Second guy not always ready to be QB

The Second Guy Isn’t Always Ready to be Quarterback

Robert Shields

Prologue: Believe it or not, it’s not uncommon for me to get a message from a parent of a player. Oddly, however, not once in more than 10 years of writing this column have I ever received a thank you note from parents when I write about something great their son did such as making “the catch” or going for more than 300 yards in a game. Instead, I only get notes calling me a bad person (luckily, I have never received a note from Clint Stoerner’s mom).

To all parents pushing their kids toward major college athletics, bad men like myself are going to write negative things about them because good things don’t always happen in the big business of college athletics and people want to talk about that. In the long run, your son may be better served by you by giving him a copy of the Wall Street Journal and a No. 2 lead pencil rather than pushing him toward major college athletics and filling his childhood summers with the rigors of summer ball.

My column last week struck a nerve with fans who disagree with the quarterback I believe will be the no-contest starter. The guy who I believe will be holding the clipboard must have a big fan following in certain parts of the state. Based on this response, I stick by my statement in the previous column that fans should be prepared when the starting quarterback struggles in a game (and he will) to hear from fans to put in the guy who is holding the clipboard.

In general terms, the guy holding the clipboard gets that job for a reason from the coach. It means he is second best in the coach’s opinion from what the coach has seen on film, in practice, and feedback from his other coaches. Ultimately, who starts is the decision of the head coach, but he does not operate in a bubble and with it being the most important position on the team, trust me that he listens to the other coaches’ consul on the issue.

It is not a decision lightly made. It is also the reason the coaches always want all parties in competition to think that there is a decision to be made and that the second guy is almost ready.

The reality is that is seldom the case. On most teams, especially good teams, the difference between the starter and back-up is very large for a variety of reasons, some being size, speed, and skills. Then there are other reasons such as experience and personality, and if nothing else the would-be starter has already taken all the meaningful snaps in practice.

Typically, a two-quarterback system does not work. The team needs one leader. This does not mean that it cannot work, but it would be the anomaly. Coaches like to prep one guy with the game plan, not two. It becomes much more complicated trying to work in two even with personalities aside. The team adjusts more smoothly to prepping with one guy on snaps, blocking, receiving, and hand-offs.

So everything that has been written above is in generic terms and should not be thought of as directed toward anyone. It is just the physical reality of what happens on a team.

I strongly believe the Hogs will have only one dominant quarterback this season and will not have a two-quarterback system regardless of what the coach may or may not be preaching this August to the contrary. If you see the Hogs switching quarterbacks a lot early in the season, this will be an indication to me the Hogs do not have one good quarterback on campus and a bad sign for the season in totality.

Using names last week got me in trouble, but I stick by my guns that the kid who is taller, bigger, and has a strong arm will be the starter. This should never be taken as a slam on anyone or me being critical. I did not invent physics.

All parents like to believe that their son is the one and can break those bonds and stand out and not be the one holding the clipboard. So, the world is filled with parents knowing with certainty their child is the best when the world of physics is telling everyone else something completely different. So don’t blame me when I say someone will start over someone else. You can blame physics.


Send your pick for QB1 to fromthebench@yahoo.com