Post by Sly Fox on Sept 21, 2005 10:08:57 GMT -5
Here is the story Chris did for today's paper on our QB situation:
www.newsadvance.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=LNA%2FMGArticle%2FLNA_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031785184431&path=!sports
Farrel to start, Terrell to finish for LU
By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
September 21, 2005
Zach Terrell was not going to ride the bench at Liberty University. That was clear from the start.
He was simply too talented, dazzling the coaching staff with his athletic ability during summer practices, whether he lined up at quarterback or slot receiver.
In fact, LU coach Ken Karcher has gone as far to say that Terrell might be the Flames' best tailback, too.
But Karcher had to mute that enthusiasm somewhat because reality told him that no matter how talented he may be, Terrell was still a freshman, and freshmen rarely lead teams to great things.
Last Saturday in a disheartening 42-0 home loss to Youngstown State, Karcher employed an odd rotation. He used all three quarterbacks - Terrell, freshman Brock Smith and senior Brock Farrel - sometimes rotating them on a play-to-play basis.
The result was a disjointed offense that moved the ball but couldn't score, which led to predictable questions at Karcher's Tuesday afternoon press gathering.
Is it time to settle on one quarterback?
Is Terrell that guy?
Isn't now the right time to go with Terrell if he indeed is the quarterback of the future?
The answer isn't really cut and dry.
Farrel will start against the Tribe, but may not remain behind center long.
"I think Zach Terrell will get the majority of the game (Saturday at William & Mary)," Karcher said. "Then we'll play it by ear with what the need is. If Zach needs settled down, and there are things he's not doing well, then you'll see one of the other guys."
For all of Terrell's athletic ability, he still struggles with making intermediate reads. He can throw the deep ball well and short swing and screen passes aren't a problem, but his decision making isn't where it needs to be on 10- to 15-yard patterns.
"When I go in to watch film with Brock (Farrel), it's mostly me and Brock going over the defenses so I
can read the middle of the field better," Terrell said.
While Terrell may benefit greatly from playing quarterback every down and learning how to make decisions in game situations, Karcher isn't sure leaving him in to take his lumps at this point is the best course of action.
"He's going to get more time," Karcher said. "The thing you have to watch, because he's a very confident kid, is that you don't put him in a situation where he starts to lose that confidence."
Farrel, who opened the season as the Flames' undisputed starter, is slowly being phased out of the offense. He admitted Saturday night that when Karcher told him of the decision to play Terrell more, it stung.
"It hurt me a little bit," Farrel said. "I called my dad and I called my junior college coach and told them what was going on. I wanted to really figure out what God was trying to teach me. It's obviously not an ideal situation on my part.
"I can control attitude and effort. Hopefully, I had a good attitude. I think I did. Zach and Brock and I are still good friends. It's not like I don't like (Zach) or anything. I love Zach. He's a great kid."
While the situation hasn't been easy on Farrel, he has handled it with class. He hasn't been disruptive in the locker room and hasn't tried to make himself bigger than the team.
"I've never doubted Brock in that way," Karcher said. "He's got great character and he's everything you want in a person. ? He did everything we asked of him and he's been very good with the young quarterbacks trying to get them ready."
Terrell will likely start on Saturday in the slot or backfield. Karcher wants to have the freedom to move him around, because "he is our most dangerous weapon" on offense.
But that means a second quarterback must emerge. By playing Smith a half-dozen snaps against Youngstown State, Karcher lost the chance to redshirt the freshman. Karcher said Tuesday that Terrell will be on the field "90 percent of the time" in some role from here on out, meaning Smith and Farrel will battle to play QB when Terrell is lined up elsewhere.
"You've just got to keep your mind in the game, because you can go in at any time," Smith said.
"If he calls you in, you've got to do what you've got to do."
By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
September 21, 2005
Zach Terrell was not going to ride the bench at Liberty University. That was clear from the start.
He was simply too talented, dazzling the coaching staff with his athletic ability during summer practices, whether he lined up at quarterback or slot receiver.
In fact, LU coach Ken Karcher has gone as far to say that Terrell might be the Flames' best tailback, too.
But Karcher had to mute that enthusiasm somewhat because reality told him that no matter how talented he may be, Terrell was still a freshman, and freshmen rarely lead teams to great things.
Last Saturday in a disheartening 42-0 home loss to Youngstown State, Karcher employed an odd rotation. He used all three quarterbacks - Terrell, freshman Brock Smith and senior Brock Farrel - sometimes rotating them on a play-to-play basis.
The result was a disjointed offense that moved the ball but couldn't score, which led to predictable questions at Karcher's Tuesday afternoon press gathering.
Is it time to settle on one quarterback?
Is Terrell that guy?
Isn't now the right time to go with Terrell if he indeed is the quarterback of the future?
The answer isn't really cut and dry.
Farrel will start against the Tribe, but may not remain behind center long.
"I think Zach Terrell will get the majority of the game (Saturday at William & Mary)," Karcher said. "Then we'll play it by ear with what the need is. If Zach needs settled down, and there are things he's not doing well, then you'll see one of the other guys."
For all of Terrell's athletic ability, he still struggles with making intermediate reads. He can throw the deep ball well and short swing and screen passes aren't a problem, but his decision making isn't where it needs to be on 10- to 15-yard patterns.
"When I go in to watch film with Brock (Farrel), it's mostly me and Brock going over the defenses so I
can read the middle of the field better," Terrell said.
While Terrell may benefit greatly from playing quarterback every down and learning how to make decisions in game situations, Karcher isn't sure leaving him in to take his lumps at this point is the best course of action.
"He's going to get more time," Karcher said. "The thing you have to watch, because he's a very confident kid, is that you don't put him in a situation where he starts to lose that confidence."
Farrel, who opened the season as the Flames' undisputed starter, is slowly being phased out of the offense. He admitted Saturday night that when Karcher told him of the decision to play Terrell more, it stung.
"It hurt me a little bit," Farrel said. "I called my dad and I called my junior college coach and told them what was going on. I wanted to really figure out what God was trying to teach me. It's obviously not an ideal situation on my part.
"I can control attitude and effort. Hopefully, I had a good attitude. I think I did. Zach and Brock and I are still good friends. It's not like I don't like (Zach) or anything. I love Zach. He's a great kid."
While the situation hasn't been easy on Farrel, he has handled it with class. He hasn't been disruptive in the locker room and hasn't tried to make himself bigger than the team.
"I've never doubted Brock in that way," Karcher said. "He's got great character and he's everything you want in a person. ? He did everything we asked of him and he's been very good with the young quarterbacks trying to get them ready."
Terrell will likely start on Saturday in the slot or backfield. Karcher wants to have the freedom to move him around, because "he is our most dangerous weapon" on offense.
But that means a second quarterback must emerge. By playing Smith a half-dozen snaps against Youngstown State, Karcher lost the chance to redshirt the freshman. Karcher said Tuesday that Terrell will be on the field "90 percent of the time" in some role from here on out, meaning Smith and Farrel will battle to play QB when Terrell is lined up elsewhere.
"You've just got to keep your mind in the game, because you can go in at any time," Smith said.
"If he calls you in, you've got to do what you've got to do."
www.newsadvance.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=LNA%2FMGArticle%2FLNA_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031785184431&path=!sports
Maybe you should volunteer to be their devotional and motivational speaker!