|
Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com |
By Joe Sager
D3sports.com
The two-headed monster remains for St. John’s.
It just may look a little different.
Through the first five games, the Johnnies rotated quarterbacks Trey Feeney and Zander Dittbenner, giving both signal callers nearly equal snaps. That changed this week when Feeney was named the primary starter, but Dittbenner remains a key to the offense, too,
“Some people say that, if you have two quarterbacks, that means you don’t have one. I disagree with that,” St. John’s coach Gary Fasching said. “If you have two guys who are capable, then let’s utilize both of them in some way. Now, they may not get equal reps, but I think there’s certainly a benefit to it. We’ve seen that in first five games here.”
Feeney, a 6-3, 205-pound junior, is more of a pocket passer and has thrown for 999 yards and nine scores. Dittbenner, a 6-0, 200-pound senior, will use his legs more. He’s thrown for 662 yards and six TDs and run for another 80 yards and four scores.
“They have both done really, really well. It’s hard to even differentiate, sometimes,” Fasching said. “We just thought now is probably the time to make a decision and go with the person we think can get us where we want to go, but still utilize the skills of the other guy, too. We still think they are both going to play, it’s just one will get more snaps than the other at this point.”
For the first four weeks, the quarterbacks got two series and then rotated. It was no problem in the first three games won by a 171-0 count. However, it could have impacted the team in its 17-10 loss at No. 6 Bethel.
“It was definitely something I had never really experienced before. You had to adjust your warmups accordingly and it was harder to get into a rhythm, going every two drives there for the first few games,” Feeney said. “On that first drive, you were able to get your feet wet. On the second drive, you could start feeling some rhythm. It was definitely a challenge.”
In last week’s 70-0 win over Macalester, Feeney and Dittbenner rotated after one series. Heading into the second half of the season, though, the Johnnies wanted to minimize the constant change.
“It worked, but it’s hard for them to get in a rhythm of the game that way,” Fasching said. “That hasn’t been a factor in some of the games we played. Against a really good team like Bethel, I think it was hard for either of the quarterbacks to get into a rhythm. In practice, they were splitting reps. When you’re only getting half the reps, how can you develop? At this point, we have to go with what we call our primary quarterback and the other quarterback will come in for a change of pace.”
Still, though, SJU could have Dittbenner appear under center at any moment.
|
| When Zander Dittbenner appears, he'll look something like this. Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com |
“My first option would be to throw the ball down the field. Zander likes to use his legs a lot more. So, you could say we have two different styles,” Feeney said. “It definitely puts more on the plate for the defensive coordinators who have to prepare for both of us. They have to prepare for the run-pass stuff and all the formations and shifts we do. It adds another element that the defense has to prepare for.”
Dittbenner thinks that will benefit the offense, overall.
“Trey is more of a pocket passer, where I am definitely not afraid to go run and get 6 yards, so we’re a little different that way,” he said. “I think some teams know that, which puts some pressure on the defensive line, which then opens up the run game a little more.
“If the team needs a change of pace or to take some time off the clock, I might come in. I just have to be ready for whatever task is at hand,” he continued. “It might be more run-pass option. I just have to be locked in and be a good teammate. Ultimately, I am trying to keep my head on straight and be ready to go whenever it might be time.”
The No. 10 Johnnies (4-1) anticipate needing both quarterbacks to contribute at Concordia (4-1). Last year, St. John’s overcame a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter to take a 38-31 triumph.
“After losing to Bethel, we needed a boost. We came in with a different mindset and preparation and just executed, which was good for us,” Dittbenner said. “Concordia has always given us issues in the past. We just have to go out there and do what we do best and execute and get the ball to our playmakers. Our defense is fired up and ready to go, too.”
Feeney is excited to face the Cobbers as well.
“This week should be fun. I am from Moorhead, Minnesota, which is where Concordia is located, so it’s a little homecoming, you could say. I am excited for it,” he said. “Everything we want to accomplish this year and can accomplish this year is still ahead of us. We have that playoff mindset.”
St. John’s reached the third round of the NCAA playoffs last year, but dropped a 41-38 decision to Susquehanna. The team wants to make another long postseason run.
“The rest of the seniors and I feel like this is one of the closest teams we have had,” Dittbenner said. “We want to be a team with common goals and a really high standard. Guys have stepped up and are being leaders. I think the Bethel game challenged us in that way and helped us put it in perspective to be better as a team. I think we’re coming together as a unit and have each other’s back. Realizing that we’re all playing for something that is bigger than yourself is something that has helped us continue to grow.”
“To me, and to our team, every game is a playoff game. This week is Concordia, which is a good team. They circle this game on their calendars because they know St. John’s is one of their main rivals,” Fasching said. “We know we’ll get the best of them and we have to be prepared and ready to go.”
