Mocs to use 'two fast cars' at QB

Friday, November 18, 2011

Last December, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield had a plan. Redshirt freshman quarterback Terrell Robinson was going to get a ton of work in spread packages during spring practice and then be used in place of B.J. Coleman in select situations during the 2011 season.

"Spring ball would have been all his stuff," Satterfield said. "We would have been trying to implement this and see what we can and can't do with him."

Because Robinson had to have wrist surgery last winter, he missed all of the winter workouts and spring practice. That put Satterfield's plan on hold, until now.

With Coleman back after missing four games with a sprained shoulder and Robinson integrated into the offense after filling in for Coleman, the Mocs (5-5, 3-4 Southern Conference) should be able to use that two-quarterback system in Saturday's season finale against No. 12 Wofford (7-3, 5-2).

"Now you get to play with two fast cars," Satterfield said. "You've got one that can throw the ball anywhere he wants to on the field, so [the opponent is] calling a defense for that. Then we can break the huddle and we look totally different."

Robinson, who was named SoCon freshman of the week three times while filling in for Coleman, said the wrist surgery and the time lost in the offseason was costly.

"It had a big impact," he said. "I mean, I didn't get a winter workout and I didn't get any spring ball. That's a lot. I'm behind in everything."

He was able to catch up some after Coleman's injury because Satterfield implemented a spread style to take advantage of Robinson's running abilities. And all that time as the starting QB gave Satterfield plenty of information he can use in the future - both Saturday and in the years to come.

"He was able to show us, because of the amount of snaps that he got there the last four weeks, what he's capable of doing," Satterfield said. "We wouldn't have had the data to compare what he can and can't do, and the confidence to just throw him in there at any time - to take a guy like B.J. out and put him in, I don't know if we would have ever done that."

Coleman, a senior playing in his final game, will start against the Terriers. Beyond that, Mocs coach Russ Huesman said what UTC does offensively will be dictated by the game.

"I think we're going to have to be creative on offense," Huesman said, "put it that way, so we'll see."

Wofford coach Mike Ayers said the Terriers were splitting time this week preparing for a Coleman-led offense and a Robinson-led squad. He said both players will present challenges to his defense.

"You've got one guy that's probably a pro prospect [Coleman]," he said, "and you've got the other one [Robinson] who will be a pro prospect."

The Mocs used a three-quarterback system in their 24-9 win at Samford on Nov. 5. Graham Nichols started with Robinson slowed by a foot injury, while Robinson and wide receiver Sloan Allison also saw plenty of action at quarterback.

Reed case dismissed

Mocs defensive tackle Keyon Reed, arrested in September on a domestic assault charge, had his case dismissed by the district attorney Thursday morning. Reed was suspended for three games following the alleged incident, which involved a former girlfriend.