With the departure at UConn of senior QB Zach Frazer last season and the arrival of head coach Paul Pasqualoni early this season, the question has been: who will be Connecticut’s QB?
Four players were in contention for the position throughout the spring, and no one emerged at the top. The same four entered training camp and went nearly to the final week on equal footing when Sophomore Mike Box was observed by media leading the scout team. Within a day he was out the door, opting to transfer to D-II Indiana University in Pennsylvania, where he’ll be eligible to play this year.
And then there were three….
At the close of camp Pasqualoni had said no announcement would be made until opening day. So, fans waited with bated breath for the starting lineup against Fordham. And the winner was … no one.
Senior walk-on, Johnny McEntee, widely known for his YouTube trick-shot video during the offseason and who had commanded the scout team under former head coach Randy Edsall, started in the Huskies’ 35-3 victory (8/12, 113 yards).
Scott McCummings, a redshirt freshman, subbed in and out throughout the game, and performed adequately too. He was inserted situationally, for a play or two at a time. McCummings ran the wildcat and collected some rushing yards of his own. His signature play, though, was his lone pass, a nifty double play-fake touchdown strike of 55 yards to TE Ryan Grant in the second quarter.
True freshman Michael Nebrich started the second and fourth quarters. He played well but had less passing accuracy than the other QBs (3/6, 60 yards, INT). He made good decisions though, and turned one broken play into a reasonable gain by running the ball himself.
By the fourth quarter, however, it was evident UConn was content with its lead. Pasqualoni and offensive coordinator George DeLeone tipped their hands no more, using a number of second-string players and plain vanilla schemes to preserve the victory.
So what, if anything was learned against Fordham? Not much, really….
McEntee is regarded for his accuracy and his rapport among the players, but not for his mobility. What’s evident is that McEntee is a pocket passer who can make the necessary throws, but is not fleet of foot. McCummings, obviously, can scramble and seems comfortable in an option scheme, which DeLeone has favored elsewhere in the past. His throwing accuracy is not his strength, though, as yet. He seems likely to stay in a specialty (wildcat) role.
Nebrich has great dual-threat potential but is still raw. He showed poise against (FCS) Fordham, but he’s not going to compare with Utah State true freshman Chuckie Keeton.
So, after eight and a half months, the UConn quarterback situation remains a conundrum.
None of the contenders were head-and-shoulders above the others previously and, obviously, no one separated himself against Fordham. That being the case, how likely is it that such a distinction will occur this week? And what will that distinction be?
Is skill to be the determining factor? Each quarterback, it seems, is playing in situations that a favor his physical abilities, which essentially telegraphs the offense.
Are the coaches wait for one to emerge as a true field general? McEntee’s personality seems too relaxed for that persona; and Nebrich, perhaps, still needs time to develop those traits or character.
Which brings us to today’s game….
Vanderbilt is not the power of the SEC, but it is by no means comparable to Fordham. What’s more: the game is in Nashville, the Commodores are eager to avenge a 40-21 loss last year to UConn in Connecticut, and new Vandy head coach James Franklin worked the same sideline (at Maryland) as new UConn defensive coordinator Don Brown during the last two years. These factors are not the least bit in the Huskies’ favor.
UConn head coach Paul Pasqualoni is a man of both experience and success on the football field. In fact, his victory last Saturday tied him with Frank Beamer for the most Big East Conference coaching victories (108). Admittedly, he is not quickly second guessed in his decisions.
Pasqualoni is a true gamesman as well. He does divulge anything more than necessary. That said, he said all three quarterbacks will see action against Vanderbilt. Perhaps that means one will emerge as a clear starter.
If not, at what point do opposing defenses begin to key on each QB’s strengths? When does not getting enough first team reps in practice each week begin to show itself in game situations? At what point does consistency begin to suffer?
A triumvirate of running backs is reasonable, but have three quarterbacks ever offered a viable and regularly competitive arrangement?
The time has come to pick and implement a direction that will be ready for conference opponents. If that decision proves a poor choice, there is still time to change. Musical quarterbacks, however, does not promise a stable offense for upcoming Big East competition.
Pete Sonski bleeds Husky blue and blogs about the Big East Conference for CollegeFootballZealots.com. Follow him on twitter @PSPRGuy.
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