I have accepted the fact that GP likes Delton and he'll probably continue to be in the rotation, although I find it frustrating. He had a nice game on Saturday, but he's just extremely limited as a passer. And I think his ability as a runner is often overstated as well. His best season as a rusher was in 2017, when he had 500 yards and a 5.0 average. I'm fine with the coaches sticking with Duggan - he has a long way to go but has a chance to be very good. But I have a hard time understanding how we're better off with Delton in the rotation than Collins.
I’ve thought a lot about why coaches have Delton as number 2 over Collins, despite Collins appearing to be the better quarterback from both an eye test and statistical standpoint. This is what I have come up with:
1. Collins may still be hurt and with Delton available coaches don’t feel the need to rush Collins back. They also may not trust Collins foot to last the season without injury. This is the simplest explanation and may be the correct one.
2. Delton is a team captain, and coaches may feel that it’s worth it from a leadership standpoint to have him as the number 2 even if he’s not as good as Collins. It’s hard to get a team to buy in to a team captain if that captain is a third stringer.
3. Patterson loves loves loves quarterbacks with athletic ability. He hates going against them on defense, and he hated having to gameplan to stop Delton when he was at K State. So now that he has Delton he wants to use him.
4. Coaches may feel that they’ve simply invested too many practice reps and practice time into Delton at this point. Delton received the most reps in Fall practice and in Spring practice, it would seem like a waste if they moved him behind Collins who obviously received much less practice time in Fall and Spring practice. This is part logical fallacy (sunk cost bias) and part logic (rapport with receivers and team mates).
5. Coaches may feel they “owe” Delton the number 2 spot due to his decision to transfer to TCU. Delton’s original plan was to transfer to UTEP to play for a former coach. He would have been the unquestioned starter there, but our coaches convinced him to come to TCU instead.