Armchair QB’ing The NC State QB Decision

There was no hour-long ESPN special with a panel of experts giving their opinions, and Jim Gray wasn’t present to ask anyone if they chewed their fingernails. But that didn’t make Tom O’Brien’s Decision any less significant, or any less a target for derision if things didn’t go according to plan.

Last night was O’Brien’s Game 6, the crushing culmination (albeit short term) of a controversial decision. All Division I coaches are susceptible to criticism, but O’Brien put himself on a limb far more narrow than most when he opened up about the inner-workings of his program, specifically tabbing a committed yet unproven Mike Glennon over three-year starter and All-ACC selection Russell Wilson.

Like LeBron James’s lackluster showing in the decisive game of June’s NBA Finals, Thursday’s embarrassing 44-14 loss at Cincinnati was a moment that exposed the O’Brien Decision as the wrong one. The Pack offense sputtered, and Glennon threw two interceptions. That’s more than Wilson has in three games at Wisconsin. NC State struggled largely because of its inability to rush. Last season, Wilson compensated for the Pack’s lack of a breakaway back using his own running ability. Glennon, strictly a pocket passer, was forced to try and

The Pack’s rhythm also seemed off long before the score got out of hand. On the first two NC State possessions, Glennon threw four balls that were catchable, but not brought in — three literally hit the targets in the chest, hands and even face mask. And again, arguably three-year starter Wilson had better chemistry with said receivers and those passes would have been completed via the years of playing together.

Yet, the fact remains O’Brien was left in an unenviable position. Wilson’s production increased each year he was at State, and twice he guided the Wolf Pack to bowl games. His contribution to the program cannot be questioned. His commitment could. Wilson was forced into his own decision: baseball or football. Seemingly, he chose baseball and joined the Asheville Tourists, affiliate of his draft right-holding Colorado Rockies.

O’Brien’s is a decision that can’t necessarily be judged through one month of the first season with Glennon playing. Wilson had just the one year of eligibility remaining, and yes, NC State would probably be better with him at quarterback. Just look at what he’s doing at UW. They say “living well is the best revenge,” and Wilson is succeeding where the Cleveland Cavaliers failed in making their abandonment look foolish.

His Heisman candidacy grows with every week, as do the Badgers’ BCS aspirations. Meanwhile, NCSU is 0-2 vs. the Bowl Subdivision and suffering 41-point swings in deficit from opponents it beat a year ago. There’s no guarantee Wilson’s return would have been more than mortgaging the future for modest success now, though.

Coincidentally — fatefully depending on perspective — Wilson was teammates in Asheville with one Kyle Parker. Parker is the former Clemson quarterback who, in the summer of 2010, teetered between football and baseball. He had a starting job waiting in Clemson, but was a highly regarded draft choice of the Rockies. Dabo Swinney gave Parker weeks to decide, and ultimately he came back to Clemson. However, the Tiger offense never quite clicked. The chemistry was obviously missing, CU finished 6-7 and by season’s end Tajh Boyd was starting anyway.

Boyd is back at Clemson, and the Tigers are ranked entering Saturday’s crucial tilt with Florida State. Boyd has looked good, but there’s no telling how much further ahead he might be had he been starting from September 2010 on. Glennon is taking his licks now, which should produce results later assuming NC State hashes out its other issues. Those issues are far more indicative of other problems beyond quarterback, as ESPN.com ACC reporter Heather Dinich writes.

In defeat, Glennon threw two touchdown passes of 49 or more yards. He completed 69.4 percent of his passes. And he did so without a UW offensive or Montee Ball surrounding him. The Decision may not seem wise now, but is one best evaluated after more than four games.