Patience is a virtue: QBs tend to get better with more years in college

Alabama Has Been More Successful with QBs Who Are Starting After Their Second Year in College

John Parker Wilson started all 12 games in 2007 as a junior and 2008 as a senior.

In 2009, Greg McElroy took over with 2 years under his belt and led Bama to an undefeated season. He also started every game in 2010.

In 2011, A.J. McCarron was a redshirt sophomore and was entering his 3rd year at Bama. He won a NC both years that he started.

After McCarron entered the draft, Blake Sims stepped up and balled. For 3 years he was a backup QB before finally getting the nod and leading Bama to the playoffs.

Jake Coker was redshirted at FSU in 2010, played some as a backup in 2011 and 2012. He injured his knee before the 2013 season so he transferred to Bama January of 2014. He's now a 5th year senior QB for Saban and on their way to another playoff.


LSU Has Been More Successful with QBs Who Are Starting After Their Second Year in College

In 2008, Lee (RS Fr) and Jefferson (T Fr) split time.

In 2009, Jefferson started as a true sophomore.

In 2014, Jennings started as a true sophomore.

In 2015, Harris started as a true sophomore.


When LSU has a QB who is starting after his second year in college:

2005 11-2 (7-1 SEC)
2006 11-2 (6-2 SEC)
2007 12-2 (6-2 SEC) National Championship
2010 11-2 (6-2 SEC)
2011 13-1 (8-0 SEC) SEC Champs, NC appearance
2012 10-3 (6-2 SEC) lost to Bama
2013 10-3 (5-3 SEC) 3,000 yd passer, two 1,000 yd receivers

Combined 78-15 [84%] (44-12 SEC [79%])


When LSU has a QB who is starting in his first or second year in college:

2008 8-5 (3-5 SEC) lost to Bama
2009 9-4 (5-3 SEC) lost to Bama
2014 8-5 (4-4 SEC) lost to Bama
2015 8-3 (5-3 SEC) lost to Bama

Combined 33-17 [66%] (17-15 SEC [53%])



These graphs clearly show that as LSU QBs get more years in the system, their production tends to increase.



Lee
QB Rating 117.60 increased to 156.62
Comp% 52.% increased to 65.0%
YPA 7.3 increased to 8.5

Jefferson
QB Rating 121.34 increased to 158.97
Comp% 46.3% increased to 66.1%
YPA 6.6 increased to 8.7

Mettenberger
QB Rating 116.63 increased to 155.86
Comp% 54.9% increased to 64.5%
YPA 6.9 increased to 9.6

SEC Regular Season Games


QB production is not static. Only morons use the talking point that a QB has "it" or not. There are just far too many examples of QBs who suck as freshmen and sophomores but who blossom as juniors and seniors.


Dak Prescott - RS So.
267 156 58.4% 1940 7.3 10 7 126.58

Brandon Harris - True So.
254 135 53.1% 1904 7.5 12 5 127.77

Baker Mayfield - True Fr.
340 218 64.1 2315 6.8 12 9 127.68

Only morons point to outlier freshman or sophomore QB stars at other schools and think that should be the norm for LSU. Consistently high production from a freshman or sophomore QB is NOT the norm.


QBs tend to get better as they spend more years in college.

Many fans scream about the type of QB should be recruiting. They point to the success of Mauck, Flynn, and Mettenberger and say that LSU should recruit "pro style" QBs. Putting to the side whether Mauck or Flynn were even "pro style" QBs or whether Miles even focuses on recruiting "dual threat" QBs, what there same people fail to consider is that Mauck, Flynn, and Mettenberger did not start as freshmen or sophomores. If Mauck, Flynn, or Mettenberger had started as freshmen or sophomores, they probably would have looked like crap for several games during the year.

Some people say that Harris does not have "it." That's bullshite on many levels. First, it's bullshite that Harris should be written off for not having "it." Second, it's bullshite to think that QBs either have "it" or they don't have "it." QBs can, and usually do, improve year over year.

Harris showed marked improvement during the first seven games in 2015. (Damn shame he missed the McNeese game.) He got injured in the Alabama game and regressed. There is no rational reason to think Harris won't be much improved next year.


Too many LSU fans think QBs can only gain experience and learn in games. bullshite.

Too many LSU fans think QBs can only gain experience and develop as passers if they pass in games. bullshite.

QBs, like every other position, learn and develop their skills in practice, the film room, and the coach's classroom.
Mechanics are honed and fixed in practice, the film room, and the coach's classroom.
Decision making is taught and crafted in practice, the film room, and the coach's classroom.

In practice, the film room, and the coach's classroom, the coach can focus on and correct problems: mental, physical, and mechanical.

QBs acquire experience through practice, the film room, and the coach's classroom. The more years a QB has on campus, the more time the QB spends in practice, the film room, and coach's classroom. Thus, more years in college equals better developed QB.