Jimmy Johns Is The Real Deal

[RollTider82]

A QB rotation is the absolute last thing I want to see. Switching QB's out can change the direction of a team's momentum, and also have a negative affect on the confidence of the QB. The Watts/Zow thing caused a lot of controversy. The best player should play the position, and be backed 100% by the coaches.

I think JJ stays at QB, but if he gets buried on the depth chart, it would be in no way wasting talent to try him at a position where he could make an impact. If he can't beat out the guys in front of him, and I think he has as good a shot as anybody to do so, then it would be a waste of talent NOT to move him to LB. Having your best athletes on the field as much as possible, instead of riding the pine is generally a good idea.

 

[RollTider82]

I watched JJ play last year in high school, he reminded of Andrew Zow, I think he is to good of an offensive threat to be on the defense. :biggrin:

In what ways did he remind you of Zow? Zow wasn't nearly the running threat that Johns is.

 

[Vertical]

In what ways did he remind you of Zow? Zow wasn't nearly the running threat that Johns is.

Yeah, I was about to say - if he reminded you of Zow, we're in trouble, and this entire conversation is kind of pointless!

 

[TommyMac]

13-10 over the last two years isn't all that great. not that he's the only reason for the losses, but his arm lost about as many games as his legs won. that's why he probably will play in the NFL but not as a QB.

I only used Matt Jones because we had such an up close look at what athleticism under center can do for (or against) a team. Perhaps Alex Smith would be a better example or any number of ex-BAMA QB's.

 

[BamaSully]

jdpas29,

Thanks for posting the numbers on Matt Jones carrer so I didn't have to look it up.

Do you really want to be the team that has the really athletic QB who makes everybody's jaw drop when he scrambles, but they can't consistently win because he runs when they need to pass and he forces throws into coverage and he doesn't make good decisions?

I don't think so.

People buy into hype too much.

First off, those things I just typed do not apply in any way to Jimmy Johns. I have never seen him play. But that's my point. None of you have ever seen him line up across the line from UT, AU, UF, or LSU in front of 80,000+, so how in the name of God Almighty can you say, at this juncture, that it would be a waste of talent to eventually move him to defense?

Life is a lot more simple that we make it out to be. Here's some top notch prognostication for you:

If Jimmy Johns can run Mike Shula's offense without making a bunch of mistakes, then he'll find himself in the hunt for a starting job in 2006 (whether he is athletic or not). If he can't, then he won't, period (whether he is athletic or not).

If he is unable to make noise at the QB position after the 2006 season, you will probably see the staff looking at moving him to ultilize his athleticism.

What I am saying is, you don't just give the starting QB job to a kid just because he is athletic. If that were the case, I bet we have 4 or 5 former QBs right now that are very athletic WRs, TBs, and DBs. Why not just line Ramzee Robinson up under center?

-Sully

 

[BamaSully]

Discussing Johns' move to defense is like discussing whether or not the new city on Mars should have socialized health care.

Cart before horse

 

[Golden Bama]

If you can declare JJ the real deal after two practices, (which were probably closed) you should probably be making your living in the recruiting profession.

 

[wbonefreak]

BamaSully is right ...

but it would be a thing of wonder to see Johns in a spread option attack ala Urban Myer.

 

[TommyMac]

jdpas29,

Thanks for posting the numbers on Matt Jones carrer so I didn't have to look it up.

Do you really want to be the team that has the really athletic QB who makes everybody's jaw drop when he scrambles, but they can't consistently win because he runs when they need to pass and he forces throws into coverage and he doesn't make good decisions?

I don't think so.

People buy into hype too much.

First off, those things I just typed do not apply in any way to Jimmy Johns. I have never seen him play. But that's my point. None of you have ever seen him line up across the line from UT, AU, UF, or LSU in front of 80,000+, so how in the name of God Almighty can you say, at this juncture, that it would be a waste of talent to eventually move him to defense?

Life is a lot more simple that we make it out to be. Here's some top notch prognostication for you:

If Jimmy Johns can run Mike Shula's offense without making a bunch of mistakes, then he'll find himself in the hunt for a starting job in 2006 (whether he is athletic or not). If he can't, then he won't, period (whether he is athletic or not).

If he is unable to make noise at the QB position after the 2006 season, you will probably see the staff looking at moving him to ultilize his athleticism.

What I am saying is, you don't just give the starting QB job to a kid just because he is athletic. If that were the case, I bet we have 4 or 5 former QBs right now that are very athletic WRs, TBs, and DBs. Why not just line Ramzee Robinson up under center?

-Sully

Where have you seen anybody suggest that Coach Shula just "give" the QB job to JJ? Your Ramzee Robinson analogy is lame. JJ is an All-State, Mr. Football from Mississippi at the QB position, big difference.

