1. Even when Hew’s RPO-based scheme was fresh and successful in this conference (2012-2016), it still required sharp decision making from the QB and also excellent chemistry between the QB and receivers for the option routes. I can’t help but worry that these same “decisions” that Bo Wallace and Chad Kelly were making 8-10 years ago might be much more difficult to make now that defenses have adjusted schematically. Would Bo Wallace and Chad Kelly be as successful as they were in 2014-2015 if they were running this offense today? This may explain the decision to roll with Thorne and not pursue a transfer: Hew genuinely underestimated the difficulty of the decisions that Payton would have to make during a game. I suppose it’s even possible that Payton would’ve been a good QB under Hew at Ole Miss.
2. Hew is completely unwilling or does not believe his line is capable of running power when things get tough. My bet is that he’s just simply unwilling to do it. This is why he randomly shits the bed and loses to Arkansas 30-0 or Memphis by 2 touchdowns: he’s greedy and refuses to slow the game down in order to stabilize the momentum of the contest. This really hurts him. The power running game can save your sorry ass and get you back into a ball game when your perimeter / skill players and QB are having a tough outing. It also helps your defense. But Hew likes flash. Even though his obsession with it has cost every single program he’s coached throughout his career.
Basically, for Auburn to be elite, Hew must accumulate 4 straight elite recruiting classes and call a Bill Walsh-tier game 12 consecutive times OR have an athletic, generational talent at QB who can bail him out of his intermittent idiocy.
Hew desperately needs that QB.
2. Hew is completely unwilling or does not believe his line is capable of running power when things get tough. My bet is that he’s just simply unwilling to do it. This is why he randomly shits the bed and loses to Arkansas 30-0 or Memphis by 2 touchdowns: he’s greedy and refuses to slow the game down in order to stabilize the momentum of the contest. This really hurts him. The power running game can save your sorry ass and get you back into a ball game when your perimeter / skill players and QB are having a tough outing. It also helps your defense. But Hew likes flash. Even though his obsession with it has cost every single program he’s coached throughout his career.
Basically, for Auburn to be elite, Hew must accumulate 4 straight elite recruiting classes and call a Bill Walsh-tier game 12 consecutive times OR have an athletic, generational talent at QB who can bail him out of his intermittent idiocy.
Hew desperately needs that QB.
