Harrison Beck, Human Roller Coaster
Let me offer my condolences to State fans.
Harrison Beck may kill you this season, if he hasn't already.
Listened to a good portion of the game on the Wolfpack Network while cruising down 64. When Beck's been good, he's been very good. When he's been bad ... well, five interceptions sort of tells the story doesn't it?
I don't envy Tom O'Brien and Dana Bible. On the one hand, they've got the first State quarterback since Philip Rivers who can really hurt a defense, a guy who - please forgive the tired football cliche - really make plays. The drive in which he hit Blackman on a pump-and-go for 49 yards then hit Blackman again after rolling to his right to buy time is certainly proof of that. On the other hand, they've got a guy who clearly is in love with his arm strength and will force balls into situations where no ball should go. As Johnny Evans kept saying, "Feast or Famine."
Speaking of Johnny, I think he's done a remarkable job as the color man for State. As heartwarming as the story was when his son Daniel won the starting job last year, it's got to be just as awkward now that Daniel has been replaced by Beck. Yet you wouldn't be able to tell at all that Johnny is in any way related to Daniel by the way he called today's game. Goodness knows, after interception No. 3 or so, he could have been forgiven for shouting, "Put my boy in!"
Why not put Daniel Evans in? Well, if Harrison Beck is feast or famine, Daniel Evans is a regular low-calorie diet. Put another way, Evans is the solid role player, who might not hurt you much, but is limited in what he can do. Beck is the raw athlete, the guy with the high ceiling who can make jaw-dropping plays but will also make bone-headed decisions as well.
So whom will O'Brien and Bible stick with? My guess is Beck. Let's face it - O'Brien has a honeymoon period where he can afford to experiment a little and be patient. It makes sense to stay with Beck, keep trying to coach his "wild man" tendencies out of him and eventually hope that his playmaking eventually only helps one side of the ball.
While they try to make that happen though, it could be a long, heart-attack inducing season for State fans.