I do not envy Butch Davis in having to make this decision.
First, the tale of the tape:
| Player | G | Rec | Cmp/Att/Pct. | Yards/Avg | TDs | INTs | Effic | Tm Rush | Tm Off | Tm PPG |
| Cam Sexton | 5 | 4-1 | 73-122-59% | 964/192.8 | 6 | 3 | 137.5 | 116.4 | 313.6 | 30.6 |
| TJ Yates | 3 | 2-1 | 40-66-60% | 623/207.7 | 6 | 1 | 166.9 | 135.3 | 358.0 | 32.0 |
The statistical comparison is basically equal since there are any number of caveats you can throw out there to account for the differences. For example the rushing average with Sexon is significantly lower until you realize that includes a 35 yard game against Miami. In the four games since UNC has actually run the ball slightly better than they did with Yates at QB. Yates has generally been a better passer in terms of yards per game but again you have to account for the fact that Sexton lost Brandon Tate during the Notre Dame game and endured the transition of offense in the UVa game. In other words both QBs have offered the same production both in terms of points and wins though you could argue that Yates is not responsible for the VT loss since the Heels were leading when he went out. Then again can Sexton really be held responsible for the loss at UVA? He handed the defense a touchdown lead with two minutes left and they blew it. The only real negative for Sexton is the three INTs versus one for Yates. Then again that is four INTs in eight games total which is incredibly good in terms of playing mistake free football.
If the basic stats are the same that means the decision is going to rest in the realm of the intangible qualities. You also have a fairly big question of how much rust Yates has and whether you can afford to waste a few possessions to help him shake it off. I would think not since UNC has to win all the remaining games to have a shot at Tampa. I doubt there is any kind of chemistry question. The offense will probably respond to either guy and as far as I know Yates and Sexton get along since the former was very active in helping the latter during the game. There is also the loss of Tate and the emergence of the running game. Sexton has worked through the major shifts in the offense to its present form whereas Yates would need to adapt to some obvious difference in how the offensive unit functions now versus five weeks ago.
In the end, I am not sure there are any logicial or factual reasons that can be tossed out there in distinguishing the two. It is my suspiscion that Davis will make the call on some kind of “gut” feeling or on the basis of some factors only he, as head coach, can account for. I do not think UNC can go wrong with either player unless Yates is completely out of sync which would make putting him in the game an immensely bad idea. So the chances are Davis will split the difference and approach it like he did versus Miami giving one player the first two or three offensive possessions followed by the other one then proceed from there.
It is a tough decision for Davis and one I am glad I don’t have to make.
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Play both guys and go with the hot hand.
Skip Holtz had this to say about ECU’s QB situation:
-”They’ll both play. We are in a very fortunate situation, to have two quarterbacks who have a lot of experience under their belts. They’ve both played and been in game-like situations. I said it after the game; I thought Rob Kass did a really nice job of going in and managing the game last week. I thought he took what the defense gave him, made some nice reads and made some nice throws. I thought he did a nice job and we were able to put some points up on the board.
-”Rob needs to play, but their strengths are different. Right now I don’t think there is a lot of difference between the two as far as productivity. I think they’re both doing some good things. Until one really emerges as the difference maker, I think both of them have some strength that we’re going to have to utilize, especially against the defense we’re playing this week.”
If there’s not a lot of difference is productivity then go with the hot hand. That can be determined in practice and the last couple of games. I think I would start Sexton but have Yates in the batter’s box. If Sexton has a couple of three and outs and is not hitting his receivers or making good decisions then bring in Yates.
The two QB system worked pretty good for the Pirates last year but Skip didn’t initiate it this year until losing three in a row. I believe if Skip would have put Kass in late in the State game or early in the Houston game or at all in the UVA game we’d be 6-1 rather than 4-3.
What happened with Paulus? He played like three series and that is it?
It was pretty obvious that Paulus was not up to the job. He played the end of the 3rd quarter and all of the fourth against VT then two possessions versus Miami where the only positive thing he did was hand the ball to Greg Little who then ran 50 yards for a TD against the Hokies. Sexton proved his worth, the question is how he will fit in when Yates returns.
If we knew for a fact that the T.J. Yates we’re getting back is the exact same T.J. Yates who was carving up VT before the injury, then you play him — it’d be a no-brainer. However, since there’s pretty much zero chance that T.J. would be both 100% healthy and have zero layoff-induced rust, I think Butch will continue to play Sexton, who’s demonstrated that he can win games as a QB. I think Yates will probably play the role of the guy Butch won’t hesitate to put in and stick with if Sexton struggles (much like the role Sexton played behind the starter Paulus in the Miami game).
Johnathan has it right IMO. If Cam looks off let T.J. come in. Cam’s earned that.
I think Cam should finish out the side, provided he is playing up to par. I do hate to punish TJ for his injury though, and you want to keep his confidence up, as he will be our quarterback for the next few. How else though, do you reward a Senior, for sticking with a program that looked as if it wasn’t going to give you an opportunity?
Cameron is only a redshirt junior, isn’t he? He should have another year of eligibility (hopefully as Yates’s capable backup) left.