In this week’s depth chart for the Jacksonville State game, the starting quarterback position is listed as Stephon Masha OR Stephen Calvert. During today’s press conference, Coach Gill was asked several questions about the quarterback position. Here’s everything Gill had to say about the quarterback battle this week between Stephon Masha and Stephen Calvert.
On if he’s decided on who the quarterback will be this week:
“We are going to decide on that at the end of the week. They’re going to share their reps during practice. (We will) evaluate them on every single snap (during practice) and we will make a decision at the end of the week.”
On how the reps will be handled during practice this week:
“We’re going to give them equal reps throughout the week, whether its 1st team or 2nd team. We will make an evaluation at the end of the week. Coach Dailey and I will sit down and look every single snap and we will make a decision, whether we’re playing 1, playing 2, or whatever, anything could be possible, but we will make a decision at the end.”
On if he will name a starter before Saturday:
“I have no set plan, all I can say is end of the week. If we feel good about the decision to make, then I’ll make it. If we don’t feel good about it, I will make it on game day time. I have no set time, to be specific, to say I’m going to make it at this time.”
On if it’s an advantage for Jacksonville State to not know who Liberty’s quarterback will be:
“It’s an advantage. Anything I can do to help our football team be successful then I’m going to do that.”
On why he decided to open up the position battle:
“It’s probably a little combination of both. When I say both, I’m saying a little bit of Stephon Masha hasn’t played up to his ability. He’s an awesome talent. For me to make a decision, do I give an opportunity to someone else? Stephen Calvert, Buckshot, has been a guy who has shown he can handle our offense during his practices, during his scrimmages, and during the little time he’s had in games. He’s not all sharp either, there’s some things he needs to work on too. So, through the process of both things that has allowed me to make a decision to say we need to evaluate and see where we’re at and see who is the best person to help us win as many football games as possible from an offensive point of view.”
On if it is an “open competition” right now:
“However you want to use the terminology or call it, then so be it. We’re trying to find the right people, the person, I should say, as far as being able to run our offense. At this point in time, I think it’s an opportunity to open it up and really evaluate – we always evaluate, never stop evaluating – but we needed to get better production out of the quarterback position.”
