Going to Plan B
- Updated: August 21, 2016
Anniston will work 3 QBs this week to find a starter following Bethune’s injury Friday; freshman may be most impressive
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
Eddie Bullock isn’t sure today who will start at quarterback when his Anniston football team opens its regular season Friday against Sylacauga, but whoever gets the nod will be one who best demonstrates the ability to lead a team.
The Bulldogs will work three players at the position this week following the injury to junior starter Savion Bethune in last Friday’s jamboree win over Holt. Bethune sustained a fractured femur in the final minute of the varsity’s half and underwent surgery Saturday that Bullock said he came through “pretty well.”
He was moving around at the hospital Sunday and is expected to be at Lott-Mosby Stadium Friday to support his teammates. It’s unlikely he will play this season.
This week, the Bulldogs will work three players – senior Marrio Dobbins, junior Jamaree West and ninth-grader Tyree Carmichael – at the spot, with an eye not so much toward Friday’s game with the Aggies but the following week’s region opener against Ashville and beyond.
“We really don’t know (who it will be) right now,” Bullock said Sunday night. “We worked out some Saturday to kind of get a feel for them. You don’t want to throw anybody into the fire. You want to make sure whoever we’ve got has got two weeks preparation. We want to see who feels more comfortable, who earns what fast.
“All of them played it before, it’s just seeing which one is the most comfortable. They’re the most athletic guys and probably the most qualified, but as far as the position ‘Rio hasn’t played quarterback in a game or West either. Tyree only played it in middle school and his first time with the B team was Friday night.”
But Carmichael looked good. He ran for two touchdowns and threw for another score.
“We were looking at all of them last year,” Bullock said. “I tried to get Savion to be the starter before (Tae Miller), but … it’s more than just ability, it’s the maturity to lead the team. You have to learn how to lead guys. It’s not so much how great your arm is and all that, it’s how are you going to lead the guys into battle.
“My little freshman can hand the ball off and do the things you need (and) he’s probably got a little more poise, but the thing is throwing him into the fire.”
Bullock isn’t likely to make a decision on his starter until Thursday, but all three are expected to play. Don’t assume Friday’s starter will be the starter the following week.
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