Jorkel said:
I watched the spring game and to me GB looked like we could move the chains with him. Shapen looked really good throwing the ball outside the pocket and can throw some darts. Zeno looked like he was forcing throws in places he shouldn't hence the INTs. Drones looked like a freshman. If I got to make the depth chart today, it would be GB, Shapen, and the other 2
On the bear cast Grayson said he still believes Zeno will win the job because "Zeno opens things up with the deep ball." That might be true if you have a good offensive line or are doing 7 on 7, but I believe with the team as it is gerry's running ability is far more likely to open up the field. His arm is plenty strong to make deep passes Charlie couldn't and we have enough deep threats at receiver that it will have to be respected to some extent
My most formative college football experience regarding quarterback competiton was being a grad student season ticket holder at Texas when Vince young was emerging over chance mock. Vince's final year he threw for 3000 yards and completed 65 percent of his passes and he had the funkiest delivery I've ever seen. But people were running open all over the field because everyone was paying such close attention to the run. Defenses absolutely cannot let quarterbacks get 15 yard runs at will because there is no risk to the offense. Therefore they have commit resources to stop that threat, which opens things up. I'm not saying Gerry can run like Vince but he is a real running threat and at this point in career a much better passer than Vince ever was.
Having a running quarterback is also the great potential equalizer in college football and if you can do it it can "cover over a host of sins" including a weaker offensive line. It will also open up the running back run game and allow us to commit to the run, which is something we absolutely have to do to be successful. I thought Gerry should likely be the man next year all along but continuing to see analysis of the spring game and current state of offensive line has confirmed it for me. I will be surprised if grimes and aranda are not behind closed doors saying they are open to Zeno stepping up in the fall but that plan A going in will be building an offense around gerry's strengths. Not to mention the leadership he has shown and patience in sticking around through three coordinators. Will make an awesome story if he finally emerges as a star out of Earle.
Having said all that, I predict they both get a ton of playing time early and this will ultimately be settled on the field in the fall.