Move Shaw to WR for senior season

[Gamecock History]

Originally Posted by Spurticus

Who would be the #2 QB behind Thompson if you move Shaw to WR ?
A Redshirt Freshman with NO game experiance, or a True and Untested
Freshman ? ... Before you answer that, remember all the noise that
came out of workouts about how Great Tanner McEvoy was doing.

You want to put our starting QB with a 17-3 record as a starter at WR
(a position he hasn't played since his Jr Year in High School), lose
valuable reps and study time as a QB, then back up Thompson with two
untested Freshmen ?

Sorry ..... We are in the best position at QB in my lifetime as a Gamecock
fan (and that's a long time). Destroying that by moving Shaw to WR
is NOT (repeat) NOT a wise move.

That is ridiculous. No one is sending Shaw to the moon. If Thompson gets hurt or struggles Shaw moves back over to QB. Nosovitch would only play if Thompson and Shaw got hurt, which would be the same scenario if Shaw stayed solely at the QB position.

This isn't something crazy. Holloman moved back and forth from safety to linebacker, Legree from safety to corner, etc.
Hell, Corey Jenkins moved from QB to linebacker in the NFL.

[CoverTwo]

Originally Posted by Gamecock History

Don't you think the QB knows the routes since he is the one throwing the ball to the spots on the field?

Yes, we have a major issue at WR, especially if Ace goes early this year.

You obviously don't think very highly of Shaw as an athlete. You do realize that our all leader at the WR position didn't play the position until he got to USC.

Nope.

No, we don't have a major issue at WR. We have a load of talented young players that are developing.

Shaw doesn't have the time to learn the position. ONE Fall practice. It took Kenny McKinley a little over a year to develop.

[ra742002]

[Don Giovanni]

Originally Posted by CoverTwo

Its not just understanding the playbook. Its understanding route running concepts and coverages, its knowing what spot to be on the field. Receiver in Coach Spurrier's offense isn't something you just hit the ground and run. It takes time, A LOT of time to get to a point where you play without thinking about where to go.

And HELL NO he wouldn't start at any of the 3 spots. Ace and Bruce have the starting X and Z spots locked down and Nick Jones will be the starting B with Kwinton Smith likely to get into a timeshare there. Shaw wouldn't play the B, he would likely be a Z and we have a logjam there.

If Connor Shaw is the 3rd best receiver on our team (which he is not), we have major issues.

Ok, let me first say that I agree with you on the topic of moving Shaw to WR for his last year, but the first part of this post of yours is kind of silly, C2. Isn't the QB the first one who is supposed to know the playbook and be able to read the defense/coverages? Would Shaw suddenly lose this ability because he had changed positions? Again, I think it's a bad idea to move him since he's a successful QB, but the logic of your response is a fail at best.

[CoverTwo]

I mean seriously, you are going to stunt the growth of our young players just to get a QB on the field at a position he hasn't played since his Soph. year in high school?

Wow, again.

[CoverTwo]

Originally Posted by Don Giovanni

Ok, let me first say that I agree with you on the topic of moving Shaw to WR for his last year, but the first part of this post of yours is kind of silly, C2. Isn't the QB the first one who is supposed to know the playbook and be able to read the defense/coverages? Would Shaw suddenly lose this ability because he had changed positions? Again, I think it's a bad idea to move him since he's a successful QB, but the logic of your response is a fail at best.

If you don't think there wouldn't be a significant adjustment, I don't know what to tell you. Again, ONE Fall practice.

[LakeMonticelloCock]

Shaw is 17-3 as a starter. You don't mess with what has been working. The guy's only bad loss was to Florida. Even the loss to Arkansas in 2011 saw the offense put up big numbers

[Don Giovanni]

Originally Posted by CoverTwo

If you don't think there wouldn't be a significant adjustment, I don't know what to tell you. Again, ONE Fall practice.

That's not what I said. I was addressing the issue of kowing the playbook (understanding the routes and where to be) and reading defenses (understanding coverages). If you don't that transfers over from QB to another offensive position, then I don't know what to tell you. Let me reiterate, I think it would be a bad move for a couple of reasons, but not for the ones you mentioned in the first part of that particular response to the other poster.

