Morris and Harris in a ‘dead heat’ at quarterback

There were rumors earlier this week that sophomore Stephen Morris had a leg up on senior Jacory Harris in the quarterback competition taking place daily out at Greentree, but according to coaches the two are neck-and-neck with no one standing out more than the other. Both the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post had the same “dead heat” headline going this morning as that’s the message reigning down for head coach Al Golden and staff.

“It’s like a dead heat right now, doesn’t look like it’ll be resolved before then,” said Golden. “That’s good. They’re going to keep competing. I think it’s awesome. Neither one is backing down.”

With what the fans and media have seen from Golden over the past eight months, this sounds more motivational that confessional. The season opener at Maryland is just over three weeks out and over that span the first-year head coach wants both of these guys going at it non-stop until one separates himself from the other. Even if one currently it, no reason to inflate that guy’s head (or rattle the confidence of the other) at this point, anyways.

Days back the Herald’s Susan Miller Degnan reported that she’d heard from inside Hecth’s walls that Morris was leading. Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t, but regardless, nothing will be confirmed until a decision is made.

There’s a few trains of thought regarding the senior or sophomore and unless one truly pulls away from the other, differentiating himself, Coach Golden has a no-win situation on his hands.

A logical approach if it truly is a “dead heat”; go with the youth movement and invest in the sophomore. Morris has three years remaining and Harris has one. Let the future of the program get his reps now, take some lumps and hope that he learns on the fly and as an upperclassmen next year, has valuable experience.

Like Dorsey’s sophomore campaign in 2000 – after some last season back-up action as a freshman in 1999, like Morris saw last season – it set the stage for a tremendous run over the next few years.

Of course the downside is shattered confidence for your senior if you go with the young guy. Should Golden call on Harris if Morris is injured, or falters, where is Jacory’s head come go-time – knowing he wasn’t the chosen one?

Go with Harris and experience over Morris and potential and it could throw a wrench in the agenda of eliminating turnovers if there hasn’t been true growth since last season.

There x-factor is new coordinator Jedd Fisch and his offensive philosophy, as well as the ability to coach up both quarterbacks. A solid offensive line, a run-heavy attack and shorter passes to receivers, putting the onus on them to rack up some yards after catch will in itself help cut down on interceptions – but it all comes down to who is more mentally prepared for what’s coming down the pike this season.

As ‘The Beast’ mentioned on last night’s edition of allCanes Radio, there’d be no better sports story in the city of Miami this year than Harris getting it right. Hometown kid and high school national champion who struggled at ‘The U’, only to turn it around his final season, putting the Canes back on the map and winning the ACC, a BCS bowl game or more?

With the Heat coming up short, the Marlins in the tank and the Dolphins expected to hover in mediocrity, the Canes become the big show and with a hometown hero at the helm, it’s the type of comeback story we’ve grown to love as American sports enthusiasts.

Some in the Harris camp are convinced that many have it out for J12, but I don’t buy it. This is a program that’s been insignificant for the better part of this past decade and if Seantrel Henderson could get it done under center, people would back the big man gladly.

This isn’t about Harris or Morris; it’s about getting the job done. It’s about living up to the moniker of ‘Quarterback U’ again. It’s about big talk being backed up by bigger play.

It’s about leadership. It’s about results. It’s about moving the ball, running an offense and winning meaningful games. ‘The U’ hasn’t truly had “that guy” since Ken Dorsey lost his final collegiate game in January 2003.

Hell, the Brock Berlin era everyone thought was mediocre at the time – we’d have paid good money for 11-2 or 9-3 (and consistent wins over Florida and Florida State) the past few years.

Based on nothing more than a sneaking suspicion, my gut tells me Morris wins the job. One year of bad coaching versus three years is a lot to overcome and from what it looked like, former offensive coordinator Mark Whipple threw in the towel on Harris early in 2010, creating a junior campaign where the starting quarterback wasn’t given the tutelage he so badly needed.

Can Fisch reverse this in a matter of months? Maybe. But even if the new offensive coordinator resurrects Harris, would Morris not be learning and growing at the same time?

I’d love a fairy tale ending where the hometown senior is light years better than the up and coming sophomore, but if this this is a close as is being reported, you go with the better investment and Morris can be your present, as well as your future.

A true quarterback competition. It’s the reason head coaches earn seven figures a year while the rest of us spew theories and scratch our heads.

Game on and may the best Cane win.

Comments

comments

11 thoughts on “Morris and Harris in a ‘dead heat’ at quarterback

  1. Unless Morris has made significant strides to put him past Harris, J12 is the guy that will win games for us. Experience is paramount in this situation.

