Auburn Football: QB Clint Moseley's Shoulder Woes Will Cost Him Starting Role

Junior Auburn QB Clint Moseley is on the verge of watching sophomore Kiehl Frazier take his starting job. Mosley has a shoulder issue that has kept him from live drills during spring practices and all the while, Fazier has been impressing. 

No one has pinpointed the cause for his shoulder issues, which he reportedly first revealed after the first spring practice on March 23rd. Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser passed along that info. 

He also passed along a quote from Moseley on the frustration that accompanies his injury. Moseley:

"

I’m not able to throw anything vertically, which pretty much makes a quarterback. That’s not good. I’d love to be throwing, but I don’t want to rush in to it and make it worse.

"

This is proving to be a double-edged sword for the QB. Frazier has reportedly been looking strong. Tate relayed that "Observers said the Tigers’ passing game was sharper than expected Saturday morning largely because Frazier is making such rapid progress."

Coach Gene Chizik seems fully aware of this and he is not holding anything back when discussing his QB situation. Tate offered up this quote from the coach:

"

He’s [Moseley} got to continue to get better quick—I don’t think there’s any question about it. It was unfortunate timing, but the reality of it is either you take reps and improve or you watch and you’re not getting the same opportunity to improve. It’s a big factor.

"

The reality is that Moseley's chances of starting are likely already doomed.

He was solid as he started Auburn's final five games last season. He finished the year with 61.1 percent completion percentage on 108 throws and added five touchdowns and three interceptions. 

But those numbers are not going to be good enough to keep Frazier from the job. If Frazier continues to look good passing the ball, the job will be his to lose. 

Frazier saw significant playing time last year, but it was almost all as a wildcat QB. He rushed for 327 yards last season. He also scored two rushing TDs in Auburn's bowl victory over Virginia. 

Moseley is no where near the runner of Frazier, and he will soon be his backup.