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While we aren't quite there yet, Coach Spurrier and Coach Mangus are slowly putting together one of the better QB stables in the SEC.
I think we all know what we are going to get with Connor Shaw. Steady play with potential of "special" with more playing time and reps. The Spring Game was the first time I have seen him since Orlando, and the muscle this guy has put on is impressive. He is finally built like an SEC QB but it looks like he has also been able to keep his speed and agility. I've never been one to question his arm strength in the past and I think it looks as good as ever. Will he have that big 3,000 yard season? Its tough to tell because it'll depend on which receiver(s) step up and the effectiveness of the running game but he looks like he has a firm grip on the job for the next 2 season barring injury or a complete meltdown. I think the final steps he has to take are in mastering the offense to the point where he can audible on his own, and I also think he has to work on fitting the ball in tight spaces which will hopefully come as he works with the receiving core this Summer. From what I have been told, have read on various websites, and saw Saturday I think he is right on track.
While its only the Spring Game aka glorified scrimmage, I do think you can take a lot of positives from the play of Dylan Thompson and Tanner McEvoy. With Thompson, the first thing that absolutely jumped out at me was his mechanics and release. To me, it looked like last year that he was almost shotputting the ball and it just didn't look right to me. There wasn't a whole lot of zip and it just looked off. But this year, IMO, he looks like a completely different QB. The release looked as if he was putting it in the correct arm slot and just ripping it down field. There were some throws where I had to rewind and confirm that he was the guy that threw it. He has really come a long way and I am very happy to say I have been wrong about him. Really couldn't believe how much more polished he looked. He threw one up for grabs which was an awful decision and throw but for the most part he moved the chains and played well. Obviously, we need to see how he works in a game setting but I think our coaching staff and the fans that watched the Spring Game are more comfortable with him as the #2 compared to pre-Spring.
I have bit my tongue when reading the reports and reactions to Tanner McEvoy's Spring performances but I feel just as good as I did when I got reports of how he played last Fall. I think a lot of folks are expecting way to much too soon with him and they forget that he is the project of the group but he is the guy with the most upside bar none. He still has a ton of work to do with his release and overall mechanics but he showed that he really does have some big time upside at the QB position. Now, is he going to be the successor of Shaw or the #2 this year. It is difficult to say because of where he is in terms of his development but there were 2 throws he made during the game that I don't think our other QBs (sans Shaw) could make. The almost TD toss to Owens in the corner (perfect throw to a tight area) and the deep ball to Moore that hit him in stride. Those 2 throws showed me that he has the goods. We all know what he can do with his feet. I think you will see the same improvement in his game that you have seen with Thompson. And really the only thing holding him back from being the starting QB in a couple of years is himself. As long as he keeps developing and learning the system, he is going to be too talented to keep off the field IMO.
This Fall, Gamecock fans will get a little taste of a Parade All-American and former Gatorade Offensive P.O.Y and it is going to be interesting to see him throw it around a little bit. I think Nosovitch has some potential and favors comparisons to Connor Shaw. What he is bringing to the table is intangibles and especially the 'do whatever it takes to win' mindset. This guy is the definition of a leader and he has some talent to go along with it.
Not only are our current guys still relatively young but Coach Spurrier and Coach Mangus have put USC in the lead group for one of the best QBs in the South for 2013. He is a guy that could come in and be the 2nd best QB on the team behind McEvoy in terms of pure talent and upside. And even if we miss on Mitch, there are enough good arms out there to add to our stable. I mean realistically we could have FIVE quality SEC arms on our team next season. FIVE.
I am just astonished at the DNA change and the actual development at the QB position the past 2 or 3 years compared to the Reeves era. Night and day
I think we all know what we are going to get with Connor Shaw. Steady play with potential of "special" with more playing time and reps. The Spring Game was the first time I have seen him since Orlando, and the muscle this guy has put on is impressive. He is finally built like an SEC QB but it looks like he has also been able to keep his speed and agility. I've never been one to question his arm strength in the past and I think it looks as good as ever. Will he have that big 3,000 yard season? Its tough to tell because it'll depend on which receiver(s) step up and the effectiveness of the running game but he looks like he has a firm grip on the job for the next 2 season barring injury or a complete meltdown. I think the final steps he has to take are in mastering the offense to the point where he can audible on his own, and I also think he has to work on fitting the ball in tight spaces which will hopefully come as he works with the receiving core this Summer. From what I have been told, have read on various websites, and saw Saturday I think he is right on track.
While its only the Spring Game aka glorified scrimmage, I do think you can take a lot of positives from the play of Dylan Thompson and Tanner McEvoy. With Thompson, the first thing that absolutely jumped out at me was his mechanics and release. To me, it looked like last year that he was almost shotputting the ball and it just didn't look right to me. There wasn't a whole lot of zip and it just looked off. But this year, IMO, he looks like a completely different QB. The release looked as if he was putting it in the correct arm slot and just ripping it down field. There were some throws where I had to rewind and confirm that he was the guy that threw it. He has really come a long way and I am very happy to say I have been wrong about him. Really couldn't believe how much more polished he looked. He threw one up for grabs which was an awful decision and throw but for the most part he moved the chains and played well. Obviously, we need to see how he works in a game setting but I think our coaching staff and the fans that watched the Spring Game are more comfortable with him as the #2 compared to pre-Spring.
I have bit my tongue when reading the reports and reactions to Tanner McEvoy's Spring performances but I feel just as good as I did when I got reports of how he played last Fall. I think a lot of folks are expecting way to much too soon with him and they forget that he is the project of the group but he is the guy with the most upside bar none. He still has a ton of work to do with his release and overall mechanics but he showed that he really does have some big time upside at the QB position. Now, is he going to be the successor of Shaw or the #2 this year. It is difficult to say because of where he is in terms of his development but there were 2 throws he made during the game that I don't think our other QBs (sans Shaw) could make. The almost TD toss to Owens in the corner (perfect throw to a tight area) and the deep ball to Moore that hit him in stride. Those 2 throws showed me that he has the goods. We all know what he can do with his feet. I think you will see the same improvement in his game that you have seen with Thompson. And really the only thing holding him back from being the starting QB in a couple of years is himself. As long as he keeps developing and learning the system, he is going to be too talented to keep off the field IMO.
This Fall, Gamecock fans will get a little taste of a Parade All-American and former Gatorade Offensive P.O.Y and it is going to be interesting to see him throw it around a little bit. I think Nosovitch has some potential and favors comparisons to Connor Shaw. What he is bringing to the table is intangibles and especially the 'do whatever it takes to win' mindset. This guy is the definition of a leader and he has some talent to go along with it.
Not only are our current guys still relatively young but Coach Spurrier and Coach Mangus have put USC in the lead group for one of the best QBs in the South for 2013. He is a guy that could come in and be the 2nd best QB on the team behind McEvoy in terms of pure talent and upside. And even if we miss on Mitch, there are enough good arms out there to add to our stable. I mean realistically we could have FIVE quality SEC arms on our team next season. FIVE.
I am just astonished at the DNA change and the actual development at the QB position the past 2 or 3 years compared to the Reeves era. Night and day