Buster & Philo thoughts from a GT Fan
Summary
QB/OL: GT is my first team and loyalty but I've become an Auburn fan after my son attended.
GT is my first team and loyalty but I've become an Auburn fan after my son attended. I wanted to share some thoughts on Buster and Philo and a few of the other GT guys going into this game.
On Buster: I was and am a big Buster fan. He did an excellent job at GT but he is being put in the elite OC category by most right now and I don't think he has quite earned that. The Buster and GT brand was built in the 2024 week zero game vs FSU and the 8-OT UGA game with everybody watching. In between those games there were a number of real stinkers. GT was QB run-centric because of Haynes King's skill set but I don't think that is the way Buster wanted to play. His first game as OC in 2023 against Louisville GT came out with a lot of 11 personnel and played with a lot of tempo. I think he really wants to stretch the field horizontally. King was limited throwing the ball so all that was ditched at GT pretty early. People talk about GT being physical on the O-line but that is and has been BS. King made the running game go. When he wasn't healthy enough to run, Buster struggled to run the ball. The other thing that he really struggled with were adjustments. If things didn't go as planned he really struggled. I really hope DJ has some fresh stuff ready for him. All this to say, he's a smart coach and does a lot of great things. He may become a true elite top 10 OC in the country but he isn't there yet.
On Philo: I don't believe it but a few GT insiders claimed Buster wanted to play Philo over King last year because of ability as a passer. I'm not sure I believe it fully but there probably is a degree of truth there. Philo is a Buster QB not Haynes King. The kid can really throw the football and has the it factor. The knock on him during his time at GT was in practice he put the ball in danger a lot and was a little reckless. I'm sure he has matured but it is still in him. He has only played in one road game. He came in late in the second half for his first game action against VT when GT was without King and King's backup got hurt. He did ok for a first game but the game was already out of reach. He had a number of big 3rd down throws at home against Miami when he was alternating with King but they kept him on a tight leash. He led a very nice game-winning drive against NCSU the next week but did it mainly with his feet. His only other meaningful snaps for GT were against Gardner-Webb when he started for King. He was very nervous and fumbled his second play and then threw a pick on the next drive. Long story short, he's never been the guy against a P4 team, he's never really played a road game. Asking him to make his first REAL start against DJ Durkin in Jordan-Hare is a lot to ask.
Former GT center Harrison Moore is one to watch. I'm shocked he is a starting center in the SEC. I really like the kid but the center position was a disaster for GT last year and he was the main reason. He really struggled snapping football all year long and he I'm not sure if he is big or strong enough to hold up inside in the SEC. He was routinely overpowered last year and a big reason the GT running game struggled even with a 1st Round pick next to him. I don't think GT felt they could go into 2026 with him still the starting center it was that bad. I think he had 2 or 3 bad snaps against FAU so it could be an issue in this game. I'm curious to see how he does blocking Auburn inside.
Anyway sorry for the long post just an interesting game for me as a AU/GT fan. War Eagle!
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