by Greg Alan Edwards
So, another week, another no decision by Coach Joker Phillips concerning the Quarterback battle between Mike Hartline, Morgan Newton and Ryan Mossakowski. Or has there been one?
www.bleedbluekentucky.com has their thoughts on what “CoachSpeak” Joker is using and believing that he learned from the master Rich Brooks about not saying anything while you are talking all day long.
Could it be that Phillips has known all along what he was going to do, informed all of the guys all year long so that only we fans, press neophytes, and opposing coaches knew absolutely nothing?
I find that to be a stretch for one reason only. The first game is against Louisville for crying out loud. If they want to find out for sure who the UK quarterback is going to be, it could not be that hard. The are too close, they know too many of the same people and there would be too many to keep silent on what they said and heard. I personally have always said that there has been something lacking from all three of the QB’s in either their performance, ability, or decision making skills. I heard Joker himself say that if he could he would take a part of each of those guys and make one great QB. But since he cannot do that, I have a solution for him.
Mike Hartline is a smart QB. But he lacks the legs and big gun arm of today’s prototype QB’s. He does what he has to for survival and game management, not to create the win. I love the kid and his attitude, and he doesn’t make mistakes to get you beat either. But you cannot count on Mike Hartline to win the ballgame for you.
Morgan Newton is a gun, and it is a Howitzer. He fires passes like Brett Farve, but hits targets like Ryan Leaf in a SanDiego Chargers uniform. He needs time under center to make the transition and learn how to make game time decisions. He can be a great QB, but you are going to lose some games with him at the help until he learns what not to do, and when not to do it.
Ryan Mossakowski has the traits of both of the above guys. He is smart, he plays loose, and he has the cannon for an arm that is needed. But he is not completely ready yet.
Add to all of this the fact that the UK receiver corps is not where it should be so far this season, and that Randall Cobb cannot throw and catch every pass, and you have a dilemma. But we can solve this dilemma and do it quickly.The problem with this solution is that you might have to give up a win to arch-rival Louisville to do it. And maybe not.
Mike Hartline needs to be wearing a headset, not a helmet. I believe that he is the type to make a great coach one day. So there I said it. Take the kid and get him in training for what his profession should be. Newton can do the job, but he is not yet “seeing the field”. So he needs time. In my opinion, give the ball to Mossakowski and don’t look back. He might get you beat at Louisville, but I think he can get you a win in Knoxville. He needs time in the saddle before that four game stretch that is going to make or break your season.
He is going to make mistakes for a little while, no doubt about it. But he has all the tools, and he has what we have been lacking at the position. He has that intangible ability to make something out of nothing that is needed when you are trying to get to the next level. He will need the coaches holding his hand for a while, but so be it. I am reminded of the kid at Boise State who pulled off the fake pass in the bowl game a couple years back. Mossakowski has that kind of a
“swagger” if you will, that would allow him to pull off a play like that one. The kid has guts and ability and all he needs is time to get up to speed. He can beat teams like Akron right now, he needs to be on the field to learn how to beat the Tennessee’s of this world. Give him the shot coach, build yourself a team that can beat Tennessee, and Georgia, and South Carolina every year. And let the kid play. I do not think you will be disappointed.
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