AJ Long...

[Dmcnabbrules]

Hunt sucks, Long is better but not at all prepared for a team like Clemson. Last night had to be historically bad. Has SU ever had a game without a trip to the redone.

 

[OrangeinBoston]

Yawn? So you're saying AJ is equal to Doug Flutie in all other attributes??? Including arm strength, vision, scrambling ability, et al?
Also it's 2014, not the Eighties. Even in 3 decades the physicality of football players has changed dramatically.

No, he's a true freshman QB in his second start. Whether or not he will have the aforementioned attributes will be confirmed in time. But, they are likely not to depend in any way on his stature. Double Yawn...Manziel...ZZZZZZ

 

[Cuse'91]

No, he's a true freshman QB in his second start. Whether or not he will have the aforementioned attributes will be confirmed in time. But, they are likely not to depend in any way on his stature. Double Yawn...Manziel...ZZZZZZ

So you are saying AJ will succeed if he is the same as two once in a multiple generation level talents? Gotcha... Good night...

 

[OrangeinBoston]

So you are saying AJ will succeed if he is the same as two once in a multiple generation level talents? Gotcha... Good night...

You have no clue how he will end up and neither do I. But to dismiss him at this point is just dumb.

 

[Cuse'91]

You have no clue how he will end up and neither do I. But to dismiss him at this point is just dumb.

Dumb? How do you think a shorter/weaker armed Manziel without an off the charts natural scrambling ability would fare in P5 football? To bring up the names of players that are once in a century combination of talent type of players in a discussion of AJ is dumb...

 

[OrangeinBoston]

Dumb? How do you think a shorter/weaker armed Manziel without an off the charts natural scrambling ability would fare in P5 football? To bring up the names of players that are once in a century combination of talent type of players in a discussion of AJ is dumb...

So, genius, perhaps we should have an army of 6' 4" NFL prototypical QBs like...Drew Allen! Yeah! You have no clue how Long will look after a year of strength and conditioning and a whole lot more game experience, and neither do I.

 

[orangehipfan]

What really hurt him last night was his size. Other teams will try to keep him in the pocket and get their hands up. 3-4 passes batted down or deflected last night. I also think his last interception what a case where he just didn't see the defender because he couldn't see a guy hidden just beyond the LOS.

He's great when he can step up in a throwing lane and make a throw...but he can't see over people...which takes away opportunities under pressure.

And as far as mobility goes, he has good feel for pressure and some elusiveness, but in not sure he beats Hunt or Nassib in a foot race.

Good learning experience though.

solid post, florida state played plain vanilla defense because they know they were better than Cuse and had a game against notre dame the next week. Wake stinks. When d lineman are 6 foot 3 inches not difficult to block passes. Not sure we have enough of a profile on Long to determine if he is the answer for Cuse. Complete guess, need a different system and better players around him for him to be the answer (ie - he is not a difference maker). Not a knock on the kid just a thought. He looks very small put there.

 

[orangepassion]

Hunt sucks, Long is better but not at all prepared for a team like Clemson. Last night had to be historically bad. Has SU ever had a game without a trip to the redone.

If Hunt is so terrible, how'd we win 8 games last year with him?

 

[Dmcnabbrules]

If Hunt is so terrible, how'd we win 8 games last year with him?

Well we won seven so I don't know.

 

[orangepassion]

Well we won seven so I don't know.

Okay, I'd be thrilled with 7 wins this year

 

[TheCusian]

He'll either be fine and continue to get better or he will give up his job to a better option. I think he's a fighter and I'll take his attitude (as well as Hunts) and day of the week.

He's pretty accurate and will get better with the mental side of the game with experience. He'll learn to throw as a smaller guy - they all do.

 

[kcsu]

Im predicting a late growth spurt of 5 inches and 50 pounds meaning he will be the same size as Hunt next year

 

[Full_Rebar]

Nothing against Long, but some of the backpedaling in this thread is sure interesting to read. It's way too early in his career to forecast his future, which is why I've been against the whole "Hunt never plays another snap at QB" notion these last 3 weeks. I certainly didn't expect Long to go in and win against that D and in that environment, but what is troubling is that he's absolutely careless with the ball.

