QB Depth Chart

[cpatrocks]

Drew Allen started last year ahead of Hunt and obviously Hunt was the far better QB - Hell, Allen could barely throw the ball past the line of scrimmage.

Now Long (the #3 QB in the depth chart) is clearly the better QB over Hunt and Wilson.

I know there are a lot of variables here including Long being a freshman the size of Spud Webb, but it does make me question the coaching staffs ability to assess the talent level.

 

[Nicknack]

Yeah, I understand your point. Although you could also say that about Murphy - why the heck didn't he start from day 1? The guy is kicking field goals at the rate of 90%.

I think it just gets back to the simple fact that you can't duplicate REAL game experience in scrimmages and practices. What a player does in practice and/or a scrimmage doesn't necessarily mean that's what they will do in the game.

Got to give the coaches credit though, they went with Long early after assessing how he was doing versus Wilson in the FSU game. They didn't hesitate nor did they after Murphy kicked that long field goal on his first try of the season.

 

[Upstate]

Drew Allen started last year ahead of Hunt and obviously Hunt was the far better QB - Hell, Allen could barely throw the ball past the line of scrimmage.

Now Long (the #3 QB in the depth chart) is clearly the better QB over Hunt and Wilson.

I know there are a lot of variables here including Long being a freshman the size of Spud Webb, but it does make me question the coaching staffs ability to assess the talent level.

CLEARLY better than Hunt and Wilson? I still think Hunt gives SU the best chance to win. Long might be the better passer, however.

 

[Nicknack]

CLEARLY better than Hunt and Wilson? I still think Hunt gives SU the best chance to win. Long might be the better passer, however.

I was thinking the same thing... how after just one game and 3 quarters or so can you legitimately say that Long is clearly better than Hunt? That's the problem so often is that people see a snippet of something and then make a strong determination without having much of a sample size to base that opinion on. I really like Long and hope he makes it very difficult for the coaches to sit him when Hunt is healthy; that would mean that as a team we are likely doing some good things. However, that being said, I don't get why so many have turned their back on Hunt. Yeah, he showed some issues at times but he also did some very nice things as well.

 

[Statesman1]

I was thinking the same thing... how after just one game and 3 quarters or so can you legitimately say that Long is clearly better than Hunt? That's the problem so often is that people see a snippet of something and then make a strong determination without having much of a sample size to base that opinion on. I really like Long and hope he makes it very difficult for the coaches to sit him when Hunt is healthy; that would mean that as a team we are likely doing some good things. However, that being said, I don't get why so many have turned their back on Hunt. Yeah, he showed some issues at times but he also did some very nice things as well.

Long can throw a simple screen pass with accuracy- something Hunt could not do. Not saying Long is going to be an All American but you are understating Hunt's sub par passing ability.

 

[Nicknack]

Long can throw a simple screen pass with accuracy- something Hunt could not do. Not saying Long is going to be an All American but you are understating Hunt's sub par passing ability.

My point is that Hunt showed that he could do that at times as well. However, we got to see a large sample size with him than Long. Hunt also turned MANY sure thing 3 and outs into first downs with his legs. Bottom line is that we need to give Long more time before we anoint him as the next greatest thing. I like what I see so far, but much more football to be played.

 

[texascpa]

As much as we don't believe it happens, there has to be some politics or favoritism in play. When I say favoritism, I mean sticking what your familiar with. Even with Long coming in the Spring, HCSS and McDonald knew what they had in Hunt and felt they could do what they wanted to do with him. I'm convinced Allen was promised the starting role if he transferred to SU.

 

[dollarbill44]

Long can throw a simple screen pass with accuracy- something Hunt could not do. Not saying Long is going to be an All American but you are understating Hunt's sub par passing ability.

I agree with this. Hunt (before he got hurt) was very disappointing to me. He really struggled making basic passes and the proper reads. Maybe it isn't fair to judge him entirely on the early games this year because I think McDonald's game-planning and play-calling was bad, but the fact that he just plain missed on several wide open throws was very frustrating.

