FROM THE SHOTGUN…Week 4 QB Start/Sit

September 22nd, 2009 by Daniel Freer

MattGrothe Unfortunately, in football, injuries are common….

Sometimes too common.

This past Saturday, South Florida QB Matt Grothe was lost for the season as he tore the ACL in his left knee during the first half of the Bulls 59-0 win over Charleston Southern…thus ending the collegiate career of the possible four year starting QB.

Grothe led the Bulls to national prominence with his ability to run and pass, and, had the uncanny knack to make big plays when necessary. He was one of the top QBs in Big East during his career….including fantasy…and led the Bulls to three consecutive bowl games.

He also went 3-0 vs my alma-mater (UCF)…OK maybe that part was not so good, however, Grothe did earn my respect….and the Bulls program would not have come so far along, so soon, if it was not for Grothe.

Reportedly the Bulls will replace Grothe as starting QB with B.J. Daniels

And now, on to your Week 4 QB start/sit

START THEM

Case Keenum – Houston AND Taylor Potts – Texas Tech: This game will be an offensive orgy, with yards and points galore. Keenum and Potts are the safest roster picks of the week, and, the last one with the ball could win the game.

Blaine Gabbert – Missouri AND Colin Kaepernick – Nevada: Although many have soured on Kaepernick, this will be his first home game of the season, and that should be a help….even with undefeated Mizzou and the young star QB Gabbert coming to Mackay Stadium.

Dwight Dasher – Middle Tennessee AND Riley Dodge – North Texas: If you have these Sun Belt QBs….this is the time to play them. Both QBs are dangerous running and passing, and, both have led their teams to nice starts in 2009 (yes, even considering UNT getting clobbered at Alabama last week).

Tony Pike – Cincinnati (vs Fresno State): Pike is the real deal, and the Bearcats are the best team in the Big East. Fresno State always plays well against the better teams, and, such competitiveness will keep Pike on the field most of the game.

Greg Paulus – Syracuse (vs Maine): If there is a week to take a gamble on the former Duke point guard, this is it. The Orange have opened with three straight Big Ten opponents….without being told they left the Big East (just kidding on the latter). Paulus’s and SU gets a break.

Diondre Borel – Utah State (vs Southern Utah): Another one of the “B-Listers” that should be a nice play this week. Borel is an athletic QB who can boost his stats this week vs the FCS Thunderbirds.

OTHER QBs TO START: Tim Tebow – Florida; Colt McCoy – Texas; Terrelle Pryor – Ohio State; Robert Griffin – Baylor; Max Hall – BYU; G.J. Kinne – Tulsa; Ricky Dobbs – Navy; Dan LeFevour – Central Michigan

FIFTY-FIFTY ON PLAYING THEM (NOT FIFTY-CENT)

Jevan Snead – Ole Miss (at South Carolina): – Never can be sure which defense the Gamecocks will bring, but, they tend to play D well at home. Snead has so much talent at disposal, he does not need to blow up his stats to win.

Ryan Mallett – Arkansas (at Alabama): Mallett is what Arkansas needs when they get into a shootout, but, Bama has a stingy defense. There will not be a lot of production from Mallett this week.

Jacory Harris – Miami (at Virginia Tech): Yes, Harris is the real deal…and performed big in games vs Florida State and Georgia Tech. I just do not see Harris putting up the big stats on the Hokies in Blacksburg this Saturday.

DO NOT PLAY THIS WEEK

Trevor Vittatoe – UTEP (at Texas): Vittatoe (photo, right, thanks trevor-vittatoe Scout.com) usually starts slow, and this year is no exception (1 TD pass in three games). Do not look for Vittatoe to start blowing up at Texas this week….maybe later this season…but not this week.