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Should Malik Zaire be the starter?
- Thread starter Leakfan12
- Start date
Well, that's really two diff (if interconnected) lines-of-thoughts to pursue.
On the question of "Which QB now?", I'll wait for the ANSWER to reveal SO much about Shannon's plans and overriding philosophy.
As for his immediate dreams and expectations, I am told that he was given a clear and "realistic view" of both his limited short-term expectations at UF in assuming this role, and "restrictions" limited only by time (til the "NEXT Coach" is hired) while doing so: Underlying both is a mainly lone and simple admonition: basically, just "don't make things worse".
He WON'T be that "Next Coach" (not yet), but he has enormous freedom with "his team" (especially on the field) until the "Interim" innevitably ends...IN that "interim", should he present a more "entertaining product" onfield during that time, and even more, oversee a continuing effort to enhance our image in the media and out on the recruiting trail, well, an administration and athletic department already promising their "gratitude" for taking and holding his own in a somewhat "thankless task" will no doubt be all the more "thankful and aware" of that success.
It can viewed, then, as an amazing opportunity to show his skill and growth at the center and in charge of running a major college program, steadying its teetering confusion at a crucial and difficult time, all of this leaving the powers-that-be (both within the department and administration, at the same time among the boosters) somewhat beholden to him to varying degrees.
He can steer his own course (albeit one limited by a number of factors--most of all a relatively short period of time), establish his own identity as a "FUTURE Head Coach", and overall possibly leave a true IMPRESSION here and "out there".
As for which QB I would start, gotta admit I haven't really THOUGHT about that in weeks--and certainly not yet against the backdrop of these rapidly changing circumstances. At first blush, here and now, I find myself going back and forth on it...I can see it both ways:
Franks needs a whole LOT of experience, so I can see the argument for staying with him now.
On the other hand, Zaire has more experience, not just onfield as a quarterback with a major college program, but with sudden changes in onfield approach AND from one regime to another. For whatever reasons, he got the least amount of actual time onfield under "Mac/Nuss"...From what we've seen (and NOT seen) from Franks thus far, I've found myself curious about why that was--and what we'd see if he WERE out there more.
Finally, given that we're not really gonna be COMPETING for any particular title the rest of this season, aside from "player pride" and seniors deserving a Bowl if possible, it will be more like "BUILDING a team" and evaluating talent for the future. In THAT context, maybe you play BOTH--and how you go about that depends on how Shannon himself approaches his "interim regime's" goals and ultimate aims.
Which brings us back to where I started here--and in the end doesn't answer the question.
Sorry. LOL.
As long as Randy Shannon is not micromanaging the offense as McElwain did, but is also telling Doug Nussmeier to simplify the offense for the next four games, Malik Zaire has a chance. If Nussmeier continues the McElwain offense, then Feleipe Franks might win the job back.
Franks might not be QB of the future for the Gators, based on what we have seen. Zaire should get the opportunity to compete in his last year of eligibility. I would not anoint either one right now. Let them compete this week, and we support the winner.
Well, I'm hearing all kinds of stuff that apparently was somewhat muzzled (and/or ignored, least to some extent) before last weekend's sudden "crack'n'shatter" show by The Big Mac.
I forget his name, but understand some "formerly highly-touted prep-QB" either by now has or is still "in the process of" currently, quietly enrolling at UF--he has somehow graduated highschool early--and I will try and get some background word on what has got to be some weird tale of "from there to here"; meanwhile that OTHER kid who is STILL highly touted, coveted 5-star still pursued around the nation by the elite programs--one who WAS a "Gator commit", then took that label off HIMSELF on his Twitter page a few weeks back--supposedly is now at least telling folks he's NOT closing the door on us after all, gonna "wait'n'see"...If so, gotta be the talk about which potential coaches are in the mix; friends and teammates say he's leaning our way once more.
Ok Ok this is vague stuff about kids whose names I can't even remember right now--but point is either Randy Shannon is somehow working miracles behind the scenes, or the chance to eventually lead a resurgent Gator offense under the tutelage of one of the up'n'coming "great college coach's of the future" (pick one--there are a couple of 'em in Fla alone!) OR a young coaching star from the pros like Chip K is keeping some of the most promising of these kids interested. Whichever coach it is, whomever it turns out to be, the very excitement and promise of the future no matter WHAT may be affecting things...I'll do the legwork to flesh it all out out, but my point here now is that right, fair or not, Franks has had "mixed results" once thrown into the role...Not quite poor enough to bail on him entirely (he has had some great MOMENTS), but not consistently dazzling enough to be sure of "let it ride" either.
Right here and now, you can still argue the Franks/Zaire question either way. Depends on what Randy intends, sees as his "duty"/own best interests: Provide best, most entertaining product and/or onfield "salvage-the-season" progress with a slicker, more experienced Zaire, or get better, more consistent results from Franks than Mac/Nuss had--and get him steadied and more consistent as he continues to improve and grow for us rest of the way here NOW.
Clearly there's interest all over college football in regard to who UF will bring in to lead the program--and whomever that turns out to be will have a chance to play his own part in potential success: The new coach, and the guys on staff around him, will have a shot at perhaps bringing IN another full-ON "top prospect", finally begin a new line of success under center at Florida.
