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QB Competition

BWCD

BWCD

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Jul 24, 2012
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Nothing earth-shattering I have to say here, but look at what we've got right now competing for our starting QB position (rankings via Rivals):

Jake Heaps (6'1/210 Senior) - 4* - Class of 2010, #1 Pro-Style QB in the nation.
Kevin Olsen (6'3/210 RS Freshman) - 4* - Class of 2013, #12 Pro-Style QB in the nation.
Brad Kaaya (6'4/218 Freshman) - 4* - Class of 2014, #8 Pro-Style QB in the nation.
Malik Rosier (6'1/212 Freshman) - 3* - Class of 2014, #22 Dual-Threat QB in the nation.

...and then compare it to the QB's who competed to start from the 2009 preseason after Marve transferred to Purdue:

Jacory Harris (6'4/175 Sophomore) - 4* - Class of 2008, #7 Pro-Style QB in the nation.
AJ Highsmith (6'0/190 Freshman) - 3* (ATH) - Class of 2009, #87 Athlete in the nation.
Cannon Smith (5'11/200 Sophomore) - 3* - Class of 2008 (Prep), #42 Prep school player in the country.
Spencer Whipple (6'2/205 Sophomore) - Unranked - Class of 2006.
Taylor Cook (6'7/210 RS Freshman) - 2* - Class of 2008.

We can complain that we don't have an established starting QB right now...or even that we're not sure if any of these guys can be "the guy", but I like what we're getting back to from a talent perspective. I'll take the prototypical QB size we have across the board, the highly ranked pro-style talent we have, and what should be a high level of competition for the QB spot in this offseason. 3 of these 4 QB's on our roster currently were in the National Elite 11 finals as rising HS Seniors. We even have a Dual-Threat guy in Rosier who's full of raw potential for good measure.

We could be where we were going into 2009. Hoping for Jacory to be "the guy", and for those other 3 to provide some competition (which they really never did). Not to mention that we had to add Whipple after Smith/Cook transferred in late August, abandoning the competition. We were getting shunned left and right for QB talent in recruiting as well. As you can see from who's on campus now competing for the job...that's no longer the case.

All vitriol for Golden and the staff aside, QB is one position that's gotten an upgrade since those dismal years under Shannon...and boy, did it ever need it.
 
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Real talk, we need a set QB coach. Way too much pressure for Coley to handle developing 5 totally different arms (you left out Crow). Meanwhile design and run a potent offense efficiently with all the other weapons he has to work to with. Just my 2 cents.
 
This is what we have without what happened in the spring camp. The analysis from observers at that time and from coaches is that Williams was the lead. Analysis of posters with opinions based on a kid who hasn't played a formal practice yet is that he will start over a kid that once was considered to be the second coming. Hopefully fall competition will determine a solid starter.
 
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My money's on Heaps.

That also gives you the opportunity to grow and groom Olsen and Kaaya. Whoever wins that fight in 2015 is our guy for 3-4 years.
 
Chuckles said:
This is what we have without what happened in the spring camp. The analysis from observers at that time and from coaches is that Williams was the lead. Analysis of posters with opinions based on a kid who hasn't played a formal practice yet is that he will start over a kid that once was considered to be the second coming. Hopefully fall competition will determine a solid starter.
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I'm really hoping Golden doesn't glamour over heaps ability. he is really infatuated by size and ability rather then playmaking skills. heaps looks better then all of our qb physically but will he have the decision making and play making ability as I'm hoping Kayaa or Olsen can bring.
 
I would agree if it was not clear that staff was prepared to give job to a senior who they would not put in game to replace a one legged QB having a horrible season a couple months ago. And not only that, they are in a panic now that said senior is hurt. I like our QBs; I don't think staff(Al) likes anything but seniors or juniors, regardless of talent. Also, to not have Olsen ready for this after a whole year on campus is a crime. They should have been all over that kid to make sure he was "owning it". This was the future and he was allowed to just make a fool out of himself. Beat him with a stick four or five times a day if you have to. He still might be chump change but he would be bloody chump change if I was his coach.
 
850Cane said:
Chuckles said:
This is what we have without what happened in the spring camp. The analysis from observers at that time and from coaches is that Williams was the lead. Analysis of posters with opinions based on a kid who hasn't played a formal practice yet is that he will start over a kid that once was considered to be the second coming. Hopefully fall competition will determine a solid starter.
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I'm really hoping Golden doesn't glamour over heaps ability. he is really infatuated by size and ability rather then playmaking skills. heaps looks better then all of our qb physically but will he have the decision making and play making ability as I'm hoping Kayaa or Olsen can bring.
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Heaps doesn't look better than just about any of our QBs, physically. He's filled out more than Kaaya because he's older, sure; but in fact, some of the knocks on Heaps are about his size and speed. He's about six feet tall. Golden's not in love with the kid's measurables. He's supposedly smart, quick to get rid of the ball, and accurate. That's what Golden is looking at.