 

[BamaSully]

Where have you seen anybody suggest that Coach Shula just "give" the QB job to JJ? Your Ramzee Robinson analogy is lame. JJ is an All-State, Mr. Football from Mississippi at the QB position, big difference.

You're right. I got carried away. Point is, if he makes it to the top of the depth chart, he'll play QB. If he can't do that, he'll be asked to move because of his ability to play other positions. End of story.

-Sully

 

[teamplayer]

I agree that many times athletic quarterbacks are hesitant to throw the ball because they feel safer running, but I don't think that is always a bad thing. The main thing is to move the ball down the field and score. I don't care if our touchdowns come from handing the ball to a running back, throwing it to a receiver, or having the QB run it in. I just want the touchdown. I think a QB should be able to throw the ball well, but if he can do that and run that is even better.

 

[Vertical]

You're right. I got carried away. Point is, if he makes it to the top of the depth chart, he'll play QB. If he can't do that, he'll be asked to move because of his ability to play other positions. End of story.

-Sully

The point some of us are trying to make is that several folks on this board have already chalked JJ up as being 'defense-bound'.

And is it really "End of story" for a QB if he can't make it to the #1 slot on the depth chart? Couldn't the "end of story" go something like, oh, I don't know - first string QB goes down, we need to send in the backup? You can't just assume we can move JJ to defense if he can't crack the #1 QB position. He could be a phenomenal #2! Do you really think JJ is a better linebacker than he is QB? Do you really move a QB like JJ over to defense so that he can be a decent backup LB, instead of having a phenomenal backup QB? If JJ's busy learning the LB job, he's not learning the offensive playbook, he's not getting time with the WR's, etc., etc., and you're putting him in harm's way as an LB, so the chances that he could pull effective double-duty aren't good.

It's not as simple as "end of story".

If the best JJ ever does is get to #2 on the QB depth chart, it's not 'automatic' that you move him to defense. I would expect Alabama fans of all people to understand the need for a good, prepared backup QB.

 

[BamaSully]

When I said "top of the depth chart", I meant #1 or #2. I should have clarified. Earlier, I referred to "making noise on the depth chart". This also would include being the #2 guy.

Yes, it is that simple for us (us being, not Mike Shula).

The double-duty thing is not even an option, to me. If he moves, then he is no longer a QB. You just can't do both.

I'll state my position as clearly as I can and leave it at that.

If Jimmy Johns can't get as high as #2 on the depth chart by the end of the 2006 season, which will likely be the end of his redshirt freshman season, then that means he will be behind two other guys who are the same classification (or younger), which, I think, will be a good time for him to be approached about the possibility of switching positions.

All of that also depends totally on how athletic he actually is! Being able to run around high school boys don't mean you can run around SEC men. If he is no more than moderately athletic, or if he lacks the mental fortitude to quickly pick up another position and contribute right away, then this whole conversation is moot.

That is my point. It is waaaaay to early to say whether or not he should be moved. We will all be in better position to make arguments to that effect after we see him compete in an SEC game (2006) and after we assess the depth and talent situation at the other position at which he might be able to contribute.

Fair enough?

-Sully

 

[Tide Pride La.]

I for one hope that JJ and all the players on our team are extremely talented and athletic, so I am gonna sit back and wait untill the Coaches and JJ figure out whats best for him and our team. I trust them to figure it out and anyway Coach Shula has told JJ that he would get a fair shake at QB.

 

[BamaSully]

I for one hope that JJ and all the players on our team are extremely talented and athletic, so I am gonna sit back and wait untill the Coaches and JJ figure out whats best for him and our team. I trust them to figure it out and anyway Coach Shula has told JJ that he would get a fair shake at QB.

Amen.

That is pretty much where I stand. I should have stayed out of this conversation. It just irks me sometimes when people get the cart so far in front of the horse.

 

[TommyMac]

In JJ's videos, the thing that impressed me the most about him was the way he DIDN'T tuck the ball nd run at the first hint of pressure. He'd use his athleticism to buy himself more time behind the LOS while waiting for a receiver to get open. Only as a last resort would he tuck it and run. He also showed outstanding vision downfield while he was scrambling and that's something that can't be coached. I just think he brings some pretty special skills to the position, the days of the statue in the pocket are coming to an end. DC's today will usually find a way to get to the QB if they always know where he's gonna be.

 

[Dartigan]

I'd really like to see him stay at QB from what I've seen so far. It sure would be nice to finally have some real depth at QB. Think back to last year...if we had a solid #2 ready to go, I'm sure our season would have looked a little differently by the time January rolled around.