Post by FIUBlue82 on Mar 28, 2008 13:03:30 GMT -5
www.miamiherald.com/sports/colleges/fiu/story/473372.html
FIU FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
Young quarterbacks getting chance to shine for FIU
Posted on Fri, Mar. 28, 2008
BY PETE PELEGRIN
ppelegrin@MiamiHerald.com
This spring could be the best opportunity for Colt Anderson and Darold Hughes to join the FIU starting quarterback derby.
Sophomore Wayne Younger, who started 11 of 12 games for FIU last season, is expected to miss the spring recovering from a broken collarbone sustained against Florida Atlantic last November.
Junior Paul McCall, who started and directed the Golden Panthers to their lone victory in the final game of 2007, will handle the first-team snaps, leaving plenty of chances for the two youngest quarterbacks to excel.
''[Anderson and Hughes] haven't played much football in about a year,'' coach Mario Cristobal said. ``The bottom line is you have to ramp up faster than an older guy, because an older guy has seen action. [Anderson and Hughes] are doing the right things. They are living in [offensive coordinator Bill] Legg's back pocket. They are putting in extra time.
``Now ability and effort have to take over. . . . They're getting better. What they have to do is be better all the time.''
Anderson, a sophomore from Omaha, Neb., saw limited duty last season, completing 3 of 15 passes for 37 yards. Hughes, a redshirt freshman from Marrero, La., dealt with a hamstring injury and ran the scout team offense.
In Thursday's practice, both quarterbacks showed the promise that made them all-state quarterbacks in high school.
Anderson had the FIU defense going the wrong way on play-action, and then completed a 15-yard pass to James Rucker. Hughes threw a dart between two Golden Panthers defenders to connect with Marquis Rolle.
As they try to gain ground on McCall and Younger, both quarterbacks know they have a lot to prove.
''I have to be smart, know my reads, know my coverages and where to go with the ball,'' Anderson said.
Said Hughes: ``I think I have to be a leader out here, in the meeting rooms as much as I can. Learning the offense as much as I can and just come out and perform.'
NOTEABLE
• Although FIU will have several talented defenders, including six from Class 4A state champion Booker T. Washington, arriving this fall, defensive coordinator Phil Galiano has set some goals for the defense this spring.
''We talked about carrying out your assignment,'' Galiano said. ``Guys knew what they were doing, but they didn't always get it done. No. 2, we want to improve our tackling and No. 3 we want to create more turnovers. We are going to grade those every day and hold the kids accountable.''
• Kicker auditions continued with three FIU soccer players trying out.
Cristobal said the Golden Panthers' kickers from last season, Chris Abed and Dustin Rivest, ``are taking care of some issues and are expected to join us in the summer.''
FIU FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
Young quarterbacks getting chance to shine for FIU
Posted on Fri, Mar. 28, 2008
BY PETE PELEGRIN
ppelegrin@MiamiHerald.com
This spring could be the best opportunity for Colt Anderson and Darold Hughes to join the FIU starting quarterback derby.
Sophomore Wayne Younger, who started 11 of 12 games for FIU last season, is expected to miss the spring recovering from a broken collarbone sustained against Florida Atlantic last November.
Junior Paul McCall, who started and directed the Golden Panthers to their lone victory in the final game of 2007, will handle the first-team snaps, leaving plenty of chances for the two youngest quarterbacks to excel.
''[Anderson and Hughes] haven't played much football in about a year,'' coach Mario Cristobal said. ``The bottom line is you have to ramp up faster than an older guy, because an older guy has seen action. [Anderson and Hughes] are doing the right things. They are living in [offensive coordinator Bill] Legg's back pocket. They are putting in extra time.
``Now ability and effort have to take over. . . . They're getting better. What they have to do is be better all the time.''
Anderson, a sophomore from Omaha, Neb., saw limited duty last season, completing 3 of 15 passes for 37 yards. Hughes, a redshirt freshman from Marrero, La., dealt with a hamstring injury and ran the scout team offense.
In Thursday's practice, both quarterbacks showed the promise that made them all-state quarterbacks in high school.
Anderson had the FIU defense going the wrong way on play-action, and then completed a 15-yard pass to James Rucker. Hughes threw a dart between two Golden Panthers defenders to connect with Marquis Rolle.
As they try to gain ground on McCall and Younger, both quarterbacks know they have a lot to prove.
''I have to be smart, know my reads, know my coverages and where to go with the ball,'' Anderson said.
Said Hughes: ``I think I have to be a leader out here, in the meeting rooms as much as I can. Learning the offense as much as I can and just come out and perform.'
NOTEABLE
• Although FIU will have several talented defenders, including six from Class 4A state champion Booker T. Washington, arriving this fall, defensive coordinator Phil Galiano has set some goals for the defense this spring.
''We talked about carrying out your assignment,'' Galiano said. ``Guys knew what they were doing, but they didn't always get it done. No. 2, we want to improve our tackling and No. 3 we want to create more turnovers. We are going to grade those every day and hold the kids accountable.''
• Kicker auditions continued with three FIU soccer players trying out.
Cristobal said the Golden Panthers' kickers from last season, Chris Abed and Dustin Rivest, ``are taking care of some issues and are expected to join us in the summer.''
