Note: Summer Sucks! Man, this off-season is long. Every time we get an hour closer to the beginning of the season, it seems like it's two hours further away. So I need something to entertain myself, so don't be surprised to see quite a few long, rambling posts from me here in the near future, with no purpose but to occupy my time.

I've been thinking a lot about the QB situation recently. It really is the key to the team. Not necessarily for this year, but for the future of the program, someone needs to fimly establish themselves as a viable candidate to lead the squad for the next 3 to 4 years.

A lot of people have mentioned this position as a weakness of this team, but that's not necessarily true. It was absolutely a weakness last year, but as of right now, it's merely an unknown.

I think the biggest concern I have about the QB position is that I'm not sure that I feel I can trust Mac to make the right decision as to the starter. Don't get me wrong, I fully realize that Mac's football knowledge far surpasses mine. But, frankly, he doesn't really have the best track record of choosing the best QB for the first game of the season. Furthermore, he's only chosen a younger, more talented player over a more established player once - Dolce over Richmond in '91. Otherwise his history has been marred with decisions like - Brandon Jones over Mike Fouts in '95, Crosswhite over Arceneaux in '97, and Crowshaw over Arceneaux last year.

Now, I must say that I honestly don't care who is chosen as the starter - though I favor Elliot after what I saw in the spring game. He has all the tools to be a great QB. But, I will support whoever starts, as long as I'm convinced that he was chosen by a GOOD FAITH effort of all of the appropriate coaches involved.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid that this puts Lance Rice in a no-win situation in my book. I'll always wonder if he actually was better than Breska or Elliot, or if he simply won the starting spot by default. I'd imagine most Ute fans feel similarly.

Now, I believe firmly that Rice is better than either Crowshaw or Arcenaux right now. I just don't know if he's better than Breska or Elliot. I also think that Rice can become every bit the QB that Mike McCoy was. That's not necessarily a good thing, though, for two reasons:

1. When most people think of Mike McCoy, they think of the Mike McCoy of '94. Many forget that in '92 and the first half of '93, I never heard Mike McCoy's name without at least one swear word preceding it. He went through some pretty intense growing pains early on. Rice would have the same problems, and it could get ugly for a little while - and it may be worse if he's constantly looking over his shoulder...something McCoy never had to do. However, eventually, he would become a significantly above average D1 QB.

2. I really think Elliot could be much better than McCoy ever was. He has the potential to become a good to great D1 QB. He simply has the better physical tools. (I can't honestly compare Breska to anyone else as I've never seen him throw a single pass.)

McCoy wasn't an incredibly athletically gifted QB by any stretch. He didn't have rocket speed, he didn't have the cannon arm, and he certainly wasn't an imposing physical specimen. There were three things that made him a good QB.

A. He was EXCEPTIONAL at reading defenses. This is what makes him such a good coach. (I'd love to see him on the Ute staff eventually)

B. He rarely made mistakes. In a stretch from the end of '93 to the middle of '94 he threw 150+ passes without an int.

C. He played behind an O-Line that produced 3 NFL players (Lance Scott, Roy Ma'afala, and Anthony Brown). Never underestimate the importance of this fact.

If Elliot can develop McCoy's mental acumen for the game, I can guarantee that we as Ute fans would stop looking for the next Mike McCoy, and start looking for the next Brett Elliot. He's bigger than McCoy, he has a stronger and more accurate arm, and he's MUCH quicker. There would certainly be the same growing pains that Rice would have, but I think they'd be shorter, and Elliot has an additional year of eligibility.

Again, I'm firmly behind whomever is chosen, but I really need to feel that the starter named gives the team the best chance to win. Furthermore, the guy chosen needs to feel firmly entrenched in the starting spot. If the Utes go into next spring wondering who will be next year's starter, the team's got real problems. We need ONE QB who has two very capable backups - NOT three guys who each have their strengths. Pick the best guy, give him ALL the snaps, and let the others compete for first backup in case of injury.

Just a bunch of nonsensical thoughts from someone who loves Ute football.

GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With the exception of McCoy, he generally will pick the less talented QB who makes less mistakes rather than the more talented QB and let them learn. Croshaw had no business being a starting D1 QB but he made less mistakes then Arceneaux. Arc was a lousy qb, but the team played better with him in the game. Remember the Las Vegas bowl. I think last season was lost when TD was named starting QB game 1. We had no offense with a 2 headed monster, and the team disintegrated from there.

I'm with you on the QB. Rice is ok, but has limited upside. We are not a bowl team with him running the show. I'm afraid he'll be named QB because he was a fairly conservative QB who doesn't turn the ball over, which is Mac's big bugaboo. I'd rather make plays. Remember, Detmer also holds the record, or is near it, for career interceptions. I'll know that Mac has turned over a new leaf if he names Elliot or Breska QB and takes a chance on the upside. If Rice is named starter, I predict we will have the same "all defense-no offense" frustration that has plagued Utah football the last 5 years. This is my litmus test for the program.

On a personal note, my son attended Mac's football camp and had a ball. Say what you will about Mac as a coach, but as a person, he is a great guy. He was there the entire week, hung out with the kids and my boy had a great time. He and Mac hit it off. Of course, my kid is a lineman, just Mac's type. The camp was fun. Our facilities are 1st class. Mac sure is a list maker. Everywhere you looked in the locker room there were lists grading out players. Most of the players were around working out during the week. I don't question their desire.

But if you are the coach, and your butt is on the line (this season), do you groom Breska or Elliott to be the QB of the future? If you say yes, then that quarterback will probably be the QB of the future playing for the new head coach of the future. That is why Mac is going to go with the safest choice, Rice. So, let me introduce you to our 2001 starting QB, Lance Rice.

I'm not even sure that Elliott's thumb will be completely healed by August, so he'll be behind the other two.
I've never seen Breska play. I will say that if either Elliott or Breska starts the first game, then the talent level disparity between one of them and Rice will have to be obviously overwhelming to the coaching staff. Also, don't forget that Rice will improve a hell of a lot from his first to second year, especially coming off a mission year like he did.

...and some new coach could have quite the winfall coming up shortly. I felt bad for him at first, until I remembered that he had his chance to earn his job security LAST year. But he's got quite the task ahead of him if he's looking towards the future of the program.

This team is the very definition of "rebuilding" with at least 10 Freshman/Sophomores playing significant roles. There are going to be major struggles this year no matter who plays QB, but it sets the team up nicely to make some good runs in the next couple of years.

For this reason, all I really want to see this season is significant improvements that may not be seen in the W-L record, because it will continue for at least 2 more years. I'd much rather lose 6 games and see improved play, (leading to at least two more years of 8+ wins and Conf. Title contention) than mortgage the future of the team for one 7-4 season leading to a New Orleans bowl trip.

However, most Ute fans don't share my sentiment, and as such Mac needs to pull a rabbit out of his hat, or he's gone. I'm willing to cut him a little slack this year based on a few conditions, but I think most won't settle for anything less than 7 wins. That may be cutting off our nose to spite our face, but I think it would be tough to argue that to a mob of pissed off Ute fans facing a second consecutive losing season.

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