Malik Zaire does not appear to be Happy with the 3 QB situation at Florida

Submitted by Duval Wolverine on

Malik Zaire does not appear to be happy with the 3 QBs decision by Head coach and had this to say: 

"Obviously it's not ideal," Zaire said. "I don't think anybody in the quarterback room wants that. But at the end of the day, you just got to do what Coach wants. I feel like Coach should be confident enough to stick with a guy and be able to roll with that guy because that's best for the team. When you have all these quarterbacks, you still have none at the end of the day.

"Being decisive, just like how quarterbacks have to be on the field, is [what's] most important for this team's success. ... I just leave it up to those coaches to make the great decisions that they do. That's why they get paid the big bucks. I just play my game and know I'll be ready when my number's called."

J_Dub

August 24th, 2017 at 3:48 PM ^

There is a small but non-zero chance that all this banter is just trying to keep Michigan off-guard.  Maybe Zaire is the definitive starter and McElwain is playing games trying to get us to prep for a non-mobile QB (no idea if Del Rio is mobile)?  More likely than not, this is as it appears to be and it's a mess in Gainsville, but maybe a little gamesmanship is happening.

Mr Miggle

August 24th, 2017 at 12:05 PM ^

who transferred in 2 months ago is unhappy. 

There is a message that was probably already clear to everyone. McIlwain needs to sort out his QB situation soon and decisively. Playing all 3 is not a good plan. Doing it in the first game is a way to make a decision. All 3 had better be real close or it makes little sense to do it that way. It will be a baptism under fire, running Nuss' offense against Don Brown and our DL.

uncle leo

August 24th, 2017 at 9:59 AM ^

I don't read a single thing into these comments. Venting a little frustration, but understands the situation. 

Acknowledges that he has coaches that know more about the situation than he does.

Everyone is excited/nervous/frustrated from the intense practices they've been going through the past month. 

When the game starts, all this crap goes out the window.

bcnihao

August 24th, 2017 at 10:31 AM ^

"Acknowledges that he has coaches that know more about the situation than he does."  Eh, maybe. 

But then he says, "I feel like Coach should be confident enough to stick with a guy and be able to roll with that guy because that's best for the team. When you have all these quarterbacks, you still have none at the end of the day." And he said that in conjunction with, "Being decisive, just like how quarterbacks have to be on the field . . . ." So he's publicly contradicting the coach's management at this point.

To put it another way:  Imagine if one of UM's QBs said such a thing about the competition that Harbaugh has going on.

DOBlue48

August 24th, 2017 at 11:27 AM ^

It seems you are assuming the QB's here do not know exactly where they stand in the battle that wages on.  I suspect they all know exactly who would be the starter on a day to day basis.  From all reports I have ever heard UM coaches and especially Harbaugh make it very clear to the players where they stand.  Do they share those specifics with the outside world?  No.  Nothing to gain by doing so.

Some of our guys may not like where they are on the depth chart, but I bet they all know where they stand.

JC06Z33

August 24th, 2017 at 11:30 AM ^

I'd guarantee the opposite at UM.  These guys are either JH recruits or have been in his system for long enough to know that competition is part of being on a JH team.  I can't see why any of them would be frustrated with what they willingly signed up for.

BlueKoj

August 24th, 2017 at 1:12 PM ^

Cannot be thinking exactly what Zaire is because JH is not doing the same thing FL is. JH is having a competition which will result in a winner. Perhaps the winner has been decided (especially for game 1). Others will play to get seasoning and exerience as the games allow. Competition will continue, but a #1 will be playing.

At FL, there are three winners (or losers) in the competition. Apparently, nothing has been decided at FL yet. 

 

myislanduniverse

August 24th, 2017 at 11:26 AM ^

Agreed. I was less concerned that McElwain hasn't named a starter, because we haven't either, and I don't think that's a bad sign. It could just be misdirection.

 

But once Zaire started publicly questioning it and challenging the coach's decisiveness by not naming a starter, I realized it wasn't McElwain trying to make us game-plan for 3 different QBs, and that there may actually be some issues with this unit.

SF Wolverine

August 24th, 2017 at 10:04 AM ^

he's older than the others and probably feels entitled; maybe SharkHumper told him he'd have the job if he transferred.  I'd guess he will have a hold on the job by mid-season; we are catching a break, I think, by getting them before they are locked in to a QB.    

1VaBlue1

August 24th, 2017 at 12:11 PM ^

I'm not sure that having them locked into a QB, or not, would make any difference at all.  I don't see any way that offense can stay competitive against Don Brown's defense.  Just don't see it - not enough weapons, not enough talent, not enough scheme flexibility.

EGD

August 24th, 2017 at 10:09 AM ^

Surprised to see such passive aggressive remarks from a guy who spent the last four years getting screamed at point blank by a purple ogre.