USC Quarterback Dilemma

Here’s my analysis on the situation facing Clay Helton when picking a No. 2 QB next season.

Excerpt: For USC coach Clay Helton, there are three options: He can use redshirt freshman Matt Fink, who is unproven but targeted to be the backup next season. He can insert highly regarded true freshman Jack Sears and burn his redshirt year. Or he can move wide receiver Jalen Greene back to quarterback.

No one might admit it right now, but Greene is currently the best quarterback of the bunch. He knows the offense, is the most athletic and possesses a strong arm. But Greene said Tuesday he wants to play wide receiver. Would Helton risk tossing him into a game at quarterback without practice time? Full story here

12 thoughts on “USC Quarterback Dilemma

  1. Let Greene see if he can turn into a productive receiver and give Sears and Fink a chance to earn the back up roll. Reevaluate things after the spring game and makes adjustments in the fall if necessary.

  2. IMO Having multiple quality QB options is a nice dilemma to have. I would not burn Sears redshirt year unless absolutely necessary. He appears to be the QB of the future but burning a red shirt year for minimal playing time is not the best long term for the team. If Darnold goes down, the prospect for success goes down significantly regardless of who is the backup. Losing a starting QB is always tough, and the loss is magnified when the QB is a super talent & star.

  3. This doesn’t seem overly complicated. Fink is your first choice given he’s got no eligibility to preserve. If your starter is out for more than a half, then you can look at burning Sears redshirt or pulling Greene in. This is not brain science.

  4. Good to see that your invented dilemma hasn’t changed since you posted pretty much the exact same thing eight days ago. I though marginally switching up the headline was a nice touch.

  5. In the long run, I don’t really think it matters because, personally(and this is just one mans opinion), I think USC’s next great QB will be Matt Corral(if he decides to come to SC). I’ve seen him play. The kid is great. He’ll beat out Sears, Fink or Jalen Greene.

    • If what you say and others say is true about Corral, it just adds to the pleasant problem Helton has

      • I certainly is not a bad problem to have. Sears is outstanding. In some ways he reminds me of Darnold. He led a team that was not overly talented to a state championship. When Fink first came to SC, I said that it was a waste of a scholarship. I just didn’t think he had the arm to play at that level. But He’s improved greatly and he’s always been very mobile. Jalen Greene is an outstanding athlete who could be a star at QB or receiver at many schools. But Corral is really outstanding. He’s mobile, has a great arm and is extremely accurate. He can really thread a needle with his passes.

    • Agreed.
      If I were head coach, I would cut any QB that gets beat out twice.
      We should have never seen Max Browne on the field. Ever.
      How much did Browne suck in order to get beat out by Kessler, twice? A lot.

      • Browne was a hard worker and he waited his turn but I question how good he really is. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get beat out in Pittsburg although I hope that doesn’t happen. I really like the kid but I don’t really think he’s that good.

  6. Is Matt Fink highly regarded by the same people who miss on over 50% of 5 star recruits who never get drafted?

  7. Fink should be the guy. He is going surprise a lot of people, he is a starter on some other teams. Good arm, and can run. Just needs pt.

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