How to handle the QBs

 

With the de facto Ivy championship just two days away, Keiffer Garton's return to practice couldn't have come at a better time. Then again, Kyle Olson's stellar play of late raises an interesting predicament. Do you go with your established starter? Or do you go with your hot hand?

Al Bagnoli sides with the latter, as he already said that Kyle Olson will be his starter. But the question remains: how much playing time will Garton actually see? Bagnoli said “Kyle will take the majority of the snaps and we’ll play it by ear, see what happens. We fully intend to get Keiffer in the game.”

Sure, Garton should get in the game, if not to get the talented quarterback a chance to make some plays, then just to make sure Harvard has it in the back of its mind. But what if Olson continues to light it up, like he has the last two weeks? Harvard's No. 6 Ivy pass defense shouldn't be too much of a probem for him, but its No. 2 run defense certainly will be. If Olson plays well and say the team takes a lead, does Bagnoli risk bringing in a completely cold Keiffer Garton?

It seems that "playing it by ear" simply means Bagnoli will have to make the decision on the fly. If Olson can't get the offense going, Garton will almost definitely see the field. If Olson keeps it up, though, I don't think Bagnoli can (or will) go to Garton. And when you throw in the consideration of whether he will mix in the wildcat/slash/single-wing/whatever, this will almost definitely be the most interesting element of this game. And Bagnoli's decision could very well end up determining the next Ivy League champion.

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