Lanorris 2026

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
18,663
15,644
113
With how dismal this past season was...for basically everyone on the team...I almost forgot how dynamic Seller was down the stretch in 2024. Some highlights popped up on my X feed last week, and he was downright superhuman in 2024, especially when you compare how pedestrian he was this past season.

I'm putting all of my eggs into the optimistic basket for this season, banking on Briles being able to structure the offense and coach him to get back to that 2024 form. Shula was certainly one of the worst OCs we've had around here and that undoubtedly played a major factor in Sellers' decline this past season.

As the late great Taneyhill said, you can't force Sellers to be something he's not, which is what I think Shula was trying to do. Briles indicated his goal was to maximize and get the most of Sellers' natural ability. Briles' history has shown that he'll design offenses to suit the talent he has to work with. If it's pass happy or run heavy, he's had successful offenses either way.

Reality may hit hard, but for now I'm dreaming of a Sellers revival in 2026.
 

Piscis

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2001
24,606
2,140
113
In all seriousness, he can run a very good offense if he never makes a single improvement.

Use his legs for yards, for moving the pocket, make the defense worried about his legs, then hit them with the pass.
If it was that simple, Shula would have done it. Shula may not have been great, but he wasn't stupid.

I think Seller's problem is between his ears. I don't think he can process the information coming in and make the quick decisions.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HockeyCock16

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
18,663
15,644
113
he wasn't stupid.
There is a hefty body of evidence to the contrary.

The history of football is littered with coaches who misused player skill sets. It's very common to have a coach who tried to force a certain style of player to be something else.

For sure, Sellers struggled mightily with his decision-making, but I'm banking on a decent portion of that being on the coaching.
 

Piscis

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2001
24,606
2,140
113
There is a hefty body of evidence to the contrary.

The history of football is littered with coaches who misused player skill sets. It's very common to have a coach who tried to force a certain style of player to be something else.

Shula has been a head coach or an offensive coach of some sort since 1988, 37 seasons. He was a QB coach at 5 different places, an OC at 3. He didn't get all of those jobs because he was dumb but knew the right people. Shula worked with Sellers for two full years, he knew exactly what Sellers could and couldn't do. Beamer had to have a conversation with him about how he wanted the offense to work and they had to talk about Sellers strengths and weaknesses.

If Sellers turns into a superstar under Briles, I'll admit I'm wrong. I don't see it happening.
 

Lurker123

All-Conference
May 4, 2020
5,595
4,637
113
There is another option besides Shula just being stupid.

Sellers and his people and maybe others wanted to prove he was an NFL passer, and not just a great athlete. They may have ran the offense with that in mind.

Granted, that doesnt explain why they continued as the season progressed. That OL was not going to let anyone sit back and pass.
 

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
18,663
15,644
113
Shula has been a head coach or an offensive coach of some sort since 1988, 37 seasons. He was a QB coach at 5 different places, an OC at 3. He didn't get all of those jobs because he was dumb but knew the right people. Shula worked with Sellers for two full years, he knew exactly what Sellers could and couldn't do. Beamer had to have a conversation with him about how he wanted the offense to work and they had to talk about Sellers strengths and weaknesses.

If Sellers turns into a superstar under Briles, I'll admit I'm wrong. I don't see it happening.
But he had never called plays at the college level before.
 

Gradstudent

Joined Feb 11, 2006
Feb 2, 2022
1,524
2,102
113
But he had never called plays at the college level before.
And based on his coaching expereince, I would guess he had not called plays sine 2019 when last OC for the Giants. He seemed pretty rusty and unprepared if you ask me, but he got a nice pay day.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: RAtheOLcoach

Johnnysurf

Joined Aug 11, 2018
Feb 1, 2021
335
672
93
Defenses figured him out. No spy just blitz.Bye the time he does the roll out someone is on him.
 

gpcocks

Redshirt
Feb 26, 2021
41
36
18
There is another option besides Shula just being stupid.

Sellers and his people and maybe others wanted to prove he was an NFL passer, and not just a great athlete. They may have ran the offense with that in mind.

