It was the first day of regular-season practice. The media were there for the reveal. The coach was there. All that was missing was the actual reveal. Just nine days before the season opener at home against Kennesaw State, Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert said he has not yet chosen a starting quarterback.
And the Starting Quarterback Is…
Robby Ashford and Deshawn Purdie, both transfers, are still the two choices. But Dickert said he likely won’t be ready to make a decision on who the starter is until this weekend. And then there is the process of telling the two players and telling the team. He plans to tell the media and the public on Monday. Of course, once 85+ players know, it is going to leak out somewhere from someone.
“I think we feel really comfortable as a coaching staff, kind of getting close to that decision. Saturday will be the final day. We have a mock game on Sunday,” Dickert said after Wednesday’s practice. “We’ll probably let the public know on Monday.”
Still Trying to Get to Better Play
Part of the hold-up is that the coach was not pleased with the practice on Wednesday, the first day of game prep for the season opener. “This wasn’t good enough for a Tuesday,” Dickert said. Yes, he was aware of what day of the week it was, after being reminded by a snarky reporter. His point was based on the compressed schedule with a Friday night game next week; Wednesday’s practice was what they would usually be doing on a Tuesday. “Not at the quarterback, not at the running back, not at the receivers, not blocking at o-line; like what it takes to be a cohesive group.”
Dickert referenced back to when former Wake coach Jim Caldwell made an appearance at practice three weeks ago. “He said, ‘Guys, there’s no such thing as a practice rep.’” Dickert said the game quality of play was not consistent enough on Wednesday. He added that what he wants to see out of the players now is a resemblance to what he expects in a game. “We’ll never be loose, but we can never play tight. We’ve got to play fast and free.”
Dickert said there needs to be an increase in the urgency to prepare and pick up how they are doing things on a daily basis.
Decisions Made
The coach also said the first day of installing the schemes for the game comes with personnel moves, and that comes with some players’ adjustments. Players found out where they are starting the season on the depth chart, or if they are on the scout team.
Among the personnel decisions made were those with special teams. Connor Calvert takes over the placekicking duties. The redshirt freshman is a transfer from Washington State who did not play at all in Pullman last year. Caleb Carlson will handle kickoffs. Cal Joseph will handle the punting duties, having arrived in Winston-Salem from Perth, Australia, just prior to the start of Fall camp.
Back to the Quarterbacks
But what about the decision everyone is waiting for? What is Dickert wanting to see from either of them that he has not seen throughout all of camp and the scrimmages that will allow him to be comfortable with the decision? “It still comes down to a little extra command,” he said. The point was less about what they are doing on the field than how they are leading the team overall.
“Stop competing against each other. Stop walking over to [quarterbacks coach Dan] Coach Enos, and go be with your team.” Ashford and Purdie have had decidedly different postures off the field during live play during the scrimmages and at practice. Dickert was watching for that on Wednesday. “We failed on a two-minute drill at the end. All I’m doing is watching what that quarterback is doing. Those are the moments you win the team.”
Dickert said he met with both quarterbacks over the weekend to deliver that message. He repeated what he has said throughout camp, that the starter is not going to get a quick hook if he makes mistakes. But it is also likely there will be snaps for both quarterbacks in week one.
Main Image: Tony Siracusa
