Tennessee Volunteers Football: Vol Fans Calling For New QB
By Zach Ragan
Aug 31, 2013; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nathan Peterman (12) during the game against the Austin Peay Governors at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 45-0. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
The results of our poll from yesterday are in and it’s no surprise who Vol Nation wants as their starting quarterback against Florida — Riley Ferguson.
The true freshman garnered 40% of the vote in yesterday’s poll, while fellow true freshman Josh Dobbs picked up 28% of the vote. Nathan Peterman received 18% of the vote and current starter Justin Worley got only 14% of the vote.
It’s obvious that Justin Worley hasn’t performed the way Butch Jones and the staff hoped he would, when they named him the starter.
Worley has failed to step up as an on-the-field general. He’s been unable to make plays with his arm, often-times throwing short of receivers, or throwing behind receivers. A lot of of that has to do with the lack of experience among the wide receivers, but those guys can’t catch the ball when it’s bouncing three feet in front of them.
On top of Worley’s struggles throwing the ball, he’s unable to pick up big chunks of yardage with his legs. I know Jones has said he doesn’t require a mobile quarterback, but a guy that can pick up six or seven yards when a play breaks down, instead of throwing the ball away, can be invaluable to your team.
For all of the negatives about Worley, there is one huge positive — he doesn’t turn the ball over. When it comes to ball security he doesn’t make bad decisions.
Jones has said recently that he wants Worley to take more chances. Well if you take more chances down-the-field, there are going to be turnovers.
At this point it’s been drilled in Worley’s head so many times not to turn the ball over, that he may be scared to take chances down-the-field, for fear of being yanked in favor of Nathan Peterman, or one of the freshmen.
What Worley hasn’t realized, is that he’s on the verge of being yanked for not taking those chances.
So now everyone is clamoring for a quarterback change and the true freshmen are those being called upon by the fans. I understand the infatuation with the unknown. There’s always the possibility that one of the true freshmen can come in and just take over the game, becoming an instant Volunteer legend.
But how often does that really happen?
The Johnny Manziel’s and Jameis Winston’s of the world are few and far between. I’m not saying that Ferguson and Dobbs aren’t those guys, but we really have no idea.
Putting one of those guys at the helm, against Florida, with receivers that aren’t up to par, would be setting them up for disaster. If Dobbs or Ferguson plays against Florida and turns the ball over three or four times, you could be ruining their confidence and setting them back years.
The Vols would be much better off starting one of the true freshmen against a team like South Alabama, if such a move is deemed necessary.
For at least this week, the Vols should stick with Worley, commit to the run and try to take more chances down the field. That might mean Worley throws an interception, but if he’s not more aggressive throwing the ball, then he won’t have to worry about turnovers being what ultimately loses him the starting quarterback job on Rocky Top.