FLAMES PREPARING FOR TWO QBs
For the second straight week Liberty is preparing for two quarterbacks as Rutgers’ interim head coach Nunzio Campanile has said true freshman Cole Snyder will receive increased reps during practice this week. Redshirt-freshman Johnny Langan will again make the start, Campanile announced on Monday.
The Flames are preparing as if either quarterback could play Saturday.
“We pulled all of his high school stuff and watched it just to have some familiarity because he hasn’t taken a snap this year,” Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze said of Snyer. “It’s hard to prepare for. Offensively in high school, he didn’t run exactly what they’re running this year. So, it’s hard to say how they will use him if that’s the decision they will go with.”
Langan has completed 28-of-58 passes for 220 yards and 5 interceptions with zero touchdowns. He has started the past 3 games after the starting quarterback to start the season, Artur Sitkowski, elected to sit out the rest of the season and redshirt.
“Langan has stood in and thrown some good passes,” Freeze said. “It just hasn’t been a consistence in their offense. I’m sure they’re thinking any day that can come, and it could because he has stood in there. Against Maryland they were putting some pressure on him, and he was making some great throws. I see it in him. I don’t know what they’re thinking quarterback wise, but we will do whatever we can to prepare for both.”
TRESHAUN CLARK GETS START
True freshman defensive end TreShaun Clark got the start last Saturday against Maine over Austin Lewis.
“He practiced better,” Freeze said of the decision to start Clark. “I’ve always felt like depth charts should be etched in sand. It’s just about who practice better and prepared better. Production has been there from him.”
This is the perfect example of the type of competition Freeze hopes to build across the roster as he continues to build this program.
“We need Austin too,” he said. “It motivated him, Austin had one of his better games. The greatest motivator I’ve ever had as a coach is depth. It’s hard to motivate somebody when there’s nobody behind him pushing him. That’s the greatest motivator, and I think it’s made Austin better.”
BUCKSHOT INTERCEPTIONS DOWN
All offseason, the big message from the coaching staff to Buckshot Calvert was to get his interceptions down significantly from a season ago when he threw 18 picks. Through the team’s first seven games this season, Calvert has thrown three interceptions compared to the seven he threw in the first seven games a season ago. He’s also gone five straight games without an interception, that’s the longest stretch of his career.
“Coach Freeze getting on me about turnovers and me wanting to help the team as best as possible,” Calvert said when asked what he credits for the reduced turnovers. “For me personally, I don’t want to throw any interceptions. Coach Freeze and Coach Austin being on me about protecting the football and treating it like a treasure. We simplified the playbook to stuff that I’m really comfortable with so that helped a lot too.”
Calvert has thrown for 1,474 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions during Liberty’s five game winning streak.
HICKSON PRAISES COACHING STAFF
Liberty running back Frankie Hickson had very strong remarks about the Liberty coaching staff this week.
“They’re bringing new stuff into us every single week to give us an edge,” Hickson said about the coaching staff. “This is by far the most prepared, the best coaching staff that I’ve been around. Week in, week out they’re giving you an opportunity to be successful, and they know exactly what plays are going to be successful, what formations, personnel are going to be successful. They do a great job in getting us prepared for it.”
