CORAL GABLES – Throughout Day 4 of Miami’s fall practice circuit, the focus was squarely on the three main quarterbacks.
There’s essentially only one question that fans, critics, and media members want answered by the Hurricanes coaching staff.
Who is going to be the starting quarterback for Miami?
Until there is a definitive decision made on the No. 1 topic within the program, all eyes will be on the entire quarterback unit.
Redshirt signal-callers Tate Martell (Ohio State transfer), N’Kosi Perry (part-time starter last season for Miami), and Jarren Williams are in a heated battle against each other for the coveted starting job. While each of them have had their mountain peak and valley depth moments over the past several months, no clear front-runner has emerged as of now.
It can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how one could look at the quarterback situation at hand.
To make things easier for the casual and/or die-hard fan – or critic – the latest analysis on this conundrum from head coach Manny Diaz should provide us with a clue on what to look for next.
“We’re in a battle,” Diaz told media members after today’s morning practice at Greentree Fields. “If we sit there and try to make an assumption off of one good throw or one bad throw, or one good day and one bad day, that’s not the point. I can look at the last three and a half years and I can show you a good day of a quarterback and a bad day of a quarterback. To me, it’s about being consistently good. That’s why it’s silly to make an assessment off a drill or a throw or whatever. There are all kinds of guys in college football who make good throws, or have a good quarter, or heck, even have a good game.”
Diaz wants each quarterback to consistently raise his game up in more ways than one.
“This is the University of Miami,” Diaz said. “Our standards are so far beyond that. We need a guy that can bring it every week, that the whole team can trust every week. The only way we can replicate that is coming at it from the long term, bringing it every day over the course of the month of August.”
Analysts have predicted that by the time Miami’s second scrimmage is done with, a decision will be ultimately made. But realistically, it can come before or after that.
It will likely boil down to these factors:
•Who wants it the most?
•Who has shown the highest level of maturity and leadership on and off the field?
•Who makes the least mistakes?
•Who is that “guy” the entire program feels most comfortable leading them (gut reaction)?
CASE FOR TATE MARTELL
Martell, who is basically a dual-threat quarterback, will be given every single opportunity to win the job. The Ohio State transfer believes his ability to improvise on a given play could elevate him when it matters most.
“When I know a guy can sack me, I first take off,” Martell said. “That’s really what it is. I go out there, go through my reads and if I get some pressure that’s up in my face, and I know I’m probably not going to be able to get rid of the ball, I want to go make a play. That’s just how I’ve always played. That’s how I’ve played my whole life. I go out there and make plays when I have to, and when a play breaks down.”
Martell’s up-and-down experience in the spring football circuit was an eye-opener in some respects. It showed him what he could improve on.
“We had to all do a quarterback analysis,” Martell said. “My biggest thing was shortening my stride and moving one of my fingers up and one of my fingers down a little bit. That’s helped me out a lot with being able to spin the ball out there. We all kind of went through the same thing and corrected different things. That’s why we’ve all gotten so much better.”
Martell spoke to media members this morning on how he feels about transferring to Miami during the offseason.
“I love it here,” Martell said. “This is where I wanted to transfer to. I had the opportunity to come here and this is where I want to be. I know that we have a great team. We have great coaches. It’s going to be good for us. We’re going to do really well this year.”
CASE FOR N’KOSI PERRY
Experience matters.
This is the primary reason why it would be logical if Perry found a way to win the starting job. After all, the redshirt sophomore started in six games last year and appeared in 11 total, as he registered a grand total of 13 touchdowns and six interceptions for a team-high 1,091 yards.
In addition to his opportunities from this past season, the spring football circuit was one he won’t soon forget. He had some great moments in both the live scrimmage at Traz Powell Stadium in Miami and the spring game at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
But how does Perry feel right now?
“I feel great about what’s going on,” Perry said. “More importantly, the team is doing a whole lot better than what we were looking like in the spring. I’m very confident about where we’re at with it only being the fourth practice. I feel good about us.”
Asked to expound on his feelings, Perry offered a well-thought out response to media members this morning.
“It’s preparation,” Perry said. “That’s the main thing. As long as I’m prepared, I come out here and know what I’m doing, I’m going to be confident.”
CASE FOR JARREN WILLIAMS
He’s the underdog that many are rooting for right now.
With only a few series under his belt in an actual game situation, Williams is hungry for some more action. He’s also eager to learn continuously from offensive coordinator Dan Enos.
“He comes with it every day,” Williams said of Enos. “He pushes us hard every single day. The thing about Coach Enos is that he expects perfection every play. And if you don’t give that, he is going to correct you on the spot. Being with him through the spring and going through the summer and all that, I feel like I have been getting a lot better every day because he is pushing us so hard.”
How does Williams feel about the quarterback competition?
“I love competition,” Williams said. “I feel like competition brings the best out of everybody. I’m a competitor. That’s why I’m here.”
FINAL THOUGHTS AND VERDICT
We will all need to stay tuned to see which one breaks away from the pack. Once separation starts to clearly form, then we’ll have a good idea as to who the starting quarterback will ultimately be.
Is it Martell? Is it Perry? Is it Williams? Or is it someone else we don’t know about yet?
Time will tell all. Stay tuned for further updates on this key development.
PHOTO CREDITS: Jeffrey Wimbrow
