Tuesday, February 23, 2010

The Top Question for Offense for the 2010 Season


Just as with the Defensive side of the ball, the offensive side of the Wildcat team also has a list of questions going into Spring Practice.

There are 4 Questions going into Spring Practice in regards to the offensive side of the ball. This post will deal only with the QB situation due to its importance and the dynamics involved for the '10 season

1. The Quarterback situation. Who will emerge? Mike Hartline the "game manager", Morgan Newton the returning sophomore to be who started after the South Carolina game last year, or Ryan Mossakowski the sophomore to be who is recovering from shoulder surgery?

Hartline:

Strengths: gutty, game manager, most experienced of the 3 returning players

Weaknessess: arm strength, streaky, leadership


Newton:

Strengths: arm, leadership, naturally commands a field presence, game experience, student of the game

Weaknesses: has not consistently produced


Mossakowski:

Strengths: (based upon High School): arm, leadership

Weaknesses: No real college experience, injury


At this point, many are calling for Hartline and Newton's head saying that they are both terrible. Remember, that Hartline was not ready for the '08 season and was beginning to come into his own in the '09 season (see the South Carolina game in which he got hurt). Newton was a true freshman and almost had no real receivers, but seemed at times to click with R Cobb and L King but almost never both in the same game. Moss is too tough to judge, but most of the Wildcat faithful want him by default which is silly (if he wins the competition fine), but he will not just be given the job.

Look for this to be a fight between Hartline and Newton initially, it seems like they just have too much experience at this point for Moss to make that kind of push. If any of the 3 can develop a rapport with Cobb and another receiver (Matthews?) or Cobb and a TE, look for that QB to wrap up the position for quite a while.

MY GUESS: Newton wins the spot, followed closely by Hartline with Moss sitting and continuing to learn

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