A Sea Of Red

Well its time for me to put on my writer's hat once again as we look ahead to the 2010 season (thanks to Sly for inspiring me with his posting of opponent previews).

As we count down the last weeks until training camp and the season opener on September 4, I'll be posting my thoughts and breakdown of the various positions each Wednesday. Today we start with probably the most talked about position last year, the QB.

Going into 2009 there was a lot of debate (especially on here) as to who would be the new face under center for the Liberty Flames. Brock Smith completed an amazing four year stretch being named to the Big South First team all conference and leaving his mark in a number of QB statistics all time (finishing third in passing yards, second in TD passes, tops in passing efficiency and second in completion percentage, and to put the icing on the cake, second in total offense), his would be very big shoes to fill (figuratively and literally). Mike Brown and Spencer Landis were seen as the two looking to battle for that spot going into the spring, and then a new face joined the party...South Carolina QB Tommy Beecher left Columbia and he landed himself in Lynchburg, VA. Beecher missed the spring practice but when preseason rolled around, it was Beecher and Mike Brown who would be battling for the starting spot with Landis moving behind redshirt freshman Tyler Brennan. Brown's dynamic playmaking abilities were not lost on the coaching staff, so when the season opener against West VIrginia from the Big East rolled around, he was listed as a WR and Beecher was the starting QB.
The quasi-2 QB system worked as Beecher finished the season with 1700 yards passing and nine TDs on the way to being named second team all conference while Brown left his mark all over the stat sheet, finishing as the team's leading rusher, second leading passer (behind Beecher) and the team's leading receiver.

Now its 2010. Beecher has graduated and moved on and Mike Brown is "the man" at QB. He still will get his chances at WR but if Brown is to make his own mark this season it will be with his arm and his legs.

Quarterback

Players lost:

Tommy Beecher
Spencer Landis

Players returning:
Mike Brown
Tyler Brennan
Brian Hudson (2009 redshirt)

Players incoming:

Brian Reese 6-2 220 Lbs Chambersburg, PA (Walk-on)
Gabriel Henderson 5-11 190 Lbs Garner, NC (2010 signee)

This position is Mike Brown's to lose. He will be spending "75%" of the offensive snaps as the QB, but he will have a few opportunities to split out and show his gamebreaking ability, and for those moments, look for Tyler Brennan to get his opportunity to show what he can do. In a sense this will be like a two year audition of sorts for Brennan as Brown likely will be the starter for the next two seasons, but look for Brian Hudson to push him, especially as he gets his chances to show his skills (most likely in late game situations where the score has already been decided). The real interesting situation at this position is likely going to be for the 2012 season as Class of 2010 signee Gabe Henderson will enter the mix along with walk-on Brian Reese. Look for both to redshirt this season unless there is an injury to one of the other three QBs on the roster.

Mike Brown.

Not much else to say

I live for Fan the Flames preview.

Why? so you can laugh at all the mistakes I make?

QB: Mike Brown.
Backup QB: Mike Brown.

I thought that Curry was also a QB. Could become a WR but listed as a QB. Would probably redshirt this year.

Curry was a QB but he came in as an ATH. I dont think youll see him getting a ton of snaps at the QB position with Brennan and Hudson and Reese and Henderson all on the roster. He certainly could figure into the return game in the coming years though.

Im pretty certain as well that he will redshirt unless something really drastic happens to most of the other QBs on the roster.

Super must be busy at church camp. It's been almost 12 hours since this thead was created, and he hasn't reported in once to correct BJ on any of his predictions.

BJWilliams wrote:Curry was a QB but he came in as an ATH. I dont think youll see him getting a ton of snaps at the QB position with Brennan and Hudson and Reese and Henderson all on the roster. He certainly could figure into the return game in the coming years though.

Im pretty certain as well that he will redshirt unless something really drastic happens to most of the other QBs on the roster.

Whether Curry redshirts won't have anything to do with the QB position. If he plays this year it will be because he is too good to keep off the field as a WR and KR.

Fair point olldflame...I was more responding to Stevev. I think we are pretty set at this position for the next few years so as I said, he certainly could figure into the return game (I don't think his highlight tape showed a ton of him returning kicks though...correct me if Im wrong on that)

To be honest, I seem to remember Curry passed over some bigger name programs to come to LU because we indicated he would have a shot to compete for a position at quarterback. So I would be very surprised if he wasn't at least given a shot.

Sly Fox wrote:To be honest, I seem to remember Curry passed over some bigger name programs to come to LU because we indicated he would have a shot to compete for a position at quarterback. So I would be very surprised if he wasn't at least given a shot.

I'm pretty sure the plan has always been to use him as a kick returner and athlete. Gabe Henderson has always been the QB in this year's class.

Sly Fox wrote:To be honest, I seem to remember Curry passed over some bigger name programs to come to LU because we indicated he would have a shot to compete for a position at quarterback. So I would be very surprised if he wasn't at least given a shot.

During the recruiting process, yes. There were some big name schools that wanted to make him a CB, or somewhere on the defensive side of the ball (not sure where other than CB). He clearly didn't want that, and Rocco definitely wanted him on offense with the ball in his hands. Wouldn't be surprised to see him at WR, but come in to throw some on some trick plays or even trying to switch things up on the defense. May see Brown under center, kick out wide, and see Curry come in under center. TONS of different things Rocco can do with the talent he has now.

Good to finally see you hop in Jon...as I said, we are pretty set at QB with Brennan, Hudson, Reese and Henderson behind MB so Curry will get his chance to show why we signed him as an ATH as opposed to just a QB