Athensvol
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Schaeffer moves to wide receiver
The Commercial Appeal
Originally published 06:46 p.m., August 8, 2007
Updated 06:46 p.m., August 8, 2007
OXFORD, Miss. When Brent Schaeffer showed up at the practice fields outside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, he was blue. Bright blue.
Once upon a time, Schaeffer arrived at Ole Miss as the next great hope, heralded by fans and coach Ed Orgeron as the quarterback who would launch the Rebels to bigger, better things. But earlier this week, the color of his practice jersey morphed from dark blue, reserved for quarterbacks and members of the first-team offense, to bright blue, which meant he would try to catch footballs instead of throw them.
On Wednesday morning, offensive coordinator Dan Werner revealed that Schaeffer, a senior from Deerfield Beach, Fla., had made the switch from quarterback to wide receiver. The move was prompted by Schaeffers ongoing struggles under center, where he labored as the teams starter last year, completing just 47.1 percent of his passes. Werner said the decision was mutual.
Just in conversation, we were talking, and it kind of came up, Werner said. He volunteered to do it.
Schaeffer skipped a scheduled interview session with reporters earlier this week, then media relations officials said he would be off limits for the immediate future.
Either way, senior Seth Adams, a former walk-on from Holly Springs, Miss., has solidified his status as the frontrunner to claim the starting job. Redshirt freshman Michael Herrick has taken most of the snaps with the second team through the first week of camp. Adams said his approach has not changed.
I want to be the starter, and in my mind, I am the starter, Adams said. Now, Ive got to keep working hard and not let my guard down.
Schaeffers topsy-turvy 18-month relationship with Ole Miss has been pockmarked by disappointment. After he started three games as a freshman at Tennessee in 2004, he left the program when his playing time waned and enrolled at the College of the Sequoias, a junior college in Visalia, Calif., where he emerged as a star. Amid an intense recruitment, he signed with Ole Miss in February 2006, and Orgeron named him the starter before he even set foot on campus a choice that Orgeron has since said he regrets.
Last season, Schaeffer threw more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (nine) and was replaced by Adams during the second half of each of the teams final two games. Just hours after Ole Miss defeated Mississippi State to cap a 4-8 season, Orgeron declared that the quarterback job would be open for competition throughout the spring, summer and fall.
Orgeron has been critical of Schaeffer. He took a big swipe at SEC Football Media Days last month, when he said Schaeffer had an inconsistent lifestyle that contributed to his poor play.
He still has to work on some things (at receiver), Orgeron said Wednesday, but were going to give him every opportunity out there to make the first team, be a good player, if thats what he wants to do. Ill say this, though: He has to remain consistent in his work habits and in everything he does.
Like Werner, Orgeron emphasized that Schaeffer volunteered to move to wide receiver, which Orgeron said he appreciated. Both coaches said the switch was not necessarily permanent.
Were just looking at him there, Werner said. Hes obviously quick and athletic, understands the routes and everything. So its not like you have to teach him what routes to run or anything, which is a plus. Move a guy over from defensive back, he has no idea what our formations are. So hes way ahead of a normal guy moving out there.
The shift probably says just as much about Ole Miss lack of depth at wide receiver as it does about Schaeffers disappointing play at quarterback. The Rebels are thin, very thin at receiver, Orgeron said, and they need help. Junior college recruit A.J. Jackson failed to qualify and sophomore Shay Hodge has a broken foot, so the staff has been seeking options. For example, freshman defensive back Lionel Breaux lined up at wide receiver during Wednesdays practice.
:lolabove:
The Commercial Appeal
Originally published 06:46 p.m., August 8, 2007
Updated 06:46 p.m., August 8, 2007
OXFORD, Miss. When Brent Schaeffer showed up at the practice fields outside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, he was blue. Bright blue.
Once upon a time, Schaeffer arrived at Ole Miss as the next great hope, heralded by fans and coach Ed Orgeron as the quarterback who would launch the Rebels to bigger, better things. But earlier this week, the color of his practice jersey morphed from dark blue, reserved for quarterbacks and members of the first-team offense, to bright blue, which meant he would try to catch footballs instead of throw them.
On Wednesday morning, offensive coordinator Dan Werner revealed that Schaeffer, a senior from Deerfield Beach, Fla., had made the switch from quarterback to wide receiver. The move was prompted by Schaeffers ongoing struggles under center, where he labored as the teams starter last year, completing just 47.1 percent of his passes. Werner said the decision was mutual.
Just in conversation, we were talking, and it kind of came up, Werner said. He volunteered to do it.
Schaeffer skipped a scheduled interview session with reporters earlier this week, then media relations officials said he would be off limits for the immediate future.
Either way, senior Seth Adams, a former walk-on from Holly Springs, Miss., has solidified his status as the frontrunner to claim the starting job. Redshirt freshman Michael Herrick has taken most of the snaps with the second team through the first week of camp. Adams said his approach has not changed.
I want to be the starter, and in my mind, I am the starter, Adams said. Now, Ive got to keep working hard and not let my guard down.
Schaeffers topsy-turvy 18-month relationship with Ole Miss has been pockmarked by disappointment. After he started three games as a freshman at Tennessee in 2004, he left the program when his playing time waned and enrolled at the College of the Sequoias, a junior college in Visalia, Calif., where he emerged as a star. Amid an intense recruitment, he signed with Ole Miss in February 2006, and Orgeron named him the starter before he even set foot on campus a choice that Orgeron has since said he regrets.
Last season, Schaeffer threw more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (nine) and was replaced by Adams during the second half of each of the teams final two games. Just hours after Ole Miss defeated Mississippi State to cap a 4-8 season, Orgeron declared that the quarterback job would be open for competition throughout the spring, summer and fall.
Orgeron has been critical of Schaeffer. He took a big swipe at SEC Football Media Days last month, when he said Schaeffer had an inconsistent lifestyle that contributed to his poor play.
He still has to work on some things (at receiver), Orgeron said Wednesday, but were going to give him every opportunity out there to make the first team, be a good player, if thats what he wants to do. Ill say this, though: He has to remain consistent in his work habits and in everything he does.
Like Werner, Orgeron emphasized that Schaeffer volunteered to move to wide receiver, which Orgeron said he appreciated. Both coaches said the switch was not necessarily permanent.
Were just looking at him there, Werner said. Hes obviously quick and athletic, understands the routes and everything. So its not like you have to teach him what routes to run or anything, which is a plus. Move a guy over from defensive back, he has no idea what our formations are. So hes way ahead of a normal guy moving out there.
The shift probably says just as much about Ole Miss lack of depth at wide receiver as it does about Schaeffers disappointing play at quarterback. The Rebels are thin, very thin at receiver, Orgeron said, and they need help. Junior college recruit A.J. Jackson failed to qualify and sophomore Shay Hodge has a broken foot, so the staff has been seeking options. For example, freshman defensive back Lionel Breaux lined up at wide receiver during Wednesdays practice.
:lolabove:
