Auburn vs. Vanderbilt: Starting Clint Moseley at QB Is the Right Call for Tigers

For the second straight week, the role of Auburn's starting quarterback has been a game-week decision; and for the second straight week, junior Clint Moseley will get the nod for the Tigers, according to AUTigers.com.

Moseley started last week vs. Ole Miss ahead of sophomore Kiehl Frazier and freshman Jonathan Wallace. He completed 11 of 18 passes for 112 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception vs. the Rebels, which included a first half in which he completed all eight pass attempts.

Not great, but certainly a better performance than the Tigers were used to from the quarterback position through the previous five games.

Starting Moseley over Frazier and Wallace is the right call by head coach Gene Chizik and offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler, whether Frazier is healthy or not.

He may not have the upside that Frazier has as a dual-threat quarterback, but he completed 61 percent of his passes against the Rebels. Meanwhile, Frazier is completing 54.4 percent of his passes this season.

What Loeffler has to avoid—and judging from his play-calling this season, it may be a lot to ask—is asking Moseley to win the football game with his arm.

For that to happen, though, he is going to need help from his running game and his offensive coordinator.

Running back Tre Mason was a big reason why Auburn's offense enjoyed a moderate amount of success last week vs. Ole Miss. The sophomore rushed 18 times for 82 yards and two touchdowns, but only five of his carries came in the second half.

His absence in the second half was curious to say the least, especially since he had the hot hand in the 17-point second quarter—Auburn's most productive quarter of the season.

Moseley isn't going to be a gunslinger that wins football games for the Tigers, but right now, there's really nowhere else to go. 

Frazier was ineffective in his five starts this season and is now nursing a shoulder injury, and Wallace's only action this season has been as a wildcat quarterback. 

Trotting Moseley out there is the right call, but he's going to need help from his offensive coaching staff to lead the Tigers to a win. More help than he got last week on the road at Ole Miss, at least.

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