Picking the right starter
Unpacking Kiffin’s reluctance to name starting QB
OXFORD — Not all quarterback competitions are created equal. The one coach Lane Kiffin decided not to end on Monday as Ole Miss football enters its first game of the season belongs to a unique category of luxury.
Some find their roots in mediocrity, with coaches straining to select the candidate who can complete the occasional 10-yard crossing pattern and manage the game without turning the ball over. Others buckle under the force of inexperience, as coaching staffs choose between talented youngsters who might not be ready for the task ahead of them.
These are choices mandated by suboptimal circumstances. A good decision lessens the damage done by the quarterback position rather than maximizing the gain. They belong to a different category than the decision Kiffin is dragging his feet with.
Make no mistake. The choice between Jaxson Dart and Spencer Sanders is a choice of splendor.
“We’ve not made that final decision,” Kiffin said Monday. “We’re very excited about all the guys. As far as the starter, that’s between two people. Both guys played extremely well and made very explosive plays on Saturday (in a mock game). Managed the offense well. We feel very confident with either of them.”
Kiffin, if you’ve been listening, has been telling you all offseason that he feels confident that both Dart and Sanders can effectively play quarterback for Ole Miss this season.
Every question about his quarterback situation has been met with praise for the group of quarterbacks and the improved situation at that position relative to last season — often at the expense of actually answering the