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USC Morning Buzz: What’s Wrong With A Mobile QB?

It is OK to disagree on who starts at quarterback for USC. One thing I don’t agree with is when people try to knock a quarterback for being mobile in the Air Raid offense.

During last Saturday’s scrimmage, there was a play where half the field was wide open. Jack Sears took off and gained at least 20 yards.

This is a negative?

Even some of the cheerleaders noted after the scrimmage that JT Daniels was not great evading pressure. Then there was the famous “touchdown after sack” play where the referee ruled he was sacked but Clay Helton still counted the pass for a TD.

And this was without live tackling. It doesn’t matter because the narrative was set by Helton and the media largely agrees. But it never hurts to have a mobile QB.

  • Meanwhile, the Pac-12 is off to a Pac-12 start as Arizona lost to Hawaii last night, 45-38. Arizona’s defense allowed nearly 600 yards in offense.

56 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: What’s Wrong With A Mobile QB?”

  2. Even if Gomer Bozo had named Sears the starter if wouldn’t matter, Gomer Bozo is still the head coach,
    he’s still meddling in the play calling,
    he still runs soft practices,
    he’s still going to waste time outs,
    he’s still not going to make halftime adjustments,
    he still has the same shitty coaching staff,
    he still has no offensive philosophy,
    he’s still going to play his favorite players over kids who are better,
    he’s still going to be the worst coach on the sideline in every game,
    he still has no business being a head coach,
    USC is doomed as long as Gomer Bozo and Swann are in charge, no matter who the QB is

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  3. The PAC-12 might be bad, real bad, but this is the first game and teams are not game-ready. Just take a look at the Miami team that looked completely unprepared as true freshmen were playing key positions for the first time in a game situation. Zona was bad, but they will be better by the time conference play begins.

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  4. Another more honest/objective viewpoint…the imagery is not only accurate, but all the more frightening, considering what is in the offing…

    https://wearesc.com/imho-sunday-the-elephant-in-the-room/

    BTW-regarding the subject matter of this post…no informed or honest person would ever suggest that mobility for a quarterback in general (think back to where most of these offensive philosophies really began – Bill Walsh, with mobile Joe Montana and then Steve Young, updating the deep pass-first offenses that had evolved in the AFL from Sid Gilman with shorter, higher percentage routes), and an “air raid” or “spread” quarterback in particular, is a negative…

    For goodness sakes, have any of these people watched Patrick Mahomes (again last night, even in a pre-season game)…the running ability of a quarterback in this new style (gimmicky if you like or not) of football is an imperative (since the offenses are by design not predicated on offensive line play and in fact are designed to overcome substandard offensive line play)…the quarterback’s legs are essentially an “extra attacker” used for the purpose of punishing teams that are undisciplined in maintaining spatial positioning (on the rush or coming up field), or who cheat (particularly dropping too many defenders into coverage).

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    2. James — Reading between the lines of several spring interviews with Harrell I got the impression he didn’t like Sears relying on his legs quite SO much. There is one interview in particular where the usually very diffident Harrell actually says, “I wish he (Sears) wouldn’t run as soon as it looks like a play is breaking down —sometimes if you wait a moment somebody’s gonna break into the green.” Taking off too soon when you’ve got so many talented receivers is a minus. Maybe Sears has more pluses than minuses, though. If so, hopefully we’ll get a chance to find that out at some point in the season. I don’t think any of our QB’s is a Heisman candidate. We’ve all gotten to the point where we can’t even remember what these players can and can’t do —the blog comments paint such extreme positions —pro & con for J.T & Sears—that it’s like we’re living in a virtual reality world. Next Saturday changes all that. We’ll all see if J.T. has grown up, we’ll all see if the o-line is as bad as it looks in practice and we’ll all see (gulp) if Helton looks more in charge and less lost on the sidelines. [My biggest concern is not J. T. —it’s Drevno and the O-line. In Drevno’s last interview he said the O-line looked fine in the scrimmages —-that all the problems were just a matter of USC having such a “great front 7.” He went on to say that he’ll work on “different things” to fix the problem —but he’s generally happy with the way things are. He actually said that a running game that netted 7 yards looked “good sometimes but got stuck other times.” That’s loser talk. We have problems and no amount of happy talk will change a thing come August 31st….and beyond].

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      1. “We’ve all gotten to the point where we can’t even remember what these players can and can’t do —the blog comments paint such extreme positions —pro & con for J.T & Sears—that it’s like we’re living in a virtual reality world.”

        Michael, great comment, this is exactly the issue.

