Post by JayBee on Sept 26, 2007 6:29:52 GMT -5
A&T weighs options at quarterback
By Rob Daniels
Staff Writer
Wednesday, Sep. 26, 2007 6:32 am
NORFOLK STATE AT N.C. A&T
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: Aggie Stadium, Greensboro
Records: Norfolk State 2-1 overall, 1-0 MEAC; N.C. A&T 0-4, 0-1
Tickets: $20 online at www.ncataggies.com or call 334-7749
TV: ESPNU Related Links
GREENSBORO — Herb Miller is available at quarterback again for the N.C. A&T football team, which gives coach Lee Fobbs at least two reasons to be happy: more options and greater stealth potential.
Miller and Shelton Morgan saw playing time and had mixed results in Saturday night's 27-22 loss to N.C. Central, which means Fobbs can keep Norfolk State's coaches guessing on lineups and dividing preparation time accordingly in advance of Thursday's game at Aggie Stadium. As benefits go, it's a relatively small one, but you take whatever you can get when you've gone 23 months without a win.
"We've always been a two-quarterback system since I've been here," said Fobbs, in his second year on the job. "We'll make the decision based on that at game time."
In terms of personnel decisions, of course, nothing stirs the pot quite like a quarterback question, and Fobbs feels no compulsion to address it.
"Everybody listens," he said. "Opposing coaches want to know who the starting quarterback is. To make an allusion to who's starting? I'm always going to keep that in the air."
Miller was feared lost for the season when he suffered a knee injury Sept. 8 against Prairie View A&M, but subsequent tests revealed lesser damage and put him on the path to a quick recovery. He missed the Hampton game Sept. 15 and was 9-of-13 for 127 yards passing in the loss to N.C. Central. Miller and Morgan are statistically and stylistically comparable.
Collectively, they helped A&T produce its greatest output in total yardage (412) and passing offense (248) since the final game of the 2005 season. A 113-yard running effort from Michael Ferguson provided the best glimpse of offensive balance in Fobbs' tenure.
The next step is to avoid interceptions, which the Aggies throw more often (on 8.6 percent of their passes) than anybody else in Division I-AA ball.
The performance of A&T's defense against the Eagles also was encouraging. The Aggies yielded 199 yards, the fewest in 26 games. Hampton had 199 in a statistically incongruous 51-24 win Nov. 13, 2004, in which the Pirates returned two kickoffs and an interception for touchdowns.
The Spartans (2-1 overall, 1-0 MEAC) are four days removed from a 38-31 win over Bethune-Cookman in which they trailed 21-7 at halftime and prevailed when Daryl Jones scored the last of his four touchdowns with 38 seconds to play.
The result broke a nine-game losing streak to the Wildcats, and it gives the Spartans a chance for their first 2-0 start in 11 seasons of MEAC membership.
Contact Rob Daniels at 373-7028 or rdaniels@news-record.com
By Rob Daniels
Staff Writer
Wednesday, Sep. 26, 2007 6:32 am
NORFOLK STATE AT N.C. A&T
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: Aggie Stadium, Greensboro
Records: Norfolk State 2-1 overall, 1-0 MEAC; N.C. A&T 0-4, 0-1
Tickets: $20 online at www.ncataggies.com or call 334-7749
TV: ESPNU Related Links
GREENSBORO — Herb Miller is available at quarterback again for the N.C. A&T football team, which gives coach Lee Fobbs at least two reasons to be happy: more options and greater stealth potential.
Miller and Shelton Morgan saw playing time and had mixed results in Saturday night's 27-22 loss to N.C. Central, which means Fobbs can keep Norfolk State's coaches guessing on lineups and dividing preparation time accordingly in advance of Thursday's game at Aggie Stadium. As benefits go, it's a relatively small one, but you take whatever you can get when you've gone 23 months without a win.
"We've always been a two-quarterback system since I've been here," said Fobbs, in his second year on the job. "We'll make the decision based on that at game time."
In terms of personnel decisions, of course, nothing stirs the pot quite like a quarterback question, and Fobbs feels no compulsion to address it.
"Everybody listens," he said. "Opposing coaches want to know who the starting quarterback is. To make an allusion to who's starting? I'm always going to keep that in the air."
Miller was feared lost for the season when he suffered a knee injury Sept. 8 against Prairie View A&M, but subsequent tests revealed lesser damage and put him on the path to a quick recovery. He missed the Hampton game Sept. 15 and was 9-of-13 for 127 yards passing in the loss to N.C. Central. Miller and Morgan are statistically and stylistically comparable.
Collectively, they helped A&T produce its greatest output in total yardage (412) and passing offense (248) since the final game of the 2005 season. A 113-yard running effort from Michael Ferguson provided the best glimpse of offensive balance in Fobbs' tenure.
The next step is to avoid interceptions, which the Aggies throw more often (on 8.6 percent of their passes) than anybody else in Division I-AA ball.
The performance of A&T's defense against the Eagles also was encouraging. The Aggies yielded 199 yards, the fewest in 26 games. Hampton had 199 in a statistically incongruous 51-24 win Nov. 13, 2004, in which the Pirates returned two kickoffs and an interception for touchdowns.
The Spartans (2-1 overall, 1-0 MEAC) are four days removed from a 38-31 win over Bethune-Cookman in which they trailed 21-7 at halftime and prevailed when Daryl Jones scored the last of his four touchdowns with 38 seconds to play.
The result broke a nine-game losing streak to the Wildcats, and it gives the Spartans a chance for their first 2-0 start in 11 seasons of MEAC membership.
Contact Rob Daniels at 373-7028 or rdaniels@news-record.com