He's clearly not a take-over-the-game sort of QB, but hopefully the kid just needed the right system and some talent around him.
 
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rsa coral gables said:
this analysis (as to the future stock of QBs) is based on stars and ranking?
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It is. I was pointing to the potential talent (read: "future stock") as it pertains to how highly ranked as prospects that all of the QB's on our roster which all have a shot to start this year (which excludes Crow, I think we all can agree on that).

I understand that Heaps hasn't had a good career so far, and that Olsen/Kaaya/Rosier are all unproven...but I'll take THAT pool of talent over the ones I listed that we had competing to be Miami's starting QB in 2009.

Even if you take off Smith/Cook since they transferred, and kept Jacory/AJ/Whipple...when compared to Heaps/Olsen/Kaaya/Rosier, that was flat-out pitiful. AND--it was only 5 years ago.

The progress (at least in this case) is measurable.
 
Port Knox said:
Real talk, we need a set QB coach. Way too much pressure for Coley to handle developing 5 totally different arms (you left out Crow). Meanwhile design and run a potent offense efficiently with all the other weapons he has to work to with. Just my 2 cents.
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Agreed with everything. I don't know if it's money or what, but there's no reason that we shouldn't have a set QB coach at Miami on staff at all times.

I left out Crow because honestly--he's not gonna start over any of the 4 current guys I named. Nice kid, but he's not going to be in the mix for the starting spot on Labor Day night.

Crow is a better QB, though, than Highsmith/Whipple were--no doubt. Just further proves my point that we've come a long way from that debacle.
 
I withholding judgment until someone produces a photo of Heaps' wife.
 
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Port Knox said:
Real talk, we need a set QB coach. Way too much pressure for Coley to handle developing 5 totally different arms (you left out Crow). Meanwhile design and run a potent offense efficiently with all the other weapons he has to work to with. Just my 2 cents.
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Maybe D'Onofrio can coach the QBs and we can bring in a def coor!
 
BWCD said:
Port Knox said:
Real talk, we need a set QB coach. Way too much pressure for Coley to handle developing 5 totally different arms (you left out Crow). Meanwhile design and run a potent offense efficiently with all the other weapons he has to work to with. Just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...
Agreed with everything. I don't know if it's money or what, but there's no reason that we shouldn't have a set QB coach at Miami on staff at all times.

I left out Crow because honestly--he's not gonna start over any of the 4 current guys I named. Nice kid, but he's not going to be in the mix for the starting spot on Labor Day night.

Crow is a better QB, though, than Highsmith/Whipple were--no doubt. Just further proves my point that we've come a long way from that debacle.
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This topic has already been discussed here. The issue is with the NCAA limits on coaching staff size. We'd essentially have to fire a current coach to allow for the hiring of a QB coach. A) That'll never happen with Coley here and B) You just don't see that many QB coaches on the college level. I was all for bringing Steve Walsh in yesterday if the limits weren't in place.
 
Is it possible to work the system and bring in Ken Dorsey as a grad assistant and allow him to work with the absolute?
 
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A few observations:

I'm not buying Heaps is anything other than insurance. No knock on him, and I hope he comes in and becomes the player that analysts thought he'd be coming out of high school. Just rare that a kid is able to move from school to school to school (we are his third) and then blow up. No question though that whoever is QB he will have a ton of playmakers around him.

Olsen is supposed to be the man. And I agree with Gatorhater that the staff should have reeled him in when he wasn't doing what he was supposed to do. They didn't and after Ryan went down they were left with a roster full of QBs with little or no college experience (practice or game). Enter Heaps. So to me, Heaps being added to the roster reflects the lack of confidence the staff has in Olsen to be ready and the scary realization that a true freshmen may will be under center come September.

I think Kaaya is ahead of Olsen right now mainly because Kaaya has been doing what the staff asked him to do and Olsen wasn't nearly as focused as he needed to be this past year. We saw the disappointing results of that lack of focus in the Spring game. I think too that Kaaya has a really good chance at winning the starting position. At the end of the day, I want a QB with HEART and a good head on his shoulders.

Finally, I hope that the staff decides as soon as possible who our starting QB will be. That QB will need a lot of work with the 1s and in learning our offense. QB competitions are great when you have experienced QBs, but when you have a bunch of guys with little or no game experience you really need to make a decision so that you can focus on getting your main guy ready to go.
 
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