Preview '08: QBs

Finally, the wait is over. Only five short days until Mississippi State kicks the season off against La Tech. Only three days until the 2008 season begins. I've missed you football. I can't wait to get reacquainted. With that said, I waited too long to start rolling out these previews. Don't know if I'll get through them, but we'll give it a shot.

QB Depth Chart
Wesley Carroll So.
Tyson Lee Jr.
Chris Relf RFr.

2007 Stats
Name	Comp.	Att.	%	Yds	TD	Int	Rush	Yds	TD
Wesley Carroll	134	255	52.5	1392	9	7	47	67	0
Tyson Lee	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Chris Relf	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Wesley Carroll got thrown into the fire last year and performed admirably. True his numbers weren't eye popping and he looked better than he actually was due to following in the footsteps of one of the worst quarterbacks in all of Div I in the last decade. However he was a true freshman that was expecting to redshirt until injuries to the QBs in front of him changed all that. Despite that, he was still able to lead Mississippi State to its first bowl game in six years.

Carroll does not have a very strong arm nor is his accuracy outstanding at this point, but he does make good decisions with the football. While he is no Vince Young, Carroll can also hurt a team with his feet and can usually make at least one guy miss when he needs to. Carroll's biggest strength was also Henig's biggest weakness, and thats his intangibles, all of them. He is a natural leader and has the respect of his teammates. You can just see that he has command of the huddle. When there is a big play or a key first down, Carroll is the first one there congratulating his teammate. Finally, Carroll is just clutch. I don't know what it is but the guy turns it up a notch when he needs to.

Tyson Lee has the backup spot all locked up. The coaches have been impressed with him and say they intend to play him, in what capacity we don't know. Like Carroll he is mobile and his biggest weakness is probably his height. Lee is only around 5'10. He put up big numbers in JUCO but we won't know how that translates until he gets on the field.

Chris Relf simply isn't ready to play. He is yet another mobile quarterback that is said to have the running style of Anthony Dixon. Unfortunately his accuracy throwing the ball has been terrible in all of the scrimmages. If MSU has to start Relf for any significant amount of time, the season is lost.

Grade: 6/10

Carroll doesn't wow you with his physical ability, but he is a smart quarterback that isn't prone to turnovers and can bring some versatility with his ability to run it. Thats fine as it seems that is all Croom is really looking for, a caretaker rather than a playmaker. Tyson Lee was impressive in JUCO and has been impressive in practices so I'm cautiously optimistic. The biggest downside is that beyond those two, there isn't much to work with.