University of Maine football coach Jack Cosgrove goes into game week preparations for Boston College facing an important choice: The Black Bears have two quarterbacks of seemingly similar skill, each having demonstrated potential, but neither has been named the starter.
“We’re still at a point of, they’re still getting better, and we haven’t made a decision,” Cosgrove said Monday afternoon with Saturday’s season opener against Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Boston College looming.
Or is there another option?
Both redshirt junior Dan Collins and sophomore Drew Belcher saw significant playing time last season. Each led UMaine to at least two victories.
Collins did not receive the starting nod until two days before the Black Bears’ first game against Norfolk State.
Perhaps Cosgrove’s decision this season will involve when each quarterback plays, rather than if.
Cosgrove, who less than two weeks ago indicated that he did not plan to play both quarterbacks, appears to have reconsidered.
“It could happen,” Cosgrove said of a quarterback platoon during Monday’s Colonial Athletic Association media teleconference.
He pointed out that perennial Football Championship Subdivision playoff entry and border rival New Hampshire has successfully rotated two quarterbacks in the past.
“This day and age, you want to say one [quarterback], and I’m a believer of that, but this is 2015 and when you’re working with young people that are competitive and talented, and you can get them on the field to help you win, why not?” Cosgrove said.
UMaine features significantly more experience at quarterback than a year ago. Collins played in six games in 2014, leading the Black Bears to a 2-4 record, before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
Belcher, as a true freshman out of Reading (Massachusetts) High School, helped guide the team to a 3-2 mark in its last five contests.
As Belcher has settled in as a Division I quarterback and while Collins has worked his way back after surgery, both have improved. But neither has separated himself.
“We have two very good players. This is not the same as last year where we had inexperienced guys and we were trying to find out if they could handle the situations within the game,” Cosgrove said. “Both of these guys have played and won CAA football games.”
Last season, Collins completed 77 of 143 passes for 908 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. Belcher went 77-for-152 with 740 yards, three TDs and three INTs and rushed for 312 yards and two scores.
Cosgrove said both young men performed well late in training camp, which ended last week, and that the continued competition has benefitted each.
“They both made tremendous progress as quarterbacks throughout the offseason, and it’s been a very competitive situation throughout camp,” Cosgrove continued.
Thus, regardless of who is eventually named the starting quarterback later this year, he may not have a monopoly on playing time.
The duel continues when UMaine returns to the practice field on Tuesday.
“It’s an open door and that [platooning the quarterbacks] possibly could happen,” Cosgrove said.