To be more precise, that’s Rogers’ mission
Improving completion percentage major goal for UNLV quarterback
Armani Rogers, for the most part, lived up to the high expectations that greeted him in his first season as UNLV’S starting quarterback.
He was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Year. He set the school freshman and quarterback rushing records with 780 yards. He also passed for 1,471 yards.
The one noticeable blemish, though, was not a small one. Rogers completed 52.4 percent of his passes; the six highest-rated conference quarterbacks each completed more than 60 percent.
If Rogers, an imposing figure at 6 feet 5 inches and 225 pounds with the athleticism to match, is to fulfill his potential, that completion percentage needs to come up.
“We always shoot to be over 60,” quarterbacks coach Ron O’dell said. “So 65 to 70 would be awesome. Last year when he got tired, he stopped his feet a little bit. He’s in great shape now, and he’s working on his feet a lot, so I think he’s going to be a lot more accurate, too.”
UNLV opened its training camp Friday morning at Rebel Park, nearly a month before the Sept. 1 season opener at Southern California.
Among the items on a quarterback’s to-do list, increasing accuracy is among the easier tasks. Rogers’ ability to run through linebackers and throw the ball in the air from his end zone past the 50-yard line are attributes that are much more difficult to replicate.
Coaches can design game plans to create early easy throws to raise a quarterback’s confidence level to be able to complete more difficult passes in the second half. Having a year in the system is important as well.
“Recognizing defenses slows the game down tremendously,” Rogers said. “So it helps me out a lot.”
Coach Tony Sanchez has noticed the difference in Rogers’ approach.
“His demeanor is different,” Sanchez said. “His level of confidence is different, the way he walks on the field, the way he talks in the huddle. Obviously, he’s still a young player, and he’s got to continue to develop.
“We really want to see that during the course of camp. It really comes down to decision making, but I think the style of offense that we’re playing
now, how we’ve kind of geared it toward him, I think it’s going to help make him a more efficient passer.”
Rogers needs consistency, but he has shown the ability to put the ball in tight spots.
Needing a last-ditch drive Nov. 17