I don't know that I agree that Long is clearly better than Wilson, though. They both made some nice plays against FSU, as well as some bad ones. I really like the Long-Ishmael connection, however. I think that has real potential.

 

[jekelish]

This year, there is absolutely no point in bringing Hunt back. He may not be healthy at any point during the regular season, so he can probably just write this season off at this point.

It's next year that will be interesting. It's going to be one hell of a heated preseason battle.

 

[TheCusian]

Drew Allen started last year ahead of Hunt and obviously Hunt was the far better QB - Hell, Allen could barely throw the ball past the line of scrimmage.

Now Long (the #3 QB in the depth chart) is clearly the better QB over Hunt and Wilson.

I know there are a lot of variables here including Long being a freshman the size of Spud Webb, but it does make me question the coaching staffs ability to assess the talent level.

I still maintain that Allen was a better practice player and fell apart in games, while Hunt has some of the opposite tendencies. Made choosing a QB last season really difficult without game film. This year was more about the upward trajectory that Hunt had at the end of last season and the staff wanting to redshirt Long. Replacing a guy who was MVP of your bowl game with a true freshman this season would have been nuts.

You can't look at the macro to develop an opinion of the staffs ability to judge talent. It's way more complicated with a lot of factors.

 

[Orange4]

CLEARLY better than Hunt and Wilson? I still think Hunt gives SU the best chance to win. Long might be the better passer, however.

I have to respectfully disagree I much more confident going into this Clemson game with Long than I would be with Hunt. AJ showed he could hang with the big boys (Florida State) and Hunt proved time and time again last year he could not. Hunt had his big games against average competition but was horrible against good to great competition.

 

[orangencpolice]

I don't think GMC's offense was as bad as people think. It was bad, however Hunt couldcnot find the open receivers. He did "ok" at times against average teams. I have to say that AJ has played very well in the two games he has played. Especially afainst FSU. I think Clemson's defense will be his true test and still think he will play well.

 

[Statesman1]

I agree with this. Hunt (before he got hurt) was very disappointing to me. He really struggled making basic passes and the proper reads. Maybe it isn't fair to judge him entirely on the early games this year because I think McDonald's game-planning and play-calling was bad, but the fact that he just plain missed on several wide open throws was very frustrating.

I don't know that I agree that Long is clearly better than Wilson, though. They both made some nice plays against FSU, as well as some bad ones. I really like the Long-Ishmael connection, however. I think that has real potential.
View attachment 28567

The sample size for Wilson is even smaller than for Long, so I'm not sure how you rate a guy like that. When in doubt, especially in the college game, you go with the mobile qb if it's close, imo. I do believe that the coaches would have let Long & Wilson fight it out and go with the hot hand down the 2nd half run prior to Wilson's injury. Long's relative accuracy compared to Hunt, combined with his mobility and youth give me more hope for a higher ceiling compared to Hunt. However, he's tiny and he might get swallowed up whole by a defensive lineman. Wilson seems like the best passer of the three, but he didn't appear to be obviously better than Long either. Tough to tell from the limited action we've seen so far- but I am cautiously optimistic that we can win some games with Long.

 

[Statesman1]

My point is that Hunt showed that he could do that at times as well. However, we got to see a large sample size with him than Long. Hunt also turned MANY sure thing 3 and outs into first downs with his legs. Bottom line is that we need to give Long more time before we anoint him as the next greatest thing. I like what I see so far, but much more football to be played.

Sorry, but that right there is the problem with Hunt. P5 qb's need to be able to execute simple throws routinely, and Hunt rarely hit receivers, even stationary ones, in stride, even on short passes and was a disaster on intermediate to long throws. His much vaunted running ability, while above average, was not enough to compensate for lackluster passing ability-. I would rather have Troy Nunes in his senior year over Hunt on his best day, at least what we have seen so far out of the guy. Love Hunt's personal story and no doubt he's a gamer, but he's not a good enough qb to get us over the hump.

 

[MaxwellCuse]

For you guys who keep saying AJ is "tiny" or compare him to Spud Webb...just how small is he really? 3'7" and 95 pounds?

