I thought it was cool to see Flynn with the headsets on at the games and always in the huddle when Saban was talking to Mauck/offense. He seems like a real student of the game. But I believe Russell is learning too, but feels he will be the starter.
He wasn't able to get a hold of the system. He had a hard time understanding it and also could not read defenses well. We'll see how he does at Tulane.
Someone made a comment about changing the playbook, more to a running style for the QB's if Randall or Russell get the job. But it would be Flynn not Russell. Russell likes to sit in the pocket. Anyway, i think with either of the two freshman, we will be able to keep the current playbook with the QB draws and options from the shotgun and even the basic option. But not just that, we will be able to go back to some of the stuff we ran with Rohan who had a touch on his pass that Mauck didn't have, thus we were not able to run such a "high powered" passing offense. I think we get the best of both worlds with either of these freshman. From what I heard about fall practice, Flynn appeared to have the best deep ball and was most accurate deep out of all 5 QB's we had in camp before the season started.
The passing attack will make the rushing attack that much better...and dangerous. If Russell becomes the man, you will likely see the QB Draw taken out of the playbook. Russell does not like to run, and will run only when flushed from the pocket. From a pocket passing standpoint, think of Peyton, standing in there and throwing at the last minute to avoid a sack.
QB Competition Let us all remember that Randall missed the 2002 off season workouts between the spring and fall because of his injury in the Spring game. Mauck used that same time frame in 2003 to develop into a NC winner and possible NFL QB. Nobody expected that to happen. When Mauck struggled at Va Tech, my brother asked if there was anyone else. At the time there wasn't, because Randall was limited in what he could do in fall camp. Had Mauck's injury happened in that game, we probably would have seen more of Clausen, since he was Mauck's only healthy backup in the 2002 fall camp. Randall has had a full offseason, a full season working with the second team (and occasionally the first) in practice, and another spring and off season to prepare as a starter. If Russell or Flynn beat him out, great. We have another Tom Hodson on our hands. But if Randall wins the spot, I expect 2002 will become a distant memory. Either way, the important thing is that we have the best QB coach LSU has ever had in Jimbo Fisher. GEAUX TIGERS
Great points, Thorny. Even with all of the factors listed, people forget Randall looked like a solid SEC QB in most of his starts last year. I'm still thinking Russell will be too good to keep off the field though.
