How to Destroy a QB's Confidence

            Backup quarterbacks are always fan favorites. Rookie backup quarterbacks are especially fan favorites. And they are for a good reason: you can’t perform poorly when you’re not taking every snap.

            Rookie quarterbacks traditionally follow two paths: starting off the season or coming in mid-season when the team has officially given up hope. But there’s a time and a place for rookies to debut. The fourth quarter of game one is not that time.

            After a not-so-impressive performance by starter Jamarr Robinson, head coach Ralph Friedgen put in his freshman quarterback, Danny O’Brien, during the fourth quarter of a game knotted at 14-14.

            He did what?

            Robinson, despite not making that much of a difference in the passing game, should not have been benched. He led the offense, allowing the rushing attack to dominate and score two touchdowns. He also added a handful of rushes on his own to preserve drives. In no way was he hurting his team.

            Paying no attention to the score, the game situation or the future ramifications of his actions, Friedgen went ahead and put O’Brien in to spell Robinson. While O’Brien did not attempt a pass, his presence in the game could really hurt the confidence of his starting quarterback.

            In only five attempts, Robinson completed three passes – one a piece to wide receivers Torrey Smith and Adrian Cannon, and one to Navy’s safety, Emmett Merchant.

But Friedgen knew Robinson would be a project at the position this season, being a first-year starter, and learning how to develop as a passer and a running threat. By substituting him with the rookie, you are telling him that as the head coach of this team, you do not trust him. With the game on the line, you are saying you don’t have faith in him to lead this team to victory.

Fortunately, for Friedgen’s sake, when Robinson returned to the game, he rushed for 14 yards and a crucial first down to keep the drive alive – the same drive that ended in what would be a game-winning field goal by Travis Baltz.

Friedgen can only hope that Robinson’s response to his fourth quarter benching in Monday’s win over the Midshipmen is a signal for more good to come. We’ll see on Saturday when the Terps face Morgan State.