Quinten Dormady is struggling, but Jarrett Guarantano isn't playing. Why, Butch?
KNOXVILLE — Four games into the 2017 season and Tennessee is still struggling to find answers at the quarterback position.
The way the position has been handled is questionable.
Junior Quinten Dormady waited behind four-year starter Josh Dobbs, who has moved on to the NFL. Sheriron Jones transferred in June, making the race officially between Dormady and redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano.
Fifth-year coach Butch Jones opened SEC Media Days in July mentioning that he was considering a two-quarterback system.
“If both players earn their right to play, we’ll play both quarterbacks,” Jones said in July. “I’ve been in systems where we’ve been able to do that, and really, Quinten and Jarrett’s skill sets are very similar to each other.”
Jones called his offense one “that really can play to the skill sets of the quarterback and all of the players around.”
There’s an adage: If you have two quarterbacks, you have none. Jones views it as “a good problem to have.”
Jones’ talk of using a two-quarterback system continued throughout fall camp and into opening week against Georgia Tech.
But his plan for both quarterbacks did not match what actually took place: Dormady was only 8-for-20 in the first half on opening night and the offense struggled on the way to a 14-7 halftime deficit.
Before game day, Jones said that he thought “circumstances of the game comes into play” and that one’s playing time is based around “your rhythm on offense” and the game would be one of “where your possessions will be limited.”
“There’s teams that have had 20 plays at halftime, and seven or eight plays in a quarter,” he said. “I think it’s in the flow of the game more so than the deservingness to play both, because they are very deserving, they have worked exceptionally hard.
“It’s which individual gives you the best opportunity. We have great confidence in both of them.”
Guarantano never saw the field against Tech, even following the dreadful first half performance from Dormady. That contradicted Jones’ stated plan, especially in a game where a new QB could have provided a spark.
During the short week with Indiana State in Week 2, Jones repeated his intentions of playing both quarterbacks.
“Again, we have two very, very quality quarterbacks,” Jones said. “And for us, you know, we’re gonna need to play both quarterbacks. I think you see the dynamics, again, that surround college football, and you need more than one quarterback. So, again, it’s getting Jarrett the ample reps that he needs to perform on Saturdays, along with Quinten.”
Jones rotated his quarterbacks against FCS Indiana State and Guarantano finished 4-for-12, 41 yards and one touchdown. Dormady finished 13-for-18, 194 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Guarantano didn’t play well against Indiana State, but it wasn’t so poor that he took himself out of the equation the next week at Florida, if the Vols struggled offensively.
But that’s what happened. Guarantano, except for one play that was nullified by a penalty, watched Dormady throw three interceptions in the loss to the Gators.
Jones has continued to discuss playing both quarterbacks, even though Dormady has received the green light to start and finish the two most crucial games this season – versus Georgia Tech and at Florida.
Dormady’s play has opened the door for second-guessing and growing criticism about how Jones is handling the position.
Is Jones showing favoritism toward Dormady? If so, why?
Last week against UMass, Jones did not call on Guarantano until 2:46 remaining in the third quarter with only a 17-13 lead. Once again, the manner in how Jones handled the timing of playing Guarantano is questionable after saying last week “we’d like to” play him and that he has “earned the right to play some.”
Jones said post-game that he inserted Guarantano late in the game “looking for a spark.”
With Dormady struggling again, playing Guarantano earlier in the game could have provided a spark and allowed his teammates to play with passion, something Dormady has not been able to get out of his teammates.
Dormady’s stranglehold on the starting job is questionable to say the least four games into the season.
Neither quarterback has separated himself from the other, but Dormady continues to get the most opportunities to do so.
That seems odd, given all of the things Jones has said and continues to say about both.
