am sure you speak from what you have seen and I am pulling for you to be right !

The point I am trying to make is that you just have to wait and see. "QB experience" isn't a tangible thing.

In 2016 Furman had more "QB experience" than perhaps any team in Furman history - both Hannon and Blazejowski were on that team. We stunk. 3-8 and lost 6 in a row to open the season including some truly horrific games.

You have other instances where guys like Armanti Edwards at App State just show up and play as a freshman. His lack of experience didn't exactly hurt him.

All of those guys are good QBs. QBs can be made to look a lot better because of the talent surrounding them. Some guys - Tyrie Adams, for instance - put up great numbers inspite of the talent around them (and suffer a lot of losses, too). Whomever is our QB will have depth and talent all around them on offense.

We will be fine at the QB position.

[gofurman]

Yep … hope so.. just saying any QB as a junior is better than the same guy as Freshman usually. that's all. hope our QBs are awesome!

[sluggo]

Not trying to look past CSU but which game is our most important next year in regards to hopefully being SoCon champs. Wofford, Citadel????

Someone else?

The most important game is against Point; because if we can't beat them, then what's the point?

[Affirm]

If we beat Point, what’s the point - if we don’t win at least 5-6 other games on the schedule? I do agree it will be important, but only after we play the rest.

[The Jackal]

Yep … hope so.. just saying any QB as a junior is better than the same guy as Freshman usually. that's all. hope our QBs are awesome!

It's relative.

Devlin Hodges set all sorts of passing records at Samford and won the Walter Payton his senior year. Samford was 6-5 and finished 4th in the SoCon - their worst showing since Hodge's freshman year.

You can pull apart Samford's season (which was undoubtedly disappointing), but they missed the playoffs and were not in contention for the conference title despite having literally the most experienced and top QB in the country.

[sluggo]

If we beat Point, what’s the point - if we don’t win at least 5-6 other games on the schedule? I do agree it will be important, but only after we play the rest.

Don't point the finger at me; just trying to make a point about Point not scoring a lot of themselves.



I'm just having fun here, not serious.

[apaladin]

If we beat Point, what’s the point - if we don’t win at least 5-6 other games on the schedule? I do agree it will be important, but only after we play the rest.

Don't point the finger at me; just trying to make a point about Point not scoring a lot of themselves.



I'm just having fun here, not serious.

Yep we don't get serious around here until August 1st.

[FUpaladin08]

"I still think we are underestimating the loss of Roberts a little"

This!! The above sums it up. Let's face it, if we do not get excellent QB play it could be a long year. I do not mean average to decent, it will have to be excellent.

Every team loses seniors. Roberts was a good player, but we thought the same thing when Blazejowski graduated - how are we going to replace that production? We did.

Furman has just about the best situation for any young QB - an offense that does not put too much weight on any single player, a strong offensive line, good skill players, a good running game, a good defense, and a good kicker.

In 2013 our offense was bad and we won a SoCon title largely by playing good defense and moving the ball just far enough to get it within Ray Early's field goal range. This team is much better than that team, in my opinion.

This is my thinking too. Whoever plays QB needs to trust the rest of the team. Defense and running game is far more important to me than QB. If we excel in those areas the QB only has to make 10-15 throws and limit turnovers. That doesn’t bode well for a game where we are behind, but if the defense and running game control the game I feel good about anyone they stick at QB.

[The Jackal]

"I still think we are underestimating the loss of Roberts a little"

This!! The above sums it up. Let's face it, if we do not get excellent QB play it could be a long year. I do not mean average to decent, it will have to be excellent.

Every team loses seniors. Roberts was a good player, but we thought the same thing when Blazejowski graduated - how are we going to replace that production? We did.

Furman has just about the best situation for any young QB - an offense that does not put too much weight on any single player, a strong offensive line, good skill players, a good running game, a good defense, and a good kicker.

In 2013 our offense was bad and we won a SoCon title largely by playing good defense and moving the ball just far enough to get it within Ray Early's field goal range. This team is much better than that team, in my opinion.

This is my thinking too. Whoever plays QB needs to trust the rest of the team. Defense and running game is far more important to me than QB. If we excel in those areas the QB only has to make 10-15 throws and limit turnovers. That doesn’t bode well for a game where we are behind, but if the defense and running game control the game I feel good about anyone they stick at QB.

What I love about Furman's offense is that it is the complete antithesis of "Hero Ball." No one player is asked to carry all the water. Everyone has a job on every play. The QB's job is generally to carry out ball fakes, hit on high percentage passing plays, and make good decisions.

I've referenced these before (because they are the last videos in Furman's twitter timeline from the season), but check out two largely similar touchdown throws against Mercer. Both are play action runs from the same spot on the field, naked boots, and require almost identical throws from Roberts. Neither time does Furman block the OLB/DE, the most dangerous defender on the field.

When you watch those plays, you can focus on any single player - they all have a job to do. Compared to other offenses, Furman isn't sending a bunch of receivers out into the pattern and requiring the QB to make progression reads and a bunch of decisions before throwing. There is some of that at times, but here Roberts basically has one target. If he's open, throw it to him. If he's not, throw it away.

[apaladin]

Jackal, You keep saying this but this is true of every team in the country. Football is a true team sport but the QB position is the most important position on the field. The QB is the only player that handles the ball on every offensive play. The Furman QB is no different than any other and has to make plays, reads, throws on every play. Every player on every team has a job to do,. Furman is no different than any other team. If the QB doesn't play well you are not going to be successful. Maybe I am just totally missing your point.

[The Jackal]

Jackal, You keep saying this but this is true of every team in the country. Football is a true team sport but the QB position is the most important position on the field. The QB is the only player that handles the ball on every offensive play. The Furman QB is no different than any other and has to make plays, reads, throws on every play. Every player on every team has a job to do,. Furman is no different than any other team. If the QB doesn't play well you are not going to be successful. Maybe I am just totally missing your point.

I disagree. There is no question, the QB is the most important single position on any team in any sport. If you're QB plays poorly, it is difficult to win.

Some offenses de-emphasize the role the QB plays. I mean, just look at the SoCon. Some teams utilize a QB that is essentially a 4th running back (the Citadel). Some teams throw the ball nearly every play (Samford). One team basically runs its entire offense through one player (WCUs).

Furman is somewhere in the middle. Our QB is asked to hand the ball off the majority of the time. Most passing plays come off of play action and are with the QB on the run. Many of our passing plays are designed where the QB really doesn't have to think that much - there may be only one or two potential receivers.

There is a world of difference between what Furman asks its QBs to do and what, say, Chris Hatcher asked of Devlin Hodges or WCU asked of Tyrie Adams. Those latter two are asked to carry the entire offense. Furman's QB is not.

Yes, you still need to make good throws. You still need to know the offense. All of those things are true regardless of who is back there.

The point I'm trying to make is that we've had two guys the last two years step into this offense with new offensive coordinators. Both guys were very productive. So yes, while we do have to replace a productive QB, our track record with this coaching staff is that the next man up will step into an offense and also be productive.

[THPaladin]

Good points. I truly believe that when we look back on this thread 9 months from now we will see we worried about nothing. I think we are in for great year. Can’t wait for some practice observations when that all gets going this summer.