At quarterback, a two-sided question

With every yard he gained and tackle he evaded last Saturday against Clemson, it became more and more apparent that C.J. Brown would be the Terrapins football team's starting quarterback against Florida State tomorrow.

Coach Randy Edsall made the move official Monday. After a Brown-led offense scored 45 points against Clemson, how could he not? It's undoubtedly the right move for this team right now.

But that doesn't mean it's the right move for the future.

As Brown dashed up and down the field, Danny O'Brien languished on the sideline. He put on a happy face, helping Brown between plays and staying very involved.

O'Brien hasn't been made available to the media since being benched, but it's hard to imagine he'd make a stink about his situation based on how he's spoken to the press this year. He'd likely admit that his play has been lackluster, and that he's happy for Brown's success.

"Me and him are still great friends," Brown said of O'Brien. "We talk, and I see him every day. I was there for him when he was going through all this, and now he's there for me.

"He's out there when I come over to the sidelines, I'm able to go over to talk to him [about] what he sees, what I can do better and stuff like that."

That's all well and good. The last thing Edsall's tumultuous first year needs is for the Terps' most high-profile player to cause even more problems. But how does he really feel?

It's hard to blame O'Brien if the possibility of transferring has crossed his mind. He's the reigning ACC Rookie of the Year for a reason, and other schools would almost certainly be interested in him. College football expert Phil Steele ranked him as the No. 19 quarterback in the nation before the season started, and listed him as a "possibility" for the Heisman Trophy. In O'Brien, the Terps have a Cadillac. But it's one that was acting up, making weird noises and not running smoothly. Instead of getting the Caddy fixed, though, the Terps have decided to go with another ride.

Don't think O'Brien won't be able to recreate the stellar form he displayed as a redshirt freshman, be it in College Park or elsewhere. Though he hasn't been able to recapture that same success as a sophomore, the slump is somewhat understandable. He was playing under a new coach with a receiving corps that let him down time after time.

More problematic, though, may be the offensive system that just doesn't suit him. Edsall knew what type of quarterback O'Brien was when he took the job. Instead of bringing in a pro-style coordinator, he brought in Gary Crowton, a spread-offense devotee. It's not really a surprise that Brown, a mobile quarterback, looks more comfortable in this offense.

Brown was the offensive spark the Terps needed against Clemson. He did everything he could to win that game, and he could very well continue that success against Florida State and for the rest of the season.

But considering the Tigers were able to focus on Brown's running in the second half and stop him, that's unlikely. A whole game's worth of film is going to make the Seminoles' job that much easier.

As the motor of the team, Brown's running well now, and everyone's pretty excited with his cool new features. But that new car smell will wear off shortly, and we'll likely soon remember that the sophomore doesn't offer much of a improvement.

Maybe Brown will struggle in Tallahassee and give O'Brien his job back. Or the backup could get back on the field at some point in the second half of the season. That would likely put all transfer talk to rest. Frankly, a lot can change between now and next year.

"Everybody always has to be ready to go. Because if you're a backup, you're one play away from going in there," Edsall said. "You never know when your opportunity might come again. And if it does, and when it does, then you just have to be ready to step in and take advantage of it."

But even if Brown continues to have success, is it really worth benching O'Brien for the rest of the year? O'Brien's ceiling appears higher than Brown's, and the rest of the year could be spent getting him back on track for 2012.

Let's face it: Given the expectations, this is a lost season. There won't be a trip to North Carolina for the ACC Championship Game in the Terps' future. Heck, they'll be lucky to make a bowl. So they can spend the rest of the season watching Brown run, or they can try to resuscitate the quarterback people dared to say had a chance to be the best in Terps history.

Based on how the second half of the season plays out, O'Brien may be at a crossroads. The Terps better hope that the Cadillac hasn't been repossessed.

And he very well could be. O'Brien is too talented to be left in the garage.

schneider@umdbk.com