Moderators: jcmanson, Sly Fox, BuryYourDuke, Class of 20Something
PAmedic wrote:do we have a TE w/ hands? I forget how Luck was last year.Luck has great hands. He made some just phenomenal catches last year, especially when Smitty was in the lineup. Corey Rasberry is a step down from that in the pass-catching department and Richard Thom...well, at least Thom hits well. I think this will be important because from what we've seen so far from our new UVa-ish offense, the TE is nearly as involved in the passing game as the WRs.
By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
April 11, 2006
By default, Zach Terrell is Liberty University's No. 1 quarterback during spring practice.
Brock Smith, who started the last three games of 2005, is sidelined with mononucleosis, so Terrell is the only Flames quarterback with game experience on the roster.
The position change may not be temporary for Terrell, the Big South freshman of the year who did a little bit of everything last season.
In fact, LU coach Danny Rocco said Terrell would be the Flames' starting quarterback if "we had a game this Saturday."
Interesting.
Terrell will get the opportunity to compete with Smith for the starting quarterback job, now and in the fall. That's not a knock on Smith, who performed fabulously at the end of the season. He threw for 814 yards and five touchdowns in six games.
"Both Brock and Zach are really first-year players," Rocco said. "We thought it would be the right thing to do to put them both back there and compete for the position and allow them to have healthy competition.
"I think anything in football and in sport needs to be earned, especially in a position as important and significant as the quarterback position."
Terrell, who did most of his damage at running back last season, likes the move. He admitted that much of his freshman success came on feel. He didn't really have a firm grasp on what he was doing because he shuttled between three different positions.
His instincts took over, though, and he ran for 668 yards and two touchdowns. Terrell's breakout was a 241-yard effort against Chattanooga.
"I'm learning the whole offense, the whole system," Terrell said. "Coach wants me to learn everything, so no matter where I play, I can help the team out.
"(Working) at quarterback, I can take that and learn that and apply it to different positions."
Terrell, who went 14-0 as a senior at Manassas Park and led the Cougars to a Group A state title, flashed his throwing skills at Monday's spring practice, completing several long passes, including a touchdown pass that covered at least 50 yards.
That's promising, new LU offensive coordinator Scott Wachenheim said, because in Saturday's scrimmage, Terrell struggled a bit with the deep ball.
Smith isn't out of the race to start by any means. Rocco hopes the sophomore can heal enough to participate in at least a week's worth of spring drills.
If Terrell doesn't get the start at quarterback, he'll still be in the mix for playing time at a variety of positions.
"He's just too talented not to be on the field," Rocco said.
Wachenheim is already devising ways to utilize Terrell.
Wachenheim ran an option offense out of the wishbone as the offensive coordinator at Rice. He's not prepared to turn Liberty's offense into a dedicated option set, but some plays and principles will be installed.
Terrell becomes a huge asset in that sort of offense. Smith, too, can run the option, as he's deceptively quick for a 6-foot-3, 240 pounder.
So the point remains: No matter what happens in the QB battle, Terrell is going to get his touches.
"If Zach is not the starting quarterback on Day 1, he could very easily be a running back or a receiver for us," Wachenheim said. "Right now, he's the No. 1 quarterback, and we're preparing him to be that."
NOTES: Three Flames will miss all of spring drills due to injuries: linebacker Nick Hursky (shoulder), defensive lineman Chris Renick (knee) and offensive lineman Stephen Sene (shoulder). ? Two interested observers were at practice Monday. LCA's Chris Rocco and Amherst's Pierre Tinsley both signed with Liberty in February, but since they are not enrolled at LU yet, they cannot partake in spring practice. They are allowed to watch drills and get a feel for how the coaching staff will operate. "They're listening and learning and they're eager," Danny Rocco said. "It's kind of neat to see."
JLFJR wrote:Thanks for your input, PA! Very helpful.
Sly Fox wrote:I'll bet Aunt Anne can give us the inside scoop, but you know Brock is dying to be out there on the field.ya know it just occurred to me, I don't think we brought her over here w/ us. You better check on her, SLY!
JLFJR wrote:Thanks for your input, PA! Very helpful.
LUconn wrote:What time is the scrimmage tonight? I'll bring my camera and upload some pictures. Everybody I know has left town and I need something to do.I believe it starts at 7 tonight. Id check the practice schedule to be sure though
- By olldflame