April 8, 2005

By Jason Smith
MURedHawk.com Staff Writer

Following a very successful campaign in which he finished among the top 20 players nationally in total offense and pass efficiency, Josh Betts and the Miami quarterbacking corps looks to step its game up even further heading into the 2005 campaign.

"Josh did a great job for us last year, and we look forward to seeing his progression this spring," commented head coach Shane Montgomery. "He's got a great arm and can make all the throws, which lets us run a variety of offensive plays."

Betts, who joined Ben Roethlisberger as only the second Miami quarterback all-time to pass for 3,000 yards in a season, looks to further improve his consistency and knowledge of the offense this spring.

"The next step for Josh is getting him more and more comfortable with identifying defenses and then taking advantage of what he sees," Montgomery said. "Josh does a good job of moving well in the pocket, and, with more experience, he will become an even better passer."

As is typically the case, the spring also brings hints of competition in the air, as sophomore Mike Kokal and redshirt freshman Jared Elliot battle for the back-up quarterback position.

Kokal, who saw action in four games as Miami's back-up in 2004, possesses a strong arm and very good mobility. Kokal made solid progress in picking up the Miami offense in the fall, and he looks to continue his marked improvement with more repetitions this spring.

Freshman Jared Elliot, who redshirted in the fall, has great size at 6-foot-5 and surprising mobility for his frame. His focus this spring rests on developing his knowledge of the Miami offensive attack, as well as improving his recognition of opposing defenses. Both players have received a significant number of reps this spring, as Montgomery evaluates their performances.

While the RedHawk quarterbacks will have a dangerous arsenal of receiving talent in the fall, injuries and conflicts have limited the receiving corps this spring with as many as five of Miami's top returning WRs from last season have been absent from practice at time. This has challenged all of Miami's quarterbacks while they adapt to a young receiving corps.

As a group, the quarterbacks will continue to work hard in their summer training, improving their flexibility, speed, and quickness.

"We look for our quarterbacks to be total athletes, really, and we expect them to train their entire bodies in preparation for the wear and tear of the upcoming season," says Montgomery.

Check back tomorrow afternoon for a review of Miami's second spring scrimmage.