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Around the MAC: BG's Sheehan Solidifies Starting Role |
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Written by Jack Carle - Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune
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Monday, August 18 2008 |
 BG QB Tyler Sheehan
“A lot of these kids that we recruited two years ago played as true freshmen,” Brandon said. “They have a greater understanding of what we are trying to accomplish scheme-wise. “It helps us as coaches as we learn more about them and they have learned more about our system.”
Still, Brandon says he believes in the “K.I.S.S.” principle.
“There is a multiplicity and simplicity and that pendulum swings both ways,” Brandon said. “When you have experienced players you can do more things, but it’s a fine line ... especially with defensive guys. You don’t want them thinking too much, you want them running to the football.”
Brandon said junior quarterback Tyler Sheehan has made significant progress from last season. He completed 63.7 percent of his passes in 2007, throwing for 3,264 yards with 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
“He’s more accurate. He’s quicker with his reads. He’s seeing things better,” Brandon said.
Brandon also likes the progress of quarterback Andrew Beam, a junior college transfer.
“He’s been a pleasant surprise. If Tyler wasn’t playing as well as he is right now, Andrew Beam could start for us. He couldn’t do the whole thing, but we could win a game with him at quarterback,” Brandon said.
Also, sophomore Willie Geter has stepped to the forefront at running back.
“He’s really having a great camp. He’s in great shape. He’s put on six to eight pounds.” Brandon said. “He’s been going hard. He’s separated himself.”
Geter gained 432 yards on 71 carries with one touchdown last fall. He started four of BG’s 12 games.
Freshmen offensive linemen Charles ‘Chip’ Robinson, Tim German and Marc Stevens, have all caught Brandon’s eye during fall camp and he looks for them to be productive in the future.
On defense, Keith Morgan has been working with the No. 2 group at safety and Marquese Quiles is playing at cornerback. Both are freshmen and could contribute this season, Brandon said.
Kevin Alvarado, a redshirt freshman, has been working his way onto the depth chart at defensive tackle. And Brandon likes the progress made by Nick Davis, a fifth-year senior who is coming back from multiple knee surgeries, and Michael Ream, a redshirt junior, at the defensive tackle spots.
CAPTAINS: Offensive linemen Jeff Fink and Brandon Curtis, wide receiver Corey Partridge, cornerback Antonio Smith and linebacker John Haneline have been elected captains by their teammates. All are seniors, Partridge and Smith were captains last season. Brandon said the voting was so close that he decided to go with five captains.
INJURIES: Brandon hopes running back Eric Ransom can come back this season, but said “he’s going to be out for a while,” after suffering a knee injury in practice last Friday. Ransom has already had two surgeries on the knee and could be facing a third.
Also out after surgery is backup wide receiver Derek Brighton. He had surgery on his ankle on Monday to repair a torn ligament. “It was affecting his foot. He couldn’t walk,” Brandon said. “He’ll be back, probably in a couple of months.” Brighton was also one of the team’s holders for extra points and field goals.
Linebacker James Schneider, a junior college transfer, is out with a broken hand. “He’ll be back. They will club (wrap) it up,” Brandon said. “It’s disappointing because he was coming on, backing up Haneline. He’s going to be a good player for us.”
Backup safety Giovanni Fillari is sidelined with mononucleosis.
GONE: D.J. Young, a 6-foot-5, 278 pound junior, who was expected to contend for playing time at offensive tackle has quit the team. Young spent his first two years at BG playing on the defensive line.
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