NOTE: We expanded the “Daily Update” blurb with additional analysis. This happens when two of us write an article at the same freaking time!
Tom O’Brien won’t publicly name a starter until he exchanges depth charts with Visor Boy this weekend. Harrison Beck will hold the clipboard as the #3 QB. Full article is here.
Redshirting Glennon is really the only option, given the state of the Pack’s OL. Glennon is likely the QB of the future, and there’s no reason to break him in what is likely to be a losing season. For the record, his mobility is not much better than Evans’, and he could use 10-15 more pounds of muscle before taking hits at this level.
So, where does that leave us? We have heard lots of contradictory information over the past few weeks (almost like guessing the VP picks), but reading the tea leaves (and applying game theory), here’s what I think might be plausibly happening:
1) The job was Wilson’s to lose, and he lost it with a horrible pre-season. The staff is now 100% committed to Glennon for 2009 and beyond, and is no longer eager to take a look at Wilson.
2) Wilson is the starter, and has been all along (as we originally reported). Tom O’Brien and staff have been adroitly managing expectations and using subtle deception. In the media reports, you can tell nobody has any solid information, but everyone seems to project a “lean Evans” vibe.
3) The job was Wilson’s to lose, and he was possibly on the way to losing it (or the staff wanted to make it clear that it was a real possibility). Wilson responded to O’Brien’s expert motivation, and regained the staff’s confidence and the starting job.
For the record, I think it’s likely #3, possibly with a bit of #2 mixed in. South Carolina has game tape only of Evans, and the released offensive stats would indicate Evans in the lead. Thus, USC has to design their gameplan primarily with Evans in mind, unless and until they have concrete reason to believe Wilson will start. Thus, the only logical explanation for holding off the announcement is that Russell Wilson will start.
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