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

QB Contro at UA

There’s No Quarterback Controversy at the UA

Robert Shields

There seems to be some push to make people believe that there is a quarterback controversy, or at the least competition, at the University of Arkansas between Tyler Wilson and Ryan Mallett. I guess fans buy into that so easily because they like to believe the idea that there are two SEC-caliber quarterbacks on campus ready to blow the competition away.

But there is hardly anything close to a quarterback controversy for the Razorbacks.

I know some of the local preseason magazines show both of them on the cover and have interviewed both like they are some type of equals on the team with equal starting chances. Many like to point out that Wilson gets the offense and that he’s smart. It doesn’t matter.

Let that controversy or idea of a competition for the starting job end now. Mallett will be the starter short of getting caught with a Foot Locker card and some cocaine. Not even a steroids bust will stop him from playing. Wilson may be a fine person and a great student of the game, but I am here to tell you now that if you are confused he is no Mallett.

Mallett may end up being a flop on the field, but in pure raw ability he is by far the best Razorback to take on the position as QB1. Michigan’s Lloyd Carr did not start him as a true freshman because he lacked ability. The reason Carr started him was because he has Michigan Wolverine-caliber ability as a quarterback in the lines of Tom Brady and a host of others.

He fits the bill at 6 feet 7 inches and pushing 250 pounds. At such size, he will not go down easily for defenders. Some will point out that Matt Jones was the same way (regarding being hard to bring down). The difference is that Mallett will be looked at as a QB in the pros and Jones was not.

I don’t know why there’s the fetish to believe that the second guy is always better than the starter when it comes to quarterback, but it has always been the case. Everyone loves the associate pastor instead of the pastor. I promise you, if you attend a game or two this season, you will hear some fan yell, “Put in Wilson.”

Mallett is not close to perfect and has his load of problems, but the coaches know he has the best starting blocks to be a great quarterback. There are some things you just can’t coach and Mallett has a lot of those abilities.

Mallett threw a few interceptions in spring that were not pretty and that will have to be corrected. He made a mistake in the offseason, but that aside it appears that he has grown in maturity since that mistake, which is a huge plus for the team.

He seems gutsy. He has the arm. He will have the power when needed to get the tough yard. I believe now he has the trust of the team.

Mallett will be on some people’s ballot after SEC media days as one of the leading quarterbacks in the conference. Wilson will not be on that list. Mallett will be bestowed that level by some without even ever taking a snap at Arkansas, which says a lot of what others outside this state think of his ability.

There is no other position in college football that matters like quarterback. The Hogs have been lacking in that position for almost a decade. Now you will get to see a team that has one. A great quarterback finds a way to win. We will see if Mallett is that caliber of signal caller this season.

The only way a real quarterback controversy ignites is if Mallett gets injured or suspended and Wilson has to take over in a game and he performs well. And as a fan, you better hope that does not happen.



Send your controversies to fromthebench@yahoo.com