Re: ncjacket, I do agree that we haven\'t had...
Agree - regarding last year.
AJ has zero arm strength, and he opened it up like crazy as soon as he came in against UGA. We had an offense that really moved the ball, but the problem was partly that we kept moving the ball to red shirts once for about every 5 times we moved the ball to JS, NC, or LT.
AJ proved that with the 'right' recognition, a Chan Gailey offense can move the ball, with exactly the same recievers that seemed too slow before. AJ had some huge and early recognitions that had the ball in the air at times well before the reciever apeared open to anybody else. He was just wrong a few too many times also, which is why Reggie had been playing all year.
This year could be an entirely different story, though.
There is no issue with arm strength, which is an issue that can't be remedied.
There has been an issue with loft and accuracy, which can be remedied, and recognition, which also can be remedied. So maybe we will see a difference.
So - if Reggie increases how fast he recognizes each situation, he will get the ball off faster - which means he won't be in such a hurry to get the long ball off before the WR outruns his arm strength, which means he can put more loft under it, which means our guys will have more chance to go get the ball instead of having to adjust to a 50 yard 'dart', which means more complete long balls.
If Reggie has half AJ's 'correct' early recognition skills, and retains his ability not to make as many mistakes, we will blister some guys with CJ to and PJ take pressure off Nate and him off each other. Much less Ace, Jimmy D, or Darius slipping out in the flats and Reggie remembering more of his dump men.
The biggest improvement for any player is between his first and second year. I have probably bashed Reggie last year worse than anybody, but the kid is talented, tough, and smart. He has all the tools, I just have a short fuse with giving the other team locker room material, which he seemed hell bent on doing last year. I don't expect it again this year.
I think we will see a very good QB in RB this year. A split second earlier in his recognition, and he can throw an entirely different kind of long ball. I could be wrong, but I think the flat 50 yard dart has been a product of late recognition rather that lack of knowing how to throw the deep ball.
When you are late seeing the seperation, you have to get it there fast. When you see it early, you heave it and let your guy go get it. Reggie saw it all too late last year and had to get it there too fast - which meant no adjustment time for the WR.
The long ball is the easiest ball to throw because it means no reading defenses and letting your WR do the work. Last year he tried to put the ball in a single place downfield, which Troy Aikman, Chris Chandler, and David Green, can't do either 50 yards out with a kid running 4.4 or 4.5, and cutting, and pushing with a DB.
The short game has been the problem - which may have been what you are saying. Reggie didn't have the mistakes, but he missed a lot of opportunities last year also. AJ saw all the opportunities early, but he was wrong too many times. This year should be a better mix in each direction.
If Reggie can excel in the short game, he surely will get the long ball this year. He just has to see it early. I think he will.
The recognition problems hurt J Smith more than it ever will hurt CJ for exactly the problems I mentioned above. Like you said - the problem 'was' the QB - who struggled with recognition in the short game, which was JS's specialty.
A CJ is easier to get the ball to for a QB that is not as talented. He is a bigger target in traffic and faster down the field. JS is just as effective as CJ if you have David Greene, but not if you have a freshman QB, because it's traffic all the time.
This year we will have a more experienced, better QB with a bigger target that holds more options that will be easier to recognize in a more spread out field. More forgiving and productive all around.
RB will read better this year anyway, but with 2 burners instead of 1, we stretch the field and make it even easier underneath for a guy that will most certainly be reading better without it anyway.
Look at the difference between Charlie Whithurst two years ago and Charlie Whitehurst last year. The kid went from being carried by his team, to carrying his team. Maybe Reggie can make the same improvement.
Most of you know I watch a ton of Clemson games. I saw that kid lose quite a few games single handedly two years ago for them - MD and NCState. I saw him single handedly carry them last year a few times - us, FSU, USC.
I don't think RB will be CH, much less Joe Ham, but I am optimistic that RB will improve quite a bit. I think he can be a pretty good QB for us, if he will just keep his mouth shut, stay hungry, and play.
CJ will make a huge difference. Levonb and X Mac are fast, just inconsistent. If Nate, CJ, and one of those others are sprinting all over the place, they have to be accounted for even if we just hand PJ the ball. It's all about spreading those guys out and creating space. CJ will have a huge impact on every play, running or passing, and no matter to who.
