Reggie Ball/Jason Campbell

gtfan1147

gtfan1147

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I have been thinking to myself all summer "Hey Reggie is going to come through this year and have a senior season like former Auburn QB Jaosn Campbell."

And if you look at Reggie's inconsistencies and at Campbell's as well, their first 3 seasons were very comparable: flashes of brilliance mixed with head-scratching disappointment sometimes. Right there at the brink of turning the corner and getting over that hump but just couldn't. But then Campbell caught fire his senior season and caried Auburn to an undefeated year. Sure he had Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown, but we have the best wide receiver in the NCAA and a pretty dang good stable of running backs. So why not, right?

Then I pop in the tape of last year's Auburn game today and sure enough they do a story about Reggie trying to emulate Campbell last season. And he had flashes of greatness last year and flashes of "Huh, what the heck was that?"

But hey, Campbell stayed within himself and didn't have to do all that much to help Auburn be successful, and if reggie just throws off of that front foot and stays within himself as well, who knows?!?!?!?! BOY, IT"S GONNA BE A FUN YEAR!!!!
 
Would be nice, but Jason Campbell's success was completley dependent on who his offensive coordinator was. He had a different OC every year at Auburn, and the only time he played really well were his soph & sr years, under Petrino and Borges, respectively.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Ball miraculously has his best season ever this year.
 
I've pointed this out before, but Jason Campbell's so-called "down years" would be considered excellent years for Reggie.

Check the stats:
2002: 63.1%, 1215 yds, 11td/5int, 149.2rat
2003: 61.8%, 2267 yds, 10td/8int, 132.6rat
2004: 69.6%, 2700 yds, 20td/7int, 172.9rat

We all know Reggie's stats and they aren't comparable.
 
I'm not holding my breath expecting Reggie to show miraculous improvement. I expect him to be better, but nothing amazing.

Campbell's senior year greatness was partly due to the fact defenses HAD to address one of the best running back tandems in recent memory. That's a big threat that only barely involves the QB and it opens things a bit for the passing game. Our big threat - CJ - isn't much of a threat without Reggie getting the ball to him accurately.

In summary, Auburn's big threat took the pressure off Campbell. Our big threat keeps the pressure right on Reggie.
 
I actually agree with Knoxjacket here. There's no real comparison between the two QBs. Campbell has the prototypical size, is not a running QB by any stretch of the imagination, was surrounded by more talent (especially on the Oline & RB), and played in some version of the WC offense most of his career at Auburn.

Reggie McNeil at aTm is probably the best comparison and the SR year results were not what aTm folks would've hoped for - the only thing I don't know about his situation is the talent that surrounded him.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Ball miraculously has his best season ever this year.
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I think 'miraculously' is a bit strong - he has improved every year in several areas, most importantly in decision making (see sack and INT stats). We can expect improvement and that alone would make his best season ever.
 
FWIW, the 2006 football media guide shows Joe Hamilton's career completion percentage at 61.7% and Godsey at 63.3%. But AJ Suggs' wasn't that far off either (57.6 %) and he was a disaster.

We need a qb who can complete about 2 out of ever 3 passes with minimal interceptions...
 
You can have completion %. Just give me wins - if Reggie completes 50% and we're in legitimate contention for Jacksonville this year, his season will be a success.

AJ Suggs was a solid QB until late game situations with the game on the line - aside from the NC State game, there were countless games where he had the ball in his hands with a chance to win or tie and he blew it every time (Wake, Clemson - the Hollings game, & F$U just off the top of my head)
 
Good point Contact, I didn't really think about McNeal from A & M. But he was hyped by some, including Kirk Herbstreit to be a Heisman contender his senior year. Of course he gut banged up and had to sit out at the end of the year, but I think Reggie Ball has a better supporting cast, most notably an offensive line that returns all but Brad Honeycutt but adds Wrotto and a better receiving corps than anyone outside of the program thinks. Not to mention Choice and Grant, who I think both will have good years, Choice getting the majority of the carries.

And Knox, thanks for the stats on Campbell, I never would have thought he completed 62% percent f his passes in '03 when he struggled so much. And you're right when you say that would be an amazing steup up for Reggie's completion percentage. But actually one stat you gave does confirm the one stat about Campbell that I'm hoping for Reggie and that is his TD/INT ratio. I don't expect Reggie to complete 69% of his passes at all that is rediculous, especially in our offense when he often is told to throw the ball away. But he can get that ratio up to 2:1 instead of the 1:1 it's been hovering at his whole career, then thats really the only major thing I'm concerned with.
 
If we want to look to Auburn QB's for a hopeful example, the guy to look at is Stan White (who Patrick Nix backed up for 2 years before becoming the starter.)

Stan White was a 4-year starter at Auburn and the first 3 years his QB rating hovered around 100 (like Reggie's). His senior year he had a real breakout, his rating jumped to a respectable 134, and his TD/INT ratio jumped up close to 2.

Auburn also went undefeated that season (1993). Of course, it all happened under a completely new offense and coaching staff, where you might expect a big change in performance to happen.
 
gtfan1147 said:
I don't expect Reggie to complete 69% of his passes at all that is rediculous, especially in our offense when he often is told to throw the ball away.
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I know you are being positive, but why do you think that Tech should expect less than low 60s % completions?
You don't have to believe me, but do believe that no college offense game plans to throw souvenir balls.

Whether the receivers "quit" on routes or the OLine was that bad, no quarterback anywhere is coached to throw the ball in the band as much as ours did last year.
We have at the minimum of 3 in the pattern on every pass situation play, usually more.
To understate matters, Reggie has one more chance to find an open receiver after the ball is snapped.
 
Agreed PW. I just know with the type of QB Reggie is, I don't expect him to complete 7 out of every 10 balls he throws. I would like to at least see 55-60% from him this season though. It's just that the main, number 1 stat I am concerned with is TD to interception ratio. And if Reggie has to throw a "souvenir ball" to keep from throwing into double or triple coverage so be it. I'd much rather live with a 2nd or 3rd and long or even a punt before Reggie forces too many balls and we end up watching the DB run 65 yards the other way.
 
Agreed 1147. I have hoped that the bulb would turn on for the last 3 years. Maybe now is the time.
 
Key difference, Jason was a QB, period. Reggie is a somewhat above average D-1 athlete trying to play QB. Guts and heart galore, but very little QB DNA. If this year is the only year of four he throws more tds than ints, we will likely win 8+ and beat ugag. If not, we will likely win6/7(remember, we play Samford, Troy St. & Duke), and lose to ugag (who lost a ton of talent and starts over at qb).
 
GoldZ said:
Key difference, Jason was a QB, period. Reggie is a somewhat above average D-1 athlete trying to play QB.
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I have always said this. Thats why I contend that if/when Reggie is not effective we need to get Garner in there.

Now is not the time to exercise patience with what would be a 4 year starter. If he hasn't got it now he never will. He has got plenty of weapons, he doesn't have to carry the load, he has had a tremendous amount of support from this coaching staff. So if he can't move the offense consistently, if he can't put points on the board consistently, we need to move on.

Hopefully Reggie is going to respond to Nix's coaching and Nix'x offense. I want to see him succeed. If he does the Jackets win. Pure and simple. But if he doesn't succeed the Jackets will be hurting again.

If the Jackets must have a bottom quarter in the NCAA offense again I would rather it be with Jonathan Garner in control and learning the offense.....which will benefit the program in the long run.

Lets don't repeat the Suggs-Bilbo mistakes again.
 
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