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Jim McElwain Repeating 2015 Trend with Gators Quarterbacks

By Ben Richardson

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What is it with Jim McElwain and his refusal to commit to a starting quarterback?

Look, I get it. Competition brings the best out of people, and you want to get the best out of your players. It is seemingly a staple of Nick Saban’s coaching behavior, and obviously Jim McElwain has adopted that philosophy when pressed about his starting quarterback. Quote after quote from him have almost belittled the quarterback position, and it goes all the way back to when he took the job.

“You got to understand this, I believe I can win with my dog Claire-a-bell,” McElwain stated at his introductory press conference in reference to the quarterback position.

We all knew Will Grier was going to be the starting quarterback. We’d seen Treon Harris play the year before, and Harris could literally do everything except throw the ball. It took weeks after the season opener to see Will Grier take the reigns of the offense, but even then McElwain had a hard time committing to Grier.

Florida beat Tennessee on one of the most memorable plays in recent Florida Gators history, and Will Grier led some amazing drives late. However, he did play poorly for most of the game, and McElwain let him know it at his postgame press conference.

“There were a lot of drives there that weren’t executed, so we’ve got a long ways to go. And he knows it too, he sees it on film and realizes how he can get better.”

And, as for the last minute drives? McElwain wasn’t impressed.

“Those two drives at the end are what he’s supposed to do. That’s what you do when you play the position. We practice it that way and he executed it.”

Then the Gators played host to No. 3 ranked Ole Miss and Will Grier shredded the vaunted Ole Miss defense. Grier threw 4 touchdown passes in the first half and by the end of the game he had completed 24 of 29 pass attempts for 271 yards.

When McElwain was asked about who would start next game, he responded, “We’ll look at the film.”

McElwain’s take on Grier’s performance?

“He did a good job. He played the position.”

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I mean I’ve heard of coach speak, but….come on, man. Treon Harris had just been suspended for the Tennessee game the week prior. We all knew Treon wasn’t the quarterback of choice. I mean this was the perfect time to commit to your guy.

Nope.

I mean, is McElwain an ass or did he just know Grier was about to get popped with a suspension?

Now, let’s fast forward to 2016 SEC Media days, and we all know Luke Del Rio is the quarterback of choice right now. McElwain was the first to offer Del Rio a scholarship in 2012 when he was at Colorado State. Del Rio chose to go to Alabama as walk on instead before transferring to Oregon State. He now finds himself at Florida presumed by all to be heavily leading his fellow quarterbacks: Purdue transfer Austin Appleby, and freshmen Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask.

Don’t try asking McElwain why he hasn’t named a starter. He’ll shake it off and make everyone feel foolish for ever asking.

“What is the ideal timing? I don’t know what’s ideal,” McElwain responded after being asked about naming a starter. “What’s best for you guys? Right now? Give you something to write about?”

He got a laugh out of the room and dodged that question only like he can, but what if these tactics are what drove Will Grier away?

I’ll give McElwain this, he didn’t make excuses for Greer when he got popped for PEDs, but it was obvious Grier had McElwain’s support. There have been numerous rumors surrounding Grier’s transfer, and we’ll probably never know why he really transferred. What we do know is that he won’t be a Gators quarterback this year. I think I’m correct in thinking that a roster is better with Will Grier on it than off of it.

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Let’s also keep in mind the troubles his other quarterback Treon Harris has had since the start of last season. He was suspended for the Tennessee game, and now he has been suspended since January indefinitely and we don’t even know if it is the school or the football program that is punishing him. I mean, could a little more support in the public eye helped Harris?

I’d be able to better understand McElwain’s tactics if the competition were between a perceived started like Del Rio, and a returning starter quarterback that won’t be eligible until midseason such as Grier. I’d understand all the coaching euphemisms about “watching the film” and “tracking progress” having that set of circumstances.

Far be it from me to tell Coach McElwain how to run his crew. He’s got a quirky type of demeanor that just works the media room. But don’t let him fool you, he expects perfection from his players, and when he doesn’t get it, he isn’t going to pat anyone on the back for their effort. He’s going to tell his players to do it better next time, and don’t throw up afterwards.

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I just think that at the college level, quarterbacks at the University of Florida are under extreme pressure already. Florida has a rich quarterback tradition with 3 Heisman winners in Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, and Tim Tebow. Add the Gators’ quarterback history to the pressures that come with the team’s expectations in Gainesville, and the pressure is on par with anyone, anywhere in the country. Maybe a little more support can keep his quarterbacks from jumping off the edge, instead of pushing them off it.

Then again, maybe he’s a genius and downplaying it all because the quarterbacks Florida has aren’t that good. Does McElwain secretly think quarterbacks will hold Florida back this season?

“I’ll be excited to play him again this year,” McElwain said of Saban during SEC Media Days, “because I know it’s in Atlanta.”

I guess not.

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