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Continuing quarterback problems keep teams in the bottom half of the SEC
By John Brasier
Published:
There’s one obvious shortcoming that plagues the seven teams at the bottom half of the SEC. Each started the season with quarterback problems and never found a solution.
Instability and inconsistency at quarterback were common themes. Now, they’ve all added inexperience to the mix.
Entering the second-to-last weekend of the season, six of the bottom seven are playing freshmen. The other team, Georgia, started the season with a transfer expected to be a backup at Virginia, then gave an inexperienced third-teamer his first start against Florida.
Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Missouri, Georgia, Kentucky, Texas A&M and Auburn have all made QB changes not necessitated by injuries. None of the replacements has done much to improve their offense’s production.
Vanderbilt, Missouri, Kentucky and Texas A&M are playing true freshmen in hopes of improving the position in the near future. A true freshman is one of three quarterbacks South Carolina has tried. Auburn is playing a redshirt freshman.
Georgia hasn’t tried a freshman, but the Bulldogs have played three inexperienced quarterbacks without success.
At Vanderbilt, the Commodores opened the season with Johnny McCrary, hoping to redshirt top recruit Kyle Shurmur. But after scoring 17 points or less in five or their first six games, they inserted Shurmur into the lineup. The Commodores are 2-1 with Shurmur as the starter. But the problems aren’t solved — they’ve scored only 31 points in three games. The two victories came against Missouri and Kentucky, teams with quarterback problems of their own.
South Carolina started the season with Connor Mitch, a four-star recruit who had trouble beating out three other contenders during spring and summer practices. Mitch struggled and then was hurt. Lorenzo Nunez provided a running threat, but little help in the passing game. So the Gamecocks have turned to Perry Orth, a former walk-on who makes fewer mistakes than the other two.
Missouri won the East Division last season despite poor production from Maty Mauk. The Tigers didn’t have the talent at receiver to overcome the poor quarterback play this season. After struggling to beat UConn 9-6 and managing only 13 points against Kentucky, Missouri suspended Mauk. Freshman Drew Lock, a four-star recruit, took over. But the struggles on offense continued, though a porous offensive line, inexperienced receivers and an injury to RB Russell Hansbrough left Lock with little help.
Patrick Towles looked good early as Kentucky jumped out to a 4-1 start. Then the roof caved in. Towles threw nine interceptions in the Wildcats next six games, beating only Eastern Kentucky in overtime. The Wildcats have averaged only 17 points per game during their last five conference games. On Saturday, freshman Drew Barker gets his first start.
Texas A&M was supposed to be solid at quarterback with sophomore Kyle Allen, who was impressive after taking over for Kenny Hill midway through last season. Allen was sharp early as the Aggies rolled out to a 5-0 start while averaging 39 points per game, including victories over Arizona State, Arkansas and Mississippi State. But Allen’s season fell apart after throwing a trio of pick-6s against Alabama. Then the soap opera began. Coach Kevin Sumlin bypassed freshman phenom Kyler Murray for disciplinary reasons, going with junior-college transfer Jake Hubenak when Allen faltered. Sumlin eventually inserted Murray into the starting lineup, allowing him to tune up last Saturday against Western Carolina.
During the preseason, Auburn was the trendy pick to win the SEC with QB Jeremy Johnson leading the way. That didn’t happen. Johnson struggled from the beginning, throwing seven interceptions in 114 passes, and gave way to Sean White. Though he makes fewer mistakes than Johnson, White doesn’t have the ability to make big plays. He’s thrown only two TD passes and doesn’t have breakaway running ability. In seven conference games, the Tigers haven’t scored more than 26 points in regulation time.
Greyson Lambert was good enough to get Georgia off to a good start. But his effectiveness faded as the competition got better. First, the Bulldogs went to highly touted sophomore Brice Ramsey without success. The situation got so desperate that the Bulldogs gave third-stringer Faton Bauta a start against Florida.
In the age of four and five receiver sets, teams must have not only a reliable, but a talented quarterback able to read defenses, make adjustments at the line, make accurate throws and run for first downs.
Talented QBs such as Dak Prescott, Chad Kelly and Brandon Allen have moved Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Arkansas into the top tier in the SEC. Tennessee owes much of its turnaround to Joshua Dobbs. Jacob Coker has kept Alabama at the top. Brandon Harris played well enough to help LSU off to a 7-0 start.
Mark Richt’s trip to Washington state last weekend after Georgia’s victory at Auburn indicates how much importance coaches place on securing a good quarterback. Richt took a plane after the game to visit recruit Jacob Eason and make sure the five-star quarterback was firm in his commitment to play at Georgia next season.
