I wouldn't want to make a rash decision and get stuck with the "wrong guy" for a couple of years. Practice performance is not a perfect predictor for in-game performance, and you really want to see what happens when the bullets start flying for real.
What makes making a decision especially tough right now is that the upperclassman is a former five-star-rated pro-style QB whereas the newcomer is an athletic "dual-threat" QB (who perhaps better fits USC's future vision for a QB). I mean--if their passing performances are at least in the general neighborhood, wouldn't you have to give to the nod to Darnold because of the extra dimension presented by his athleticism?
It would be great if we could actually "test drive" these guys (yes, go with a dual-QB system) and then make a definite decision after watching them endure live fire for a couple of games. Unfortunately, our schedule for this coming year starts out so fast that we can't afford to "drag our feet" with the decision. As Tyson Helton indicated, they are going to try to tailor the offense to the QB. (We know already that we must also merge two different offensive strategies with Tyson coming in.) There is no time to lose; they must make a decision quickly and go "all in" with their QB decision or risk conceding the season right from the word "go."
It'll be interesting.
What makes making a decision especially tough right now is that the upperclassman is a former five-star-rated pro-style QB whereas the newcomer is an athletic "dual-threat" QB (who perhaps better fits USC's future vision for a QB). I mean--if their passing performances are at least in the general neighborhood, wouldn't you have to give to the nod to Darnold because of the extra dimension presented by his athleticism?
It would be great if we could actually "test drive" these guys (yes, go with a dual-QB system) and then make a definite decision after watching them endure live fire for a couple of games. Unfortunately, our schedule for this coming year starts out so fast that we can't afford to "drag our feet" with the decision. As Tyson Helton indicated, they are going to try to tailor the offense to the QB. (We know already that we must also merge two different offensive strategies with Tyson coming in.) There is no time to lose; they must make a decision quickly and go "all in" with their QB decision or risk conceding the season right from the word "go."
It'll be interesting.
