Aubserver Mailbag 87: Battle Cry
This week: QBs, the most irreplaceable players on the roster, WR1, switching the offense and defense, the Midwest, Multiversus, Kenny Omega and Auburn Santa
QB Zach Calzada (Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics)
Last week’s Mailbag came on the morning of an important Auburn football scrimmage. This week’s Mailbag, again, comes on the morning of an important Auburn football scrimmage.
Friday evening will be a major opportunity for competition all over the Tigers depth chart, but a lot of the focus is — of course — on the quarterback battle. Bryan Harsin and his staff will want to narrow things down heading into an extended “game week,” so what happens later toady could go a long way in determining who takes the first snap against Mercer in 15 days.
This week’s mailbag spends a lot of early time on the quarterback battle, then we shift to an intriguing question about the most irreplaceable players on the roster. There’s also talk about how the Tigers stack up to the rest of the SEC, what would happen if offensive players had to play defense and vice versa, and some fun questions towards the end. We also close this Mailbag with a special message from a longtime Inner Circle member.
Thanks for your continued support of the Auburn Observer. Let’s go.
Since one scrimmage has already happened and there’s more info on the 3 guys competing: In one sentence, why does each guy win/lose the job by Game 1? (So, two sentences for each guy, l’m just bad at grammar)
Jared
I’ll do these in alphabetical order, just in case anyone thinks I’m trying to predict anything with this battle right now.
Robby Ashford: Ashford wins the job because what he brings as a true dual threat outweighs his lack of experience, and Auburn is a more dangerous offense because of what he can do with his legs. He doesn’t win the job because of that lack of experience compared to the other two options and less consistency as a passer.
Zach Calzada: Calzada wins the job because he has the top arm talent of the three quarterbacks and has proven he can win in this division as a starting quarterback. He doesn’t win the job because the offense doesn’t look as good with him at the helm as the other two — Ashford’s rushing threat and/or Finley’s foundation in this specific system being the difference(s) here.
T.J. Finley: Finley wins the job because the staff truly feels like he’s improved as a passer, and his ability to operate the offense smoothly as the only returning option gives the Tigers stability. He doesn’t win the job because he isn’t as good of a passer as Calzada and doesn’t offer the same type of potential as Ashford.
Based on your personal opinion, give me Auburn’s floor and ceiling for season win totals for each of the 4 Auburn Quarterbacks.
ItsWidgeon