    I don’t want to hear that we’re building for the future by putting Morris in to “get his licks” when Golden should be wanting to win games NOW. J12 has handled the ups and downs of being QB at the U quite gracefully, and in what I hope to be a limited role for the QB this year, his experience tops Morris’ ability to escape the pocket. Both have had interception problems, and while you can argue that Morris’ were due to his inexperience as a freshman, an equal argument can be made for Whipple’s “chuck it and f*** it” game plan for Jacory.

    The bottom line is this: if the two really are at a “dead heat” then the only answer here is Jacory’s experience. Hopefully we’ll be handing the ball of the majority of the time anyways. But it’s much easier to bring in Morris after Jacory falters/gets injured than it is to do the opposite.

  2. Danton – I think “experience” is an asset when a player has had success. Regarding the “experience” of Jacory Harris, it’s resulted in a 15-10 record, three bowl losses, and 39 interceptions to 50 touchdowns over his collegiate career.

    Sadly, Harris looked his best when INEXPERIENCED. Go back to the Florida State and Georgia Tech games in 2009, his first year as a starer.

    You’re making too much of “experience” for the sake of building a case for Harris.

    Why can’t Stephen Morris come in and win right now? No one is talking of him solely being the future. If it’s a “dead heat” you go with the guy who has the most upside and that’s Morris any way you slice it.

    Morris won his first two starts, after leading an almost come-from-behind win at Virginia, where Miami was in a hole after more Harris turnovers. Morris looked good for the most part against Virginia Tech, but came apart late once the defense gave up points and the Canes were forced to throw in an effort to come from behind.

    Harris was awful in the bowl game against Notre Dame (4-of-7 for 37 yards with three interceptions) and while Morris did make some plays against the Irish, it was definitely in garbage time when they had a comfortable lead.

    I do agree that it’d be easier to bring in Morris if Harris falters (than to do the opposite) – but it’s truly a flip of the coin, why would you go with the turnover-prone guy who has struggled most of his career? Do you really want to risk losing to Ohio State or Kansas State early, needing to ‘rebuild’ mid-season?

    I’d love to see Harris win the job (I just want the best kid out there) – but feel he’d have to be head and shoulders past Morris for this to make any sense. If it’s even, you go with the younger guy … especially in a case like this where “experience” isn’t truly an asset, based on track record.

  3. … and yes, Danton, the x-factor here is Jedd Fisch. Safe to say everyone is hoping he can coach both his quarterbacks up in a way Mark Whipple didn’t. I’ve mentioned many times that Whipple quit on Harris and that a full year of tutelage was thrown in the trash for No. 12 last year based on Whipple’s inability to work with what he had — instead of trying to make the kid something he wasn’t. (All that chucking it deep at North Carolina in 2009 was laughable. Thanks, Whip.)

    If Fisch can play to Harris’ strength, using a solid ground game and more short passes, it could boost the kid’s confidence and possibly turn things around for him.

    I don’t underestimate anyone’s ability to change. If Harris works hard enough, he can turn this thing around and earn the starting gig. That’s on him and nobody else. Best man will get the job. Period.

  4. Canes sorry man i disagree completely. Morris doesn’t look to me to have much upside. He continually looks confused against a good defense and if hadn’t gotten lucky on his throw against maryland which is a game we should have lost i don’t think you all would be talking so highly of him. Morris played ok at best last year. He threw more picks to tds and since the contiually seems to be your argument against harris, your argument has no metal.
    J12 is the clear cut choice. Experience is not throwing more touchdowns than interceptions which harris has and a bowl record. Its playing time is time against each defense. Not the fact that morris has three years to harris’s one. Experience is being on the field. Yes i believe morris could give us two solid years as a starter starting next season. And that’s if he can beat our Ryan Williams or any freshman brought in to play.
    I know you as a can fan are as tired of the turnover bug as i am but remember how many wrong routes bad play calling and coaching factor into this. Remember what you said while harris was actually being coached 2009 he was completing passes and not turning it over. We have seen how good he can be when being coached and i will be my house that harris wont spend this season chucking deep balls and being told one receiver is options 1-3. Fisch and golden will have this kid ready each week to play and yes if he falters which i’m pulling for him and don’t believe he will but if he does then yes give it to morris and pray.
    Give the kid a fair shake he had one really bad season. He seems according to the palm beach post sun sentinel and miami herald to have more zip on his ball this year so don’t expect to see the floaters anymore.

  5. DSCOTT – C’mon now, bro.

    You’re going to give Morris grief for the Maryland game? His FIRST CAREER START as a true freshman? 18-of-30 for 286 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions? (More yards than Harris threw for at any point in 2010.)

