Already I've heard talk on the radio, seen comments on the blog and gotten emails floating the idea that the Utes might be looking at 2009 as a rebuilding year, and that's why they decided to go with a freshman quarterback. The thought is they are prepared to lose a few games with a rookie at the helm if it's better for the future.
Have no fear, that isn't what is happening. The coaches went with Jordan Wynn because he came into Utah football with everyone thinking he was going to redshirt, including the coaches, then knocked everyone's socks off in spring camp.
He has been on a steady line of improvement ever since and has rightfully earned a shot at being No. 1.
Given the Utes' strong defense, they should be able to win against Utah State and San Jose State with ME at quarterback (Mr. Asiata, here is the ball). They certainly should win with Wynn, Terrance Cain or Corbin Louks. So really, there is no harm in giving the guy who has shown the most improvement the chance to get some game experience.
The real test of course will be Oregon. But none of us can sit here and say that Louks or Cain would give the Utes more of a chance of winning that game than Wynn. They have more experience sure, but if they aren't as talented then how much value can you put in that experience? The Utes can go with a safe gameplan and help him out, they aren't going to just push him onto the field and say "win it," Wynn.
Face it, Louks was the sentimental favorite by many because he was so effective as a change-up quarterback and he paid his dues. But the first showing that the coaches didn't believe he could get the job done was the signing of Cain. The Utes wouldn't have wasted a scholarship on a QB with just two years of eligibility remaining if they had full confidence in Louks. (Obviously they didn't know Wynn was going to come in and win the job either, they thought he was a year away).
Wynn by far looked his best and most confident yesterday after the decision was made, so too did Cain, so maybe this battle isn't over yet, at least between those two.
If the Wynn experiment doesn't work out, the Utes can make some changes before the Oregon game if necessary.
Sure, I feel bad for Louks, he has been a team player so far, but out of any of the quarterbacks he had the biggest chance to win the spot and didn't.
Seeing him on the defensive side of the ball a day after the quarterback depth chart was announced tells me too that the "neck and neck" race between the quarterbacks wasn't as close as the coaches made it out to be.
Best for Louks to move on to the defensive side of the ball.
And don't forget the Louks package still exists, who knows, maybe he can be the next Eric Weddle? A player who has an impact on both sides of the ball.
But getting back to Wynn, are the Utes doomed? No, not even close. Should you expect more losses simply because a freshman is at quarterback? Inexperience may hurt him here and there, but obviously the coaches believe he is a special player to go with him and it's their responsibility to give him a game plan that can make him successful.
I asked Dave Schramm, who recruited Wynn, what he saw in the quarterback that made him go after him.
"He won," he said. "He is a winner. The guy under pressure, he repeatedly was accurate under pressure, a highly successful guy who was very productive. He had all the things you look for in a quarterback. He is accurate, a winner and very smart."
So don't start worrying yet and don't believe the Utes are going into this experiment conceding this is a rebuilding year. Let's see what the guy can do before you start fretting.
10 Comments:
Wise Lya, I agree
Lya, thaks for your keen insight! You do a great job! Here is another thought from my perspective: Sure, Louks has played in some games on the D1 level with Utah. I hardly think his change-up package gives him a nod up on experience. The reality is this: Louks, Cain and Wynn ALL are inexperienced, and for those Ute fans who say that Wynn is going to make Freshmen mistakes, is rather pointless. The truth is, all three of these QB's will all make the same mistakes because all three are low on the experience scale. With Wynn taking 90% of the snaps with the first team offense, he will get better every practice, and his offensive teammates will grow with him, and hopefully he will lead this offense and grow each game into a great Quarterback.
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Great article Lya! I agree completely.
I hope so. I won't be disappointed though if we only win 7-8 games. Wynn will be great by his junior year
Good post Lya.
This is good stuff, Lya. It seems to me that we can look at the ascendance of Wynn in two different ways. First, this could mean that Wynn is just simply an incredible phenom. For a TRUE freshman to go from a mid-level recruit to being the starting quarterback of an undefeated two time BCS busting team is remarkable. His obvious hard work, smarts, and determination are exactly the qualities that I want leading my team.
That being said . . . the other way to look at this situation is that Cain and Louks are just not that good. Ideally, I think, we would want Louks to be our starting quarterback because he has the experience, but we certainly don’t want him if he can’t win the position, particularly if he can’t win the position from two players that have no D1 experience. Louks was given every opportunity but he, unfortunately, couldn’t get the job done. So, what does this say? Is Wynn really that good? Or, are Cain and Louks really that bad? I think we might get closer to the answer if we look at the history of TRUE freshmen starting quarterbacks (as apposed to redshirt freshmen like Boise State’s quarterback last year.) As far as I know, the track records of true freshmen quarterbacks are mediocre at best. To me, this suggests that my latter assertion is truer – if we’re starting someone who couldn’t possibly have anything better than a mediocre season, then Cain and Louks may not be that good. Luckily, we should have a pretty great defense and a pretty great running game. Although I don’t agree with Utefan99 on many of his other posts, I will agree that 7-8 wins seems like a reasonable win total guess. Lya, I would be interested to read a post where you look into the track record of true freshmen quarterbacks. Is my assessment of their typical sub-par performance fair?
I agree.
Starting a freshman can't be the ideal situation, but if he beat out the other two... I gotta think the coaches gave the two upper classman every opportunity, and Wynn still beat them out thus far. So what are the coaches to do? Pretend Wynn isn't the best QB simply because of his age?
I hope Whit learned how to manage a young QB from Brian Johnson Experience in 2005. Go Urban Meyer with Alex Smith in 2003- put the training wheels on the offense, run a lot, and lean on the D. Asiata left, Asiata right, Wynn on the keeper, reverse to Brooks, short passes to quick receivers, Louks package, all that. Then open it up in 2010 if Wynn is ready.
Look at what the Boise Donkees did with a freshman QB last year- including game 3 W at Oregon. It can be done.
I think having Wynn start has created even more excitement for the Utes! Having watched Louks for two years, we had an idea of what he would look like in a game situation. Now....it will be the unexpected, and while it does make for a little nervousness, it could be AMAZING! The offense last year was very inconsistent. With such talented receivers, how does Whit not go with the best thrower when the run game looks solid and the Louks package can still be utilized. I am excited - GO UTES!
P.S. Lya....how is the new pic coming along? It's been a year now....you promised....
Best blog post in a long-time. I had a fleeting thought about this being a strategy meant to pay dividends in a couple years. However, with guys like Stevenson Sylvester and others being seniors, I don't think it would be fair to them. Plus, Coach Whit has always said that the best players will be on the field. I've learned to take him at his word. I'm excited, and a bit apprehensive, about the upcoming season. Go Utes!
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