University of Utah quarterback Darnell Arceneaux is being held out of any throwing drills as the Utes undergo spring practices for the next month. Arceneaux underwent surgery for a throwing-shoulder dislocation last fall.
But there he was to the side of the practice field on opening day of spring ball Thursday, playing catch from a 10-yard distance with trainer Bill Bean."I'm the Bionic Man," Arceneaux said, adding he's healing fast but can't throw for real for about two months -- a month after spring ball ends.
Arceneaux is able to participate in running plays and said the handoffs are no problem. "It's strong," he said, because he's been lifting weights in rehab.
A priority for the Utes is to quickly find other quarterbacks to run the team this spring and to perhaps challenge Arceneaux in the fall. There are six other QBs on the spring roster: junior-college mid-year transfer Tony Alvarez, returned missionary Lance Rice, redshirt freshmen Joel Gines and Dustin Thome and last year's Nos. 3 and 4 QBs, Scott Styles and T.D. Croshaw.
Coach Ron McBride greeted some 86 players Thursday and said he expects a "separation" of the quarterbacks to occur in the next few days. Alvarez was recruited to push Arceneaux but is nursing a slight leg injury.
Gines made an impression on those watching from the sidelines and upon sophomore offensive lineman Michael Richardson, who will watch spring ball after surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in a basketball game a few weeks ago. Richardson said he'd worked out a lot with Gines in the offseason and liked his throwing motion and enthusiasm. "He's a born leader," Richardson said.
McBride's noticed Gines, too. "He really worked at it," he said. "All spring break, he was out here every day. Every morning I drove in, he was here."
He said he was pleased with all the quarterbacks on Day 1 of practice because they got rid of the ball quickly. Receivers, too, caught his eye because they "ran good routes." Utah lost a number of top receivers but had depth there, too. And, a former offensive line coach, McBride liked the 1-on-1 work of freshman-transfer lineman Jordan Gross, who could help add depth where it's needed right now.
Running back is a deep spot with starters Mike Anderson and Omar Bacon joined by Nick Morgan, who did well before getting hurt last year, and by redshirt freshman D'Shaun Crockett, the speedy go-wide threat whose presence means Utah can add a weak-side running game and play-action pass off it. Crockett "jumped out" at McBride Thursday.
Defensively, there are many good linemen. "It'll be real competitive on the D-line," McBride said. The Utes must fill two linebacking slots and one safety. McBride hopes to add a new pressure package to the defense this spring.
And more attention will be paid to overall execution, especially in the kicking game. A new special-teams practice period has been added to spring ball, McBride said.
The Utes are to practice Friday afternoon, Saturday morning and Monday afternoon before settling into a regular Tuesday-Thursday afternoon/Saturday morning schedule that will last until April 22's final scrimmage. Other scrimmages are April 10 and 17.