Svoboda Presides Over QB Competition
8/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jim Svoboda has seen a lot of things in his quarter-century as a college football coach. But, Montana State's second-year quarterbacks coach hasn't seen a fall camp exactly like this one.
"No," Svoboda says flatly, when asked if he's presided worked a fall camp in which none of the team's quarterbacks competing for a starting job had previously taken a snap for that team. "This has been pretty unique. But, these guys all have game-time experience (in college), and they've all played in high-stakes games. They'll be able to draw from those experiences."
While MSU's assistant head coach and co-offensive coordinator hasn't experienced anything like a three-man quarterback battle between players without game experience at that school, he has been through open competitions before, as recently as 2006 at UCLA. He said this year's situation possesses its own unique twist.
"It's obvious to me that the guys were around this summer," Svoboda said. "The quarterbacks and receivers are on the same page, the speed with which we've been able to install the offense. They've obviously been studying the playbook and watching tape (in the summer). We're light years ahead of where we were at this time last year, just because of our spring practices."
Three players currently vie for starting quarterback honors at MSU. Junior college transfer Mark Iddins arrived in January and befitted from his work in the spring, while sophomore Mark Desin played receiver for the Bobcats last fall. The third player, Oregon transfer Cody Kempt, has played catch-up since his arrival in mid-June.
"I arrived here on June 16 and I've had the whole offensive playbook since then," he said, "so to be honest with you I feel pretty comfortable with the whole offense already. Everything Coach Svoboda has thrown at us I've picked up and feel I've done a pretty good job executing in practice."
According to Svoboda, the sense of competition permeates each practice and film session. "It's important that the three (varsity quarterbacks) have been getting even reps," he said. "When each of them gets their opportunity there's a lot of energy and a competitive spirit."
"No," Svoboda says flatly, when asked if he's presided worked a fall camp in which none of the team's quarterbacks competing for a starting job had previously taken a snap for that team. "This has been pretty unique. But, these guys all have game-time experience (in college), and they've all played in high-stakes games. They'll be able to draw from those experiences."
While MSU's assistant head coach and co-offensive coordinator hasn't experienced anything like a three-man quarterback battle between players without game experience at that school, he has been through open competitions before, as recently as 2006 at UCLA. He said this year's situation possesses its own unique twist.
"It's obvious to me that the guys were around this summer," Svoboda said. "The quarterbacks and receivers are on the same page, the speed with which we've been able to install the offense. They've obviously been studying the playbook and watching tape (in the summer). We're light years ahead of where we were at this time last year, just because of our spring practices."
Three players currently vie for starting quarterback honors at MSU. Junior college transfer Mark Iddins arrived in January and befitted from his work in the spring, while sophomore Mark Desin played receiver for the Bobcats last fall. The third player, Oregon transfer Cody Kempt, has played catch-up since his arrival in mid-June.
"I arrived here on June 16 and I've had the whole offensive playbook since then," he said, "so to be honest with you I feel pretty comfortable with the whole offense already. Everything Coach Svoboda has thrown at us I've picked up and feel I've done a pretty good job executing in practice."
According to Svoboda, the sense of competition permeates each practice and film session. "It's important that the three (varsity quarterbacks) have been getting even reps," he said. "When each of them gets their opportunity there's a lot of energy and a competitive spirit."
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