The Return of Kyle Wright

Canes QB Kyle Wright

I'd like to think UM head coach Randy Shannon has been reading my blog. Afterall, it was just a couple of weeks ago I stated Kyle Wright would somehow return to the starting lineup. I never once thought Kirby Freeman would play well enough to keep the starting job. Everytime I watch Freeman, he looks like a high school quarterback playing college football. With less than 100 yards passing in his first two starts this season, Freeman's performances have been an insult to high school quarterbacks everywhere. He struggles just to complete short screen passes. He can't read a defense to save his life. He often tucks the ball to run after making his first read and he has no accuracy whatsoever.

Well, today Shannon made it official and announced Wright will start this Saturday against FIU. If you watched the Canes 51-13 loss to Oklahoma, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out Wright did a better job of moving the offense. That's not saying much. The Canes looked like a Pop Warner team while playing a superior Sooner squad. But his touchdown pass to Ryan Hill marked the only time the Canes offense reached the end zone.

Let me make it clear that I've never been a huge fan of Wright. He has a lot of bad habits like holding on the ball too long and his instincts for the game are severly lacking. But I'm glad to see him get another chance to redeem himself. He's a 5th year senior and sitting on the bench is no way for Wright to exit UM. Like it or not Cane fans, Wright is the best passer UM has. (Freshman Robert Marve has yet to play a down) Wright's always had great physical tools--size, arm strength and athleticism. Let's hope it's never too late to realize that potential.

Changing the subject, I'm glad Randy Shannon finally saw the light and moved cornerback Randy Phillips to safety. Just this past Saturday, Phillips was burned for 3 touchdowns by Oklahoma receiver Malcolm Kelly. In defense of Phillips, Kelly is going to beat a lot of cornerbacks. But Phillips has been the constant target of every opposing quarterback that plays the Canes. Even though UM starts a true freshman DeMarcus Van Dyke at the other corner, teams still prefer to pick on Phillips.

I just could never understand why Shannon has kept Randy Phillips at cornerback so long. Phillips was a highly recruited safety coming out of Glades Central High School in Belle Glade. He never played cornerback until he arrived at UM. At the time, UM was lacking depth at the cornerback position. But he's just too slow to play corner. Now it's two years later and Phillips needs to move back to the position that best suits his talents.