The QB Situation As I see it

Much has been made about the Quarterback controversy between Kyle Wright and Kirby Freeman this summer. While I believe Kyle Wright has the physical tools to be successful, I really feel the starting quarterback job should be open for competition right now. Kirby Freeman for better or for worse should be the starter for the Hurricanes.

The reality is that Kyle Wright in almost two years as a starting quarterback has failed miserably and has no signature moments to hang his hat on as game breaking quarterback. I recall many of the past QBs who Miami fans love to bash. Frank Costa, Ryan Clement, Scott Covington and Brock Berlin. Each of these QB's had a defining moment where they carried the team on their back to victory in a big game.

• For Frank Costa his performance in the electric 34-20 win in 1994 over FSU was a classic. He took a pounding after every play but kept getting up and fighting through the FSU rush and helped the team to victory.
• Ryan Clement had a game of a lifetime in Syracuse in 1996 when he lit up the Orangemen secondary to lead the Canes to a 38-31 victory which denied Donovan McNabb's Syracuse team an Orange Bowl bid. It also gave Miami a share of the Big East title, on the road.
• Scott Covington led an epic Miami comeback against UCLA in 1998. Most people recall Edgerrin James huge day, but forget that when Miami fell behind 38-21, it was Covington connecting often with Santana Moss and Andre King that brought the Canes back.
• Who can forget Brock Berlin's two epic games against top class opposition? The nationally televised frantic comebacks against Florida and Louisville. What I find ironic is many of the people who sit around me in the Orange Bowl were calling for Kyle Wright to enter the Louisville game at halftime. Can you imagine what a disaster that would have been?

Kirby Freeman is not anywhere close to being the ideal starting QB for Miami. In fact, he's probably the best of two fairly poor options. But here's why I like Freeman better.

• Even though Freeman is very mistake prone, he can make plays with his feet as he showed in the Bowl Game against Nevada, when the pocket collapsed on him. If Kyle Wright who takes too many sacks and never seems to feel the blitz coming were playing in that game, no doubt Miami would have been beaten soundly.
• Freeman is gritty and tough. After gifting Boston College a TD on a horrible throw late in the first half in very un Kyle Wright fashion he led his team down to score in less than a minute. Typically when Wright makes mistakes, he compounds them on the next drive with more mistakes.
• Contrary to the belief of many Miami fans this team is not a serious contender for the national or conference championship. What this has to do is regain some of its lost pride and build towards 2008 when the team could and should be very good. Having Kirby Freeman, a running threat at QB to compliment what should be a good power running game featuring Javarris James and yes, Charlie Jones complimented by a change of pace back like Graig Cooper should make Miami more dangerous and able to manage games better. If Miami frequently takes sacks and finds itself in 2nd a long situations the effective running game disappears and instead you have a QB who clearly lacks confidence in Kyle Wright trying to sling the ball to a group of below average (by Miami standards) Receivers. For Miami to be successful it must be a power running team. I felt that way in the Larry Coker era, but Coker and his offensive brain trust had no idea how to utilize Tyrone Moss and Charlie Jones as an effective one two punch. I feel that way now, especially with a runner as gifted as "Baby J" leading the attack.

Kyle Wright has taken much abuse from the Miami fans. While that's not fair for young kids it goes with the territory of being rated higher than Reggie Bush by some recruiting services. Hopefully Kyle Wright can be prepared to come in and help the team if he needs to.