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Some of you are really underrating Ryan Williams. He's not Ken Dorsey, but he's not Spencer Whipple, either. This guy has a legit college football skillset- he's tall, smart and consistently accurate. You can win games with Williams.
Unfortunately, he's a game-manager on a team that needs a game-winner. Morris is not only the team's best quarterback, he's also the team's best playmaker. But there's another factor at play here. As we've seen in all sports, when a team's moneymaker goes down the other players tend to step up to compensate. It may not last for a season, but it can last for a game. Especially a rivalry game at home. Don't be surprised if you see a lot of people raise their games on Saturday night.
Something else to consider is Williams' style of play. He throws a much softer, more catchable ball than Morris, and that is a godsend for a group struggling with confidence. One guy who should particularly benefit is Rashawn Scott. He was the star of the spring with Williams and hasn't developed that same chemistry with Morris. Scott's YAC ability really shines with Williams' short passing game, and he is Williams' preferred deep ball option. Unlike Dorsett- who likes to use his speed to run under Morris's deep balls- Scott is more of a go-up-and-get-it receiver. He does this consistently when Williams lofts the ball into single-coverage.
Williams' presence will also force us to becoming more of a ball-control offense, which might be the best approach against FSU's explosive but inconsistent offense. We need to convert on every opportunity we get against the Noles, and Williams' touch really helps him in the red zone.
Are we better off with Williams? No. Morris is the better player. But the timing works. Williams goes in with low expectations and a lot to prove. If the offensive line can protect Williams like it has protected Morris, he can surprise some folks.
Some other thoughts...
- Not only would I sit Morris against FSU, I'd also sit Duke. We need him desperately for the home stretch, and rest is the only thing that will make him better. Somebody who needs an opportunity is Dallas Crawford. He is a team guy who has worked hard and has not been rewarded. In fact, he's thinking hard about transferring. He can be used as a runner/receiver just like Duke and is starving for a chance to contribute. This would be a perfect opportunity.
- Porter is getting very close to playing. This is another reason I want to get Morris and Duke healthy. If we have those three for the home stretch, we have a legitimate shot at running the table against a weak schedule and meeting FSU at full-strength in the ACCCG. A win against Virginia Tech would mean that Miami is the clear favorite in every remaining game.
- Malcolm Lewis's injury was less than feared and he is already doing (very limited) drill work on his eye-hand coordination. He should be back in the mix in major way next year.
- The move of Briscoe to OL does not surprise me. His movement skills and size are exceptional, but the knock on him has always been nastiness. If he lacks the edge for defense, why wait to move him? He won't develop that mentality on his own. Guys with Briscoe's size and coordination don't come around every day. Imagine if Jeremy Lewis (a guy who actually plays) would have been converted to OL as a freshman. As far as Jake O'Donnell, I would not be shocked if he ultimately ended up back at DE. They are constantly evaluating and I'd rather them do this earlier than later.
- On the recruiting front, I am starting to believe that we may want to add another RB to this class regardless of what Collins does. Daryl Chestnut from Columbus is my choice. Crawford is a transfer candidate and Dillard is not impressing. Duke needs to be used judiciously, and the numbers at RB are pretty alarming. This is more speculation than info, but I have to believe we will make a move here. We might even consider a JUCO running back if we identified somebody that fit.
Unfortunately, he's a game-manager on a team that needs a game-winner. Morris is not only the team's best quarterback, he's also the team's best playmaker. But there's another factor at play here. As we've seen in all sports, when a team's moneymaker goes down the other players tend to step up to compensate. It may not last for a season, but it can last for a game. Especially a rivalry game at home. Don't be surprised if you see a lot of people raise their games on Saturday night.
Something else to consider is Williams' style of play. He throws a much softer, more catchable ball than Morris, and that is a godsend for a group struggling with confidence. One guy who should particularly benefit is Rashawn Scott. He was the star of the spring with Williams and hasn't developed that same chemistry with Morris. Scott's YAC ability really shines with Williams' short passing game, and he is Williams' preferred deep ball option. Unlike Dorsett- who likes to use his speed to run under Morris's deep balls- Scott is more of a go-up-and-get-it receiver. He does this consistently when Williams lofts the ball into single-coverage.
Williams' presence will also force us to becoming more of a ball-control offense, which might be the best approach against FSU's explosive but inconsistent offense. We need to convert on every opportunity we get against the Noles, and Williams' touch really helps him in the red zone.
Are we better off with Williams? No. Morris is the better player. But the timing works. Williams goes in with low expectations and a lot to prove. If the offensive line can protect Williams like it has protected Morris, he can surprise some folks.
Some other thoughts...
- Not only would I sit Morris against FSU, I'd also sit Duke. We need him desperately for the home stretch, and rest is the only thing that will make him better. Somebody who needs an opportunity is Dallas Crawford. He is a team guy who has worked hard and has not been rewarded. In fact, he's thinking hard about transferring. He can be used as a runner/receiver just like Duke and is starving for a chance to contribute. This would be a perfect opportunity.
- Porter is getting very close to playing. This is another reason I want to get Morris and Duke healthy. If we have those three for the home stretch, we have a legitimate shot at running the table against a weak schedule and meeting FSU at full-strength in the ACCCG. A win against Virginia Tech would mean that Miami is the clear favorite in every remaining game.
- Malcolm Lewis's injury was less than feared and he is already doing (very limited) drill work on his eye-hand coordination. He should be back in the mix in major way next year.
- The move of Briscoe to OL does not surprise me. His movement skills and size are exceptional, but the knock on him has always been nastiness. If he lacks the edge for defense, why wait to move him? He won't develop that mentality on his own. Guys with Briscoe's size and coordination don't come around every day. Imagine if Jeremy Lewis (a guy who actually plays) would have been converted to OL as a freshman. As far as Jake O'Donnell, I would not be shocked if he ultimately ended up back at DE. They are constantly evaluating and I'd rather them do this earlier than later.
- On the recruiting front, I am starting to believe that we may want to add another RB to this class regardless of what Collins does. Daryl Chestnut from Columbus is my choice. Crawford is a transfer candidate and Dillard is not impressing. Duke needs to be used judiciously, and the numbers at RB are pretty alarming. This is more speculation than info, but I have to believe we will make a move here. We might even consider a JUCO running back if we identified somebody that fit.
