Vols' Jarrett Guarantano has to hide disappointment better
John Adams
Jarrett Guarantano looked disengaged and dejected on the Tennessee sideline Monday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Anyone watching on television could tell UT’s backup quarterback wasn’t happy.
At one point, cameras showed Tennessee assistant athletic director Condredge Holloway, a former Vols quarterback, appearing to console Guarantano. ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit commented on the redshirt freshman’s negative body language.
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The obvious conclusion: Guarantano was disconsolate because he wasn’t playing. If that were the case, he should learn to mask his disappointment better because many fans interpreted his body language as not caring about the team.
Things worked out for the team. It rallied from a two-touchdown deficit behind the passing of starting quarterback Quinten Dormady to beat Georgia Tech 42-41 in double overtime.
A tougher question: How will things work out for Guarantano?
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That might depend, in part, on how coach Butch Jones manages the situation.
Dormady and Guarantano have competed since the end of the 2016 season to determine who would replace Joshua Dobbs, now a rookie with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both quarterbacks have talent.
Dormady had a chance to show his talent in the comeback against Georgia Tech. My guess is Guarantano will do the same Saturday against Indiana State, an overmatched opponent that will enable Tennessee to empty its bench.
But nothing that happens against the Sycamores, aside from an injury to Dormady, would cause Jones not to start Dormady against Florida the following Saturday.
So where does that leave Guarantano?
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Jones was asked at Wednesday’s press conference whether Guarantano had expected to play against Georgia Tech and whether the course of the game caused Jones to stick with Dormady.
“The message is always the same,” Jones said. “You’re always one snap away, and you have to be ready.
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“It’s really the first time he’s been in that situation. And really, Quinten went through the same thing behind Josh. Sometimes you’re antsy; you’re ready to play; you’re going through everything in your mind. But you’re always one snap away.”
Nothing wrong with the one-snap-away philosophy. However, it’s important how that message is delivered to players, particularly quarterbacks.
Former UT quarterback Tony Robinson said Tuesday that he spoke to Guarantano and encouraged him. He got the impression that Guarantano thought he was going to play and was disappointed when he didn’t get the chance.
If Jones told Guarantano to be ready, that’s fine. But there’s a fine line between convincing a quarterback that he needs to be ready and making him believe that he will play.
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When Tennessee’s offense was struggling early, you could have made a case for trying Guarantano at quarterback to see whether he could provide a spark. Instead, Jones stuck with Dormady. It wasn’t necessarily an easy decision, but the outcome proved that Jones made the right call.
Keeping a backup quarterback content can be a challenge for any coach. You also should appreciate the challenge facing a backup quarterback, though.
A competitor should be upset when he doesn’t play. But in the heat of battle, he has to conceal that disappointment and put his team first.
Reach John Adams at john.adams@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6284 and on Twitter @johnadamskns.
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Tennessee Vols QB Quinten Dormady a winner in opener
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What to expect from Vols vs. Georgia Tech and rest of SEC Week 1