It's black and white for Gray: QB is in his future

MarQueis Gray told the Star Tribune that he wants to catch more passes and more touchdowns this year. He also said he'd like to be the one throwing those passes next year. In his Gridiron Gold blog, Phil Miller quotes Gray:

"If the coach thinks I'm a receiver, we're going to talk about it, because I want to play quarterback next year. That's what I'm going to work at in the offseason."

It would be easy to think that Gray, despite very little playing time at the position, is the no-brainer at QB in 2011. But he doesn't have much say right now. Until the big office at TCF Bank Stadium is filled, Gray is left to wonder with the rest of us.

In the same blog post, Miller quotes interim head coach Jeff Horton:

"We were going to probably incorporate what they call the 'pistol' offense now, do some of those things,"

That would be an interesting, but difficult transition. Gray, like Adam Weber, has had to deal with different coordinators and offensive schemes year in and year out. Ask Rick Neuheisal how easy the Pistol is to implement. His UCLA team has struggled since spring practice to get it right.

That is not to say that Gray couldn't do it. He may be a better fit in a run-first spread system like Oregon, or a more balanced spread like Florida. But Gray has immense talent and it would be hard for a new coach to overlook No. 5.

But without a true head coach, the next scheme is unknown. But Gray only need to look at the depth chart to like his chances next fall. There will be one junior, Adam Lueck (Eden Prairie); one RS sophomores, Moses Alipate (Jefferson); and two RS freshmen, Tom Parish (Hartland, Wisc.) and J. D. Pride (Totino-Grace).

None were as highly touted as Gray (a 4-star prospect according Rivals.com) coming out of high school. Alipate (3-stars) and Parish (3-stars) had okay grades while Pride (2-stars) and Lueck (N/A) would be considered projects or repositioned.

And while we're at it, a quick look at verbal commitments for 2011 don't show much either. Max Shortell (Shawnee Mission, Kan.) is rated 3-stars, but will likely take a redshirt.

If the new coach implements any type of offense that needs mobility from the QB position, Gray is all but guaranteed the spot -- unless Parish surges past him in the spring. If the new coach wants to run a pro-style set, Gray might end up competing with Alipate.

But in the end, it's hard to imagine a situation where Gray is, at the very least, given the opportunity to start 2011 as the man. Whether or not he finishes it that way could be more a product of the new head coach than of his ability.