Emmett Morehead (proper) began at QB within the Eagles’ season-opening loss to Northern Illinois Saturday. Barry Chin/Globe Employees
By Trevor Hass, The Boston Globe
Within the weeks main as much as the season, it appeared Emmett Morehead had cemented himself as Boston School’s beginning quarterback.
Morehead confirmed promise whereas beginning 4 video games final 12 months and appeared poised to take a major leap. He attended the ACC Soccer Kickoff in Charlotte — a uncommon honor for a redshirt sophomore — and continued to log common reps with the 1′s in follow.
Coach Jeff Hafley formally named him the starter the Monday earlier than the Eagles hosted Northern Illinois of their opener. However when Morehead struggled within the first two collection of an eventual 27-24 time beyond regulation loss, Central Florida switch Thomas Castellanos entered and supplied a unique look.
Because it turned out, that was the plan going into the sport.
“Thomas had a extremely good coaching camp,” Hafley stated. “He and Emmett each did. We felt he was deserving to play. That was not indicative of how Emmett performed.”
Morehead (6 ft 5 inches, 235 kilos) completed 4 for 10 for 30 yards and added a carry for 4 yards. Castellanos (5-10, 196), a sophomore, was 13 for 28 with two touchdowns and one interception, plus 9 carries for 74 yards and a rating.
Because the Eagles put together for a harmful FCS opponent in Holy Cross (1-0) Saturday at midday at Alumni Stadium, Hafley elected Wednesday to maintain BC’s plans a secret. The workers, nevertheless, has made up its thoughts.
“We sat down, cleared our heads, talked about it Monday at size, and went full pace forward,” Hafley stated.
The case for Morehead:
Morehead is a extra conventional pocket passer than Castellanos and has the next ceiling. He struggled with accuracy in restricted motion final Saturday, however he’s confirmed that he can ship pinpoint passes at this stage.
The NIU recreation was removed from his finest effort. Whether or not it was rust, lack of alternative, NIU’s protection, or some mixture of the three, he wasn’t near the place he wanted to be.
It’s honest to imagine that Morehead would have a robust likelihood to bounce again if given the chance. He was great final season towards Duke and North Carolina State, throwing for 330 yards and three-plus touchdowns in every and main the Eagles to an exciting 21-20 street win over a ranked Wolfpack group.
Morehead stated he has watched BC nice Matt Ryan extensively and that Ryan’s fundamentals are “very, very attainable.” He’s much less cell than Castellanos however clearly delivers a extra highly effective ball.
Hafley stated after the sport that followers ought to “most undoubtedly” anticipate to see Morehead once more in some unspecified time in the future this season.
“Emmett can actually throw it,” linebacker Vinny DePalma stated. “He has nice command within the huddle.”
The case for Castellanos:
Throughout Media Day, Castellanos described himself as a “game-changer” who can lengthen performs and make issues occur after they’re not purported to.
“From time to time, I make the group go, ‘Ohhh!’ what I’m saying? ‘That was loopy. I wasn’t anticipating that to occur.’ Wild performs, I really feel like I’ve in my bag,” he stated.
He wasn’t exaggerating. Early within the fourth quarter — on fourth and 5 from the BC 46, with the Eagles trailing, 21-7 — Castellanos zigzagged and looped his means all the best way again to the 14-yard line earlier than delivering a dart to Lewis Bond for a primary down.
“These are just like the loopy faculty soccer performs you look ahead to the following 25 years,” DePalma stated.
It was primarily a do-or-die second for BC, and Castellanos’s magic trick helped gasoline a shocking comeback. He scored from 2 yards out moments later, then discovered Jaden Williams for a 30-yard strike with 1:44 left to ship the sport to time beyond regulation.
Although Castellanos “runs round like a maniac,” per DePalma, Hafley made it clear Castellanos is a quarterback, “not a gadget man.” Castellanos could also be much less polished than Morehead, however he actually has a aptitude for the dramatic and the flexibility to make one thing out of nothing.
“As soon as the play breaks down, that’s when issues get scary for the protection,” Castellanos stated.
The case for each:
Huge receiver Lewis Bond stated the Eagles are comfy with both or each QBs. They function in a different way and convey distinctive traits to a recreation, stated Bond.
“They’re each going to present you a very good ball,” Bond stated. “You’ve simply bought to make the performs and mentally know who’s within the recreation.”
Towards NIU, Castellanos got here in for the third collection, Morehead began the second half, then Castellanos completed the sport. There’s an argument to be made that enjoying each is the most suitable choice.
Adjusting to 2 quarterbacks theoretically is extra difficult for a protection than it’s for an offense. Plus, if each should play, it offers incentive for every to execute at a excessive stage.
One choice is to start out one, have the opposite prepared, and go there provided that it’s a must to. Hafley has made up his thoughts. Everybody else will discover out Saturday.
Both means, it’s clear Hafley views this as a very good drawback to have.
“This 12 months,” Morehead stated, “we’ve depth that I haven’t seen at BC earlier than.”