[washingtonismoney]

Left unexplored in the leaks regarding Wimbush's competence, and the critical question: if Wimbush was so unable to adjust to defenses, and if that were such a handicap, why wasn't Book able to beat him sooner?)

That's what keeps popping into my mind when I read ND fans talk about how clearly the offense will be much better now. Well, if it's so clear, why wasn't Book starting all along? This isn't like our team last year (or in 2012) where the challenger was much less experienced, Book's a Junior! If he couldn't beat out Wimbush during his 3rd training camp, why should we expect him to be so much better now? It strains credulity (and, interestingly, our resident sane ND fan seems to agree that it's not obvious Book is better).

Right. I think Stanford's QB tribulations demonstrate exactly this. When Stanford's switched QBs to a relatively young alternative (Costello, Hogan), it's gone very well. When it's switched between experienced options (Chryst) results were not precisely stellar. 

I'd be willing to buy that Book and Wimbush are roughly equivalent but the former's skillset is a better fit for the surrounding talent or what have you. But the idea that he's some sort of star in the making seems highly unlikely. Possible, but unlikely. If I were given some sort of reason to explain this I might reevaluate. But there's no reasoning that I've seen that answers the "why now?" question. 

The more likely explanation that presumes basic competence from everyone involved is that Book is a better fit with the talent or marginally better than Wimbush. That's nice, of course, and might provide the decisive edge in South Bend. But if you thought N.D. should be a slight favorite because of home field -- which is basically what I think is the logical, fair position to have -- before Book, you probably should think so after Book. Anyway, we'll see.

[washingtonismoney]

Left unexplored in the leaks regarding Wimbush's competence, and the critical question: if Wimbush was so unable to adjust to defenses, and if that were such a handicap, why wasn't Book able to beat him sooner?)

That's what keeps popping into my mind when I read ND fans talk about how clearly the offense will be much better now. Well, if it's so clear, why wasn't Book starting all along? This isn't like our team last year (or in 2012) where the challenger was much less experienced, Book's a Junior! If he couldn't beat out Wimbush during his 3rd training camp, why should we expect him to be so much better now? It strains credulity (and, interestingly, our resident sane ND fan seems to agree that it's not obvious Book is better).

Right. I think Stanford's QB tribulations demonstrate exactly this. When Stanford's switched QBs to a relatively young alternative (Costello, Hogan), it's gone very well. When it's switched between experienced options (Chryst) results were not precisely stellar. 

I'd be willing to buy that Book and Wimbush are roughly equivalent but the former's skillset is a better fit for the surrounding talent or what have you. But the idea that he's some sort of star in the making seems highly unlikely. Possible, but unlikely. If I were given some sort of reason to explain this I might reevaluate. But there's no reasoning that I've seen that answers the "why now?" question. 

The more likely explanation that presumes basic competence from everyone involved is that Book is a better fit with the talent or marginally better than Wimbush. That's nice, of course, and might provide the decisive edge in South Bend. But if you thought N.D. should be a slight favorite because of home field -- which is basically what I think is the logical, fair position to have -- before Book, you probably should think so after Book. Anyway, we'll see.