I don’t advocate that JG should just be given the start or thrown into the offense. But I do advocate that the QB competition needs to be reopened. JG needs to get first team reps and the opportunity to develop chemistry with the receivers just like Dormady has. JG gets thrown into games at random times, stuck with play calling that doesn’t make sense for him, then when he does throw it on target, the receivers drop it. That’s a lack of chemistry. Dormady has been given first team reps as the starter and still looks bad. JG only looks worse because he’s not be given the opportunity to seriously improve in practice. Open up the QB competition again. If Dormady wins, then we will know he’s better and that we will be a bad offense. If JG legitimately wins, then we can at least see if he can breathe new life into a nearly dead offense.
Also I think that Butch needs to start calling plays on a few drives. It cannot be worse than Larry Scott. He may be able to improve the offense. If not, then stick with Larry Scott. Cannot get worse than it is now, but you need to take a shot on improving it.
A lot of second guessing. Neither QB has played well but I would stick with Dormady and tell G he will get playing time if and when it is deemed appropriate. G isn’t ready. That’s pretty clear. If I was in year 1 or 2 of my contract I might see G as the future and stick him in and live with what happens. But it’s not. Seems like sarge is trying to passing G with some time but it is hurting the flow of the game to switch them in and out. Choose one and stick with it unless there is some mop up duty or a blowout.
Dormady’s engaged to Butch’s best BF from college daughter. Big time money man keeping Butch happy to start his daughter’s future better half. Sad!
You can’t really believe that.
Have you not been watching the games? Dormady hasn’t been sharp, but JG is not ready yet. Not saying he won’t get there, but Dormady should be the starter. JG got 3 or 4 series against UMASS and did nothing outside of a nicely thrown ball that was dropped by Johnson. And he doesn’t seem as comfortable running the ball as he was supposed to be coming in. He is still young and has a high ceiling but Dormady needs to be the starter right now.
Exactly…Dormady is no worse or no better than most starting QB’s in the SEC. In fact his QB rating is number 5 in the conference. He just needs more experience and a good OC and QB coach… and the jury is still out on those 2 right now. When I look at JG I see a talented athlete, but like you said just not there yet.
Dan, I enjoy most of what you publish here on this site. However, I totally disagree with this article. Have you seen JG play? He’s lost out there. Throws are all over the place. The game still moves too quick for him. The only reason he doesn’t have any picks is because the ball hasn’t been close enough to either the defender or receiver. He stays confused on his check-downs and audibles. On top of that, the other guys completely lose their focus and drive. He comes in the game and the pocket immediately collapses, Kelly doesn’t run as hard. There’s much to be said about chemistry in the huddle, and it’s non-existent when JG is on the field.
Is there really a point to this article? It seems pretty clear that G just isn’t ready.
BREAKING: Biscuit Brother Shy Turtle injured his face by falling on a helmet, per Butch Jones. No word on whether or not it will affect his ability to inhale an Allstar Breakfast, 6 Bojangles biscuits, and everything on the Golden Corral buffet line. You can’t make this stuff up folks – things seem to be going really well in Knoxville this year.
Meh, I believe Jarrett needs to just set out this year. QD needs to get all the first team snaps so he can get some timing down and such and not look over his shoulders every game. Jarrett just isn’t ready and you can tell every time he’s gone in.
This would be a moot point is the rest of the team showed up to play consistently.
Before the season started, I was under the impression that JG would be the better QB. I wanted him to be better than Dormandy. I’m so used to having a running QB with Dobbs, it only made sense that our next QB should be another dual threat. But so far, JG is not Dobbs. Not even close. Could he get there? Maybe.. But for the time being, Dormandy is the better QB.
That being said.. The odds of TN being competitive in the East race this year are pretty low. If history repeats itself, we will end up ditching Dormandy half way through the season and letting JG finish it out. TN always has an easier 2nd half of the season, so JG would probably have some moderate success in the last 4-5 games. That worries me a little.. because that would set the expectations way too high for JG in 2018. If we’re going to make a change, it needs to happen before we play Alabama. It wouldn’t be fair to make Dormandy struggle through all the toughest games, then let JG come in for the easy half of the schedule and look like he saved the season.
It’s very sad that Butch has divided his team by the wayside of his college best friend’s daughter engaged to Dormady.