Is There Any Way Cody Kessler Can’t Start At Quarterback?

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Steve Sarkisian’s announcement tonight that he will name a starter by the end of spring has to be good news for Cody Kessler, who was already the overwhelming favorite. For Max Browne, the longer things went before a decision was made, the better. But 10-12 practices is hardly enough to unseat a 14-game start.
Can anyone really imagine a scenario where you benched the guy who started 14 games last season, especially when you open the season against Fresno State, a team Kessler enjoyed one of his best games against. The only question now is when Sarkisian does it? He sounded like he might have made his decision already and is contemplating when to announce it.

10 thoughts on “Is There Any Way Cody Kessler Can’t Start At Quarterback?”

  1. Scott, I think that specifics trump generalities in most aspects of sports.

    Despite Kessler having started 14 games, I could have easily imagine promoting Browne over Kessler. I won’t reiterate all Kessler’s failings last year in the evenly matched games, or his shortcomings in general as a passer. In your blog, you have alluded to Kessler’s big game performances, so you know what I mean.

    However, at a minimum, Browne was going to have to play Kessler close, and show upside skills that Kessler does not possess. From what I’m reading, Browne did not do that.

    Hence, the result.

    • If K is selected, would you as B sit on the bench for the next 2 years (barring a K injury) and then have to fight a RS Fr. R. T. for the job?

    • I’m a little disappointed Browne didn’t run Kessler close. The way the kid was hyped, it seemed like it was just a matter of when and not if. If he can’t beat out Kessler in ’16 as well, he would likely be in a fight with Town in ’17. He could potentially end his SC career without starting a single game.

      • I agree, but I’m not entirely surprised. Prior to Spring, many national writers expected Browne to start this year, but no writers who are close to the program expected it. I refer to the writers to watch a lot of practices. If Browne had been playing lights out in practice before this Spring, why didn’t the local writers see that? My conclusion was that Browne wasn’t showing that much prior to this Spring. I was hopeful due to Kessler’s shortcomings last year.

        It may not even be a matter of innate skills. There is another real possibility–Browne’s learning curve may be longer. He may end up a killer college QB, but it just hasn’t gelled for him yet.

        As for Kessler, he purports to have worked very hard on his arm strength, and he seems to be taking Sark’s direction to throw the ball earlier in the developing route. Sark’s offense may not demand the same throwing ability that Kiffin’s did.

        It might be that Kessler shows great improvement in the Fall. I hope so, and I think you hope so as well.

  2. It’s just like Sark says – going through an entire season with just one qb is uncommon – Both will be prepared, with JG ready in the shadows

    • I don’t recall too much of that at USC. Which starting QBs didn’t play 90% of the games?

  4. Perhaps Browne just isn’t all his press clippings say he is. The experts have been wrong before.

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