Who Should Start At QB For The Cincinatti Bearcats?
- Zach Collaros (76%, 19 Votes)
- Tony Pike (24%, 6 Votes)
Total Voters: 25
Loading ...Zach Collaros was expected to give it his best shot while filling in for Tony Pike when Pike re-injured his non-throwing arm in the first half of the game against the South Florida Bulls. What he wasn’t expected to do was win every game and light up the scoreboard with record-breaking stats and last second drives to win critical divisional games. But that’s exactly what Collaros did. Now the question is do you return Tony Pike to the starting lineup or keep Zach Collaros as your starter for your final push to an undefeated season, a Big East title, and a big-time BCS Bowl berth? It seems like a great problem to have for coach Brian Kelly, and in some ways it certainly is, but you can be sure he’s losing a lot of sleep over this one.
Zach Collaros has the ability to make plays running or throwing and has been brilliant in keeping the Cincinnati Bearcats undefeated and headed toward a Big East title and BCS bowl berth.
A Gut-Wrenching Decision For Coach Kelly
Coach Brian Kelly initially had said that Tony Pike would regain his starting spot once his injured arm was ready, but that was before Collaros went 66 of 82 for 1,028 yards with eight touchdowns in the last three games after coming in during the first half of the USF Bulls game. Collaros and the Bearcats went on to defeat the USF Bulls and then three more division rivals – the Louisville Cardinals, Syracuse Orangeman, and the Connecticut Huskies, and Zach Collaros was nothing short of phenomenal.
Coach Kelly, when asked if he was still bringing back Tony Pike when his arm had healed, wasn’t sure what he was going to do:
“He’s made it hard. OK, I’ve changed my mind based on the way he’s played the last three games. I think I have to reconsider my decision.” – Cincinnati Bearcats Coach Brian Kelly
There is a precedence for this decision for Coach Kelly, and interestingly enough it came just last year and involved Tony Pike then, too. Tony Pike was given the starting role when he took over for senior Dustin Grutza when Grutza broke his leg. Pike then broke his non-passing forearm, got a plate inserted to help the injury heal, missed two games, and returned wearing a protective brace. Pike, who wasn’t even on the depth chart in summer camp, led the Bearcats to their first Big East title and an Orange Bowl appearance. Now, Pike may be the one on the losing end of the deal.
Should You Stick With The Hot QB?
I believe that momentum, confidence, and the hot hand mean so much in sports that they must be taken into consideration. And when it comes to a quarterback’s success, they mean even more. Without that gunslinger mentality, the one that says you’re going to go out there and make great things happen, you’re not going to perform; you’re not going to win big ballgames. You have to believe. Your teammates and coaches have to believe. And as good as Tony Pike has been, Zach Collaros has been even better, and right now Collaros is the hot hand. Pike may indeed come back and play well, but after missing several games and nursing a fragile arm, nobody really knows how he’ll react. Collaros is simply on fire right now and has all the confidence in the world. After all, why shouldn’t he be confident? He’s simply picking up where he left off in high school after leading his school to a 41-1 record in three years as the starting QB. This kid doesn’t know what losing is.
Besides having the hot hand, you really want to know your quarterback is going to be there for you. With Pike’s arm, nobody knows if the next hit will take him out again, and that’s a variable you don’t want your coaching staff and players to be thinking about with a division title and a BCS Bowl berth close at hand.
Lastly, Collaros gives you the athleticism to escape the rush and make big plays with his legs that Pike doesn’t have. Coach Steve Kragthorpe of the Louisville Cardinals, after getting blown out 41-10 by Collaros and the Bearcats, said:
“To be honest with you, I was hoping Tony (Pike) would play today because I knew (with him) they would be one-dimensional and I knew they would throw it. I really felt that if Tony played, even if he hadn’t been hurt, it would’ve been a lot better matchup for us. They’re a little more one-dimensional with Tony in there.” – Coach Steve Kragthorpe of the Louisville Cardinals –
GridironGenerals Opinion: Go With The Hot Hand
As heart-breaking as it is to see a senior getting pulled after suffering an injury, especially when he was having such a good season, there are too many reasons to go with Zach Collaros, and that’s exactly what Cincinnati should do. If Collaros chokes, bring in Pike. But until Collaros gives you reason to doubt him, you have to stick with what’s working right now, and right now it’s Collaros.
And don’t forget, Pike may not have ever gotten his chance to shine if he hadn’t replaced a senior starting QB when that senior got hurt. Pike had his shot and did incredibly well with it, but his injured arm is too much of a concern at this stage of the season to pull Collaros. Collaros has the momentum, the ability to run, and he’s your future. I say let the future be now and let Collaros be the man until he show signs that there’s a better man out there.