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      2. 67 —After an entire summer of theorizing, name calling, libeling each other and blaming each other —-we’re gonna see a real football team (us) playing another real football team (Fresno). What a relief that’ll be!
        #AndSomethingTellsMeWe’reGonnaBeJustFine….
        #NotPlayoffFine…ButPac12Fine

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      3. Michael, yes, almost here. Offense should be able to score over 30. Should be able to. And defense should keep Fresno State under 20. Should be able to.

        Under Pete, this would be a 45-13 rout. Worried this one will be closer to 28-21 Trojans. Another Western Michigan kind of game.

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  5. Scottie, who criticizes a mobile QB?

    One of the keys to a spread (air raid) offense is a mobile QB to be able to execute the read option.

    People forget that Urban Meyer ran a version of the spread at Utah with Alex Smith and also with Tebow at FLA.

    On paper, Sears would seem to be the guy to seem to be the best match for the spread. His overall evaluation on the NFL test for quickness, agility, strength, reaction, speed is over the top (better than most current NFL WRs). Sears is a guy you want to take off and run if the opening is there.

    The depth chart is fluid. If Sears looks great in practice, the team will also respond (just look at the difference in 2015 after Darnold became starter, and how the rest of the team responded to Sam’s performance and leadership).

    I Sears is indeed the guy, he will ultimately get a chance. Helton won’t have a choice other than to play him.

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    1. QB for the King of the Air Raid was G. Minshew who ran a 5.0 forty yd dash. You dont need to run if the qb gets the pass off quickly which JT can do.

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      1. Partial credit – but you can only get passes off quickly when receivers are open immediately, which only happens when you have physical and/or coaching mismatches (ie scheme/motion/design)…when the other team isn’t overmatched, and properly coached, they will mix up coverages, to include press coverage and the pass rush will get home the first time a less capable (whether quick hot read or mobile) quarterback isn’t given the first read/quick throw…how did Minshew (and his predecessors at Wazzou) fair against Washington? How well do Big 12 (and Oregon from the Pac 12 for that matter) fair in post-season games against the SEC?

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  7. They’re not looking for a QB who can run, they’re looking for a QB who can run their offense. Sears is the former and JT is the latter…

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      1. No, I just don’t think having a running QB is primary to them. Whether a QB can run or not is less important than a QB who can execute the offense as designed.

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      2. Fair enough (from my end – and know my opinion is no more important or worthwhile as anyone else’s)…

        I agree with you to the extent that you can’t have a QB who doesn’t run the offense as executed (QBs of that type essentially hold the rest of the offense hostage — receivers can’t run routes, linemen, particularly tackles, can’t block as part of an ensemble, et al)…

        But having mobility is increasingly necessary in these increasingly simplified offenses (won’t belabor it, but as offensive football has evolved/devolved to a kluge of short/quick passes peppered with deep throws, with the single wing and veer concepts of yesteryear, combined with players progressing more quickly and not staying on campus for four years plus, it appears the offenses have actually become simpler – play called by staff, rare audibles, lots of one hot read or throw it away or run).

        And all the more so when you have poor offensive line play…

        But again I get your point and can’t disagree with you…

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  8. I tune in to this site to read Scott’s take on things. It is refreshing.
    Lots think a bad record will get rid of Helton.
    All of this misses the point that he is not a capable coach but……we are trapped in a bureaucratic web. The BOT’s just want a nice quiet mediocre program that does not embarrass the school. As long as its 8-4 or better with no sexual, alcoholic, drug or behavior issues he keeps his job. The wine and cheese flows and the cash comes in.
    Haden….by hiring Sark…..has nearly destroyed the program for many many years. Our leadership is scared to reach for excellence. They are similar to the board of directors at a bank……no waves…..just cash.

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    1. Smart comments, fred —-I think what it comes down to for most fans is, fully knowing that Helton is not a top flight coach, they hope his very presence is not so enervating that it undoes the energy Harrell is trying to create on offense. The only thing Helton has an absolute genius for is self promotion. The players know it. And players don’t play hard for a coach who is a self promoter, a gentle bully and a phony. Harrell needs to give them something else to play for…..
      #HopeHeltonIsSmartEnoughToStayOuttaHisWay……

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  9. One could argue, successfully, that Clay Helton was only successful with Sam Darnold at QB. I believe Sam Darnold fit the definition of a mobile QB. I believe JT Daniels does not.

    As I recall, the fairly typical sequence of events with Helton on sideline and Sam at the helm was (1) ball is snapped, (2) called play breaks down, (3) Darnold scrambles, (4) Darnold makes the play himself.

