Jordan Wynn. How long will his body last? Twelve games? Eight games? Six games? One game? One quarter?
Much has been made about Jordan Wynn’s injury situation – some of the criticism warranted, some of it the result of paranoid fans and run-of-the-mill rivalry smack. Indeed, as the doldrums of fall camp drags on, it is a simple fact that there is not much to talk about. Naturally, the injury-proneness of a team’s most recognizable and important player is likely to get a lot of the run.
Here’s where I come out on Wynn. First, like anyone, he deserves a chance to prove it on the field. Now, why should a junior be allotted time to “prove himself?” Simply put, like the University, the other sports, and the other players on the football team, Jordan Wynn is entering what is very much a new beginning – the PAC-12. That being said, like any season it is fraught with unknowns. This much we can be sure of though: the competition in the PAC-12 will be tougher. Utah has established itself as a finely run football program that has produced a number of NFL players. Moving into a new and tougher conference, they get a bigger stage upon which to prove themselves. Now, as viewers we get to see if they, and their QB, will rise to the occasion.
Second, Norm Chow. I will only waste one line talking about Coach Chow’s past successes in Detmer, Leinart and Palmer. Chow has a history of tutoring quarterbacks. He brings a resume that cannot be matched by any other coach on Utah’s staff. He has had the benefit of coaching all across the country. Though Brian Johnson is the QB coach on Utah’s staff, with the implementation of a new offensive philosophy, the QBs and Johnson have likely spent a lot of time learning from Chow. Chow’s confidence in Wynn has been documented. Jordan Wynn has benefitted from Norm Chow and will have the opportunity to translate that to the field this season.
Third, the new offensive system. The spread offense, to function correctly at its most basic level, asks a lot of the QB legs. QB needs to be able to run a little bit. Alex Smith was an ace at this aspect. Norm Chow’s offense does not incorporate that aspect as much. Since the QB will be under center more, the opportunities to run will decrease. Jordan Wynn is not a running quarterback, he should benefit from this shift in philosophy. (It seemed at times that the spread offense accentuated his weaknesses)
I will never understand the apparent contradiction the coaches have put out there regarding Wynn. They have said that he is more comfortable in the pro-style, under-center type of offense that Utah is going to implement. It is a return to his roots. Yet, when Wynn was recruited Utah was clearly a team that was comfortable running the spread offense. Chow and his offensive sets were not even on the periphery at the time of Wynn’s recruiting. Therefore, if Wynn was not a prototype spread QB, why was he recruited? I can speculate but that’s it. Hopefully, this shift in offensive style will play to Jordan Wynn’s strengths.
If nothing else, his hair will lead Utah to unspeakable glory
