Just about this time last year, I wrote a similar post that attempted to cover the four candidates vying for the starting quarterback spot at Ole Miss. And as the title of the post indicates, things went so poorly over the past year that we’re nearly right back where we started, minus Nathan Stanley and plus four additional quarterbacks. This year’s pool of candidates includes:
- Barry Brunetti
- Randall Mackey
- Zack Stoudt
- Bo Wallace
- Mikhail Miller
- Robert Ratliff
- Evan Ingram
While “there is no depth chart,” one can assume that only Brunetti, Mackey, and Wallace have a legitimate shot at winning the starting job, with Stoudt and Miller fighting for deep backup spots, and Ratilff and Ingram running the scout team. Or at least that’s what I hope is going on because we’ve seen Zack Stoudt play and, despite being under the tutelage of Houston Nutt and David Lee for one year, his only playing time should come if the others are kidnapped or trapped in a well.
For the sake of convenience, and convincing myself that one of these guys is the ticket to a 6-6 season and sweet Music City Bowl action, let’s review some of the strengths and weaknesses we’re dealing with here.
Barry Brunetti
Strengths
- Has played before
- Appears to be athletic
- Considered a solid running quarterback
- Blind side is no longer protected by Bradley Sowell
- No longer coached by Houston Nutt
- No longer coached by David Lee
Weaknesses
- Throwing accuracy of a drunk Ole Miss student hurling a full drink at an opposing player who has scored another touchdown in front of the student section
- On the small-ish side
- Was coached by Houston Nutt
- Was coached by David Lee
- I think we should take another bullet point to mention the accuracy issues again
Randall Mackey
Strengths
- Has played before
- Exceptional athleticism
- Strong arm
- Has the ability to turn a bad play into a good play
- Has the ability to turn a good play into six points
- Blind side is no longer protected by Bradley Sowell
- No longer coached by Houston Nutt
- No longer coached by David Lee
Weaknesses
- Throws a ball that can sometimes remind you of a Michael Spurlock pass
- Easily exasperated (could be the result of running Houston Nutt and David Lee plays)
- Does things off the field that forces even Houston Nutt to suspend him indefinitely
- Has the ability to turn any play into a disaster
- Was coached by Houston Nutt
- Was coached by David Lee
Zack Stoudt
Strengths
- Has played before
- Strong arm
- Can throw the ball 75 yards into a net when no one is around
- Blind side is no longer protected by Bradley Sowell
- No longer coached by Houston Nutt
- No longer coached by David Lee
Weaknesses
- Would lose a race to the piece of furniture on which you are sitting
- Has the ability to throw five interceptions against Vanderbilt
- Has the ability to do this:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Th6ykGHayMA?rel=0
- Requires perfect blocking in order to get off a pass
- Was coached by Houston Nutt
- Was coached by David Lee
Bo Wallace
Strengths
- Familiar with Hugh Freeze’s offense
- Strong arm
- Size
- Above average athlete
- Above average speed
- Outstanding success at the junior college level
- Kinda following in Eli Manning’s footsteps
- Never coached by Houston Nutt
- Never coached by David Lee
Weaknesses
- Outstanding success at the junior college level (only applies when attending Ole Miss)
- Never played at the college level
- Appears to be an Ole Miss Spirit message board favorite
- Never known the sting of being in the Circle of the Untrustables and the discipline it takes to get back in the Circle of Champions/Trustables/Friends
Mikhail Miller
Strengths
- Size
- Arm strength
- Above average athlete
- Above average speed
- Probably never directly coached by Houston Nutt
- Probably never directly coached by David Lee
Weaknesses
- Never played before
- While probably never directly coached by Houston Nutt, he certainly saw it taking place
- While probably never directly coached by David Lee, he certainly saw it taking place
- No war stories of how Bradley Sowell ruined one of his drives with a holding or false start penalty or giving up a sack
Robert Ratliff
Strengths
- Dedicated enough to run scout team offense on a team that’s 5-19 in the last two seasons
- No longer coached by Houston Nutt
- No longer coached by David Lee
Weaknesses
- Not sure who he is
- Was coached by Houston Nutt
- Was coached by David Lee
- Scout team quarterback on a team that’s 5-19 in the last two seasons
Evan Ingram
Strengths
- Dedicated enough to run scout team offense on a team that’s 5-19 in the last two seasons
- No longer coached by Houston Nutt
- No longer coached by David Lee
Weaknesses
- Not sure who he is
- Was coached by Houston Nutt
- Was coached by David Lee
- Scout team quarterback on a team that’s 5-19 in the last two seasons
So there you have it, the starting quarterback candidates at Ole Miss in all of their positive and negative glory. Odds are we’re going to see a good deal of all three main candidates early in the season before one takes over until he’s pummelled to death at the hands of Alabama’s defense. Though, part of me wishes Houston Nutt was still around because I don’t think seven quarterbacks have ever started for one team in a season before.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