Granted, that doesnt explain why they continued as the season progressed. That OL was not going to let anyone sit back and pass.

 

Cackmandu

Senior
Mar 26, 2006
995
740
93
I still have to look at the Oline, very little to no running game, no time to pass and not the greatest receiving core. A qb cannot carry a team in the SEC when he has so little to work with, on top of a playcaller that just doesn't no what to do to make it all somehow work.
 

RAtheOLcoach

Junior
Jan 16, 2014
206
203
43
Shula has been a head coach or an offensive coach of some sort since 1988, 37 seasons. He was a QB coach at 5 different places, an OC at 3. He didn't get all of those jobs because he was dumb but knew the right people. Shula worked with Sellers for two full years, he knew exactly what Sellers could and couldn't do. Beamer had to have a conversation with him about how he wanted the offense to work and they had to talk about Sellers strengths and weaknesses.

If Sellers turns into a superstar under Briles, I'll admit I'm wrong. I don't see it happening.
The problem was the structure. In the Shula system there was too much going on at once. Sellers is not a 5 read drop back QB. He may never be that guy. And that’s ok. On top of that, NO ONE could have done what they were asking him to do behind that abysmal offensive line.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Go Gamecocks

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
18,663
15,644
113
I still have to look at the Oline, very little to no running game, no time to pass and not the greatest receiving core. A qb cannot carry a team in the SEC when he has so little to work with, on top of a playcaller that just doesn't no what to do to make it all somehow work.
The OL will be much improved, I suspect. We brought in a lot of snaps. We got rid of one worst P4 position coaches. As bad as the OL was, we almost have to improve by default.
 

Harvard Gamecock

All-Conference
May 5, 2014
2,835
2,635
113
I think the key is the "don't force sellers to be something he is not" . Our last OC failed miserably at that.

That, and I think Sellers needs to improve his passing and decision making a little. :)
All great points, if I may add one more.

HIs accuracy is disappointing. There are times Sellers would be sitting in the pocket and just completely miss his mark.
Some say that can't be coached up, either you have or you don't. Unfortuantely so far, he doesn't seem to have it on a consistent basis.
 

Piscis

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2001
24,606
2,140
113
All great points, if I may add one more.

HIs accuracy is disappointing. There are times Sellers would be sitting in the pocket and just completely miss his mark.
Some say that can't be coached up, either you have or you don't. Unfortuantely so far, he doesn't seem to have it on a consistent basis.
The bottom line is, and the truth hurts, Sellers isn't a great QB. He is a great athlete playing the QB position. He would be, and was, an absolute star as a HS QB where he could use his physical gifts to overwhelm the opposing D. I think he would be a great QB at a program like Wofford, where his physical ability would enable him to run for huge gains against lesser talented defensive players. HS or smaller college DCs would not have the talent to scheme how to stop him. SEC DCs have the talent to contain his scrambling and cover his receivers enough that he doesn't really know what to do, so, he ends up taking the sack or running out of bounds for a loss.

His strength in passing is throwing the long ball to an open receiver. He has enough arm that he can get the ball far downfield. When he has to throw into a tight window or have timing on a short to medium throw, he struggles.
 

Sleepyhead

Junior
Jul 23, 2023
433
341
63
The OL will be much improved, I suspect. We brought in a lot of snaps. We got rid of one worst P4 position coaches. As bad as the OL was, we almost have to improve by default.
I don’t see how the offensive line could be any more dysfunctional than it was this past season. Personally, I wouldn’t predict any sort of OL success. Hoping for a disciplined, physical group. That’s all I’m ever really wanting to see but it seems too lofty a goal.
 

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
18,663
15,644
113
The bottom line is, and the truth hurts, Sellers isn't a great QB. He is a great athlete playing the QB position. He would be, and was, an absolute star as a HS QB where he could use his physical gifts to overwhelm the opposing D. I think he would be a great QB at a program like Wofford, where his physical ability would enable him to run for huge gains against lesser talented defensive players. HS or smaller college DCs would not have the talent to scheme how to stop him. SEC DCs have the talent to contain his scrambling and cover his receivers enough that he doesn't really know what to do, so, he ends up taking the sack or running out of bounds for a loss.