[Spurticus]

Originally Posted by Gamecock History

That is ridiculous. No one is sending Shaw to the moon. If Thompson gets hurt or struggles Shaw moves back over to QB. Nosovitch would only play if Thompson and Shaw got hurt, which would be the same scenario if Shaw stayed solely at the QB position.

This isn't something crazy. Holloman moved back and forth from safety to linebacker, Legree from safety to corner, etc.
Hell, Corey Jenkins moved from QB to linebacker in the NFL.

No, what's crazy is suggeting you take reps and film study away from our
Starting QB and have him start practicing a position he hasn't played
here in three years and if he doesn't cut it, he can (just go back to
being our QB if Thompson gets hurt) ?!?!? losing a full off season of
work as a QB to try to develop him as a WR makes ZERO SENSE !

If Thompson proves he's the better QB before the Season starts next
year SO BE IT... Put Dylan in as our Starter. If Shaw continues to
win and prove he's the starting QB, then Thompson continues to make
that position strong as a Solid #2 guy, but if you think Shaw can lose
reps at QB for an entire summer, Practice at WR in the fall and TRY to
make it as a WR on this team, and then will perform just as well as he
normally does IF Thompson can't cut it or goes down is Beyond Crazy.

The Outback Bowl should have proven one thing to everybody. We have
what might be the best one/two punch at QB in the SEC (maybe even
the entire country). We don't need to experiment that out of the equation.

[Cock Kool-Aid]

Michigan's offense improved when they moved their senior QB to WR and RB. Just sayin. I'm not saying Shaw should be one of our starting WR's, but we could have some interesting packages with both Thompson and Shaw in at the same time. Similar to what Michigan ran against us in the bowl game. This is basically what the OP is saying, so I don't understand all of the outrage and people treating the OP like he's a complete idiot. Actually I do, that's just what happens on Cockytalk when someone proposes something out of the norm. I'm catchin' what you're pitchin, Gamecock History. I doubt it happens, but it's an intriguing concept atleast.

[Gamecock History]

Originally Posted by Spurticus

No, what's crazy is suggeting you take reps and film study away from our
Starting QB and have him start practicing a position he hasn't played
here in three years and if he doesn't cut it, he can (just go back to
being our QB if Thompson gets hurt) ?!?!? losing a full off season of
work as a QB to try to develop him as a WR makes ZERO SENSE !

If Thompson proves he's the better QB before the Season starts next
year SO BE IT... Put Dylan in as our Starter. If Shaw continues to
win and prove he's the starting QB, then Thompson continues to make
that position strong as a Solid #2 guy, but if you think Shaw can lose
reps at QB for an entire summer, Practice at WR in the fall and TRY to
make it as a WR on this team, and then will perform just as well as he
normally does IF Thompson can't cut it or goes down is Beyond Crazy.

The Outback Bowl should have proven one thing to everybody. We have
what might be the best one/two punch at QB in the SEC (maybe even
the entire country). We don't need to experiment that out of the equation.

Shaw should be cross trained at both positions and he is one of the few that could handle the load. Thompson will play some next year, no question about it. Surely we can all agree on that. So why not have Shaw on the field being productive, giving us more weapons, and in turn helping the kid out with giving him a shot at making an NFL team.

I 100% believe he could be the best WR on the team with a season under his belt. I think he is that good of an athlete, in the Wes Welker mold.

[Gamecock History]

Originally Posted by Cock Kool-Aid

Michigan's offense improved when they moved their senior QB to WR and RB. Just sayin. I'm not saying Shaw should be one of our starting WR's, but we could have some interesting packages with both Thompson and Shaw in at the same time. Similar to what Michigan ran against us in the bowl game.

Excellent example! Robinson was never going to get drafted as a QB, so why not benefit the player and the team by adding more weapons on the field.

