Wednesday April 15, 2009

Korn/Parker

Korn/Parker
It is pretty obvious that I am not the smartest man alive and I realize how much I don’t know or don’t understand with each day.

I thought if pirates would have been in the headlines in 2009 it would have been because Johnny Depp would have a summer blockbuster. What are we up to Pirates of the Carribean IV? BTW-I don’t watch movies with swords in it. Just a personal policy.

I don’t understand if baseball is a symmetrical game, why is a left-hander often times a better low-ball hitter than a right-hander. Still waiting for someone to explain that one to me.

But one of the things I really don’t understand is the negative reactions among coaches and fans when it comes to playing two quarterbacks.

Teams play two or three tailbacks that take hand-offs from the quarterback. Most teams play anywhere from five to eight wide receivers and two to three tight ends who catch the balls thrown by the quarterback.

We see teams shuffling in defensive linemen, linebackers and defensive backs almost every play on the defensive side of the ball.

Heck, a few games last year Clemson played two punters.

But for some reason many coaches and fans cringe when it comes to playing two quarterbacks.

It could be leadership but aren’t other positions allowed to have leaders even though they rotate players often?

If could be cadence? Rhythm? Timing? But if you know two quarterbacks will play for sure then can’t those issues be worked out?

When teams use the “Wild Hog”, “Stallion” or “Wild Whatever” formation, does that count as another cadence or timing issue? That is another quarterback in essence so what is the big deal there?

I think the main reason coaches are against it is because they want to avoid any second guessing from the media, fans or players. No one second guesses a second team linebacker getting a few snaps but if another quarterback enters the game then look out.

So as Clemson exits spring ball, I ask “What is the big deal if both Kyle Parker and Willy Korn play?”

It seems to me that the coach has the option to play whoever has the hot hand if both are giving a chance.

It also seems to me that defensive coaches would have more to prepare for. Parker and Korn’s styles differ slightly and the opponent would have a few different wrinkles to think about depending on who is under center.

Sometimes coaches try to get the second team guy involved by telling everyone in advance that he will get say the third series each half. I am not advocating this because things change throughout a game. I would go with a much less structured policy. Let’s the starter goes 8-8 for 150 yards and two touchdowns in the first two drives. Why take him out? If the starter throws a couple of picks in the first two drives and the other quarterback leads the team down the field then why take out the more successful player?

Players get on rolls in sports. Momentum is important and confidence can grow or decrease. I think it is easier to find a guy with a hot hand if you had two guys to choose from.

Parker has a rocket arm. He is also a play maker. Why waste a game by not utilizing his skill set and his play making ability?

Korn has good feet, an accurate arm and is a tremendous leader. Why waste a game by not utilizing his skill set and leadership?

One of the key components to this formula would be co-existence. I don’t know either very well but I hear great things about their character so I would think they could get along with each other as this thing plays out.

A two quarterback system worked for South Carolina in 1984 when Allen Mitchell started and Mike Hold entered the game after a couple of series.

South Carolina under Steve Spurrier is not a great example of efficient offenses but I have been in the Swamp when he was still the ‘Evil Genius” and he rotated quarterbacks each play to beat arch rival Florida State.

I wonder if Florida would have won a national title if Tim Tebow would not have been able to give defenses a totally different look than Chris Leake?

Some doubters may ask why not three quarterbacks? How about four? There has to be a diminishing return when you play too many quarterbacks because it takes a lot of preparation time. However, I don’t think two quarterbacks are too many.

I think another advantage in a two-quarterback system is injury. If one of your quarterbacks go down to an injury then the other would have more experience. If you played one quarterback exclusively then one injury can be devastating.

I am advocating a two quarterback deal only if there is not a lot of separation in talent. I don’t think you should play two just for the sake of playing two quarterbacks. But you have to admit; wouldn’t it have been nice if Willy Korn would have been allowed to come in those games last season when Cullen Harper was struggling last season?

Football coaches say competition makes players better. That appears to be the case at tailback, wide receiver, tight end and the offensive line. Defenses usually play several players at each position and it works. We see lineup changes each week and throughout each game. But for some reason when a quarterback wins the starting job then he is safer than other positions.

I would not be opposed to see Kyle Parker start a game and rip a few rocket throws on a deep bend then see Willy Korn come in and utilize the zone read and the play action off of the zone read.

Then again, I am 0-0 as a head football coach unless you count Playstation.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

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