Crowder vs Stone at center

[TechnoVol]

One thing that I noticed all season about Stone was that it took a little over 1 second for the ball to reach the QBs hands on the shotgun snap.

If Crowder can snap it back there in under 1 second that would really help. Would give the defense less time to react and in some cases a split second is all it takes.

It's a small thing in the grand scheme of playing the center position but it would be a good improvement if Crowder can do this.

Also, I've heard Crowder is more physical than Stone so I'm looking forward to this spring to hear how he's progressed. Certainly will be our starter I would think.

 

[AboveAllNations]

One thing that I noticed all season about Stone was that it took a little over 1 second for the ball to reach the QBs hands on the shotgun snap.

If Crowder can snap it back there in under 1 second that would really help. Would give the defense less time to react and in some cases a split second is all it takes.

It's a small thing in the grand scheme of playing the center position but it would be a good improvement if Crowder can do this.

Also, I've heard Crowder is more physical than Stone so I'm looking forward to this spring to hear how he's progressed. Certainly will be out starter I would think.

Amen! There were major problems with the QB/center exchange all season, especially once Josh Dobbs took over after the Alabama game. I preferred Dobbs over any of the other quarterbacks that played this year, but the fumbles and false start penalties that occurred with him at QB were totally unacceptable. I don't know if it was a problem with Dobbs or Stone or both, but I was frustrated that the coaching staff didn't seem to have any answers.

 

[Vols4us]

Good observation, OP. Stone was an OG playing center. Having a real center like Crowder ready to go will help things a great deal.

 

[Roustabout]

If that's true, then what the heck were CBJ and crew doing not starting Crowder??
They should have either moved Stone to gaurd and benched Bullard, or benched Stone. Why a coach would not play the best player is beyond me. My guess is that there really wasn't much difference between the two.

 

[1972 Grad]

One thing that I noticed all season about Stone was that it took a little over 1 second for the ball to reach the QBs hands on the shotgun snap.

If Crowder can snap it back there in under 1 second that would really help. Would give the defense less time to react and in some cases a split second is all it takes.

It's a small thing in the grand scheme of playing the center position but it would be a good improvement if Crowder can do this.

Also, I've heard Crowder is more physical than Stone so I'm looking forward to this spring to hear how he's progressed. Certainly will be out starter I would think.

A friend and I had discussed the slowness of the ball getting to the qb before. Stone sent back wounded ducks.

 

[MSCE09]

If that's true, then what the heck were CBJ and crew doing not starting Crowder??
They should have either moved Stone to gaurd and benched Bullard, or benched Stone. Why a coach would not play the best player is beyond me. My guess is that there really wasn't much difference between the two.

Stone was a better blocker than Crowder.

 

[orangebloodgmc]

Stone was a better blocker than Crowder.

A little bigger, I'd imagine somewhat stronger, good chemistry with the rest of the OL, as most of them had started out as young'uns thrown into the fire at the same time.

Possibly room for improvement, but possibly causing more trouble with a change.

 

[volfan10735]

could see more speed on the snap with better consistency/accuracy. could see run blocks being held longer. could see overall nastiness across the front. may see quicker first step on run blocks. we'll see how the pass blocking goes. expect to see some mistakes from inexperience. hopefully no Florida missnaps like we saw 3 years ago (attributed to inexperience in the position 3 years ago). good luck to Stone in the NFL as he is projected to be drafted. you don't remove a draft pick from the position he is projected to be drafted in.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

I bet stone gets drafted.

 

[ATLVols]

Just on the snap alone, it could certainly help on more than timing. It can greatly improve accuracy and decision making of the QB.

As a former QB, if a shotgun snap comes slow, it causes you to have to focus more on the ball coming. It's just a short moment, but it causes you to take your eyes off the field just enough between pre-snap read and when the ball is in your hands that you can read a blitz/hot route late or a coverage disguise.

 

[Vol865]

I just want a snap count that hellen keller couldn't jump. The guard motioning to the center is way too easy.

 

[sjt18]

Stone was a better blocker than Crowder.

In the few opportunities I saw Crowder get, this was not true. In fact, he finished blocks with the kind of tenacity and aggression that would have made UT's OL REALLY one of the best in college football.

Bullard and honestly James were actually worse at finishing blocks from what I could see than Stone though.