QB spot still open after Blue and White scrimmage
Construction in the north end zone of Romney Stadium moved the annual Blue and White spring scrimmage to the practice field.
A large crowd, including Washington Redskins tight end, Logan High School graduate and USU graduate, Chris Cooley, came out to see some football, with fans watching from all sides of the field.
USU’s offense couldn’t get any traction on its first possessions, starting out more than 50 yards from the end zone. After a turnover, USU Head Coach Brent Guy moved the offense down into the red zone, where they had better success.
“We put them in those situations because had that ball been turned over, that’s where the defense would have ended up,” Guy said. “They would have been playing on the red zone after that first turnover.”
The offense ended up scoring six touchdowns on the defense. Freshman tailback Curtis Marsh led with 33 yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns, leaping high to clear the pile on the second.
“That’s just how I run,” Marsh said of the dive. “I was a long jumper in high school. If I can jump over the pile or make a move and dive, that’s how I am going in.”
Junior Sean Setzer tossed the only scoring pass of the afternoon, a 22-yarder to sophomore Nnamdi Gwacham.
Guy said the quarterback competition is still wide open.
“I think Jace (McCormick) has thrown his hat in the ring too the way he plays because he doesn’t a lot of big mistakes,” Guy said. “I think it’s still too close to call and we need some more time. There is some new stuff in this offense…I think it’s not fair if we come out here and say in eight live practices we’re going to make a decision at the quarterback spot.”
Setzer, who also carried three times for 24 yards, said he enjoys the competition.
“When you feel like you have to play your best every day or else somebody’s going to come over and take your spot, it pushes you to play well and do the best you can. It makes it fun as well,” Setzer said.
Guy singled out the play of his two senior tight ends, Will Fausel and Jimmy Bohm, as one aspect of spring practice that encouraged him.
“Those two have stepped up and made plays, made catches, been more consistent blocking, and more consistent in practice start to finish,” Guy said.
He also said that with no one player stepping up at fullback, USU is more of a two-tight end team now.
Running backs Derrvin Speight and Aaron Lesue each scored a touchdown on the ground, as did quarterback Leon Jackson III. Jackson was 4-4 passing for 30 yards. Setzer was the leading passer of the afternoon going 5-8 for 64 yards.
Defensive end Ben Calderwood, a returning starter, said he thought USU was a better football team this spring than a year ago, even though he said, “It’s hard to (quantify) because all you do is go against each other every day.”
Guy said USU is deeper and more experienced this year, and they have been healthier.
“We had a lot more guys make all 15 practices. That was one of the goals I set for them earlier. To be better, you’ve got to be out here practicing,” Guy said.
The next step for the coaching staff is grading the 350 live snaps the team has played this spring. Guy said those grades will be what he looks at as he builds a depth chart in August.
-graham@cc.usu.edu