Dominic Breazeale is a quarterback who would love to take one quarter back.
So would his Northern Colorado coach, Scott Downing. Since they can’t, this week has been all about forgetting about the 38-7 season-opening loss to Cal-Davis in what was the first game at UNC for Breazeale and Downing.
A 10-7 game late in the third quarter turned embarrassing the rest of the way, with Breazeale throwing two costly interceptions. Downing, though, remains high on what Breazeale can do, starting Saturday at Portland State in the start of their Big Sky Conference schedule.
“For us, he’s been very calm, very assured,” Downing said of Breazeale. “He dealt with his first experience in a positive way. He realized that there were a lot of good things he did in the game, and that there are things he needs to improve upon. But that’s true with every QB. He’s come back out and been very open to coaching points that we’ve made to him.”
Downing compared what Breazeale – a 6-foot-6, 245-pound junior transfer from Mt. San Antonio College near Los Angeles- is going through to a quarterback he helped recruit at Nebraska, Zac Taylor.
“Zac came into Nebraska a junior player, and it took some time before things became automatic for him, like rote memory,” Downing said. “With Dominic, he understands that probably the biggest thing he needs to improve upon is projecting intensity and demeanor in the offensive huddle.
“He was more worried about getting the play called correctly, running the play, instead of feeling like those things are automatic. I tell our guys that’s the difference between being a play runner and a playmaker. A playmaker makes sure the ball gets in the right people’s hands.”
Breazeale finished 23-for-31 passing, including a 29-yard touchdown pass.
“Aside from a couple of bad reads, you’re looking at a game in which he completed 75 percent of his passes,” Downing said. “Those are numbers that we came out of the game feeling very good about.”
Portland State, ranked 21st in Division I-AA, won 17-6 at Division I-A New Mexico of the Mountain West Conference. The Vikings have an eight-game home win streak and won their past four home openers. The Vikings beat UNC 41-17 in Portland last season.
Downing said Portland State is confident, and ” a very physical team that loves to run the ball and is very good on defense. … We’ll need to come ready with our very best effort.”