    Morris doesn’t have much upside? He looks confused against good defenses? The only good defense he faced was Virginia Tech and for three quarters the kid played solid. First pick came with ten minutes left and in the game and when down 31-17, the Hokies played the pass and picked him off twice more as running was no longer an option.

    Morris managed the game at Georgia Tech VERY well. 10-of-18 for 230 yards and a touchdown.

    259 yards on the ground with five running backs, solid defense, turnovers created and an offensive game plan that was managed well by Morris. That’d be a fine blueprint for how the offense should go this season — right down to the quick strike to Leonard Hankerson that went for a 79-yard score.

    Morris’ decision-making was good against GT, his passes crisp and he was aware. That doesn’t mean he’s earned the start for 2011, but your assessment of the kid is way off.

    You’re obviously pro-Harris. I’m pro-whoever-can-get-the-job-done. Time to start winning, while minimizing turnovers. Period.

  6. DSCOTT – Brother, you have to stop this nonsense right now. I am starting to think you’re hiding behind that name and are either a parent or sibling of J12. Seriously, I don’t think his over the top father is selling him as hard as you are.

    Jacory Harris has been an utter disappointment since the second half of the 2009 season and in many ways looks broken beyond repair. That doesn’t mean that Coach Fisch can’t turn him around, but the odds aren’t in the senior’s favor.

    As for your commentary about Stephen Morris, for lack of a better term, you’re absolutely being a world class hater. In what time Morris did see late last year he looked much sharper, crisper and more together than Harris has since beating Florida State in 2009. Harris has looked absolutely confused and lost while Morris came in and did what he was told to for, with more poise and less mistakes.

    Like allCanes, I’m just another fan who wants to see the best quarterback taking snaps. I don’t want a controversy and I don’t want any more favoritism. I want a soli battle the next three weeks and then I want to see the coaches pick the guy they feel earned the job. In Golden I trust and so should you.

  7. alright guys i know i am coming off very pro harris and thats because i am. i don’t believe a guy should lose his job because of one bad season plagued by bad play calling and bad execution not only by harris at times but also by the players running the routes. I believe harris can very well manage a game that is mostly based on our running game. If we lean on the running game and harris is not forced to throw it more than 20-25 times a game then he will return to form. in 2009 we used james cooper and berry very affectively which allowed harris to shine. once the script change to pass first pass some more and when that doesn’t work throw it anyways the kid struggled. Last year started pass first pass some more and when it wasn’t working pass anyway. Morris benefitted from a run and then pass closer to balanced offense.
    I know i come off as against morris and thats because most writers are handing the kid the job without any real knowledge or reason behind. I to want the best guy to run the show but i believe the best guy is harris. I go with playin time starts and reps against good defense before a guy that has “upside”? I won’t change my opinion i don’t see the same upside yet but then again i am in idaho and quite frankly we don’t get many cane games and the ones we get i didn’t see it yet, not to say it is not there but in the games i have seen i didn’t see. i saw a kid who played well as long as the defense was simple once it got complicated he looked lost. Now if morris wins i will be behind him 110% because i love my canes but i don’t believe golden will take a chance losing harris for the season because he was not given the first chance to show he is the guy.

  8. If it’s a “dead heat” you go with the senior, NOT the other way around. That makes absolutely no sense any way you look at it. I think this team can win with either guy behind center and because of that, you let the senior finish his final year. Morris can come in next season as the clear cut favorite.

  9. Jacory Harris will eventually win the starting signal caller for the Golden Touches program.
    Nonetheless, it’s good to see Miami has two QB’s capable of leading the team to a possible A.C.C. championship game.
    By the way, seeing that the competition is neck and neck, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprise to see Coach Golden naming a starter a week prior to the Labor Day night game. Instead of the initial date stated by Coach Albert.

  10. I gotta agree with Danton and Dscott — unless Morris is playing much better (which I doubt), Harris is the clear choice. Sure, he’s had inconsistencies and a lot of turmoil in his career, but nobody can deny that he’s shown flashes of brilliance, and I believe superior coaching can take advantage of the huge potential Jacory has. I just don’t get that same feeling from Morris — he doesn’t give me the “clutch” vibe that Harris has exhibited several times throughout his career.

    I think Jacory has greater ability and with some solid coaching, he’ll have a breakout senior season to capitalize on all that unfulfilled potential. Morris might be solid in the future, but this year is Jacory’s time to turn his career around.

  11. how can it be a dead heat weve all seen what harris has done the last few years!it wasnt all that great so start with something new maybe between that and the new coach we might get that full swag back this year!!

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