QB duo impressing at URI
Fleming has decision to make for season opener
KINGSTON — There’s an old football adage that says if you have two quarterbacks, you really don’t have one. Which is to say, teams that have two quarterbacks battling for the starting position usually just don’t have anyone good enough to lock the spot up.
The University of Rhode Island football team suffered from that issue last year, when Wes McKoy and Jordan Vazzano traded spots on the depth chart back and forth throughout a woefully inefficient year for the Rhody offense. Those two both transferred out of the program this summer, making way for FBS transfers Tyler Harris and JaJuan Lawson.
While on the surface it may seem like the Rams are destined for a repeat of last year’s dual-quarterback conundrum, the new duo have impressed their coaches and teammates in training camp this summer.
“Real fast,” described junior wide receiver Khayri Denny, of the new quarterbacks getting acclimated to their new teammates. “Ever since the first day they got up here in the summer. The chemistry has always been there, we picked it up quick.”
Monday morning’s scrimmage was a fitting end to URI’s summer camp. Harris and Lawson led the offensive unit to four touchdowns in just a half of play. Denny was the preferred target of both, catching six balls for 188 yards, and two touchdowns.
“All week we’ve been clicking on all cylinders,” Denny said.
“If you start looking at the perimeter play, between quarterback and receiver, it’s as good as we’ve had here.” – URI coach Jim Fleming
“We felt like we were going to come out here and do the same thing. Felt pretty good, felt normal. We’ve been doing it all camp.”
At the tail end of the scrimmage, the coaching staff gave the two competing QBs a chance to run their own two-minute drill. Harris went first, using big plays to Aaron Parker and Denny to score well before time ran out.
During Lawson’s attempt, he completed a long pass across the middle of the field to freshman and former Classical star Jarell De Los Santos, but his bid at matching Harris was stifled when a back-corner fade was thrown a hair too far.
Harris held the edge in the scrimmage in yards (175) and touchdowns (three), but both played efficient football, combining to complete 24 of their 32 attempts. Neither threw an interception, a rarity for what has been a turnover-prone team in recent seasons.
“One of our team goals is to win the turnover margin weekly,” URI coach Jim Fleming said. “Every week and every game, be on the plus side.
“I’ve made a big point forever, since the end of last season, we’re -16 in the turnover margin. That’s an atrociously bad number. If we’d been at zero - if we had taken away as much as we give up - we probably would’ve gotten [some more wins].”
Lawson has an edge in versatility, showing off speed during broken plays and on designed runs. He rushed for 22 yards, including a 14-yard scamper for a first down.
“They made plays, went up and caught the ball,” Fleming said of the offense. “Really positive. The overall flow was impressive to see. The offense is building confidence and that’s great. There were some negative-yardage plays that put us behind the sticks but the quarterbacks were able to put up a couple big shots.”
The defense produced 10 sacks, six of which came with Lawson under center. That negative aside, the URI offense looked its most dynamic since Fleming took over the team. Thirteen different receivers caught a pass, four of whom had at least one that went for longer than 30 thirty yards.
“If you start looking at the perimeter play, between quarterback and receiver, it’s as good as we’ve had here,” said Fleming. “Not even close. Now it’s a question of continuing to refine. As with everyone across the country, you just want to be a better football team every week.”
A good chunk of the quality receiver play has come from true freshmen. URI boasts six such wideouts, and all but one caught a pass during Monday’s session. Isaiah Coulter led the way with three nabs for 56 yards and a score.
“Really impressed,” with the young guys, said Fleming. “Each of one them that’s come in here as a freshman has an opportunity to play and help us. Coulter is the one that jumps out as a guy we have to get the rock to and see what he can do. Big body, speed, athleticism. Really good football player. He could play a lot of places I’ve coached, so could a lot of these guys.”
“Since I got here as a freshman, we didn’t have that at all,” Denny said of the newfound depth. “Even last year, we didn’t really have that. It’s good to see that we have multiple people that can come off the bench, give us a rest. They can have good quality reps.”
The Rams round out their preseason camp with two more practice sessions. After that, it’s off to play Central Michigan on August 31. Representing the team’s annual “buy” game, Rhody will have an uphill battle against the FBS side. The Chippewas went 6-7 a year ago, and in their only game against an FCS opponent, won 49-3.
“We don’t see it as different from any other game, any other opponent that we have to face,” Denny said. “It’s just someone we have to work against and compete against.”
The game is scheduled for kick-off at 7 p.m, and will be carried online by ESPN3.