Duel threat? Better not fuck with him then
Yeah I think you guys are going to have an interesting fall camp for sure. Very rarely does a team come in with three guys who all actually have a chance to be named the starter by the time the first game rolls around. My opinion is that Garcia probably gives you guys the chance to be great. If USC had the talent that Spurrier's Florida teams had then I think Smelley would be the guy b/c I feel like, well at least for his first few starts, he has shown that he can make the reads and just make the smart play. I really believe that Spurrier's offenses are really predicated on beating the defense with play calling and having his WR just simply be better than your defensive backs. His playcalling is also unbelievable. Basically, IMO, and you may disagree here but I think Spurrier is a little overrated as a QB coach but highly underrated as a playcaller. I'm not saying that he's not a great QB coach, b/c he certainly is but I think his play-calling won more games for him at UF than his QB did.
haha where to start
Ok well, As of right now I should just be mentioning Smelley/Beecher because Garcia is suspended until Aug 15th. The truth in that is that he will actually be back by Aug 1st or a few days after. He has completed the neccessary steps in order to get back in the good graces and they always left the door open to having the suspension lifted early, ie: Aug 1st.
Now with Smelley, you have a QB who went 4-2 as a starter and lost his job in the Vandy game. He did hurt his shoulder in the ULL game on a blind side sack and had shoulder surgery in the offseason, he was not 100% in Spring. With that said, I was very unimpressed with his ability to make the passes we need to throw like the 15yd out and flag route. His deep ball looks like a lame duck half the time as well. Was it because his shoulder was hurt all yr? I don't know. There is some truth to that thought though. I do remember in the UK game that Erin Andrews said Smelley was telegraphing his passes and when your arm sucks you can't do that. He also make some poor decisions by forcing balls but what RS-Frosh won't?
With Beecher you have a QB who has a pretty strong arm and very little playing experience. He is very smart as is Smelley but I will be honest, I don't feel comfortable at all with him at the helm. He knows the playbook inside/out but his ability is limited. Now if the OL blocks, the RB finds holes, the defense stops people, then you don't need a John Elway, you need someone who won't make mistakes and I do think he can do that but not sure if he can win you the game.
With Garcia you have the blue-chip recruit who only has shown people he can throw the ball a million yards in a tight spiral. How much of the offense does he actually know? Has he grown up yet? Word on the street was that he didn't work as hard as he should of in the winter, he isn't making that same mistake now but you can only speculate on what he can do. Athletically gifted wise, he is the best of the 3 but there isn't much else I can say there. He has a whole lot to prove.
Now according to Spurrier, Beecher is the starter but he is playing Psychologist if you ask me. There was a feeling that Smelley felt some sort of entitlement to being the starter. He names Beecher the starter, he knows he will work hard in the off season to try and keep it. He names Smelley the backup and he gives him a reality check and he will work hard to come grab the spot. How could you name a starting QB based on a spring game where 1 QB threw 3 picks and the other threw 5? Prior to that, neither one had really pulled away.
I personally can not comment on how well Spurrier coaches QB's and I am not about to rip apart his play calling but I did feel at times he got away from what works. Spurrier JR is handling the play calling this yr but the final decision will be made by the HBC.
One thing is for sure, men will be open this year. McKinnley was really a 1 man show last year for most of the year and he is as reliable as it gets. The next 2 options are matchup nightmares for a defense, both TE's, Cook and Saunders. I think the base of the offense is going to change to a Double TE/Single Back formation if they show they can block. The 4th option in the pass offense will be a variety of different players including Lecorn, Moe Brown, Larry Freeman, Freddie Brown.
I think for the season to be a success, they don't need a QB to be all-world, they need him to manage the offense and not make mistakes. With the experience back on both sides and the improvements on ST, they should be in every game, its a matter of having a few bounces go their way and not pulling the same typical Carolina shit that always happens.
If I was making lines on the QB for the first game.
Smelly -150
Beecher -125
Garcia +110
