You're wrong in getting that sense from me. I'm not that high on Rees. Great kid, won games for us, great poise, but not nearly as talented as Crist nor Hendrix. Once teams got film on him he struggled mightily. But he's a helluva a back-up and might just be a starter for us...he's got the mental make-up of a great QB.
But Hendrix is much more talented from a God-given skills standpoint. But that's not what being a QB is solely about. Does he have the mental make-up??? That remains to be seen. And that's my whole point - why are people assuming he'll be the starter next year when he's proven exactly ZERO. You obviously didn't pay close attention to my reponse b/c I specifically said that if he should be given every opportunity to start and if he wins the job then I'll be his #1 fan. But a couple of posters saying he should start or that he will start (as if it's fact) is absurd. That's it.
You're backpedaling on your other point about him not being given a chance. Excuses are like you-know-whats...and it means nothing. He was given a chance to compete with Rees and Montana for the #2 spot, and he simply wasn't ready. Period. Rees beat him out, weak arm and all. I don't know what else you want me to say...that's the bottom line. I think Hendrix will eventually pass Rees, but this year he wasn't better...for whatever reason you want to throw out there. And so yes, this fall, Rees was the superior QB, and it's absurd for you to think that Hendrix was better.
Newsflash: Having more talent doesn't make you a better QB. It takes a helluva more than that. See: Jeff George. See: JaMarcus Russell. If you want to take Todd McShay's stance on QBs, be my guest.
And I reiterate - I think Hendrix can be a special QB for us, but we should wait to see how he does this spring before annointing him the starter. And if he does start, there will be some major growing pains - much less than Crist and Rees, who have both played in front of some hostile crowds in pressure filled environments. Any QB will struggle, just saying that history shows us that inexperienced QBs struggle far more mightily than QBs with experience. That is all I was saying. And while you bring up some good points aside from what I wrote, nothing you have written has really changed my mind on that subject.
I think we agree more than we're letting on.
I'm not annoiting Hendrix the starter, although I'd be mildly surprised if he wasn't at least the backup next year.
Like I said, I don't think it's any sweat off Hendrix' back that he got "beat out" this fall in camp. So did Louis Nix, Christian Lombard, and Alex Welch and all of those players could be very good next season.
I'd be a little worried if Hendrix was starting next year because he's inexperienced, but I was pretty worried with Crist's lack of progress and Rees' limitations this year too. I know the QB position is important with experience and there could be growing pains (your main point), I think that could be balanced out by Hendrix's skill set and the fact that he's being coached by Kelly and is surrounded by a lot of talent (my point I guess).
I'd also argue that Hendrix doesn't have a whole lot to live up to in regards to how the QB play went this year. Maybe Crist takes a big leap forward after rehab and Rees with more experience, but at this point I think that's just as likely as Hendrix stepping forward too.
Maybe Hendrix doesn't grasp the offense and struggles from a mental standpoint, but I think he should be given the benefit of the doubt given his skill set and rave reviews from Kelly & Company. Now, if those praises weren't there from the coaches, I'd be more apt to say that he's probably not going to be a factor next year and definitely not starting. But it's not like that...those praises are too difficult to ignore in my opinion.
Sure Hendrix hasn't proven anything but, so what? Why keep harping on that when you can say that about half the players on the roster? Take a player like Cierre Wood, I was going through the same types of thoughts with him last year and I kept hearing, "what has he proven, he hasn't even played in college yet, he couldn't beat out so and so as a freshman, etc."
One year later he's a redshirt freshman and the starting running back, and showing he's pretty special. Sometimes these young players are ballers!!
