I don’t dispute that Mensah is probably better, just that Beck was unfairly hated. For what it’s worth, Beck had close wins against ND, A&M, Ohio St and Ole Miss last year with game winning drives in 3 of those.
He also didn’t have the weapons Mensah will have.
Beck is an average QB who has been carried for the entirety of his career.
Whenever he needed to step up & be THE guy, he didn't get it done.
At UGA & at Miami, same story; When everyone else around him plays at optimum level, he looks good, when HE has to do the heart lifting himself, he can't do it.
Beck was not unfairly hated IMO, If anything, he actually got more credit than he deserved. But as time would prove, when it was time for him to make THE play, to win THE game, he did was he always does.
If Cam Ward had last year's Defense, we win the Natty going away.