    What remains to be seen is how much the offense has “changed” with Harrell in place since that time. My sneaking suspicion is ‘not all that much’ – but perhaps a “gimmicky” air-raid offense is the only way to operate with an O-line as weak as ours is now.

    In the end, it may come down to how well our tired Defense can operate in 4th quarters when we have the ball less than half the game. Last season is instructive in this regard.

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    1. I kinda agree, Trojanation —-except I think the plan is to take the game off the defense’s shoulders (all we want is for them to get a couple of stops per game) while the offense outscores the opposition. With no running game (from our tailbacks to our quarterback) I think we can look for 12 track meets this season. Meaning, lots of dump offs to Carr and lots of medium range passes to our top 3 receivers. I think that’s what Helton wants and I think that’s why we’re practicing the way we’re practicing.
      #AndThrowInALotOfTrickPlays…
      #…WhichIsWhyPracticesAreClosed…

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      1. There’s also much talk of the speed of the reps they’ve been practicing..this is supposed to be a fast offense. Penalties will kill any rhythm they try to get going, so disciplined play will be essential.
        1 more week.

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      2. Pudly —I have a feeling that if we don’t get in our own way we’re gonna score a ton of points against a stout Fresno defense…..
        #FingersCrossed

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    2. Helton was a success because of Sam. Without him, we would not even be writing about him anymore, he would be gone. Similar to Sumlin, each has had one qb to made them look good. After that, they have both been miserable failures.

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  11. J.T. Daniels is going to wish he was a mobile QB.

    Helton doesn’t even believe in having the QB roll out.

    Daniels can’t improvise, he’s going to get pummeled.

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    1. Tebow —Yes, that’s Tedford’s plan (swarm the crap outta Daniels) —-hope we’re ready to take advantage of it —-a lotta guys should be open with all the blitzes they’re gonna throw at us….
      #…WhateverEitherOneOfUsSays,We’llGetAnswersOn8/31/19

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    2. “Helton doesn’t even believe in having the QB roll out.”

      They used roll out plays for Sears last year vs ASU. In fact, they used half the field on most plays so he did not have to use the complete field to follow his progressions. They lined the receivers on one side of the line and they would roll him out in that direction in order to cut the field in half. They “simplified” things for him vs ASU. If Sears played another game, they would be forced to open things up for him, otherwise defenses would scheme better than ASU’s weak secondary. Then, what kind of QB would he be? We may never find out.

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  12. Memo To: bozo Rah-Rah’s and Sunshine Pimps

    Having read through this entire thread, it seems the general bozo consensus is a resigned, forced optimism regarding the 2019 SUCCX FB season.

    I, on the other hand, am very optimistic about those pesky Bruins’ 2019 FB success (8 – 4); so optimistic that I have predicted, too much rah-rah amusement, that UCLA will mug Oklahoma @ the RB – count on it!

    We Bruins successfully launch the 29th and the bozo’s “Air Raid” crashes and burns on the Crumbling Mausoleum tarmac the 31st.

    One last thing Sunshine Pimps, don’t disappear for two or three weeks after SUCCX takes an ugly loss in the shorts – man up like a Bruin.

    #DinggoestheVicbell.

    .

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      2. Owns —I loved it when Swann said “I’m not perfect” in an interview late last year……
        #…NotAMisapprehensionAnybodyWasLaboringUnder….

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  13. Are we now going to the cheerleaders to get our professional analysis of the QB’s? Wolfman….you’re always mentioning that your heard something from a source……are those your sources?…..the cheerleaders!

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  14. The blogger needs to make “cheerleader game analysis” a weekly feature for the coming season.

    That would, in a weird way and with a dismal season predicted, bring some entertainment value to the 2019 season.

    #WhatWasTheNameOfTheOregonCheerleaderTheBloggerCreepedOver?

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  15. Helton must feel that part of last seasons catastrophe was due to the other teams spying on his fall camp. Why else would he close practices to all the fans in the last 1 1/2 weeks? Pete Carrol never cared. His attitude was “if we play our game, it doesn’t matter if they know what we are going to do”.

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    1. Walsh (with Montana & Young) and Andy Reid (with McNabb, Alex Smith, Mahomes) and Urban (with Smith, Tebow, and every QB at The Ohio St U) believed in having a mobile QB. Clueless Clay continues to favor an immobile QB (like he was in college playing for his daddy). Are you going to tell me Gomer knows more than those head coaches?!?!?

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  17. Are we now going to the cheerleaders to get our professional analysis of the QBs? Wolfman….you’s always mentioning that you heard something from a source are those your sources? The cheerleaders!

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