“Chris Jacquemain was engulfed in a position battle last season that head coach J.D. Brookhart called poisonous and that cost the team its offensive cohesiveness. The junior quarterback and Carlton Jackson were entrenched in a day-by-day, seemingly snap-by-snap battle for the starting quarterback position all of last season.”
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Chris Jacquemain was engulfed in a position battle last season that head coach J.D. Brookhart called poisonous and that cost the team its offensive cohesiveness.

The junior quarterback and Carlton Jackson were entrenched in a day-by-day, seemingly snap-by-snap battle for the starting quarterback position all of last season.

The result was the worst quarterback production since the 2000 season, the year before Charlie Frye took over the offense as a true freshman.

It’s night and day out here compared to last year, Brookhart said. There were two kids in the same class and it ended up being, unfortunately, a somewhat poisonous situation. No one went out and clearly won that thing. There was a commitment level on both sides that wasn’t good enough.

The commitment level is there now. Jackson transferred to Morgan State after last season and the sophomore Matt Rodgers is being outperformed by Jacquemain in the preseason.

With more stability Jacquemain is finally feeling comfortable under center.

It’s huge, Jacquemain said. Last season I didn’t have the respect of my teammates as a leader, like the quarterback needs to be. Throughout the offseason and spring ball and this summer, I think I gained that respect. Coming out in this camp, they know I’m going to lead them and I’m going to be there for them.

At the beginning of the summer, Jacquemain worked closely with former UA quarterback Luke Getsy, who led the Zips to its only Mid-American Conference Championship in 2005 and now is an graduate assistant.

Jacquemain said they worked on fundamentals, such as footwork and throwing mechanics, and reading different defenses. He said working with Getsy has been a big help in preparing for this season.

It’s great, Jacquemain said. It’s definitely an advantage for us. Luke had great success here and he’s definitely someone we look up to. He’s in our ear everyday, making sure we’re doing what we’re supposed to do to get better. He’s good getting us motivated and pushing us to do what we need to do.

Jacquemain started eight games last season, while Jackson started the other three, both never finding a comfort level. To make matters worse, both had never started a game in their college careers entering last season and were working in a brand new offensive system that hindered the entire offense.

While Jacquemain got the majority of the snaps, Jackson was always waiting on the sidelines. For most of the games, whomever started the game would watch the other play in the second quarter, which effected Jacquemain’s ability to focus, he said, and also hindered the offense’s ability to establish a rhythm.

It was pretty tough, he said. It was frustrating at times. Whenever I would make a mistake I was worried I was going to get pulled. I was really just worrying about trying to stay on the field and not so much out there playing the game and thinking about what I was supposed to be doing. I would think, ‘I better not screw up or I’ll get pulled.’

The result was poor production out of both quarterbacks. The two quarterbacks combined to throw 15 touchdown passes to 14 interceptions. Jacquemain throw 11 TD’s to 10 picks.

Brookhart overhauled the offensive system last year, implementing a spread-type offense. The pass protection suffered early in the season and it only added to the offense’s instability.

I think that did have something to do with it, Jacquemain said. We’re a year into the offense now and everybody knows their assignments and where they’re supposed to be, so I think that will help us out a lot this year.

The Zips wide receivers didn’t help the situation. Only Jabari Arthur caught more than 20 passes last season and even when passes were on target, they were regularly dropped.

This season it looks as if the wide receiver corps is much deeper than last season. Andre Jones moved from his starting safety position to wide receiver to bolster the depth and junior college transfers Deryn Bowser (Los Angeles Harbor College) and Dashan Miller (Bakersfield College in California). Jeremy Bruce is eligible this season after transferring from West Virginia after the 2006 season.

The receiving corps, however, has been- like the majority of the team- plagued by injuries.

We’re definitely a lot deeper this year, Jacquemain said. Everybody has to step up this year. We’re kind of banged up at receiver right now, but once everybody gets back and we’re healthy, I think that’s going to be one of our strong points this year.

As he enters the season armed with a new level of confidence and surrounded with players more comfortable in the spread offense, the junior is looking for considerably more success this season, for himself and the team.

The Zips are expected to finish last in the conference this season by the conference media pundits and Jacquemain, as well as other players, take it personally.

Last season, I didn’t perform to where I wanted to be, he said. This year in the preseason, everyone is doubting us and one of the reasons they’re doubting us is because they’re doubting me. I’m personally accountable for the success of the team.

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