Friday, October 5, 2012

Wrong offense, QB make for long NSU season

NORFOLK --  Nico Flores is raw, a converted receiver playing quarterback, more reliable running than throwing.  Jake Basmagian is raw, new to the Spartans this fall with just two years of high-level football on his resume.

The Norfolk State offense is raw, shut out by South Carolina State, sputtering all season, ending the Spartans' hopes to repeat as MEAC champions before their third conference game.

Raw doesn't turn smooth in a week, and the problems at quarterback likely will hamper the Spartans (2-3, 0-2 MEAC) the rest of the season.

The absence of quarterback Chris Walley (graduation) and offensive coordinator Joe Blackwell (not retained), were more significant than initially thought, and made a measure of offensive dysfunction inevitable this season. At this point, a return to last year's success probably will have to wait until next season.

The Spartans returned all but four starters from last year's offense, which totalled nearly 400 yards per game. Eight receivers who caught at least 10 passes came back.  Despite the glut of options in the receiving corps, the quarterbacks can't find them, passing for fewer than 100 yards in 3 of 5 games.




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