I'll have to admit, I'm not blown away by the QB transfer signing. Not because I don't think he's solid, because it sounds like he is...more because I worry how solid he'll be behind a mediocre offensive line.
So if Bell does implement a more run heavy offense...and our offensive line isn't markedly better...here is what's most likely to happen:
-The exact same damn thing that happened this year with Penix and Tuttle!
-Lots of possessions behind the sticks with 3rd and long situations. Not conducive to a non mobile QB, who's strength is accuracy on shorter passes, but isn't great down the field. It sounds like CB could be a good quarter back in Bell's system...if we had a decent OLine to allow for manageable passing situations. That won't happen with any OLine similar to this years.
-He'll get hit a lot. Sounds like he had injury issues this past season. We know how that could go for him, as every single one of our QBs the last couple years has had injury issues.
-Without at least the threat of QB run, or Deep ball passing option, of whatever offense they run...the defense can, and will, gear up to stop Bell's running back running preferences. Carr was decent this past year, but man, he had to work for pretty much every single yard he gained. Take away Penix deep ball threat, and/or McCulley's running threat, and our RB's will be eating face masks before they get to the line of scrimmage. In short, its gonna look like the Tuttle led team.
I think most of our team has gotten better from the NET impact of coaching and roster changes thus far this offseason. But in order for us to get back to plus territory with wins vs losses, the offensive line needs to be addressed. Walt Bell is not going to recreate our 2020 offense. The only silver lining might be his running focus might give our defense an extra minute or two of clock time to get a rest before they have to go out and defend our endzones.
On the complete flip side of all this. If our new staff does, somehow, manage to field an adequate offensive line. This new QB might be the perfect guy to manage the offense and go "do enough" to win us some games. Sounds like he's a pretty solid short to medium yardage guy, and is fairly accurate. If our line allows us to get some early down yardage via the run, and can give him a little bit of time in some play action or quicker read passing plays, he might be able to move the sticks well enough to allow our defense to play up to their full potential. Which could lead to a much better season.
So if Bell does implement a more run heavy offense...and our offensive line isn't markedly better...here is what's most likely to happen:
-The exact same damn thing that happened this year with Penix and Tuttle!
-Lots of possessions behind the sticks with 3rd and long situations. Not conducive to a non mobile QB, who's strength is accuracy on shorter passes, but isn't great down the field. It sounds like CB could be a good quarter back in Bell's system...if we had a decent OLine to allow for manageable passing situations. That won't happen with any OLine similar to this years.
-He'll get hit a lot. Sounds like he had injury issues this past season. We know how that could go for him, as every single one of our QBs the last couple years has had injury issues.
-Without at least the threat of QB run, or Deep ball passing option, of whatever offense they run...the defense can, and will, gear up to stop Bell's running back running preferences. Carr was decent this past year, but man, he had to work for pretty much every single yard he gained. Take away Penix deep ball threat, and/or McCulley's running threat, and our RB's will be eating face masks before they get to the line of scrimmage. In short, its gonna look like the Tuttle led team.
I think most of our team has gotten better from the NET impact of coaching and roster changes thus far this offseason. But in order for us to get back to plus territory with wins vs losses, the offensive line needs to be addressed. Walt Bell is not going to recreate our 2020 offense. The only silver lining might be his running focus might give our defense an extra minute or two of clock time to get a rest before they have to go out and defend our endzones.
On the complete flip side of all this. If our new staff does, somehow, manage to field an adequate offensive line. This new QB might be the perfect guy to manage the offense and go "do enough" to win us some games. Sounds like he's a pretty solid short to medium yardage guy, and is fairly accurate. If our line allows us to get some early down yardage via the run, and can give him a little bit of time in some play action or quicker read passing plays, he might be able to move the sticks well enough to allow our defense to play up to their full potential. Which could lead to a much better season.
