Price Is Rising
My thinking all along has been that it would be too much to ask Tanner Price to step on the field as a recently-arrived freshman and win the battle for Wake’s starting quarterback. That said, I do recognize that you can ask more from some people than you can from others.
Price, a 6-2 lefty from Austin, has been the buzz of the early practices. He has a sleight-of-hand release on his passes, thrown from the left ear-hole of his helmet—not unlike a catcher pegging a runner out at second. And the ball gets to the receiver on a line, at times before the receiver is ready.
“He’s got a quick release and he’s got a lot of zip on his throws,’’ Coach Jim Grobe said. “He gets it there in a hurry.
“It’s caught our receivers off-guard a little bit. They’re saying it’s the spin of the ball. I’m thinking it’s just on them a little quicker sometimes than they’re expecting out of a freshman.’‘
The first dozen or so passes I saw Price throw were right on the money. I never saw him throw a bad one until Saturday, and as you might expect, that was against a live secondary looking to make plays. In that drill, he threw one into the ground and threw another well over a receiver’s hands. I mentioned to Grobe the difference, and he said that’s because Price was having to make reads and checks.
“But we can teach that,’’ Grobe said. “What we can’t teach is that release and the zip he gets on the ball.’
My first conversation with Price was at Saturday’s media day. He said all the right things, making sure he didn’t ruffle any feathers. But he does have presence and seems like a sharp, straight-ahead young man. Grobe said he received some advanced lessons for a high school player during his glory days at Westlake High School, the same school that developed Drew Brees.
“He played in the state championship game and it went into overtime (before a 41-38 loss to Euless Trinity) at the highest level in Texas,’’ Grobe said. “They’ve got pretty good football. He comes from a great program.
“It’s still a little unexpected when a freshman quarterback shows the maturity he’s shown so far. He doesn’t get rattled. We’ve been doing some stuff on a pretty quick pace and that doesn’t seem to upset him at all. He’s obviously got some ability. It’s been fun to see him.’‘
If I had to predict—and I might as well, seeing’s how it’s my blog—I still don’t think Price will start against Presbyterian in the Sept. 2 opener. We forget sometimes how much ballyhoo the other quarterbacks on the roster, Skylar Jones, Ted Stachitas and Brendan Cross, had when they signed with the Deacons. The competition is stiff. If Stachitas can finally stay healthy for the whole preseason, then my bet is he starts the opener because of his ability to both run and throw. He has looked good the first week, more of what I expected to see from a guy who was named the Florida Times-Union’s Player of the Year after helping Nease High School reach three straight state championship games—one as a backup to a quarterback named Tim Tebow and the next two as the starter.
But if Stachitas, Jones or Cross does take the first snap, this much I know. He’ll be looking over his shoulder at a freshman from Austin wearing No. 11.
Back to the main page.
By Dan Collins on 08/10/2010 (11:10 am)
Comments
Matt, thanks for the correction. I had a feeling I might have the names wrong but was too lazy to look it up.
The relationships between the Leaks may have stayed just fine. I hope so. But I understand that Caldwell had offered a scholarship to Chris who was in about the 8th grade. That might not have happened even if C.J. had a great career at Wake.
But I blame Caldwell and his staff for having C.J. on the field when we were down 50-0. I know he wanted to give the young C.J. game experience.But that is just one of many of the stubborn Caldwell’s questionable calls. (Remember the 4th and goal against Maryland?)
I’m not lamenting our not getting Chris. I was sad to see what happened to C.J.
Jerry on 08/12/2010 (10:18 am)
Hey Jerry, you are actually referring to C.J. Leak. He was the Leak brother that played for Wake (and who later transferred to Tennessee). Chris Leak played for Florida and led them to a national championship his senior year (though he never lived up to the potential that many thought he had). I don’t think that Chris went to Florida because of C.J.‘s career at Wake. I think he went somewhere else because Coach Caldwell, who recruited C.J. and who had a very good relationship with the Leak family, was no longer at Wake Forest when Chris entered his college years.
Matt on 08/11/2010 (1:51 pm)
I love this time of year when we are undefeated and unscored-upon.
I love the enthusiasm of my fellow(and sister)Deacon followers.
I hope it proves to be true that we are blessed with an abundance of quality quarterbacks. Let’s hope the competition among them will be fierce and a winner will earn the starting spot.I try to keep my glass half full, but the reality is that our stsrting quarterback might be no better than 11th-12th in the league.
There are tons of outstanding quarterbacks who are fine young men that are willing to sit for 2-3 years at a football factory to be able to go to a bowl every year and hopefully wear a championship ring. Hopefully as our football program continues to gain respect we can get some of those players.They would be able to shine early as Deacons and play on a winning team.
If Jim Grobe lands a player like Chris Leak—with an inside track to his even better younger brother—he will handle him better than a former coach. That coach kept Chris on the field even when we were losing 50-0 to Clemson and Chris was badly hurt and never really recovered or realized his potential, and the Leaks were through with Wake Forest.It was a disaster for that young man. I still get angry thinking about it.
Jerry on 08/11/2010 (11:47 am)
It sounds like Wake has several good options at QB, and that is exciting. But as one commentator once said, if a coach says he has two starting quarterbacks then he really has none (because neither one is clearly a superior athlete). I think the only exception to that rule may have been when the San Francisco 49ers had Joe Montana as the starter and Steve Young as the backup. With the varied skill levels and college experiences of the four competing for the starting job I hope for the sake of continuity that Coach Grobe doesn’t have too itchy of a trigger finger when it comes to pulling whichever starter he does pick if that QB struggles preliminarily. One of the great things about Riley Skinner was that the team knew exactly what they were going to get from the quarterback week in and week out, and having that consistency helps a team become more cohesive.
Matt on 08/10/2010 (8:09 pm)
John S.
I’m headed off in a few minutes to the first full practice of the season, and it might be different from the previous four. But so far they’ve only run passing and running drills, and I haven’t noticed any preference for plays depending on the QB. I’ll be looking more closely for such at the scrimmages. And yes, I think Price can run the option. I doubt that would be a strength, but he moves pretty well.
Dan on 08/10/2010 (6:19 pm)
Lobo has said each quarterback would require a different mix between pass and run. Do they call a different set of plays when each is running the offense in practice? Does Price get more passing plays than Jones? Do you believe Price is capable of running the option? Sorry for the number of questions.
John S on 08/10/2010 (6:05 pm)
Texas Deacs Mom,
Thanks for the insight, and thanks for the gracious offer to keep an eye on our first-born. And good luck to your son this year. I think he might be one of several offensive linemen who surprise people this season.
Dan on 08/10/2010 (4:09 pm)
We watched that Texas State playoff game and Tanner Price was very poised and stayed on track to win that game. Wake Forest got a lot of press here in Texas during that game as it was clear he had committed to play for the Deacs! We wish him well along with the team for a great 2010 season! Also, if your Nate needs a mom while at SMU - I can see the campus out my office window, pass on my email address!
Texas Deacs Mom on 08/10/2010 (1:18 pm)
He is indeed Ken. I talked with Demetrius Gibson, the equipment manager, about the selection and he said the problem is that there are so many players in football and the skilled position numbers are in crazy demand. By the way, our last show before Nate heads off to Dallas in this Wednesday at the Garage, just in case you can make it by.
Dan on 08/10/2010 (12:05 pm)
Tanner Price wearing #11?? Sounds very similar to another freshman wearing that # some 4-5 years ago. However, I think #11 should be retired in honor of that last guy!
Ken Green on 08/10/2010 (11:56 am)
Page 1 of 1 pages
