How Memphis QBS are being evaluated
Memphis starts the fall semester Aug. 23 but summer school is still in session for the Tigers' four quarterbacks.
The test to succeed Brady White goes beyond how someone looks in drills during preseason practice. For Grant Gunnell, Keilon Brown, Peter Parrish and Seth Henigan, everything from handoffs to snap exchanges with the center is fair game to be evaluated.
Coach Ryan Silverfield said the grading process is a gradual one but takes into account anything from accuracy to whether a throw was the correct decision and how well the offense moved downfield.
"How are the completions? Are they putting the ball (in the right place)? Are they taking coaching? Are they improving every day?" Silverfield asked.
After each practice, performances evaluated by Silverfield and offensive coordinator Kevin Johns. Praises and corrections are shared in the quarterback meeting the next day.
The results help determine who earns reps with the first unit, second unit and so on. It's a detailed system but necessary given the burden placed on the quarterback to put players in the right position and quickly assess the field.
Johns added that even off-field attitude is factored in the grading process.
"It's the work ethic that you're looking for of kids, what they do when it's not a mandatory meeting," Johns said. "Who's out there studying on their own. Who's watching every one-on-one rep? (There's) so many things they can do in their down time to really separate themselves from the competition."
Despite the evaluation, Johns told his quarterbacks not to overthink mistakes. If they become common, then it's a concern, but he reminds them to trust what they've learned instead of trying to be perfect.
"In spring ball, I was on these guys really hard because we had a lot of growing to do right now...and so far this fall, I haven't had to do that," Johns said. "We're still coaching them hard but in the right way, in a positive way so these guys aren't worried and they're not worried about making a mistake. It's our job to correct it and move on."
A key difference between this battle and three years ago was White's familiarity with the offense before his transfer. At Arizona State, he studied Mike Norvell's offense as a freshman in 2015 before Norvell was hired at Memphis that winter.
The four quarterbacks trying to succeed White have a year or less of knowing the offense. Silverfield said the playbook was scaled back to make sure each quarterback could grasp enough and limit mental mistakes.
It doesn't make the grading process any less strict, but after five practices Silverfield is seeing more strides than struggles.
“The biggest thing is those four quarterbacks are competing for the job," Silverfield said. At least we're seeing improvements. Is it a huge jump every day? No but it's been gradual and that's what I'm really pleased with."