Vince Moraga named starting QB for opener

Earlier this week, as first reported by JD Scroggin of the Tribune, Cal Poly football coach Tim Walsh put a halt to the four-man scramble that was the Mustangs’ quarterback competition, naming Vince Moraga the starter.

Walsh: Moraga 'gets keys to car, can't crash it twice.' | #CPQB #BigSkyFB http://t.co/1qjqS4n9fx @VinceM_06 @vcspreps

— Joshua D. Scroggin (@SLOcollegebeat) August 20, 2013

Moraga, who got some playing time last year as the backup, beat out three other younger, less experienced players in Dano Graves, Chris Brown, and Tanner Trosin and will start the team’s opener vs. San Diego in a few weeks.

Junior Vince Moraga will be under center in Cal Poly’s triple option offense for the season opener August 31. By Owen Main

What does it mean?

Walsh said that it wasn’t just the scrimmage and game situations that the coaching staff looked at when making the decision. Moraga has the most experience, is a fifth-year Junior, and is the safest pick of the four.

Why it isn’t the sexy pick.

Moraga was as close to a known commodity as Wash had.

But the unknown is always the sexiest. Raw upside is tantalizing, and several of the players in the running have undeniable physical tools. From watching the limited number of practices I have and the spring game, Moraga is not the tallest, strongest, or fastest of the four options Walsh and offensive coordinator Saga Tuitele evaluated. For them though he was the best pick.

What Moraga does have, is knowledge of the offense, the ability to read a defense, and a real idea about what his job is. Like a basketball point guard, he prides himself on putting his playmakers in positions to be successful. He has a comfort-level with the offense and a maturity that may have set him apart in the minds of the coaches.

PHOTOS FROM LAST SATURDAY’S SCRIMMAGE

The door isn’t slammed shut…

Walsh said that whoever was his quarterback at the beginning, they would continue to have to compete and perform. In the Tribune article, the coach said, “You have the keys to the car, drive it. But if you wreck it twice, I’m not going to keep giving you the keys. He has to play well.”

After the scrimmage, I asked Walsh about the possibility of using more than one guy. Perhaps he was just humoring me, but he put it in the realm of possibility, especially if there were two guys who were equally reliable.

Multiple quarterbacks is far from his ideal, but Walsh’s take that practice hasn’t dropped-off no matter who was under center throughout camp may give him confidence in a second quarterback should he choose/need to use another one.

But,

Does that mean Walsh will have a quick trigger? History says no. Having a clear quarterback and sticking with that guy is something Walsh puts value in. So is maturity.

Moraga will get the most reps in practice during next few weeks and will get the “keys to the car” vs. San Diego. After that, it will be interesting to see how things go in back-to-back games against FBS teams. A successful first three weeks could squash additional controversy or heat it up leading up to the Big Sky conference opener Thursday, September 26 at Portland State.

Trackbacks

1. Cal Poly Football – 5 things to look for on Saturday - Fansmanship says:

   08/30/2013 at 12:33 pm

   […] the quarterback situation is settled – for now. Junior Vince Moraga is starting, and it was probably the right move. Still, after multiple years of solid play from last year’s senior, Andre Broadous, Moraga […]