FORT COLLINS — An unproven quarterback learning a new system under a first-year coaching staff ranks among the most difficult challenges in sports.
A starting quarterback must exude confidence at all times and be the unquestioned team leader. But how can a young quarterback be confident before gaining a full grasp of the offense?
“It’s hard,” new Colorado State coach Mike Bobo said.
That’s the challenge faced during spring drills by all three CSU quarterbacks battling to replace Garrett Grayson. But there is little doubt that sophomore Nick Stevens feels the most pressure because he is considered the front-runner. Stevens, 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, was the only Rams quarterback other than Grayson to attempt a pass last fall.
With Grayson on his way to earning Mountain West offensive player-of-the-year honors, Stevens saw little action, throwing just 25 passes in five games, completing 15 with one touchdown and no interceptions.
Stevens acknowledged that his head is spinning a bit as he tries to memorize a new playbook and lead the offense.
“To be able to apply things on the field has been a lot easier,” Stevens said. “It did start out rough. But we’re getting through it.”
There is so much for quarterbacks to learn, Bobo said, and “coaches have to be careful” to not break a young player’s confidence.
Bobo can relate. In 1994, Bobo was the backup quarterback at Georgia as a true freshman. He earned the starting job the following year. As a junior, he had to learn a new system when Jim Donnan replaced Ray Goff as Georgia’s head coach.
“You can’t lose (a quarterback’s) confidence because he’s struggling a little bit with a new system, and things aren’t happening as fast for him,” Bobo said. “And it’s hard to be a leader in that situation, when you’re focused on, ‘What angle is my drop here, what’s my first step on run plays, my checks?’
“You’re so consumed with what you have to do, it’s hard for you to help out the next guy or be able to be vocal. … Slowly but surely, that will come.”
Stevens is competing against junior Craig Leonard, who played high school football at nearby Fossil Ridge, and Coleman Key, a redshirt freshman from Tulsa, Okla.
“Nick’s doing a nice job,” Bobo said. “His footwork has to improve. But he has good anticipation on his throws. He does a nice job of standing in there. There’s still too much thinking and not being able to play fast and react. But that’s natural. It’s going to be a struggle for most of the spring. Hopefully, some of it will click.”
Bobo is hands-on when coaching quarterbacks, working with offensive coordinator Will Friend and quarterbacks coach Ronnie Letson.
“Coach Bobo is good about telling us the ends and outs of every play,” Stevens said. “That’s not just the reads, but why.”
Bobo’s system, a pro-style set, is a bit more complicated than the offensive attack under former coach Jim McElwain, Stevens said. A noticeable difference is CSU will have a no-huddle look for the entire game.
“Things go faster,” Stevens said. “You don’t have time to break from a huddle and think about what you’re going to do.
“Part of it is, it’s new to everybody. And we’re using a fullback. I haven’t played with a fullback since my freshman year of high school when we ran the veer. So that’s different.”
Teammates say they have been impressed with what Stevens already has shown.
“Nick prepares in the film room like no other,” said junior Fred Zerblis, a starting offensive guard. “He knows the X’s and O’s. He can read the coverages, from what guys tell me. He’s maturing quickly.”
Stevens has no choice. Odds are, Stevens will be the starting quarterback in five months.
“I’m pretty confident I can lead this team, although there are a lot of leaders out here,” Stevens said. “Right now, I just have to make sure I don’t get negative about how I do in practice.”
Tom Kensler: tkensler@denverpost.com or
Nick Stevens file
Age: 20
Hometown: Murrieta, Calif.
High School: Vista Murrieta
Senior season (2012): completed 149 of 247 passes (.603) for 2,316 yards and 24 TDs
Recruiting ranking: 3 stars (out of five) by , 2 stars by others. Chose CSU over Utah State
2014 highlight: As CSU redshirt freshman threw 36-yard touchdown pass to Rashard Higgins on a screen play against Tulsa
Source: CSU
