So help me out here

[Skeptic]

It seems to me that over the years I have been following Johnson at GT -- which is all of them -- he has signed several QBs that at least were promising enough to warrant a scholarship but for whatever reason did not work out. He just signed another to a PWO status, which is a different kind of investment but still a commitment. But in every instance I can recall, looking at their self-posted recruiting tape from HS, not one of them ever took a snap from under center. Seems that the shotgun, the single wing, the spread, whatever one calls it, is the only offense of note in HS.

I played some QB in HS and hasten to say I was not that good. But it was under center for three years and in that time I tripped over the feet of more centers, pulling guards or tackles, fullbacks or halfbacks than I want to remember when we did not gee and haw together. Even in a simplified offense we spent an enormous amount of time on snap, exchange, footwork and just plain getting out of the way of each other. And there was far more time for an option decision.

Simply, I am curious as to what coaches look for in a QB candidate who has never put his hands under center, never started a step back before the ball was snapped, and never pivoted either way to get the ball in the right hand and his feet out of the way, and in GT's case, never had to make that first decision literally inside of a second. And is that the reason so many never pan out? I don't think I could run this offense. Anybody have a clue? (P.S. Saw that February marked the 50th year of Dodd's retirement as a coach, and finally the recognition that his famous belly series was the triple option.)

 

[ilovetheoption]

My brother was an option QB, and I've often had the same question, because he spent a LOAD of time on the intricacies of getting out from under center quickly, efficiently, deceptively, and without collision. He often compared it to dance class, with all the different clear steps and open steps and waggle steps and so forth.

 

[Deleted member 2897]

It seems to me that over the years I have been following Johnson at GT -- which is all of them -- he has signed several QBs that at least were promising enough to warrant a scholarship but for whatever reason did not work out. He just signed another to a PWO status, which is a different kind of investment but still a commitment. But in every instance I can recall, looking at their self-posted recruiting tape from HS, not one of them ever took a snap from under center. Seems that the shotgun, the single wing, the spread, whatever one calls it, is the only offense of note in HS.

I played some QB in HS and hasten to say I was not that good. But it was under center for three years and in that time I tripped over the feet of more centers, pulling guards or tackles, fullbacks or halfbacks than I want to remember when we did not gee and haw together. Even in a simplified offense we spent an enormous amount of time on snap, exchange, footwork and just plain getting out of the way of each other. And there was far more time for an option decision.

Simply, I am curious as to what coaches look for in a QB candidate who has never put his hands under center, never started a step back before the ball was snapped, and never pivoted either way to get the ball in the right hand and his feet out of the way, and in GT's case, never had to make that first decision literally inside of a second. And is that the reason so many never pan out? I don't think I could run this offense. Anybody have a clue? (P.S. Saw that February marked the 50th year of Dodd's retirement as a coach, and finally the recognition that his famous belly series was the triple option.)

I think I know who you're referring to as the PWO but not sure. And I don't mean this to be insulting, its just a random guess and total speculation in general and not about him. But I could see someone that valued the Georgia Tech degree enough and not getting any offers elsewhere to join Tech as a PWO and then serve on the scout team to mimic our opponents' offenses.

 

[alentrekin]

May be similar to the reaction time and footwork required for playing catcher, my old position. And when thinking about converting players to catcher, scouts typically look to middle infielders with good feet.

Also, it seems like the beating you'd take, especially in the midline series, would call for guys who are tailback sized -- Nesbitt, MJ, Navy guy last year -- but I guess most of them won't have the footwork.

 

[Dottie1145]

This is why I thought Christian Campbell was going to be really good for us at QB.

 

[FrostedOrange]

I'm pretty sure Johnson has addressed this, and indicated he wanted qb at the line to shorten distance for qb runs which is given up by shotgun, and get the bb running down hill approaching the los.

 

[alentrekin]

This is why I thought Christian Campbell was going to be really good for us at QB.

Yeah, I see what you mean on his tape.

It's a real unicorn of a position. You must have good footwork, make quick decisions unselfish decisions and take a beating. And throw somewhat accurately with undersized linemen protecting you. And take calculus. And be our hero.

 

[deeeznutz]

Your starting hypothesis is wrong though, just off the top of my head I think Lucas Johnson played under center option football up to his senior year (I think they switched his last year to a shotgun spread to take advantage of his arm). Synjyn, even though he ended up at RB, started out at QB and played in a direct copy of our O in high school.

 

[Jerry the Jacket]

I think Johnson has yet to find a true option QB. The are rare and hard to find. I believe he finds 2 or 3 a year that have the basic athleticism to possibly succeed at the position and signs them up for more or less a tryout. He puts them through the paces during fall camp and spring practice and quickly eliminates most of them. He generally has to settle for one or two who most closely meet his requirements. This is the case again this coming season. He has Jordan who can run it to some degree and now he needs to decide who comes most closely to being able to be a good backup. He will eliminate 1 or 2 pretty quickly and move them out to alternative positions. I am hoping Johnson, Jones or Oliver turn out to be special and not just another backup secondary person or A back.

Go Jackets!

 

[JacketFromUGA]

I think Johnson has yet to find a true option QB. The are rare and hard to find. I believe he finds 2 or 3 a year that have the basic athleticism to possibly succeed at the position and signs them up for more or less a tryout. He puts them through the paces during fall camp and spring practice and quickly eliminates most of them. He generally has to settle for one or two who most closely meet his requirements. This is the case again this coming season. He has Jordan who can run it to some degree and now he needs to decide who comes most closely to being able to be a good backup. He will eliminate 1 or 2 pretty quickly and move them out to alternative positions. I am hoping Johnson, Jones or Oliver turn out to be special and not just another backup secondary person or A back.

Go Jackets!

If TW wasn't a true option QB then I don't know what you want

 

[Dottie1145]

Jaybo Shaw was a true option QB.... was here at the wrong time though.

 

[tech_wreck47]

I think Johnson has yet to find a true option QB. The are rare and hard to find. I believe he finds 2 or 3 a year that have the basic athleticism to possibly succeed at the position and signs them up for more or less a tryout. He puts them through the paces during fall camp and spring practice and quickly eliminates most of them. He generally has to settle for one or two who most closely meet his requirements. This is the case again this coming season. He has Jordan who can run it to some degree and now he needs to decide who comes most closely to being able to be a good backup. He will eliminate 1 or 2 pretty quickly and move them out to alternative positions. I am hoping Johnson, Jones or Oliver turn out to be special and not just another backup secondary person or A back.

Go Jackets!

I get what you are saying, but I think that goes for any system. What QB out there doesn't have a weakness in any system? Almost every team has things they allow their QB to do but other things they don't allow based on their QB's skill set, so if we say he hasn't had a true option QB we could almost say no other team has had a true QB for their system because they all have limitations. JT was phenomenal at almost every aspect of running the option except for a few plays because of his size, but that doesn't make him not a true option QB. Tevin Washington is another guy that was pretty good at running out system. Look at Watson, even he has limitations, he's not the greatest at standing in the pocket and checking down, but that doesn't mean he's not a very good QB in their spread option (which does have passing plays inside the pocket). So I don't see the difference in JT not running a QB follow well and Watson not sitting in the pocket well. They are both very good QB's in their system, with limitations. Also You mentioned CPJ having to find a back up for Jordan, but he might not even have the starting job come September.

 

[zhavenor]

This is why I thought Christian Campbell was going to be really good for us at QB.

If I remember correctly I think CPJ was a little disappointed that he wanted to switch to safety.

 

[Skeptic]

My brother was an option QB, and I've often had the same question, because he spent a LOAD of time on the intricacies of getting out from under center quickly, efficiently, deceptively, and without collision. He often compared it to dance class, with all the different clear steps and open steps and waggle steps and so forth.

It was said of Ginger Rogers. when critics raved about Fred Astaire's dancing, that she did everything that he did, but backwards and in heels.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

I think Johnson has yet to find a true option QB. The are rare and hard to find. I believe he finds 2 or 3 a year that have the basic athleticism to possibly succeed at the position and signs them up for more or less a tryout. He puts them through the paces during fall camp and spring practice and quickly eliminates most of them. He generally has to settle for one or two who most closely meet his requirements. This is the case again this coming season. He has Jordan who can run it to some degree and now he needs to decide who comes most closely to being able to be a good backup. He will eliminate 1 or 2 pretty quickly and move them out to alternative positions. I am hoping Johnson, Jones or Oliver turn out to be special and not just another backup secondary person or A back.

Go Jackets!

Never mind. Should have read the whole thread first.

 

[alagold]

What a great topic.It has been my contention FOREVER that not getting an "under-ctr " QB initially slows his growth down in this Off a LOT. In fact,you probably can not tell at all how he will turn out until he goes through a good period of practice with the "quick snap-quick read" Offense.This makes recruiting a good one very difficult.
We are NOW in a choice..MT can do 3 of 4 things needed probably now.Can take snap, option bback or pitch, or run.The one thing missing is passing skills. We'll see what the others offer.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

What a great topic.It has been my contention FOREVER that not getting an "under-ctr " QB initially slows his growth down in this Off a LOT. In fact,you probably can not tell at all how he will turn out until he goes through a good period of practice with the "quick snap-quick read" Offense.This makes recruiting a good one very difficult.
We are NOW in a choice..MT can do 3 of 4 things needed probably now.Can take snap, option bback or pitch, or run.The one thing missing is passing skills. We'll see what the others offer.

You mean MJ? Imo, MJ will prove to be a better passer than he's shown so far. I'm more concerned about his ability to make the pitch in tight quarters. He keeps an awful lot when the pitch is wide open for more yards.

 

[MWBATL]

You mean MJ? Imo, MJ will prove to be a better passer than he's shown so far. I'm more concerned about his ability to make the pitch in tight quarters. He keeps an awful lot when the pitch is wide open for more yards.

+100....not to mention the turnovers that can result from a poor pitch in that situation

 

[ATL1]

I think Johnson has yet to find a true option QB.
Go Jackets!

 

[alentrekin]

IIRC, a lot of MJ's were QB follow or TO with a strong suggestion to get downhill. That may be due to a lack of confidence in his pitch game (or confidence in him getting downhill) but I don't think we've seen everything he can do.