By ROBERT CESSNAMaybe it's the proliferation of spread offenses that have led everyone to believe quarterbacks are solely responsible for winning or losing, but football is still a team game.
The New England Patriots beat Brett Favre and the New York Jets not because Matt Cassell was better than Favre, but because the Pats were the superior team.
Texas A&M starting quarterback Stephen McGee's is questionable for Saturday's game against the Miami Hurricanes because of a sprained shoulder. That's big news, since McGee has started 29 straight games. Yet whether he or backup Jerrod Johnson starts, the game probably will be determined by the other players.
That's why the status of starting wide receiver Ryan Tannehill -- A&M's third-string quarterback -- is just as big a concern. Tannehill, who is nursing an ankle sprain, has eight catches for 116 yards in two games. He's teamed up with fellow freshman Jeff Fuller to give the Aggies a pair of legitimate threats at wide receiver.
The next highest reception total by a non-running back is a trio with two catches each. That group includes Johnson, who if he has to play quarterback certainly would want his signal-calling buddy as a possible target.
Johnson came off the bench at New Mexico and threw for three touchdowns in a 28-22 victory. He completed only 10 passes for 124 yards, and six of them were caught by Fuller and Tannehill for 93 yards.
Another weapon any A&M quarterback needs is a productive Jorvorskie Lane, who hasn't been a factor in his new role at fullback. A neck and head injury knocked Lane out of the last part of fall camp, and he's yet to shake off the rust. Lane has seven carries for 19 yards, no catches, and no bone-crunching blocks that you'd expect from a 285-pounder.
"We're kind of pushing the envelope on him a little bit more this week just to see where he can take us," A&M head coach Mike Sherman said.
A big game by Lane would free up running room for tailback Mike Goodson. That would take pressure off the wide receivers, maybe leading to a balanced attack. That would be the best way to offset the quickness of Miami's defense.
Florida beat Miami two weeks ago, 26-3, behind quarterback Tim Tebow. Last year's Heisman Trophy winner was 21-of-35 passing for 256 yards with two touchdowns, and he was the game's leading rusher with 55 yards on 13 carries.
But Tebow had lots of help, and needed it, since Florida's lead was but 9-3 through three quarters.
Florida's defense allowed Miami only 140 yards. Tebow's leading receivers -- Aaron Hernandez, Louis Murphy and Brandon James -- combined to catch 13 passes for 165 yards. Talk about balance. Hernandez is a 6-foot-3, 255-pound tight end. Murphy is a tall target at wide receiver (6-3, 205), and James is a running back/slot back.
Neither McGee nor Johnson are in Tebow's league, but if the other Aggie starters perform well, A&M's starting quarterback could post Tebow-like numbers. But if A&M can't run the football, and if the receivers can't get open, it won't matter who the quarterback is.
NOTES -- Texas A&M's game against Army on Sept. 27 will be televised at 11:30 a.m. by Versus (Ch. 59). The Miami game will be televised at 2:30 p.m. Saturday on KRHD (Ch. 9). ... McGee threw the ball a little bit Sunday. Sherman said they'll see how McGee is on Wednesday. ... Running back Keondra Smith (foot) practiced Sunday with light contact, while fullback Anthony Vela (ankle) is expected to miss Saturday's game. ... If McGee and Tannehill can't play, true freshman Tommy Dorman would be the backup quarterback.
Robert Cessna's e-mail address is robert.cessna@theeagle.com.
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Posted by: Shiner On: 9/17/2008
Comment Title: Most important vs solely responsible
He didn't say they weren't important; he said they were not solely responsible. IF they were solely responsible, then we wouldn't have a hard time predicting wins. They make most of the difference in the outcome but they do not make all the difference. Some coaches would argue that the game is won and lost in the trenches.
Posted by: Pablo (Austin, TX) On: 9/16/2008
Comment Title: Bus Driver?
Robert, I disagree with your implication that the QB is not the most important position. If what you say is true, then why pay Peyton Manning so much? QB's need to be playmakers and they HAVE to move the sticks and score points. I think it was Tony Romo who said it best when he said that they only keep track of wins and losses for QBs and Coaches. So far Jerrod Johnson is looking better than McGee in that department.
Posted by: Jay Goode, Aggie Class of '70, Plano, TX On: 9/16/2008
Comment Title: What about the pass protection?
Robert, you forgot to mention the pass protection. The QB's are having to run for their lives back there.