Florida Football: The Pros and Cons of Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel

When faced with a tough decision in life, the best way to come up with an answer is to break down the situation to its simplest form and weigh the pros and cons of each decision. 

The Florida Gators have more than one position battle going on right now, but no position is more publicized and scrutinized than quarterback. 

Both players are so close in their skill sets and the kind of production they brought last year and during spring that the decision of who will become the starter has dragged on into the summer and eventually fall camp.

In an attempt to bring a little clarity to the decision and to the battle let's make a list of pros and cons of both quarterbacks and look at what each brings to the table.  

Pros: Jacoby Brissett

Pros: Size, Pocket Presence, Strong Arm, Deep Ball Accuracy

Brissett is a big-bodied, strong-armed quarterback who can make all of the throws from the pocket. He has shown that he is not afraid to throw the ball downfield and stretch defenses. 

Brissett has shown that he has great pocket presence. While you wouldn't consider Brissett a dual-threat quarterback, he has the ability to manufacture more time while in the pocket and can use his feet to scramble if necessary.

By no means would you consider Brissett a veteran, but he did see action in eight games including two starts. Brissett completed 18-of-39 attempts for two touchdowns and eight interceptions. 

Pros: Jeff Driskel

Pros: Size, Arm Strength, Speed, Mobility, True Dual Threat, Accuracy 

Jeff Driskel started last season as the backup quarterback but after suffering an ankle injury against Alabama would just play one more half of football the rest of the season. 

Driskel was recruited by Urban Meyer and was the perfect fit for his spread-option offense. Driskel has the mobility to run an option offense but the accuracy and arm strength to be successful in a pro-style system.

Driskel has as strong an arm as Brissett but showed that he can be an accurate passer when he went 12-of-14 for 147 yards in the spring game. 

Cons: Jacoby Brissett

Cons: Inexperience, Decision Making 

Brissett is the more experienced of the two quarterbacks but he still has only 39 pass attempts. While both he and Driskel will benefit from having played a little last season, especially against SEC opponents, there will still be a learning curve for Brissett in 2012. 

Brissett has a strong arm and it is good that he trusts it, but there were several occasions last season where he forced balls into windows that you just can't throw to at this level. Not just on short and intermediate passes but a couple times Brissett thew essentially an "arm punt" where he threw a jump ball to a receiver who was double covered 30 or 40 yards downfield.

Brissett will learn and realize that sometimes it is better to give up on a play instead of trying to force a ball into tight coverage.  

Cons: Jeff Driskel

Cons: Inexperience, Relies too Much on His Feet

Driskel has just 34 pass attempts in his college career and has yet to start a game. Although he played in five games last season, four of those appearances were in garbage time. His only meaningful time came when he started the second half against Auburn and completed 9-of-18 pass attempts for 75 yards. 

Jeff has great mobility and exceptional speed for his size, but he often relies on his feet too much. Just as Brissett relies on his arm, Driskel relies on his feet. Jeff needs to find a balance between knowing when to run and when to buy time in the pocket and allow the play to develop.

Driskel doesn't have the body of Tim Tebow or Cam Newton and he cannot sustain taking the hits that those quarterbacks could over the course of a season. 

Summary

Any coach in America would love to have either of these two quarterbacks on their team. They are hard workers who stay out of trouble off the field and have the talent to be leaders of men. 

The Gators are truly in a good predicament with Brissett and Driskel battling for the starting job and lucky that these two are the ones doing it. Jeff and Jacoby have developed a relationship off the field and have not let the intensity of this battle affect them or their teammates negatively.

This kind of competition could drive a team apart and force them to take sides. Driskel and Brissett have been very professional during this competition and remain friends off the field. 

When a starting quarterback is finally named, the team will be better for it, the player will be better for it and the starting quarterback will still have a friend and a supporter backing him up. 

For the competition to be dragging out this long we can be sure that both quarterbacks are evenly matched and the coaching staff doesn't want to make a decision in haste. When a starting quarterback is named he will truly be the man for the job and have earned the title of starting quarterback. 

Let me know in the comments below which quarterback you would like to see win the job and why.