I see your point here. However, I think all of the coaches, especially Richt, have been very strategic about their messaging, almost like a talking point for a politician. The coaches keep using different variations of the same phrase, "as it relates to knowing what to do, Malik is far ahead!" Anytime a question is asked about whether or not Malik is still ahead in the race, they preface their message with said phrase. That sounds calculated to me.
It's one thing to know something; it's another thing to execute what you know. If I know that simple principle, clearly so do our coaches. To me, this is basic. If Richt didn't want it to be a QB competition, it would not be a QB competition. Prior and during his first spring at Miami, he stated that the only person on the entire team who was locked in as a starter, was Brad Kaaya! Richt could have very easily done the same thing with Malik, but he didn't and hasn't. Kaaya was the incumbent starter(Malik). Malik was a redshirt SO (Perry). Jack Allison was a true freshman (Williams). There was actually more experience behind Kaaya than it is with Malik, because Malik was a redshirt SO and Perry is just a redshirt FR (Williams and Allison cancels each other out).
The whole, "every position is up for grabs" is just coach speak. That may apply for some positions, but not QB, unless the coach is looking for the incumbent to be unseated. Every coach in America, especially a QB Head Coach like Richt, would love to go into Spring, Summer, and Fall knowing who is going to be under center. This race is more than what meets the eye.