By Adam Abramson
Virginia Tech had a nice little two-quarterback system in the second half of the 2007 season.
That system basically fell apart on national TV during the Orange Bowl loss to Kansas.
True freshman Tyrod Taylor threw an early pick-6 to Aqib Talib and watched almost the entire game from the sideline.
Junior Sean Glennon went 13 for 28 with two interceptions and a touchdown in that same game and could not rally Tech for a comeback win.
Glennon started nine games for the Hokies and Taylor had five starts. The elder posted impressive numbers, considering his attempts were limited: 1,796 yards passing, 12 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, completing 61% of his passes. Taylor went 72-for-134 (54%) with five touchdowns and three interceptions.
Seems easy, right?
Well Taylor was second on the team in rushing with 429 yards and six touchdowns. Some of his biggest runs were critical plays in several of Tech's biggest victories (Clemson, Florida State and the ACC title game). He was the country's top dual-threat quarterback coming out of the same high school as Ronald Curry, in the same district where the Vick brothers and Allen Iverson went to school (a good quarterback in his day).
2008 doesn't figure to be a huge year for the Hokies. They have to replace their top four receivers, their left tackle, starting fullback, two All-American caliber linebackers, a three-year starter at safety, an All-American corner…get my drift?
But many in Blacksburg feel that 2009 and 2010 will be the best chances Tech has ever had at making a run at a national title.
That leaves us with the debate.
Do you make soon-to-be sophomore Tyrod Taylor the starter in 2008, grooming him for the coming seasons? With young receivers in Zach Luckett, Brandon Dillard and Dyrell Roberts, a year of working with the new pass catchers could go a long way in the future.
Or do you go with the veteran Sean Glennon? The Westfield High School product (one of the top football programs in the country this season) has endured the lowest of lows at Tech, receiving threatening, anonymous phone calls in the middle of the night after losses, being booed in his home stadium and being benched in lieu of a freshman.
Glennon showed this past season he is a competitor by coming back and leading the Virginia Tech offense to a conference championship. Is that enough to earn the starting job next season?
The offense will look very foreign to Glennon, who will be missing his top target in Eddie Royal. The two were high school teammates and it wasn't a secret that Glennon was more than comfortable throwing to his close friend when in a bind (open or not). With new receivers and possibly a new running back (speculation is that Branden Ore will not return), how will Glennon respond?
Frank Beamer and his quarterbacks coach Mike O'Cain have a lot of thinking to do this offseason. Knowing that program well, the competition will be open this spring and in the fall. The starting quarterback will likely not be named until just before the season begins.
And do the Hokies stick to the two-quarterback system that worked so well during the final stretches of the 2007 season? Beamer was publically against running such a system, until it worked in Blacksburg. But was the Orange Bowl loss enough to wake him up and revert him back to his old ways?
This race will come down to the development of Tyrod Taylor in a short window of time. If Taylor comes out in the fall and has matured as a passer and leader, the job is his. If polished, he's too talented to keep on the sideline. Whereas Virginia Tech possibly has seen the best of what Sean Glennon has to offer (not that it's terrible).
While the 2008 season isn't one of grandeur visions for Virginia Tech, the following two certainly are. And that's why I think you'll see Tyrod Taylor start more games than Glennon next season.
Other 2008 Quarterback Controversies
Monday - Southern California
Tuesday - Virginia Tech
Wednesday - Penn State
Thursday - Alabama
Comments (6)
Not sure I understand this quote, "He was the country's top dual-threat quarterback..."
Certainly you don't mean this? He's good and all, but the best in the country?
This sounds terrible, but does keeping Taylor healthy also come into play? Not that Glennon is expendible, but certainly a running quarterback making moves for four years is much more likely to get hurt than one playing full time for two years and part time for the other two years.
Furnk, I believe it was Rivals.com who rated Taylor the #1 dual threat QB recruit coming out of high school last year.
Adam was commenting on that, not Taylor's performance during the 07 NCAA season, as far as I know
Are you sure Glennon won't come out for the draft?
Might want to check yours stats....I'm pretty sure SG didnt throw 12 INT's and only 5 TD's.
John -- Thanks for pointing that out. I went back and reversed those numbers.
Furnk -- Hope Vegas was fun. I meant #1 coming out of high school. Tim Tebow might have had a better year for dual-threat quarterbacks :]
Nothing wrong with a two QB system, particularly in college. I've never understood the reticence to implement a system where you utilized the talents of each individual to the fullest extent possible.
In fact, football has always been a game where a player would be used in 'spot' situations, but for some reason the same folks who promote dime packages and third down backs are hesitant to use different QB's in situations where their respective skills can be best utilized.