This is Kyle Wright's Time

Over the past few days I have read everything possible about Kyle Wright. Much of it is mindless dribble ranging from someone saying Wright is the best athlete to ever play QB for the University of Miami to someone else saying Wright is the worst QB in the history of the ACC. Both views are extreme and absurd.

Kyle Wright's career at UM has been a bitter disappointment no doubt. He has performed poorly in the biggest games of his career (save one good performance in Blacksburg against Va Tech when the whole team seemed to play "lights out") and has made mistakes at the worst times in ball games. Yet, Wright largely because of the ineptitude of his supporting cast and the lack of continuity of the offense still gets a pass from many fans. I do not give him a pass and never have, but unlike some mindless Wright haters realize he can more than atone for his subpar career in the next few weeks beginning this Thursday Night in Prime Time on National TV versus Texas A&M.

A&M totally shut down Colt McCoy the last time they played a big name school and big time QB. For Wright to be successful in this game he can't lose his confidence early or be rattled. This also means the home crowd must rally behind him. Assessing Wright's performance against F.I.U, we saw some serious errors but a new willingness to take off when faced with a collapsing pocket (Kirby Freeman's mobility and lack of hesitation to take off and run was one reason I favored him over Wright to start the past two seasons) and an ability to throw the deep ball with touch, the first time I've seen Wright throw well down field since a November 2005 game against Wake Forest.

Wright threw two interceptions and while both were poor throws, I like the fact that he had the confidence after the first INT to come right back and throw the same pass on the same route to another receiver. The Kyle Wright of 2005 and 2006 would have never attempted the same pass again because is confidence would have been shattered.

As ridiculous as this sounds, Thursday Nights game is the biggest of Kyle Wright's career. A win on national TV in a big inter-sectional game like this one will restore some luster to both his career and to the "U." A loss will be yet another blow to a QB who has yet to reach his potential and a program in what is perceived nationally as a rapid free fall.