Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire has no use for your usage of the “dual threat” category/designation. The term originated somewhere in the media and/or scouting world a long time ago, but during this past decade it’s become pervasive. It’s not just a cliche or a buzzword anymore, it’s a categorical definition now.
It’s not a Malik Zaire catch-phrase however.
“I never really understood what a dual-threat quarterback is,” Zaire said yesterday at Notre Dame Media Day. “I feel like, if you’re able to sustain plays and able to keep on your feet in the pocket, those are the things that continue drives.”
“Aaron Rodgers is a dual threat guy. Andrew Luck is a dual threat guy.”
“You never really see it very much with them moving the football down the field with their legs, but they’re able to survive the play and make plays happen and I kind of see it as people who say it don’t really know what they’re talking about when it comes to football.”
“So I think being able to be an athlete is a gift at the quarterback position. It’s about harnessing and having great technique is something that will take those athletes to the next level of playing the pocket and being a complete quarterback.”
The term “dual threat” is consistently overused and misused, by fans and media alike, so it’s refreshing to hear someone take that terminology to task. Especially so when that someone was ranked the third best “dual threat quarterback” in the nation by Rivals when he was coming out of high school.
Before Everett Golson left for Florida State, and Notre Dame had a quarterback controversy on its hands, Golson was considered the passer, and Zaire was considered the runner. Northwestern played a system with a passer (Trevor Siemian) and a runner (Kain Colter) at quarterback in 2012 and 2013. NU Coach Pat Fitzgerald labeled his signal callers “1A and 1B.”
Former Michigan star Denard Robinson was constantly labeled a dual threat, but his passing left a whole lot to be desired. Every time he threw a deep ball it was essentially nothing more than an inaccurate, lucky/unlucky jump ball. Robinson was a great example of the term “dual threat” being misused.
In his lone career start, a victory over LSU in the Music City Bowl, Malik Zaire ran the ball 22 times for 96 yards, and threw it 15 times.
In the post game press conference, Zaire had a quip that was even more entertaining than his opinions of dual threat terminology. Zaire had a funny answer to the tired, shopworn and predictable “Rudy” question that was tossed his way.
https://twitter.com/PaulMBanks/status/633827868729061376
And on Media Day, Coach Brian Kelly was asked a Heisman Trophy candidate question right before Q&A with the players. Kelly’s response involved Zaire, and that led to Kelly jokingly asking the media to test Zaire with the Heisman question.
Indeed Malik Zaire has very fine media skills.
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Malik Zaire takes issue with usage of the term “dual threat”
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Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is part of the FOX Sports Engage Network.Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous talk radio stations all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.
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