Maybe it's his moxie or just living that freestyle life, but in addition to the interceptions, he had a near-killer fumble right before the half (thanks Omari Palmer for saving 6 pts). Obviously the OL did him no favors this weekend, but he's thrown some careless passes in each of the 3 games he's played. These next four games will be a good test for him against comparable opponents, but if he's not taking care of the ball, the offense is going to be more vanilla than anyone wants to see.

 

[SmilinBob]

Long is what he is...short, smart, accurate and confident. Decent speed and average to below arm strength. This is the time we find out about the young qb and see if he turtles after facing a helluva defense or is he going to learn from this and continue to grow as a qb? I think he'll be fine and now we will get a better sample size of what he can do but let's still not forget that Wilson is still a quality young qb as well and the staff seems to be the only one that knows about Kimble because I have no clue about the kid.

 

[TheCusian]

Nothing against Long, but some of the backpedaling in this thread is sure interesting to read. It's way too early in his career to forecast his future, which is why I've been against the whole "Hunt never plays another snap at QB" notion these last 3 weeks. I certainly didn't expect Long to go in and win against that D and in that environment, but what is troubling is that he's absolutely careless with the ball.

Maybe it's his moxie or just living that freestyle life, but in addition to the interceptions, he had a near-killer fumble right before the half (thanks Omari Palmer for saving 6 pts). Obviously the OL did him no favors this weekend, but he's thrown some careless passes in each of the 3 games he's played. These next four games will be a good test for him against comparable opponents, but if he's not taking care of the ball, the offense is going to be more vanilla than anyone wants to see.

If it's way too early to forecast his future - this sentence: "but what is troubling is that he's absolutely careless with the ball" should read: "but what is troubling is that he's shown that he can be careless with the ball."

Too many absolutes in threads about freshman (not you - others) are just dumb. AJ is not the player he will be even after the next 4 games. He's a fighter and will get better. It may not be enough to hold on to the starting job in future seasons - but I think he'll scrape and claw his way into significant improvement over the next year.

 

[Crusty]

If it's way too early to forecast his future - this sentence: "but what is troubling is that he's absolutely careless with the ball" should read: "but what is troubling is that he's shown that he can be careless with the ball."

Too many absolutes in threads about freshman (not you - others) are just dumb. AJ is not the player he will be even after the next 4 games. He's a fighter and will get better. It may not be enough to hold on to the starting job in future seasons - but I think he'll scrape and claw his way into significant improvement over the next year.

The only thing I am sure of with respect to AJ is - he's a freshman. He thinks he can make every play and is very careless with the ball two or three times per games. The reason Austin beat him out for #2 was that Austin took care of the ball. The coaches said as much.

Both NCS and Duke have below average defenses so whatever AJ has will probably be revealed in the next two games. Now, I am not saying that I expect an 18 year-old kid to be perfect , but I think he will has seen three pretty good defenses in a row and now will see some bad ones - a chance to shine.

 

[TheCusian]

The only thing I am sure of with respect to AJ is - he's a freshman. He thinks he can make every play and is very careless with the ball two or three times per games. The reason Austin beat him out for #2 was that Austin took care of the ball. The coaches said as much.

Both NCS and Duke have below average defenses so whatever AJ has will probably be revealed in the next two games. Now, I am not saying that I expect an 18 year-old kid to be perfect , but I think he will has seen three pretty good defenses in a row and now will see some bad ones - a chance to shine.

Agreed. The only game I don't feel good about is BC. But it all really rests on AJ's shoulders. I think he'll fight with the right attitude. We'll see if it's enough.

 

[CuseGrad94]

Certainly not while running backwards... I've never seen a quarterback back his way into a hole as often as AJ. At least not above the pop warner level.

AJ's young. He can be a good quarterback for us. Still not sure he beats out Hunt though.

Im calling my inner Troy Nunes to challenge this

 

[cuseincincy]

I like Long. He makes freshman mistakes. I feel much better about SU's chances with him than I do with Hunt. I hope Eduoard makes it to campus and beats him out in the Spring. Unless Long gets hurt Hunt should never play another down at QB at SU.

