As the season opener approaches this Saturday, the big question on everyone’s mind is who will fill the starting quarterback spot when the Rebels take the field against UT-Martin.
Co-offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Dan Werner spoke Friday on the quarterback race between junior college transfer Chad Kelly and redshirt sophomores Ryan Buchanan and DeVante Kincade heading into the final week of fall practice.
“We feel good. We were hoping that all three of them would compete and they all have. We’ve been excited about it,” Werner said. “Usually, one guy falls off right off the bat and none of them have. They all have competed and looked good.”
Werner said the separation between the three quarterbacks was very small.
“I mean, we’ll find out once games start who plays the best, but, right now, I’m pleased with all three of them,” Werner said.
While the thought of rotating three quarterbacks might worry some fans, Werner insisted this was actually a good thing for the team when it comes to depth.
“Obviously, we’re going to have to pull the trigger here soon,” Werner said. “It’s just good that we have three really good quarterbacks. If two were playing really bad and one was the leader, everybody would be happy they know who the quarterback is, but you’d be a little worried if something happens to him. It’s a good situation to be in.”
Whereas Kincade and Buchanan are in their third year playing in head coach Hugh Freeze’s offensive system, Kelly has only been with the team since January and had a lot of catching up to do in spring and fall practices. Werner said Kelly did an amazing job at picking up the offense system very quickly, however.
“That’s the one thing I was shocked at,” Werner said. “In the spring, he knew it all and there was very, very few mistakes.”
Werner also talked about what it’s like to go against one of the top defenses in the nation every day in practice and how the offense was performing against them.
Werner said it was impressive that the offense was able to move the ball against such stout competition.
“I look back to last year, nobody else did it against them hardly. So, for us to be moving it and clicking it’s impressive and that’s with quarterbacks rotating in and out,” Werner said. “Once we settle in on one, hopefully we’ll get even better.”
Werner gave some insight into what made that defense so special.
“Well they’re talented first of all, all the way across the board,” Werner said. “They’re physical, they’re fast, and they have a great scheme.”
Werner said the team had some success running the ball against the defense, but that in-game action would tell how much the running game has improved.
Overall, Werner said the offense keying in on one goal each could really help the team.
“For the next 13 weeks, it’s going to be protect the football,” Werner said. “If we protect the football, and we know we’re good on defense, we got a shot to win.”
