QB Simms creating buzz
For the first time, says Austin Ward of the Knoxville News-Sentinel, there is a buzz around juco transfer QB Matt Simms, the No. 1 signal caller heading into fall camp, that hasn't existed since Simms arrived on campus in January.
What's behind the buzz? Simms' showing at the Manning Passing Academy, where he dazzled observers (including ESPN's Chris Mortensen) with his tight spirals and his accuracy in a skills competition.
If there was any question before, there shouldn't be any longer that Simms has the physical gifts to be a BCS conference QB. "When we evaluate quarterbacks, one of the criteria I use is what I call his 'ballistics,'" coach Derek Dooley said. "Imagine a bullet coming out of a gun. That's phenomenal ballistics, the physics of the spin and when it fires how tight the spiral is, how wound up the ball is. Matt does spin it well."
Ward cautions: "Obviously there's more to playing the position than just natural talent."
Now it's up to Simms to show that he can play the position better than he did during spring practice, when he emerged as the starter by default. Simms says that he is more comfortable with the offense and his teammates now than he was before, and he expects to perform better during fall camp as a result.
"I've got a better grasp of what's going on," he said. "You can ask all the coaches and all the players, I've definitely made a huge leap this summer, and that was my goal just to become more accurate with the football, better decision-making and to be quick but not to hurry."
