As the SU football team’s spring practice entered its final week Monday, the Orangemen’s three quarterbacks still in competition for the starting job – Xzavier Gaines, Perry Patterson and Joe Fields – all appeared to continue their struggles. Head coach Paul Pasqualoni said, overall, he’s still pleased with the trio’s play thus far, but all appeared to struggle at times in practice Monday.

Redshirt freshman Matt Hale appears to be completely out of the picture. At the beginning of spring practice, he split snaps with the other three. But his time on the field has begun to dwindle.

‘I’m anxious about a lot of areas,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘We’re certainly not disappointed (with the quarterbacks). Once we get through the spring, we’ll come up with what a plan for the summer. My sense is we probably won’t make a decision until preseason camp.’

On Monday, Gaines took a possible step back when he pulled his left hamstring. Gaines suffered a different injury on that same leg last season, which kept him out most of the year. Gaines spent most of practice on the sideline with his leg elevated. Pasqualoni said he hopes it’s not a major injury and that Gaines will be able to return to practice Wednesday and participate in the spring game.

Patterson, who also missed part of last season because of injury, still appears a bit slow at times. At the beginning of spring practice, he admitted he was only about 85 percent healed despite returning last season. Pasqualoni said he’d like to see the 235-pound Patterson lose a little weight over the summer.

‘I don’t know if he’s had a chance to be in the type of physical condition I’m going to want him in for preseason camp,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘Over the years here, we’ve had some heavy quarterbacks, some guys that have had to lose a few pounds – going back to Donovan McNabb. Robin (R.J. Anderson) was the same way and Perry’s the same way. They’re just big guys. He’s not in a bad shape right now. I just think he could be better.’

With three inexperienced quarterbacks competing for the starting role, it has been a concern that added pressure may be placed on senior running back Walter Reyes.

‘We’re certainly going to rely on Walter Reyes,’ Pasqualoni said. ‘Any offense relies on the quarterback to a certain extent. Do you want to put the whole thing on their shoulders? No, not yet. But I think (the starting quarterback) is going to have a pretty good supporting cast around him.’

Middle man

Sophomore middle linebacker Jerry Mackey continues to impress this spring. Mackey has a good chance of replacing graduating senior Rich Scanlon in the starting lineup next fall.

The person Mackey has to thank most of all for that is himself.

Syracuse defensive coordinator Steve Dunlap calls Mackey one of the hardest workers on the team. Last fall, Mackey, then a redshirt freshman, participated very little in games, only making three tackles. But he picked up a lot of knowledge by just being on the sideline and learning the defense.

Now, at 6 feet 1 inch and 248 pounds, he’s the favorite to replace Scanlon. Jameel McClain, a 6-foot-1, 248-pound redshirt freshman, is a talented option behind Mackey. But it appears Mackey’s experience and work ethic will lead him to a starting role.

‘He’s very dedicated,’ Dunlap said. ‘He doesn’t mind coming in early, staying late and bringing his lunch bucket and being that kind of guy.’

Mackey, the great-nephew of former SU and NFL tight end John Mackey, values how hard he works. He hates doing something wrong and is using spring practices as a chance to show the coaching staff and his teammates he’s capable of starting.

‘When they look at me, I want them to know that I’m going to do my job and fulfill my role,’ Mackey said. ‘I’m just working hard, and I’ve got a good feel for it.’

Solid line

Lose three-fourths of your defensive line and the job replacing them will give any coach headaches. SU defensive line coach Jim Reid has been given the task and so far and is unsure who will make up his line next fall.

But the pieces are starting to come together.

‘I don’t know how good they’ll be,’ Reid said. ‘But they’ve worked really hard.’

Junior left end James Wyche is the only returning starter from last year, but senior Julian Pollard has asserted himself as a leader and will certainly be starting at right end. Juniors Ryan LaCasse, Kader Drame and Eugene Brown are among those competing for the final two starting spots in the middle.

‘Julian has really led us well,’ Reid said. ‘He has not walked a step on the practice field all spring. Julian has done a great job practicing very hard.’

This and that

SU’s 2004 spring prospectus cover lists Reyes as a Heisman Trophy candidate. ‘It’s a dream come true,’ Reyes said of the recognition. ‘Really, I’m speechless.’… The Orangemen have their last padded practice Wednesday. On Friday, they’ll work out in shorts to prepare for Saturday’s spring game. … When Fields flipped an illegal forward pass toward running back Damien Rhodes, secondary coach R. Todd Littlejohn decided to play referee. He jokingly acted out the penalty call, complete with hand motions.

Published on April 19, 2004 at 12:00 pm