That was the simple "formula for success" for "the next guy" LAST time around. Mac had to be a liar AND a fool not to get that. And "not getting it" is the only explanation for what in fact ensued from then til now.
At least we don't have to rant about THAT anymore.
Don't you find that the whole "Who's gonna be our COACH???" thing is just more interesting than "our season", at this point?
I mean, I totally agree with your analysis, and I WANT to somehow regain my focus on the ongoing season itself, but it's TOUGH, I've gotta tell ya. I'm working on it, and appreciate your efforts to tie it all together, E- (probably the only way to GET there), but MAN, the first HALF of the season has left me pretty "empty/neutral" far as how much I care now, game to game. Even with that "maybe if they lose the rest we might get rid of Mac" sad silliness now removed, I still can't ignite anything much more passionate than "let's see how they look THIS week" from one game to the next, at least for now.
More importantly, Zaire earned the starting role in practice with a head to head competition designed to play to the strengths of each quarterback. This is something Mac never would have done. Mac would have had Nussmeier run Zaire and Franks through the same plays in practice. Shannon had Nussmeier run Zaire through zone read plays and Franks through run-pass-option plays, and Zaire won.
And as I noted post-Mizzou elsewhere, Malik held his own, once he got in the game-flow--AND when Nussmeyer (grudgingly, it struck me as) gave him the room, personnel and set-up for him to operate in a manner that played to those strengths that Shannon recognized in his practices. Malik wasn't the reason we lost the game, looking and acting much of the time as the same limping unimaginative "surrender offense" that has been our burden all the more since Nussmeyer came onboard...brought in by the "offense guru" himself, our now FORMER Head Coach, the one and only "Big Mac".
Oh, Malik opened "slow", to say the least (characterized by that early UGLY INT, a wobbly poor decision into double coverage...but he corrected quick and came on from there: 2 drives (both typically squandered by our OC's "dullard's-delight" cowardly conservatism, PLUS a beautiful strike for a TD called back on a dumbass hold away from the play. Had those alone been cashed in for 17 or 21 pts with Malik running the offense unrestrained, we are looking at a whole diff ballgame--likely with a nice lead and momentum at the half...And perhaps the beginnings of a different attitude and new identity on offense. No matter what, there were monents, signs that point the way towards where we could, should go, what we can BE--rest of this season, and DEFINITELY where the NEXT Coach should be aiming to take us. Randy and Malik I think can, in this way, mark the way, shine a light down the trail. No mean feat, a great service to the program--and a very real credit to their respective future value overall.
Might be the ONLY optimism I can find in ANY of that mess--more "woulda shoulda coulda", but it (those signs) was there.
Missouri definitely exposed this team. It might not matter who the quarterback is, because the offensive line is getting no push for the QB, and cannot create holes for the running backs. Even when Zaire threw the ball he was constantly under pressure and the receivers were never open. No matter where this team looks for a spark, it seems lost.
All true--was just trying to respond properly to the specific q, "Was Malik really that bad???"
As for opening sentence/overall summation of game: Yes...we WERE "exposed"--by Mizzou, the heretofore consensus "worst team in the SEC". Yikes.
Numbers wise (13/19 158 yards and the Int). Not great but not terrible either. I think the Touchdown should have counted because I believe that call was iffy.
DEFINITELY "iffy"--that's why I mentioned it: I mean, there's truth in the old saying, "There's 'holding' on EVERY play..."--It all comes down to whether they call it, and THAT is uneven at best. Yes, it is subjective, another way "the human factor" is part of the game, and arguable that "it all evens out in the end"...but as Gators, we have a particularly "jaundiced" view of all that. Personally, I am both "cynically USED to it", hardly surprised, yet at the same time outraged once again. This time, it helped to deliver the final "coup de gras" to our season.
But not to our hearts. Our future.
For the moment, this team overall seemed to have already surrendered that. But only "for the moment", and for now ONLY for "the Season". Our "hearts and future" are still in the balance.
We find ourselves here again: Each time more has been meanwhile squandered, our starting point more dire, the road back longer and harder.
It is a mark of our once-elite status AND the heights we had once attained that we have fallen so far for so long, yet still have ANY room and promise to take a deep breath, draw together, and begin again.
It is maybe the defining characteristic of "Gator Nation" that no matter how abused, how long and far our fall, from the depths we are always ready to begin again. And again. And now, AGAIN.
We are NOT without talent or hope. The team, and right now even more so the people in whose hands the committment AND choices ahead now rest, deserve and will be paid back 100-fold the respect, loyalty and support they show themselves, each other and all of US in the degree of wisdom and determination to come together--and GET IT RIGHT THIS TIME.
Scott Stricklin is getting his first major test right now as athletic director. Not only has he taken a big step by firing Jim McElwain midseason, but he is also entering a bidding war against Nebraska, Tennessee, and maybe Texas A&M. Florida is #6 in the nation is terms of overall and football revenue, but it is #7 or #8 in terms of expenses. It is time to find a coach worthy of $6M to $10M and a coaching staff worth over $6M if Florida wants to assert itself as a top five program.
Also those three teams could need new coaches as well.
