Should the Pack Go With Evans?

Who should N.C State start at quarterback? With the season a little more than two weeks away, new Pack coach Tom O'Brien seems in no hurry to name a starter. He says the job is still very much up for grabs. Tom O'Brien is not the kind to make hasty decisions.

Junior Daniel Evans has the experience that O'Brien probably wants, even if many of those Evans experiences from last season should best be forgotten. Evans though is smart, if somewhat limited athletically. Last season, a patched-up Wolfpack offensive line was terrible, and that didn't help a young quarterback. Remember, there were times before the injuries began to pile up that Evans made some good things happen.

O'Brien has always emphasized offensive line play, and you can bet State will be better there this season. State does have the running backs. Andre Brown and Toney Baker are talented and proven. They're as good as anybody. Shifty Jamelle Eugene adds another dimension. If the line stays healthy and can open up the holes and the Pack can run the ball, that will take pressure off the quarterback whomever they give the job. The Wolfpack also has some potential big-play receivers.

But who will be the quarterback?

It appears that neither Harrison Beck nor Justin Burke are doing enough to push out Evans so far. You don't know what's going on in those closed practices, but if stats released from two scrimmages mean anything, let's say that none of the three are putting up Dan Marino numbers, much less Philip Rivers figures. Freshman Russell Wilson is said to have looked good in limited action, but he has to be the longest of shots.

Evans says he feels like he's really catching on to what this coaching staff wants. He says he's beginning to feel comfortable in the system, but he also says that the job is not his, that the competition is intense.

Evans has the most experience and he's the safest choice, but something is keeping the coaching staff from going ahead and naming him the starter. Evans is smart enough not to lose games, but is he good enough to win games?

State has another scrimmage Friday. The coaching staff will again evaluate.

Do they go with Evans? He was never thought to be of star quality − a steady journeyman at best.

Maybe that's why O'Brien hasn't made up his mind. Maybe he's waiting to see if either the more-talented Beck or Burke can somehow separate themselves, can show they're noticeably better than Daniel Evans. They're getting their chances.

The season starts Sept. 1. Who will it be? Who should it be?