By St. Clair Murraine and Heath A. Smith, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITERS
Eddie Battle might not get a single snap in a game this season, but the sophomore quarterback should be ready if his number is ever called.
He's boasting a kind of confidence that's been turning heads during FAMU's preseason workouts. He made a strong case again during Wednesday's afternoon practice, throwing two long bombs that his receivers caught in the red zone.
So much for the tentativeness that overshadowed his ability last season, when he was a freshman trying to find his way into the offense.
“Eddie has improved a great deal to be mobile and move around in the pocket and be able to escape defenders,” Rattlers coach Rubin Carter said. “That's the one asset that he's developed this offseason.”
Battle said he spent the offseason concentrating on losing weight. He dropped from 244 to 227. He was four pounds lighter Wednesday, he said.
“That weight was tremendous,” he said. “As you see, I've gotten a little faster and more mobile.”
He's concentrating now is on getting the offense down pat, he said. “This offense is a very tough offense, but if you learn it you get another level of confidence when you know what you're doing,” he said.
“Last year, I was going to the line and still trying to figure out what kind of reads I'm going to make. Now I'm learning the plays and I know them.”
Ailing linebacker
Eddie Battle might not get a single snap in a game this season, but the sophomore quarterback should be ready if his number is ever called.
He's boasting a kind of confidence that's been turning heads during FAMU's preseason workouts. He made a strong case again during Wednesday's afternoon practice, throwing two long bombs that his receivers caught in the red zone.
So much for the tentativeness that overshadowed his ability last season, when he was a freshman trying to find his way into the offense.
“Eddie has improved a great deal to be mobile and move around in the pocket and be able to escape defenders,” Rattlers coach Rubin Carter said. “That's the one asset that he's developed this offseason.”
Battle said he spent the offseason concentrating on losing weight. He dropped from 244 to 227. He was four pounds lighter Wednesday, he said.
“That weight was tremendous,” he said. “As you see, I've gotten a little faster and more mobile.”
He's concentrating now is on getting the offense down pat, he said. “This offense is a very tough offense, but if you learn it you get another level of confidence when you know what you're doing,” he said.
“Last year, I was going to the line and still trying to figure out what kind of reads I'm going to make. Now I'm learning the plays and I know them.”
Ailing linebacker
FAMU's defense took a mild blow earlier this week when starting linebacker Michael McMillan was sent to the sidelines with a sore hamstring. Carter sat him out as a precaution, and McMillan is now listed as day to day.
“I feel better today,” said McMillan, who suffered the injury during Monday's practice. “I've been doing treatment and it's doing progressively better.”
When the water runs dry
“I feel better today,” said McMillan, who suffered the injury during Monday's practice. “I've been doing treatment and it's doing progressively better.”
When the water runs dry
Things got a little dry during the morning practice when the water was turned off on the field. At one point the trainers had to put three of the portable water dispensers on a cart and drive across the street and fill them up. The water was eventually turned back on and practice was not really interrupted.
"Just had to overcome adversity," Carter said. "That is a part of the game. You learn to overcome things like that.
"We've dealt with much worse situations. We wanted to really work on practice and make sure we didn't lose our concentration.”
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