[Goofyboy]

There is so much wrong with this original post that it seems absurd.
For the draft, Shaw would be on the low end of the WR spectrum in size, speed, jumping, shiftiness, experience.
High school WR and SEC WR are worlds apart. Shaq Roland was unstoppable. At this level, he has needed time to develop.
WR production is highly dependent on QB passing performance and playcalling. Our tight end production is below par, also, and it isn't the tight end quality that's caused it.
The tough-as-nails quip is popular, but disputable. Heart, yes. Toughness, perhaps. He has been hurt numerous times from no more hard hits than a WR takes in a game. Shifty? I've never seen it, though straight-line speed seems to be his best asset as a runner. McKinley was a great cutter, came out of breaks fast, and had good hands. Shaw has not had any opportunity to develop those skills. Position played in HS is irrelevant. Jerrell Adams played QB his senior year just to get the ball in his hands every play (state 1A champs). Playmaker at WR isn't the same as at QB.
Yes, he will likely miss spring practice. Would that be more of a deficit at QB or at a position he hasn't played in four years?
The zone read plays are probably more effective when not expected (especially the keepers).

[CarolinaBoy407]

Originally Posted by Emery

moving him with WR will be the equivalent of kicking him in the junk and spitting in his face.

Yeaaaa, pretty much.

"But I have a great idea....let's move JC to running back because he ran it in high school some. This would help his draft status and Heisman potential!!!!!!!!!!" /sarcasm

[Gamecock History]

Originally Posted by Goofyboy

There is so much wrong with this original post that it seems absurd.
For the draft, Shaw would be on the low end of the WR spectrum in size, speed, jumping, shiftiness, experience.
High school WR and SEC WR are worlds apart. Shaq Roland was unstoppable. At this level, he has needed time to develop.
WR production is highly dependent on QB passing performance and playcalling. Our tight end production is below par, also, and it isn't the tight end quality that's caused it.
The tough-as-nails quip is popular, but disputable. Heart, yes. Toughness, perhaps. He has been hurt numerous times from no more hard hits than a WR takes in a game. Shifty? I've never seen it, though straight-line speed seems to be his best asset as a runner. McKinley was a great cutter, came out of breaks fast, and had good hands. Shaw has not had any opportunity to develop those skills. Position played in HS is irrelevant. Jerrell Adams played QB his senior year just to get the ball in his hands every play (state 1A champs). Playmaker at WR isn't the same as at QB.
Yes, he will likely miss spring practice. Would that be more of a deficit at QB or at a position he hasn't played in four years?
The zone read plays are probably more effective when not expected (especially the keepers).

So it was absurd for Michigan to move Robinson to WR and/or RB?

[Gamecock History]

Originally Posted by CarolinaBoy407

Yeaaaa, pretty much.

"But I have a great idea....let's move JC to running back because he ran it in high school some. This would help his draft status and Heisman potential!!!!!!!!!!" /sarcasm

I would love to see Clowney run the ball in goal line situations a couple of times next year. He would knock the head off any defender that tried to tackle him.

[JDRAY^#]

Originally Posted by Don Giovanni

Ok, let me first say that I agree with you on the topic of moving Shaw to WR for his last year, but the first part of this post of yours is kind of silly, C2. Isn't the QB the first one who is supposed to know the playbook and be able to read the defense/coverages? Would Shaw suddenly lose this ability because he had changed positions? Again, I think it's a bad idea to move him since he's a successful QB, but the logic of your response is a fail at best.

Shaw was hurt all season and is still 17-3 as a starter. Let him play his senior season as a fully healthy QB and see what he can do. I think Spurrier will run a 2-QB system next season because we have 2 proven QBs with completely different styles of play. Shaw would never see the field as a WR, zero chance. We are very deep at that position. I agree that he would know the playbook and know what he is supposed to do/where he is supposed to be on paper, but that does not mean that it will translate to the field. These WRs practice route running all day, every day and build mutual chemistry with the QBs. Shaw is not a college football WR or some schools would have recruited him for it. Maybe the eagles should have moved Michael Vick to WR.

[JDRAY^#]

Originally Posted by Gamecock History

So it was absurd for Michigan to move Robinson to WR and/or RB?

They had too b/c he couldnt throw the ball due to nerve damage.

[onamission]

Shaw is not denard robinson. He would have a better chance of being a qb in the nfl than any other position. Robinson has a better shot at being a wr/rb or cb than a qb.

[FloydTheBarber]

This is another example of some people just never wanting to be wrong.

Said-person will then use examples from other teams, while failing to recognize you cannot compare apples and oranges, meaning you cannot compare the Michigan offense and SC offense. Just because a QB can be moved to other positions in their offense doesn't mean its that simple in ours.