Does MSU need a game manager at Quarterback or a star?
Star Quarterback Dak Prescott has exited Starkville, so does MSU need to replace him with a game manager or another star to be successful?
Here’s the list of star quarterbacks MSU has had in its history:
- Dak Prescott
That’s the list. Sure, there have been some really good ones like Jackie Parker or John Bond but there were no stars that willed the Bulldogs to victories they wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. Dak Prescott is in a league of his own with regards to MSU football heros.
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In Prescott’s time as starting quarterback for State, the program reached 10 regular season wins for the first time ever. They beat three top 10 teams and vaulted to No. 1 in the nation. He led them to an unprecedented 19 wins over his last two years.
This came from a QB who finished higher in the Heisman voting than any MSU player had ever done before. From a QB who was drafted higher than any other MSU QB in history.
So does it stand to reason that MSU needs a star at quarterback to win big?
Yes, it does.
But what about 2016? If a star is what we need should we roll the dice by playing the QB with the most star potential or play it safer in a transition year?
That’s a tough question I suppose. If it’s star potential you’re looking for you’re going with Elijah Staley most likely….or Nick Tiano. If is the safe bet you’re going with it’ll be Damian Williams or Nick Fitzgerald.
Dan Mullen has talked about needing a “game manager” multiple times this offseason. He didn’t really use that term with regards to Dak Prescott, probably because he knew Dak would be counted on for much more in the offense. He wasn’t just he captain of the ship – he was rowing the oars as well.
The term “game manager” often gets a bad rap. When you think about it, though, that shouldn’t be the case.
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What does the manager, or boss, do in your organization? Odds are he/she delegates responsibilities among the employees and oversees the operation. But, when it’s time to deal with a big time client or when it’s crunch time and the job has to be done right they get their hands dirty and executes the task themselves.
That’s because at the most critical times they know their expertise is needed. They delegate tasks all day long because they simply don’t have the time or energy to do everything – but when the biggest moment comes they are prepared to make it happen themselves.
This will be the call for every MSU quarterback in 2016. To manage the game by making safe, calculated plays and not taking too many risks. Even for someone with the athletic talents of Staley, he won’t be asked to become Michael Vick and generate 90% of the Bulldogs offense. Young QBs with veteran WR and RB just need to stay within themselves and wait to make that highly difficult play only when absolutely necessary.
If State is going to challenge for the SEC West, they’ll need a star quarterback. I’m afraid that’s just the way it is. But I’m not so sure 2016 is that year, so managing the game and staying away from mistakes will get MSU to the win total they need for a solid bowl and successful season.
2017 may be a different story, however, as these quarterbacks mature and the team grows around them. Some of the decisions at QB that Dan Mullen will have to make in 2016 could have 2017 in mind.