Miami Hurricanes Head Coach Mark Richt announced that Malik Rosier is back as the starting quarterback during his weekly conference ACC conference call. Rosier will start after the bye week when Miami plays their next game at Boston College October 26.
Richt made the announcement on Wednesday afternoon. Richt’s decisiveness in the decision was critical in ending the speculation about who the starting Miami Hurricanes starting quarterback will be with nine days before the next game.
Richt’s decision on reinstalling Rosier as the starter seems to be based on the fact that the Miami Hurricanes game against the Eagles is on the road. Richt said after the loss to Virginia on Saturday that he was concerned with Perry’s performance against the Cavaliers and if he could handle the crowd and pressure of playing on the road.
Richt contemplated taking Perry out when he struggled against Florida State on October 6. Perry was kept in the game because according to the Hurricanes Head Coach he has a higher ceiling than Rosier. Perry’s greater potential doesn’t seem to apply on the road.
Richt verified during the conference call that Rosier’s experience is the reason he has regained his job as the Miami Hurricanes starting quarterback. Miami’s next game being on the road also seemed to be a huge part of Richt’s decision.
"“My goal is always to (play) the guy I think gives us the best shot…At this point I think it is Malik. That’s what we decided…I think Malik’s just better equipped from his abilities and his experiences to lead this team right now…Malik right now is the guy that gives us the best shot.But Kosi certainly is a guy obviously we think very highly of and we want him to continue to grow as a quarterback and a person. So that’s why we want to make sure we get him in the game.”"
Saturday Blitz
Richt said that both quarterbacks will play. That will give Perry a chance to grab the starting position back from Rosier as he did by completing his first ten passes against FIU.
Richt elaborated that the second change this season in starting quarterbacks is no indication of what the future plan is for who the starting quarterback will be.
"“I just want them to understand that we’re trying to win games and we’re trying to do what we think is best…There’s no agenda other than that.”"
Richt was also asked if Rosier will be the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season and what this means for Perry going forward.
"“I don’t know the best way to answer the question. But certainly for Boston College…(the coaches) made it very clear to N’Kosi that he’s going to have a great career.He’s going to continue to grow as a quarterback and we’re going to continue to get him in the game to allow him to grow because he’s at that point in his career where you got to get snaps to get better and he’ll get snaps, for sure.”"
The outcry from the Miami Hurricanes fan base was a huge backlash against the decision. In reality, Rosier and Perry’s production are about the same.
The Miami Hurricanes need to improve their completion percentage as a team. It doesn’t matter who the quarterback is. Canes Warning examined the Miami quarterbacks earlier this week.
The Miami Hurricanes are 108th out of 130 teams in completion percentage. Miami has completed 53.9 percent of their passing attempts.
Neither quarterback has enough attempts to qualify in the national rankings in completion percentage. Perry has a 56.2 completion percentage. Rosier is at 52.1 percent. Perry would rank 97th and Rosier out of the top 100.