Sophomore quarterback Brock Osweiler barked commands at fellow first-teamers Monday morning, pointing to their assignments and cajoling them to hurry the pace.
The sophomore proceeded to fling tightly spun passes across the practice field, one after the other, some leading the moving receiver into a reception, others connecting with stationary targets, all seeming to be placed into the hands or numbers of friendly red jerseys — right where offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone wants them.
Strangely sprightly for such an early morning affair (practice started before 7 a.m.), Osweiler, after taking the majority of first-team repetitions Monday, gave the impression that he had a chance to start in ASU’s last home game of the year on Friday.
“If they call my number to be the starter Friday, I am ready to roll,” Osweiler said. “If they go with [Redshirt junior] Steven [Threet] and need me to go in there every once in awhile and try to make a play, that is what I am going to do.”
While Osweiler looked the part for teammates and seemed to act it for the media afterwards, the official word is that Threet will be the starting quarterback against UCLA.
ASU coach Dennis Erickson stood behind Threet during Monday’s press conference, cautioning not to “put anything into” Osweiler’s first-team reps.
“Steven is the starter and that is not going to change right now,” Erickson said. “[Osweiler] may [play]; it depends on how it goes and how Steven is playing. There is no reason that we can’t put Brock in, but right now there is no plan specifically to put him in at any particular time.”
Osweiler said he had not been spoken to about the potential of starting or playing, but much as the shared first-team repetitions would imply, acknowledged a competition between he and Threet.
Previous to Monday and during the course of the season in non-bye week situations, Osweiler had received the vast majority of his repetitions with the second-team. Osweiler is coming off a back injury that did not allow him to come off the bench in relief of Threet when he suffered a concussion during ASU’s loss on the road against California in October.
“As soon as [Osweiler] got healthy with the back, he got repetitions with the [first team],” Erickson said.
Erickson did admit that Osweiler has looked impressive starting last week with the first team.
“He has looked good,” Erickson said. “As soon as he came back from the back injury, he has gotten better and better all the time.”
Osweiler indicated that he has gotten in better sync with first-team receivers on timing routes.
“We are at point in our season where there are no excuses’ there is no time for excuses,” Osweiler said. “So in saying that, if I get the start Friday, I am going to go out there and do everything in my powers to make big plays and gets us a win against UCLA.”
Osweiler said that he and Threet don’t discuss what could be viewed as a quarterback competition. The first team repetitions for Osweiler didn’t seem to affect the offensive negatively on Monday. Osweiler believes the offense displayed a newfound energy despite the early start.
“Offensively, I am feeling energy that I haven’t felt for a number of weeks, maybe since the first or second week of the season,” Osweiler said. “There has been a lot of competition for positions, you know, these past, last week and even carrying into today. Guys are sick and tired of losing and guys are going to do whatever it takes to get a win at home for these seniors and for these fans and for this football program.”
Threet is ranked 42nd in the country in passer rating with 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions on the season, many of which have occurred in enemy’s territory. Threet had a critical fumble in the end zone in ASU’s most recent loss, 17-13 to Stanford.
Osweiler has seen action in three games this year, throwing for 150 yards, including 75 in ASU’s 42-0 win against WSU in late October.
Reach the reporter at nick.ruland@asu.edu