His strength in passing is throwing the long ball to an open receiver. He has enough arm that he can get the ball far downfield. When he has to throw into a tight window or have timing on a short to medium throw, he struggles.

Whatever he is or isn't, if Briles can get him to play the whole season like he played the end of 2024, sign me up.
 
  • Like
Reactions: arinsc

Piscis

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2001
24,606
2,140
113
Whatever he is or isn't, if Briles can get him to play the whole season like he played the end of 2024, sign me up.
I think that ship has sailed. He isn't any different, the difference is, opposing DCs know his strengths and weaknesses now and they know how to scheme to contain him. We saw that with Illinois in the bowl game and in every game last season against P4 opponents. After Clemson 2024, he has never had another "magical" game where he took over and won the game by himself.

I agree, the OL has to be better simply because it would be hard for it to be any worse. It remains to be seen if that is enough to bring about a few more wins. I'm thinking 2026 is a 7-5 season unless some teams turn out to be better or worse than expected. Kent State, Towson, MSSt, UK and Arkansas should be wins. The rest of the schedule looks pretty daunting but who knows how UF will be with a new coach or what schizophrenic aTm will be. Those could be two more wins and, who knows, maybe there is a big upset in there somewhere and we get to 8 wins?

I'm saying 7 wins. The question will be, is that enough to keep Beamer around?
 

Sleepyhead

Junior
Jul 23, 2023
433
341
63
I think that ship has sailed. He isn't any different, the difference is, opposing DCs know his strengths and weaknesses now and they know how to scheme to contain him. We saw that with Illinois in the bowl game and in every game last season against P4 opponents. After Clemson 2024, he has never had another "magical" game where he took over and won the game by himself.

I agree, the OL has to be better simply because it would be hard for it to be any worse. It remains to be seen if that is enough to bring about a few more wins. I'm thinking 2026 is a 7-5 season unless some teams turn out to be better or worse than expected. Kent State, Towson, MSSt, UK and Arkansas should be wins. The rest of the schedule looks pretty daunting but who knows how UF will be with a new coach or what schizophrenic aTm will be. Those could be two more wins and, who knows, maybe there is a big upset in there somewhere and we get to 8 wins?

I'm saying 7 wins. The question will be, is that enough to keep Beamer around?
I don’t think the ship has sailed at all. He’s what like 21? I’m sure you had some struggles at that age. I’m my opinion he needs an offense with quick designed passes right now. If it’s not there, make a play with your legs. All the pro level reading defenses and going through complicated progressions will come. I think last season he wasn’t pulling the trigger and needs a simple offense to just cut loose. The athleticism and physical ability is top draft pick caliber.
 

Creek Snake

Sophomore
May 22, 2014
152
120
43
i think back to Spurrier’s days and his ability to scheme pass routes where guys always seem to be running free.Since he left everything seems difficult.Is it coaching or lesser talent at the receiver positions?
 

18IsTheMan

Heisman
Oct 1, 2014
18,663
15,644
113
I think that ship has sailed. He isn't any different, the difference is, opposing DCs know his strengths and weaknesses now and they know how to scheme to contain him. We saw that with Illinois in the bowl game and in every game last season against P4 opponents. After Clemson 2024, he has never had another "magical" game where he took over and won the game by himself.

I agree, the OL has to be better simply because it would be hard for it to be any worse. It remains to be seen if that is enough to bring about a few more wins. I'm thinking 2026 is a 7-5 season unless some teams turn out to be better or worse than expected. Kent State, Towson, MSSt, UK and Arkansas should be wins. The rest of the schedule looks pretty daunting but who knows how UF will be with a new coach or what schizophrenic aTm will be. Those could be two more wins and, who knows, maybe there is a big upset in there somewhere and we get to 8 wins?

I'm saying 7 wins. The question will be, is that enough to keep Beamer around?

Could be right. Could be wrong.

All I know is he was coached by one of our worst OCs in quite some time and played behind an OL coached by arguably the worst assistant coach in all of P4.