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Monday, April 21, 2008
UT has a QB; South Carolina has a question mark
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We had a bunch of spring games over the weekend. What did we learn? Mostly it was about quarterbacks.
1. Jonathan Crompton is going to be just fine: I was in Knoxville on Saturday and saw the new Tennessee quarterback have a pretty good day (13 for 20, 266 yards, 3 TD). Yes, some of those yards came against the No. 2 defense. What was important, though, is that Crompton looked comfortable running Dave Clawson’s new offense and played with a nice rhythm. He made one bad throw at the end of the day. “It’s different when you’re the backup quarterback and get in eight or 10 plays a game,” Clawson said of Crompton. “It’s easier to be comfortable. Now he has to translate that into 65 or 70 plays a game. That is the challenge.” Based on what I saw, Tennessee’s offense will be fine. RB Arian Foster got one carry in the game because there was no need to risk injury. But the word I got Saturday is that the big concern at Tennessee this fall will be depth at defensive tackle. The Vols can’t afford injuries at that position.
2. Stephen Garcia needs to get back in school: After South Carolina’s two quarterbacks combined for eight interceptions in Saturday’s spring game, it’s pretty clear that Garcia needs to get his act together and get back into school. The redshirt freshman is on suspension until Aug. 15 after he was arrested for underage drinking. It was Garcia’s third run-in with the law since he got to campus 16 months ago. He is scheduled to apply for readmission after he undergoes alcohol counseling. Even if Garcia gets back into school that is no guarantee that he’ll get on the field for coach Steve Spurrier anytime soon. But Spurrier doesn’t sound like a guy who is in love with either of the other two quarterbacks-Chris Smelley or Tommy Beecher. “At some point, one of the quarterbacks has to really show a strong commitment level to really want to be good,” Spurrier told reporters on Saturday. “I don’t think that any quarterback we have here knows what really playing well is all about.” Ouch. Methinks the Head Ball Coach is getting a little frustrated.
3. Virginia Tech will use two quarterbacks: It looks like Sean Glennon will still be the starting quarterback at Virginia Tech in 2008. But the Hokies are going to need sophomore Tyrod Taylor as well. That’s because Virginia Tech is hurting at running back. Branden Ore, who probably would have been a 1,000-yard rusher this season, has been kicked out of school. Kenny Lewis, who was the likely starter in Ore’s place, will be sidelined for at least four months because of shoulder surgery. Glennon had a better day than Taylor in the spring game and, barring injury, will take the first snap in the opener with East Carolina on Aug. 30 in Charlotte. But Taylor is too good of an athlete not to get on the field.
4. QB will be OK at UK. What the ‘Cats need are some WRs: Kentucky can’t replace quarterback Andre Woodson but it appears the drop-off in production this season won’t be dramatic. Both Curtis Pulley and Mike Hartline played well in Saturday’s spring game. Coach Rich Brooks told reporters on a conference call last week that both quarterbacks “are capable of winning in this league.” His biggest concern on offense is at wide receiver. The Wildcats are going to really miss receivers Keenan Burton and Steve Johnson, plus TE Jacob Tamme, who combined for 182 catches last season. “Right now that’s our biggest question mark going into next year,” Brooks said.
5. Mustain will start season at No. 2: Looks like Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain may have to wait a while to get on the field at Southern Cal. Coach Pete Carroll named Mark Sanchez the starter early last week and the redshirt junior backed up his coach by having a very solid spring game (16 of 24, 203 yards, three touchdowns). Some Arkansas friends were telling me that the job would be Mustain’s as soon as he walked on to the USC campus. But Sanchez, you should remember, was the Parade All-America player of the year in 2004. This guy was a big-time recruit, just like Mr. Mustain. “I didn’t come here to be a backup,” Mustain told the Los Angeles Times on Saturday. Well, a lot of guys go to Southern Cal not planning to be backups. Stay tuned.