The biggest problem I saw against Clemson was Lester continually trying to get outside against a vastly superior and faster defense. Clemson was beatable Saturday night, but not with the game plan SU used. Great game by the defense.

 

[Crusty]

I like Long. He makes freshman mistakes. I feel much better about SU's chances with him than I do with Hunt. I hope Eduoard makes it to campus and beats him out in the Spring. Unless Long gets hurt Hunt should never play another down at QB at SU.

The biggest problem I saw against Clemson was Lester continually trying to get outside against a vastly superior and faster defense. Clemson was beatable Saturday night, but not with the game plan SU used. Great game by the defense.

I was saying exactly that during the game and so were the guys around me. Gulley did just fine going straight at them but every time we moved laterally it didn't work.

It is quite possible that Wilson emerges as the best option only because he takes care of the ball. Yeah, he threw a stupid interception in the Louisville game but that was his only transgression. He really does have a much better arm than anyone else.

Everyone will probably have fun with this , but I keep thinking that Hunt might have won on Saturday. He wouldn't have done any worse passing than AJ and his style of running would have caused Clemson some problems. That was his type of rock fight.

 

[cuseincincy]

I was saying exactly that during the game and so were the guys around me. Gulley did just fine going straight at them but every time we moved laterally it didn't work.

It is quite possible that Wilson emerges as the best option only because he takes care of the ball. Yeah, he threw a stupid interception in the Louisville game but that was his only transgression. He really does have a much better arm than anyone else.

Everyone will probably have fun with this , but I keep thinking that Hunt might have won on Saturday. He wouldn't have done any worse passing than AJ and his style of running would have caused Clemson some problems. That was his type of rock fight.

My only problem with Wilson is his total lack of mobility. QB run is a 0% threat. As far as Hunt is concerned we are all entitled to our opinion. I am willing to admit some of Long's attractiveness is likely the shiny and new aspect. Ask me next year about this time and if Long has not improved my opinion will likely be very different. One thing that I am hopeful for this Spring is that we don't pick next season's starting QB based on experience. I hope we pick the best QB.

I still think back to what P said about Nunes and why he was starting..."Troy does a good job of calling the play and getting the team to the line of scrimmage in the right places." I always wanted to scream "It's what happens after the ball is snapped that really matters!"

 

[UelSU]

Like I was saying at the tailgate, our QB issue won't get sorted out until after spring practice in my opinion...maybe not even then. I wouldn't be surprised if Hunt is the starter again next year, or one of the others.

 

[storange]

Long let the moment get to him I thought. Missing early simple short throws (receivers saved him) ,dropping snaps, and that last INT hurt because if he got the ball there that play is going for another 15 to 20 yards at least. He gets a pass on this one from me being his second start and all the factors he had to deal with.

 

[Crusty]

Long is what he is...short, smart, accurate and confident. Decent speed and average to below arm strength. This is the time we find out about the young qb and see if he turtles after facing a helluva defense or is he going to learn from this and continue to grow as a qb? I think he'll be fine and now we will get a better sample size of what he can do but let's still not forget that Wilson is still a quality young qb as well and the staff seems to be the only one that knows about Kimble because I have no clue about the kid.

I would bet a few bucks A J won't turtle.

 

[shu 49]

I cant be the only one that see's that we only run half of the zone read. A.J. had at least a dozen keeps in that game and I have been saying this periodically all year. When you run zone, he is supposed to read the end on the same side as the rb. If that end comes down hard to trail rb, then he should pull the ball and replace where the end came from. After a few nice runs, the d wont be able to come down backside and de will have to sit or long will run all day. We just don't do that with him and we didn't with Hunt. Why are we not doing this. If we are worried about A.J. height then we shouldn't have recruited him or his lack of size. We knew what offense we were running and if he might get hurt then he shouldn't be here. Am I wrong for thinking this. I like the kid and all but we are handcuffing him terrible. P.S. why don't we add the fake handoff and then throw the bubble screen. It sure worked for Clemson and it also works for Florida St. when they ran it last year. Start playing to win and not to lose.