Ball control will be a major emphasis in the University of Richmond's spring football game at 1 p.m. today at Robins Stadium. It's not that the Spiders are dedicating themselves to a power offense in 2011. They want to significantly reduce turnovers.
The Spiders (6-5, 4-4 CAA last season) committed a league-high 32 turnovers (12 lost fumbles, 20 interceptions). One major contributing factor to that interception total: Richmond played four quarterbacks, due to injuries.
Starter Aaron Corp, a transfer from USC, suffered a season-ending knee injury on the first series of the Spiders' fifth game. His backup, John Laub, broke his wrist. Another backup, Nick Hicks, had concussion problems. True freshman Montel White was summoned, and even he missed time because of eye irritation caused by rubber pellets in an artificial surface.
Corp, still rehabilitating his knee, has not been cleared to fully participate in spring drills, though he is expected to be ready for next season. In any event, UR coach Latrell Scott and his staff made reduction of turnovers a high spring priority, and the Spiders seem to have received the message.
"Through [almost all] of the spring practices, we turned the ball over twice, and one of those was on an interception off a tip,"
Scott said. "So these guys have really bought into doing those things, and making sure we [value] the ball."
Another reason for the 20 interceptions was protection. The Spiders started four new offensive linemen.
Though UR allowed 15 sacks, its quarterbacks often were hurried into ill-advised passes.
"We're more experienced on the offensive line,"
Scott said. "Every guy who's starting on the offensive line right now with the exception of one played meaningful snaps in games last year."
NOTES: Richmond typically has named captains at the conclusion of spring workouts. That will not be the case this year. "There are a bunch of guys doing a lot of things to lead,"
Scott said. "I don't want to mess that up by designating a few guys."
… Attending the UR spring game is free.