The height and weight stats I have seen don't suggest this kid is a clone of Jameis Winston, but they sure don't point to him being another Eddie Gaedel either.

 

[BlazeOrange]

Keep in mind that:

A. We haven't seen Long play against a defense that has game-planned against him yet. FSU had no film on him and Wake only had a portion of the FSU game with AJ implementing a combined Long/Wilson/try not to get blown out too bad against #1 offense.

B. We probably haven't seen the Long/Lester offense yet. As noted above, we prepped 2 new and very different QBs for Florida State and were likely forced to limit the play calls to low-risk stuff they could both pretty much do. Wake presented a chance to broaden the playbook, but since it was AJ's first start, they probably kept it to plays in his comfort zone (not to mention the need to keep him healthy). With Clemson being another game where we can expect to be heavily pressured, we might not get a real feel for the new offense until the following game.

 

[Marroniac]

If AJ started over Hunt vs. Villanova, this board would have went BANANAS.

 

[orangepassion]

Hunt had his big games against average competition but was horrible against good to great competition.

Minnesota and BC were both good teams last year

 

[Fjoinkay]

I'm very excited about all 4 QBs on this roster. I want all of them to play well if or when they get the opportunity.

Every developing QB struggles to see the field and make reads especially when more and more complexity is added to the offense. It's a process for every QB. T-Hunt is a pretty good college QB. If he starts again when he is healthy, I'm curious to see how he plays under the new OC. The problems with the screen game earlier this season and last season were in no way all on T-Hunt.

Lester uses the Sharpie, and he makes sure these guys all know what they are doing before he decides to keep something in the game plan each week. Lester emphasized this about 10 different ways right after he was promoted, and I believe him at least so far. I'm seeing an offense that looks more sharp all around.

AJ Long is truly doing a great job. I'm very excited to see him continue to develop. I love competition at every position, and I hope these guys all push each other. In the end I will trust Lester and HCSS to make the best decision for the team whatever that may be. I have no idea what that will be. But I do appreciate the work T-Hunt has done at QB this past year, and I believe if or when he is given a chance he will play better under the new OC just like whole offense has seemed to perform better these past 2 weeks. I'm excited whoever plays QB!

 

[cpatrocks]

For you guys who keep saying AJ is "tiny" or compare him to Spud Webb...just how small is he really? 3'7" and 95 pounds?

The height and weight stats I have seen don't suggest this kid is a clone of Jameis Winston, but they sure don't point to him being another Eddie Gaedel either.

How big is he? 180 lbs? Seriously.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

If AJ started over Hunt vs. Villanova, this board would have went BANANAS.

However, had he been the guy that came in against Nova off the bench and played as well as he did vs FSU, I think we would have at least been thinking about some QB controversy.

 

[cuseincincy]

Last year against BCS conference competition Hunt threw 3 TD's and 8 INT's (58% comp). This season against BCS level competition competition Hunt has thrown 0 TD's and 4 INT's (54% comp).
AJ Long as a true freshman has 2 TD's and 2 INT's (64% comp). I feel 100% better about Syracuse's chances to win any game with AJ Long at QB than I ever did Terrel Hunt. And I hope Alin Eduoard comes in January and beats out Long next Spring. I just want the best players to play regardless of how long they've been here or how much experience they have.

 

[Orangetradition44]

Just an educated guess... 5' 10" or 11", 165-175 lbs

He's Troy nines size.

For you guys who keep saying AJ is "tiny" or compare him to Spud Webb...just how small is he really? 3'7" and 95 pounds? The height and weight stats I have seen don't suggest this kid is a clone of Jameis Winston, but they sure don't point to him being another Eddie Gaedel either.

 

[cuseguy]

He put on 10 pounds since he arrived on campus. He's about 185 now.

 

[OrangeDW]

I have to respectfully disagree I much more confident going into this Clemson game with Long than I would be with Hunt. AJ showed he could hang with the big boys (Florida State) and Hunt proved time and time again last year he could not. Hunt had his big games against average competition but was horrible against good to great competition.

To be fair, Hunt threw for 290+ yards against Notre Dame this year.