Taking everything into account redshirt freshman Chad Chalich’s Division 1 debut in Denton, Texas, last Saturday has to be considered a success. Against a better football team, Chalich toughed it out for 230 yards on 27 passing attempts, tossing a touchdown and not throwing an interception. His efficiency was fine, averaging 8.5 yards per attempt. All of that while absorbing five sacks, which meant he only amassed 21 yards rushing on his 17 attempts.
In every sense of the word, Chalich has been tough. Chalich toughed it out in the spring game and fall scrimmages when the quarterbacks were live and the Idaho defensive line put a beating on him.
He’s a competitor, a warrior, a team player. Chalich isn’t afraid to do what is necessary to further the goal of his team. He is a consummate team player.
To Idaho coach Paul Petrino that’s not just going above and beyond — it’s expected. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. Chalich is the quarterback which means he leads by example, but there is a point where a quarterback has to be smart about his health and the decisions he makes — specifically tucking the ball and running, diving and running out of bounds.
Chalich, however, is not allowed to do those things.
“The day he slides or goes out of bounds he won’t be our quarterback,” Petrino said on Monday following the 40-6 loss to the North Texas.
Petrino is trying to send a message to his team, fair enough, but is it the right message?
We need to look at the landscape of college football today and realize what Chalich is being asked to do. How many quarterbacks are getting lit up by the speed of the game? How quickly is the game of football evolving because of the safety precautions being implemented?
Chalich was sacked five times on Saturday and coughed the ball up twice. Granted, he’s a freshman and will improve, but against a mid-level Conference-USA opponent Chalich was hit 17 times. Idaho’s upcoming schedule includes opponents such as Northern Illinois, Fresno State, Arkansas State, Ole Miss and Florida State.
If that is what Petrino is asking his 210 pound (if that) quarterback to do then Petrino is not expecting said quarterback to make it through 12 football games in 2013.
Yeah, Petrino has junior Josh McCain in the wings who will likely see a bigger and bigger role each week as he gets more comfortable in the offense. But then again, McCain is only 190 pounds on a good day and is more of a mobile quarterback than Chalich is.
Stay alert, Taylor Davis, because at this rate you’re going to get some time this year too.
Sean Kramer can be reached at [email protected]