I think Harris is probably the most stable choice as the back-up QB.

But, as I mentioned before, a team must have three ready. It’s rare that you might need all three in one game, but it can happen (Randy McEachern vs. OU, 1977 and broke six-game losing streak, too). The more likely case would be if Colt should go down, the Horns have one ready and a prepared back-up.

Quite simply, we’ve understood here for some time that with 4.3 speed and explosive ability, Chiles has to be on the field in some role. So I’m glad the Longhorn staff finally endorses this. Let’s hope it sticks.

With the earlier rumors of Curtis Brown, perhaps they’re reassessing everyone to discover where their best potential lies.

And does anyone have any insight into this evaluation process (from AAS):

Brown each year asks his staff to rank the players in terms of their athletic ability on both sides of the ball, and Chiles and incumbent quarterback Colt McCoy rank as two of the top offensive playmakers.

I agree, as most have said, that it’s a great move, and we’ll have “the best 11 on the field no matter what”. BUT, it’s important to remember that Mack has made it abundantly clear that JC is still first and foremost a QB (“He is a quarterback, period.” – Mack).

This means JC will probably continue to hold the #2 play-caller spot whether he runs a few routes on the side or not. I might agree with whills that Sherrod Harris is the most stable back-up, BUT my pick would be to keep JC as the 1st runner-up for several reasons:
Successful game (and bowl!) experience: Maybe not with his arm, but one way or another he got the job done. Furthermore, I’d take a QB with several unsuccessful possessions under his belt than a QB with none. I don’t trust a QB’s stats until his third or so all-time possession anyway. (That being said, two important notes come up: 1) JC’s possessions WERE successful 2) his arm was unimpressive regardless of ‘first-time-on-the-field-jitters’)
NOWness: Most importantly a back-up needs to be the most ready RIGHT NOW, and I’ll give that card to JC. SH has shown he can be calm and fairly consistent, but other than spring games and what-not, he’s fairly untested. Keep him at #3 and continue development. (maybe that’s too similar to the first)
Development: With the RIGHT NOW card given, remember the back-up is not playing an important possession while Colt stands (looks to heaven prayerfully), so the staff will hopefully be working on JC’s weaknesses (ARM) until his day comes. I’ll take JC’s raw talent, athleticism, and explosiveness over SH. I LOVE Harris and think he’ll be great, but let’s build on JC’s foundation and see what sort of hell we can unleash.
Explosiveness: A back-up comes in after #1 stunner goes down, which is really freaking depressing. You want someone to run onto the field who’s gonna light fire under some asses, and JC will absolutely do that, if nothing else than by example. SH might be able to do it too, though the only fire-lighting I’ve seen from him were a few break-out runs in the ‘07 Spring Game. I KNOW JC can.

Having said all that, I think JC will make a stellar addition to our air game. I watched those high school highlights and couldn’t help but smile. But lets remember that he probably won’t get that many looks, and I’m A-okay with that so that we focus on his arm. Whether you’re in the ‘look-ahead-to-09’ group or not, you have to hope we spend more time making him the BEST QB HE CAN BE than working his athleticism into the line-up, as tempting as it is. There’s room for disagreement there, but those are my thoughts. Keep PB’s Option A but add Chiles as an asterisk Flanker. Hit me with thoughts, particularly about SH as #2, cus I need to look into that more. And if that’s the case, then it gives more weight to JC spending more time spinning those wheels.

5 days til my return to the Greatest City in the World, Hook ‘em!

Get both Chiles AND Harris a bunch of snaps in 3 of the first 4 games (non-conf foes minus Arkansas). Then we’ll know what we’re looking at.

I can see them using Chiles at WR a little bit, but I think it will be special plays, not in the regular rotation. And defenses will probably sniff it out unless he’s a decoy.

wr screen, wr pass, jet sweep yay!. considering we have no deep threat whatsoever at the moment i say this is good news. perhaps the wr screen will finally be useful this comming season.

The #2 will be very important, because Colt has been known to take some shots. I hope the O-line protects him better, and we don’t have to worry about a #2. I am also hoping Colt cuts his INT’s in half.

I would split the time with Harris and Chiles, and have Chiles practicing with the 1st team at WR and with the second team as a QB.

Honestly.. Harris has been hurt already in his short career, and he hasn’t even played with the 1st teamers. I would keep him at #3. Chiles will get better throwing the ball, he really can’t get much worse! He’s a great athlete and they pick up fast. I said it before, Chiles can move the ball down field just running the ball, imagine when he learns how to pass(unstoppable).

If Texas is going to stick with Colt, then they definitly need to get Chiles in at WR.

Keeps him and McCoy in the same backfield, and you don’t know who is getting the snap every play.

My texas fan friend is convinced this would give texas a difference maker at RB on the level of Jamaal Charles. I haven’t seen Chiles enough to comment.