re: Does putting in a young quarterback ruin them?

I've never understood treating elite athletes like tender kittens. If we need them to play, put them in and see what they can do. You'll see fairly quickly who has it and who doesn't.

Yes, try your best as a coach to prepare them, but then turn them loose. If a player's confidence is shattered by a couple poor outings, then maybe he doesn't have the mental makeup to be a standout player anyway.